BLAISDELL LAKE NEWS
2002 FALL EDITION
Published by your BLPOA Board of Directors
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Vol. 2-02 October,
2002
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According to most reports, it was a restful
and enjoyable summer around the lake.
The weather was cooperative and, with the exception of those pesky
geese, it was relatively uneventful. We
sure don’t have a lot of gossip to report, anyways!
This edition of the News is published to
bring you up to date on BLPOA happenings, help you get ready for and through
the upcoming winter, and to preview the 2003 season. It’s never too soon to start thinking about
next summer!
“Fourth of
July” Highlights
The annual
Blaisdell Lake Flare Night went off without a hitch on July 5th and
added a lot of excitement and spirit to the holiday weekend. Of special note
was the after-flare fireworks show from the north end of the lake, around
Wright’s Beach. It was quite a show … in
fact it was spectacular! Well done,
folks … we’re all hoping for an encore next year!
Annual Meeting Report
The 52nd
BLPOA Annual Meeting was held at Camp Wabasso on August 3rd, with 57
members in attendance. President Gail Olson
concluded a busy and productive 2 years in office by presiding over the meeting
with her customary diplomacy and presence of mind. Gail took office in 2000 and her board’s
record of accomplishment in that period was truly outstanding. She has agreed to continue her service on the
board for another 3 years, so we will not lose the benefit of her leadership
and counsel. Sincere thanks and appreciation were expressed to her, on behalf
of the association. Congratulations,
Gail … and thanks!
Treasurer
Dave Hansen informed members that the board of directors approved the transfer
of $10,000 from BLPOA Savings to purchase 5 Lake Sunapee Savings Bank CDs. The purchase will enable these funds to yield
higher rates of interest and still maintain our access to them on a periodic
basis. The 5 CDs have maturity dates
ranging from 6 months to 3 years, with different interest rates based on
maturity.
The 2002-03 BLPOA
Budget, for the fiscal year 5/1/02-4/30/03, was approved by unanimous voice
vote.
Receipts:
Dues $1,600
Fund
Raisers 1,200
Raffle 500
Yard Sale 500
Flares 200
Total
Receipts: $2,800
Disbursements:
Water
Quality: Testing and Education $1,000
Administration 400
Printing
By-Laws 400
Achievement
Award 100
Dam
Registration 100
Dues
NH Lakes Association 100
Donations
(Bradford & Sutton Rescue) 200
Contingency 125
Total
Disbursements: $2,425
Net Receipts (over Disbursements) $375
Don Hall presented
the 2003 slate of officers and directors for election. The slate was elected,
by unanimous voice vote.
President: Dave
Donovan
Vice President: Chan Blodgett
Clerk: Dave
Young
Treasurer: Dave
Hansen
Directors (‘02-’05) Gail Olson
Moe
Geoffrion
Carrie
Godkin
President Gail
confirmed that we are officially a
not-for-profit organization, thanked Dave Donovan for his project
leadership, and reminded the membership that BLPOA dues, gifts and other
contributions are tax deductible.
There were some
other matters discussed at the meeting that are covered separately in this
edition of the Blaisdell Lake News … read on!
The new
By-Law booklet, just hot off the press, was distributed at the annual meeting.
Special thanks go
to Dave Hansen for leading the revision team, and a special tribute goes to our
resident artist, Gretchen Gudefin, for the unique and creative cover. We are really proud of their work and the
final product that represents us so well.
If you were unable to pick up your copy, then request one through the
clerk (BLPOA, PO Box 453, South Sutton, 03273)
Bill
and Marcia Keller, from the Lake Massasecum Association, were the keynote
speakers at the August 3rd BLPOA Annual Meeting. They presented a thorough and entertaining
milfoil education program, walking us through the efforts of their association
to recognize, treat and contain the spread of milfoil on their lake.
Milfoil is
currently found in more than 50 NH lakes.
There are 15-17 types of milfoil and only 2-3 of them present a problem,
including variable milfoil, which is right now confined to the north end of
their lake. The weed is pervasive and
insidious, growing up to 15 feet in height, often as much as 1inch per
day. Pieces that break off then produce
feeder roots that spread and grow. No
one understands how the weed propagates or how best to treat/prevent it, and
botanical research is just beginning (at Dartmouth). One thing is for certain; it takes everyone’s
effort to fight it!
Milfoil was
discovered (by the Kellers) at the north end of Lake Massasecum
association has
completed several years of harvesting, so far successfully preventing the
spread of the weed. Milfoil has been
spotted by their weed watchers in other areas of the lake, but has been removed
by divers.
The Question and
Answer period was spirited and helped to educate us. Some examples:
Vigilance is the
key! The Kellers felt Blaisdell is quite
fortunate not to have any public access, but reminded everyone that milfoil
is spread boat to boat and urged us to continue our education and
monitoring efforts.
We are looking
good! Bill Hallahan reports that the lake continues to test above average in
water quality, which is better than the typical NH lake. The board has increased the size of the
Conservation Committee, which provides some much-needed help to Bill and his
team and has sharpened the association’s focus on water quality issues. Education has become a key priority for the
committee and they are actively learning, building awareness, and taking local
action. Bill is a member of the Sunapee
Area Milfoil Attack Team (SMAT), which provides networking support and
education. Blaisdell is one of only 3 members
of the group that do not have milfoil, so the recognition and prevention
guidance is invaluable.
Our lake has 4
“Weed Watcher” teams that are active and vigilant: the Coes, the Malans, Nancy
Isaacson, and Dan Morrissey. Norm Forand
has provided the teams with special buoys for them to mark suspicious weed
growth areas.
Bill reminds us
that we all “have a piece of the lake” and asks everyone to help with our water
quality efforts. Support the
conservation committee; attend its meetings and even DES seminars. Help out the Weed Watcher teams. Above all, talk to guests and renters and
have them inspect/clean their boats before and after launching them in the
lake. Post private launch areas with
signage and have aquatic plant literature available, even for your neighbors if
needed.
Don
Hall reminds all boaters that the Boating Education Law is now in effect and
that, effective 1/1/03, there will likely be a fee for the Safe Boating
Course. The course helps prepare you for
the license exam, is currently free, and is available on line. You might want
to get your license prior to 1/1 and save some $ (there is a $15 fee for the
license itself). Please be sure to get a
copy of the new NH Safe Boating Booklet, which contains details on boating laws
and operation. It’s well done and
(finally) easy to read and understand!
Betty Blodgett
reports we have78 paid members to date.
This is about where we stood at the same point last year. 15 former members have not yet re-joined and
will be sent reminders. She and the
board want to stress to all just how important it is for our ranks to
grow. Much of our activity is focused
toward water quality and conservation, and water safety. This requires a lot of effort, but along with
increased effort, comes increased expense.
An educated membership ensures sound practices around the lake, a
growing membership ensures support for association efforts. Talk it up with your neighbors!
The board
considers association fundraising important, as long as it represents a
worthwhile goal in support of a specific need.
In general, we have to do some fundraising every year just to cover the
operating budget, since membership dues account for only 60% of needed
revenues.
We could raise
dues to cover all or part of the difference, but right now, we do not want to
pursue this option. Obviously then, we
encourage you all to participate in and support our fundraising activities so
that we can continue to maintain dues at their current level.
The
board expresses its thanks to everyone who took the time to participate in fund
raising efforts during the past year, and is especially grateful to those who
led them:
Bill
Hallahan
After its August
31 meeting, the board announced a 3-year fundraising plan:
2003
House Weekend
(It’s back by popular demand!)
2004
BLPOA
Yard Sale and Raffle
2005
BLPOA
55th Anniversary Picnic and Celebration
Dog House weekend
will most likely be held in mid-July, but we will make a formal announcement in
the spring edition of the News. It’s a
popular event, in fact a tradition for old-timers, so save some time on your
summer calendar! There will be no yard sale or raffle next year, to give folks
some rest and let anticipation build for ’04.
BLPOA
Raffle:
The first-ever
BLPOA raffle was very successful and netted about $750 for the
association. Betty and Chan Blodgett,
along with Peg Demone, supervised the winning ticket drawing at the annual
meeting and awarded prizes to: Dave
Donovan (area rug), Laura Hallahan (cord of wood), Erica Gross (Nantucket cards
and print), and Sheri Swinerton (pressed flower album and frame). We thank all of our generous sponsors, as
well as the board members who worked so hard to make it a success!
It was decided,
upon recommendation by the board and by unanimous vote at the annual meeting,
to lower the lake in the fall of 2003.
The recommendation was made for the convenience of the membership,
pursuant to By-Law Article II (D.).
Bruce Ellsworth explained that 6 boards will be removed, lowering the
lake an estimated 4’. The boards will be
removed around Labor Day ‘03 and will be replaced around Thanksgiving ’03. This
notice gives all member property owners on the lake enough time to inquire
about and obtain necessary wetlands permits for dock installation, repairs,
etc.
In general, all projects involving dredge, fill or
placement of new structures (e.g., docks) on or within the banks of surface
waters require a permit from the NH DES Wetlands Bureau.
The Comprehensive
Shoreland Protection Act is too long and complicated to extract in this
newsletter, so it’s best to say that the shoreline improvements or shoreline
work you want to do when the lake is lowered next year might well require a
permit, so it’ s best to inquire early and, if necessary, get your permit
issued in a time frame that meets your needs.
You may want to
check out the NH DES websites at www.des.state.nh.us/wetlands and www.des.state.nh.us/cspa to familiarize yourself
with rules and requirements, and even find an application if you need it. The best alternative might be to call Gary
Springer at 603-271-2147. Gary works in
the Shorelands Protection Section of the NH Wetlands Bureau and should be able
to answer any questions you might have.
Bruce Ellsworth
reports the dam continues in fine shape.
There are a couple of small leaks evident when the water is high, but
they present no problem. A further
inspection will occur when the lake is lowered next year. Bruce will notify the town of Sutton of our
plan to lower the lake so that public notice can be initiated.
Winter Is Coming!
Snowmobile Trails
Snowmobile trails on your property must be marked with signs for visibility and safety. Should you not want snowmobilers to use the access roads or trails on your property, post appropriate signage on both sides of the road or trail. Check with
NH
Fish & Game (603-271-3422) for signs and information.
For those of you using ice bubblers to prevent winter damage to your docks, remember that town and state licenses are required. The town license is 50 cents and you should check with the NH Marine Patrol on the other. Bubblers must be posted with visible signs for the safety of those using the lake. Your bubbler should run intermittently and not be left on 24 hours a day, since the open water area around your dock need not extend far beyond its posts.
The board wants to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season, followed by a happy, healthy and fulfilling new year!
Please feel free to contact
any officer or board member with questions or suggestions:
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’02-’03 Board of Directors
Contact List President: Dave
Donovan 938-5306 Gail Olson 988-2446 Vice President: Chan Blodgett 938-2965 Moe Geoffrion 938-5922 Treasurer: Dave Hansen 938-2717 Al Byam 413-253-2588 Clerk: Dave Young 938-2066 Jane Pratt 938-5448 Dam: Bruce Ellsworth 938-2323 Mike Gudefin 938-2997 Membership: Betty Blodgett 938-2965 Norm Forand
938-5843 Water Quality: Bill Hallahan 938-2339 Peg Demone 781-344-2363 Water Safety: Don Hall 938-2525 Floyd Mundy 938-2331 Emeritus: Estelle Rooney 938-5362 Carrie Godkin 203-888-7287
You can write to BLPOA at our business address: PO Box 453, South Sutton NH
03273 |