MWLA Meeting Minutes

September 20, 2010

Karen Dixon, President, called the meeting of the MWLA BOard to order at 9:32 a.m.

Members present:  Karen Dixon, Marilyn Gabert, Bob Becker, Barry Hopkins, Jean Rein, Merry Perkins

Members absent:  Tom Joseph, Fred Theisen, Jim Banovetz, Tom Kramer, Greg Holt, Eleanor Butler, Jim Reichert

Approval of Agenda

Motion made by Bob, second by Merry to accept the agenda as presented.  Motion passed.

Approval of Minutes

Motion made by Merry, second by Bob to accept the minutes of the August 23, 2010 meeting.  Motion passed.

Approval of Financial Report

There was no financial report as Eleanor was absent.

Correspondence

- 7-16- 10 received brochure from Floating Island International re: clean lakes

- 8-24-10 sent email to Calm Water Solutions re: board decision to contract with WebWorkLife

- 8-24-10 sent email to WebWorkLife re: board decision to contract with them for web site design

- 8-25-10 received thank you for Voyageur membership at NLDC.

- 8-26-10 sent thank you to Bob and Jean Clack for membership and $25.00 donation

- 8-28-10 received request from Discovery Center for water quality education programs

- 8-30-10 received thank you from MW Fire Co. for donation of $250.00

- 8-31-10 sent Jeff Bolander email informing him that we are moving our web site.

- 9-14-10 received email newsletter from Jim Banovetz re: Wild Rice Lake

- 9-14-10 received thank you from Amber Gray for AIS support

- 9-17-10 received invitation to the Chamber Annual Fall Membership Dinner and Fall Elections

Old Business

MWLA resolution regarding Rest Lake Dam – We reviewed the draft resolution and made one change.  We will discuss it again at the next meeting to get input from the Board members who were absent today.

Ad for Musky Classic – Karen showed us the ad we placed in the Musky Classic brochure.  This year’s Musky Classic had 652 registered fishermen.  Karen and Marilyn were stationed at our AIS booth from 8 – 11 a.m. the morning of registration.

Committee assignments – We went over committee assignments with those present. We will touch base with the rest of the Board, at our next meeting, as to which committee they would like to be involved with.

Board contact info – A sheet was passed around for each Board member to update their contact information.

Officers Insurance – Karen checked with WAL’s Liability Insurance for our officers.  The cost for one year would be $550.  Bob Becker will talk to John Hanson about possibly being carried through the town’s provider.  Eleanor will check on a price for officer liability insurance from Manson Insurance.

AIS Partners Meeting – Karen will attend the Vilas County AIS Partners Meeting on 9-23-10 in Boulder Junction.  The meeting runs from 8:45 am – 3:00 pm and includes lunch.  Possibly Tom J. or Jean can also attend.

New Business

Discovery Center – Motion by Marilyn, second by Merry to donate $50 to Discovery Center’s Water Quality Program.  Karen will check to see if the money can be used towards their matching funds drive.

Chamber Board vacancy – The MW Chamber has an associate board member vacancy.  If any of us are interested in being on that Board, please let Karen know.

Ad in NLDC newsletter – We discussed placing an ad in the Discovery Center newsletter.  A one-space ad (approximately 2”x1”) is $275 for the entire season.  We decided not to take out an ad at this time.

Colorama sandwich sign – Marilyn is having Calm Waters make a vinyl sign to advertise pontoon rides at the Blue Bayou for Colorama. The vinyl sign will be attached to a wood sandwich board sign made by Bill Gabert.

Science in Northwoods – The 2nd Science in the Northwoods Conference will be held on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Camp Manitowish.  Jack & Julie hope to attend a portion of this event and will report back to us.

Fish cribs – Tom Kramer presented the idea of having fish cribs put into the lakes on the Chain.  He offered to contact the DNR to see what would need to be done.   He would also be in charge of getting the cribs made with the hope of putting about 6 cribs on one lake every year.  The MWLA Board thought it was a good idea, but would like more information.

MWLA Strategic Plan – Karen will spend the winter writing up a draft of a Strategic Plan for the MWLA.

Committee Reports:

 Public Communications

Website designer – Karen contracted with Scott Bertz at WebWork Life for our website design.  You can check out our new website at www.mwlakes.com.

Membership  - Renewal reminders were sent out and our membership is now at 314.

Newsletter  - Julie is putting together information for the October newsletter.  Subjects were discussed and a couple new items were added.

Community Outreach

Annual Meeting  – The date for next year’s annual meeting is set for Saturday, July 23.  It will be from 4:00 – 6:30 pm with registration starting at 3:30 pm.  We will again have a flyer in the May Chamber mailing to notify people of this year’s meeting date.  We can use the back side of the flyer for other MWLA information.  Suggestions were AIS information and explaining the difference between the MWLA and the MW Alliance.

Colorama – If the weather is nice, Karen would like to get four people help to set up the tents ahead of time on Friday at 4:00 p.m.  On Saturday, Bob, Jim R. and Jack will have their pontoons at Blue Bayou and offer free pontoon rides.  Julie King and Pat Becker will be greeters at Blue Bayou.  Marilyn is taking care of the  sandwich board sign for Hwy 51 to announce the free pontoon rides.  Karen, Tom, Eleanor and Jean will take shifts at the MWLA booths.  We need to hear back from the rest of the board members as to how they can help.

Roadside pick up – Fred and Terry Theisen did the last road-side pick up for the season.

Water Ecology and Safety

AIS Strategic Plan – The Town AIS Strategic Plan (TAISSP) is in development.

Government Relations

 Plan Commission – Karen attended the most recent PC meeting.  There was discussion about the white arrow signs that need to come down by the end of October.  Henry Bauers has drafted a set of regulations for white arrow signs that will be discussed at the Oct. 12 Town Board meeting.

Town Board – There was discussion about the bike trail.  Jim Krakowski of the Birding Club had previously presented an application for a Bird City Designation for MW.  That resolution passed.  The TB plans to ask the County for more enforcement of random fireworks being fired off during the summer months. Thursday, September 23 at 4:00 is a workshop for the budget.  There was discussion on Clear Lake Road repairs.  A new door for the library has been ordered.  The cost of $2,500 for the new electronic door opener will be paid for by a grant.

Administrative

MW Alliance – Karen reported that the Alliance met to focus on how to be more relevant.  Their next meeting is October 5.  Their annual party will now be an Appreciation Banquet.

Kings –The board decided to make a personal donation for upkeep of the Bill Lambrecht Interpretive Trail at  the Discovery Center in the King’s name in recognition of  their 17 years of volunteerism to the MWLA.

Next Meeting -

The MWLA will meet on Monday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the Library.  (date changed to Oct 11)

Motion by Jean second by Bob, to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 a.m. Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilyn Gabert, Secretary