LAKE OF THE PINES
The Pines Echo
Summer Edition 2010
PRESIDENTS DESK
Hi to all members of L.O.P. As your new President I would like to thank all members of the Board for their faith in me to do the job. We have a group of Board members that work well as a team are dedicated in improving Lake of the Pines.
One of the things I would like to improve upon is the communication between the Board and Lake of the Pines members. We will do this through our improved website and the posting in the office of all meetings, workshops, etc.
I encourage all of you to become active participants in your Association by attending Board meetings and volunteering for projects.
With all of your help we can make Lake of the Pines an even greater place to live.
Thanks and God bless
R.D. Watson
President
Upcoming Events
July 17th Little Ted's Fishing Contest
August 7th L.O.P Chicken Dinner
August 8th L.O.P 40th Anniversary Bash
Security
Here it is, another summer at L.O.P and the Security Patrol is on the job as usual. Last winter was very mild by most standards and would normally mean more crime but I am happy to report that, to the best of my knowledge, there had been no B&E’s during the winter months at L.O.P. I feel that this is directly attributed to the fact that during the winter months we had at least five security cars patrolling.
As you probably know, we now have four security boats patrolling our lake on a regular basis. They are there to see that the no wake law is obeyed as well as checking for L.O.P stickers and keeping the lake safe from reckless boaters. They will be working with the Sheriff Department and the State DNR to report any unsafe boating.
Our annual Security Chicken Dinner will be held on August 7th at 5:00 PM. All proceeds from the dinner will go directly to fund the Patrol to pay for gas, cell phones, radios, hats and signs. Remember the members of the patrol only receive a small gas allowance, which really doesn’t pay for their gas at today’s prices, but they volunteer their time to make L.O.P a safe and enjoyable place to live anyway.
If you can’t attend the Chicken BBQ, donations are always welcome to help fund our patrol. They can be made in the office at any time. Remember, these men and women are volunteering their time to keep you safe so, if you happen to see them out patrolling, give them a wave or a thumbs up for a job well done. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Leo Stevens Security Coordinator
As you probably know, we now have four security boats patrolling our lake on a regular basis. They are there to see that the no wake law is obeyed as well as checking for L.O.P stickers and keeping the lake safe from reckless boaters. They will be working with the Sheriff Department and the State DNR to report any unsafe boating.
Our annual Security Chicken Dinner will be held on August 7th at 5:00 PM. All proceeds from the dinner will go directly to fund the Patrol to pay for gas, cell phones, radios, hats and signs. Remember the members of the patrol only receive a small gas allowance, which really doesn’t pay for their gas at today’s prices, but they volunteer their time to make L.O.P a safe and enjoyable place to live anyway.
If you can’t attend the Chicken BBQ, donations are always welcome to help fund our patrol. They can be made in the office at any time. Remember, these men and women are volunteering their time to keep you safe so, if you happen to see them out patrolling, give them a wave or a thumbs up for a job well done. Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Leo Stevens Security Coordinator
Attention Dog Owners
It has been brought to the attention of many security patrol members that several members of our Association are allowing their dogs to run loose on Pontoon Island. This is in direct violation of the Association rules and regulations. As a result the following procedure will be strictly adhered too. If you are caught allowing your dog to run unleashed on Pontoon Island or common property, you will be issued one written warning. If you are caught a second time you will be brought before the Association Board to explain and have a possible sanction imposed upon you which could include being barred from using all L.O.P. amenities for up to one month. (This includes Pontoon Island). Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Leo Stevens
Security Coordinator
Maintenance
The past 6 months have been very productive as far as the maintenance around Lake of the Pines. The Annual Report goes into more detail.
I would like to thank the maintenance guys (Jon and Mike) for a job well done! I would also like to thank the many volunteers for their time and efforts. If you have seen any improvements around L.O.P, take a minute and thank the guys for their efforts.
In the future I will no longer be the Director of Maintenance, but it has been my privilege while I was. I was elected to a new position as Vice President and I look forward to serving you there. We do however have a new and very capable Director of Maintenance.
Gary Way
Vice President
Architectural
Hi to everyone here at Lake of the Pines. I’m having a hard time believing that it’s summer already, but it must be. Betty has been after me to write this article, and so, that means it’s summer. Let’s hope this one is a lot better than last year, weather-wise that is. We have already had more 80s than all last summer (I think, anyway) so that is a good sign.
I looked at last year’s article before sitting down to write this and decided that what I put in that one is worth repeating. If anyone is thinking of building a pole barn, garage, shed, addition, etc., please contact either me or the LOP office to get a permit. There are 2 more people besides me on the Architectural committee so there should be no delays in getting someone over to see you. My hope is people here at LOP think of this as a service we provide instead of us trying to “hassle” you. All three of us have read the covenants and also carry a copy with us so hopefully we can answer any questions you might have. The permits are free. It is a lot easier to do your addition, garage, or whatever, right the first time than put it up and find out you have to either move it or redo it.
That said; let’s get back to talk of summer. The weather is looking better, the pool has a solar heater, and we have the 40th LOP anniversary coming up in August. Hope everyone has a GREAT summer.
Dave Pohoda
Architectural
I looked at last year’s article before sitting down to write this and decided that what I put in that one is worth repeating. If anyone is thinking of building a pole barn, garage, shed, addition, etc., please contact either me or the LOP office to get a permit. There are 2 more people besides me on the Architectural committee so there should be no delays in getting someone over to see you. My hope is people here at LOP think of this as a service we provide instead of us trying to “hassle” you. All three of us have read the covenants and also carry a copy with us so hopefully we can answer any questions you might have. The permits are free. It is a lot easier to do your addition, garage, or whatever, right the first time than put it up and find out you have to either move it or redo it.
That said; let’s get back to talk of summer. The weather is looking better, the pool has a solar heater, and we have the 40th LOP anniversary coming up in August. Hope everyone has a GREAT summer.
Dave Pohoda
Architectural
Women's Club
Lake of the Pines Women’s Club had its first meeting on April 15, 1978. The club was founded by Louise Perry and had fourteen members. Louise told me that Erma Evans, a school teacher who lived on Woodridge Drive, wrote the by-laws and constitution. The Board at the time would not let the office give Louise any information. She had to go door-to-door telling the women about the club. The Women’s Club cooked for all the events. If they needed money they had to ask the Board for some.
Every month at the meetings they had a speaker, demonstration, bingo, games or a skit. Louise told me that they even had Mr. Coker from the funeral home come and speak about funerals. The original members of the Women’s Club were:
Louise Perry
Evelyn Scherwin
Mary Icler
Delores Webb
Carol English
Karen Meister
Georgia Bennett
DorothyHines Elsie Woodruff
Erma Evans
Mary Jane Eckert
Vera Oulette
Ruth Haney
Marlene Brown
We now have over 50 members. The Board and the office are very helpful any time we ask. We don’t have an activity every month, but we have many throughout the year. This last year we had:
Winter Carnival Breakfasts Halloween Boofet
Beat the Clock Dinner Thanksgiving Dinner Kid’s Christmas with Santa
MMI Picnic Cinco de Mayo Dinner Subdivision Garage Sale
Veterans’ Dinner
We had a lot of help from members of the Men’s Club for most of these activities and we would like to thank them – our “Honorary Members”. We would also like to thank Ted Mieczkowski for doing our events sign and the employees; Vicki Daniel, Jon Waters, Mike Chegwidden and Betty Lloyd for all of their help.
We purchased for Lake of the Pines in 2009/2010; a sprayer and a freezer for the kitchen. Along with the Men’s Club, we have purchased a warming oven and are in the process of buying a new sign for the entrance.
We have a meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Come join us!
Geri Shaw President/L.O.P Women’s Club
Every month at the meetings they had a speaker, demonstration, bingo, games or a skit. Louise told me that they even had Mr. Coker from the funeral home come and speak about funerals. The original members of the Women’s Club were:
Louise Perry
Evelyn Scherwin
Mary Icler
Delores Webb
Carol English
Karen Meister
Georgia Bennett
DorothyHines Elsie Woodruff
Erma Evans
Mary Jane Eckert
Vera Oulette
Ruth Haney
Marlene Brown
We now have over 50 members. The Board and the office are very helpful any time we ask. We don’t have an activity every month, but we have many throughout the year. This last year we had:
Winter Carnival Breakfasts Halloween Boofet
Beat the Clock Dinner Thanksgiving Dinner Kid’s Christmas with Santa
MMI Picnic Cinco de Mayo Dinner Subdivision Garage Sale
Veterans’ Dinner
We had a lot of help from members of the Men’s Club for most of these activities and we would like to thank them – our “Honorary Members”. We would also like to thank Ted Mieczkowski for doing our events sign and the employees; Vicki Daniel, Jon Waters, Mike Chegwidden and Betty Lloyd for all of their help.
We purchased for Lake of the Pines in 2009/2010; a sprayer and a freezer for the kitchen. Along with the Men’s Club, we have purchased a warming oven and are in the process of buying a new sign for the entrance.
We have a meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Come join us!
Geri Shaw President/L.O.P Women’s Club
Treasurer's Report
As we enter our 40th year as an Association, Lake of the Pines is looking good! The Board of Directors are making a lot of improvements. We are very aware of the cost of improvements and are doing our best to hold these down.
When you look at our balance sheet, it looks like we have a lot of money. As of April 30, 2010 our balance sheet showed that we had approximately $200,000.00 in the bank. Of this amount, $128,000.00 can only be spent in allocated areas (i.e. cabins, campgrounds, boats, etc.). This was voted on by the membership and the Board of Directors has no say in this matter. This means that 5/8 of our money cannot be used for the day to day running of Lake of the Pines. The Board spent many hours this past winter setting up a five year plan and a budget so that we can stay within our spending guidelines.
I would like to thank the Men’s and Women’s Clubs. They have purchased a warming oven for the kitchen and are in the process of buying a new sign for our entrance. Without their help, LOP would not have a lot of things that they have now. Thanks also goes out to our employees; Vicki Daniel, Jon Waters, Mike Chegwidden and Betty Lloyd for all the hard work they do.
Geraldine Shaw Treasurer
When you look at our balance sheet, it looks like we have a lot of money. As of April 30, 2010 our balance sheet showed that we had approximately $200,000.00 in the bank. Of this amount, $128,000.00 can only be spent in allocated areas (i.e. cabins, campgrounds, boats, etc.). This was voted on by the membership and the Board of Directors has no say in this matter. This means that 5/8 of our money cannot be used for the day to day running of Lake of the Pines. The Board spent many hours this past winter setting up a five year plan and a budget so that we can stay within our spending guidelines.
I would like to thank the Men’s and Women’s Clubs. They have purchased a warming oven for the kitchen and are in the process of buying a new sign for our entrance. Without their help, LOP would not have a lot of things that they have now. Thanks also goes out to our employees; Vicki Daniel, Jon Waters, Mike Chegwidden and Betty Lloyd for all the hard work they do.
Geraldine Shaw Treasurer
Ecology
In February I applied to the Michigan D.N.R.E. for a permit to replace the boat launching ramp on Pontoon Island and received the approved permit April 27th. The Board of Directors approved a motion at the June Board Meeting to replace the boat ramp starting the third week in October to minimize disruptions at Pontoon Island during the summer boating season.
This spring approximately 300 yellow perch, 100 channel catfish, and 320 walleyes were placed into the lake as a result of the generous donations to the game fish fund this spring. We also added an additional 20,000 flat head minnows into the lake. The minnows were paid for from the ecology funds and not the game fish fund.
Spraying of the boating channels and canal areas was done on the Tuesday after Memorial Day and a second treatment will be done again in the middle of July. Treatment for lily pads will also be done this summer again.
The Board of Directors were given a presentation about milfoil beetles at our last workshop. This is an alternative to chemical spraying in areas of the lake not already being treated for Eurasian Milfoil, but is costly and takes up to five years to show positive results.
Fred Coyle
Ecology Chairman
This spring approximately 300 yellow perch, 100 channel catfish, and 320 walleyes were placed into the lake as a result of the generous donations to the game fish fund this spring. We also added an additional 20,000 flat head minnows into the lake. The minnows were paid for from the ecology funds and not the game fish fund.
Spraying of the boating channels and canal areas was done on the Tuesday after Memorial Day and a second treatment will be done again in the middle of July. Treatment for lily pads will also be done this summer again.
The Board of Directors were given a presentation about milfoil beetles at our last workshop. This is an alternative to chemical spraying in areas of the lake not already being treated for Eurasian Milfoil, but is costly and takes up to five years to show positive results.
Fred Coyle
Ecology Chairman
We need your help
Many volunteers gather together to gather, split and stack firewood for our campers. They use their own equipment and rally together for fuel and time. In order for this to be able to continue, we ask that everyone that enjoys this benefit to please make sure to make a donation for this cause. In order for us to continue to provide camp firewood for our campers, we use the donations for equipment cost and fuel expenses.
Thank you,
Personnel
Summer has arrived, and what better place to spend it than HERE at LAKE OF THE PINES? The grounds look great and looking better every day; the campground is in good shape with lots of firewood for our camping guests, the beach is sandy and the water is warm! The Pool House has a new roof and combined with the new paint job last year makes it look "almost" new!
On the subject of the pool, you may not know that the company we contracted with LAST YEAR to construct solar panel racks and install the solar pool heating system continued to stall the construction this spring, and finally backed out of their contract with us, leaving us with the dilemma of "where do we go from here". We had absolutely no experience in constructing solar panel racks, how to orient them to collect the maximum amount of SUN during the pool heating season, or how to install the actual panels, the proper plumbing and control requirements, or even who to contact to find out.
Well, once again, we were very fortunate to have some extremely resourceful and talented people within our Association that were able to step up and take charge of this daunting task. And once again, I was thoroughly impressed with the solution you all can see next to the pool today. Although they would never agree to my publically giving them the recognition they deserve if I asked their permission to print this, I think you all should know that a group of L.O.P. volunteers, led by R.D. Watson, Gary Way and Dennis Way, aided by several other hard working men have gotten this project close to completion, and in MY opinion probably even BETTER than the contractor could have done any way!
Our employees will be attending a training class in Cadillac in July to re-certify themselves in CPR for adults, children & infants, as well as basic First Aid. This is one of the requirements of employment here at L.O.P., to be able to serve you better.
Mark Turner
Personnel
On the subject of the pool, you may not know that the company we contracted with LAST YEAR to construct solar panel racks and install the solar pool heating system continued to stall the construction this spring, and finally backed out of their contract with us, leaving us with the dilemma of "where do we go from here". We had absolutely no experience in constructing solar panel racks, how to orient them to collect the maximum amount of SUN during the pool heating season, or how to install the actual panels, the proper plumbing and control requirements, or even who to contact to find out.
Well, once again, we were very fortunate to have some extremely resourceful and talented people within our Association that were able to step up and take charge of this daunting task. And once again, I was thoroughly impressed with the solution you all can see next to the pool today. Although they would never agree to my publically giving them the recognition they deserve if I asked their permission to print this, I think you all should know that a group of L.O.P. volunteers, led by R.D. Watson, Gary Way and Dennis Way, aided by several other hard working men have gotten this project close to completion, and in MY opinion probably even BETTER than the contractor could have done any way!
Our employees will be attending a training class in Cadillac in July to re-certify themselves in CPR for adults, children & infants, as well as basic First Aid. This is one of the requirements of employment here at L.O.P., to be able to serve you better.
Mark Turner
Personnel
Future Planning
We had our first food auction last month and I believe it was a success. July 2nd we will have the second food auction. Hope you will join us at the recreation hall at L.O.P.
The monies that we make from these types of events, goes back into our community. We hope to be able to do this the first Friday of each month. We need your support, the products are good and we had FUN.
Steve Englehart
Future Planning
Please keep your membership information updated by emailing us at lakeofthepines@charter.net or call us at (989) 588-9304
Our website has been updated and has a lot of information on the changes that have been made to the Lake of the Pines. Please visit www.lakeofthepines.cc
Our website has been updated and has a lot of information on the changes that have been made to the Lake of the Pines. Please visit www.lakeofthepines.cc
L.O.P 40th Anniversary Bash Weekend
It's time to celebrate!! Lake of the Pines is 40 years old!!! Come join the fun August 7th and 8th!! Many activities planned for everyone of all ages. Lake of the Pines Chicken BBQ dinner is August 7th at 5:00 PM, take out is available. All proceeds for the Chicken BBQ go to the L.O.P Security.