Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Amber Town Hall

In attendance: Bob Haupt, Sandy Steckel, Shirley Salas, Frank Salas, Laura Hamilton, Jane Jesuale, Tony Swider, John Ochs and Gail Kowalski

Meeting was called to order by President Bob Haupt at 7:10 p.m. First topic was Annual membership meeting and potluck dinner scheduled for July 27 beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Amber Town Hall. Discussed who will handle children’s games… not definitely settled. Purchase of adults door prize.

Discussed election of officers at the annual meeting. All officers and board members present agreed to stay in their current positions. John Ochs said he and his wife Linda will assist Shirley Salas with her responsibilities as Secretary, as well as helping with the Newsletter which Shirley volunteered to put together. Gail Kowalski will nominate officers and board at the annual meeting.

Bob reported that we took deliver of ten gallons of fathead minnows on May 25. Assisted by Tony Swider and John Ochs, Bob distributed nine gallons around the lake and one gallon into a private pond with no other fish in it where we will attempt to raise our own minnows for future plantings. They are reproducing and Bob has already planted more minnows from the private pond.

The association will continue our lake survey with Westshore Community College. Although Dr. Helal is not currently in the area, Michelle McQuistan of the Mason-Lake Conservation District will work with us to study water samples. The study will not include aquatic plants at this time.

Discussed how we should handle money left over from the natural gas project. This will be brought before the membership at the annual meeting.

The newsletter will resume with Shirley Salas as editor. Since she already collects information for the website, she volunteered to extend the website into a newsletter. Frequency of newsletter is unclear at this point. Sarah James has the data base and will continue mailings. Jane Jesuale and Sandy Steckel will assist as they did in the past when Sarah wrote the newsletter.

Sandy reported that we currently have only fifty paid members. She suggested that publishing names of paid members might encourage more people to join the association. It was also suggested that the first issue of the newsletter include a survey to find out what residents feel the lake needs and what the association should do about it.

Bob asked how many people had read Chapter One of the DEQ booklet, “Developing a Watershed Management Plan for Water Quality” but most present said they do not have a copy. Shirley volunteered to pick up a dozen copies and bring them to the annual meeting.

Shirley Salas, Secretary