CANADIAN LAKES, MI
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
Our Amish Neighbors
Canadian Lakes and ArtPrize
Another Great Summer of Fishing
Growing the Game canadianlakes.org
ST IVES GOLF COURSE - $689,900 Stunning Home & Setting / Endless Pool 5 Bedroom ~ 5 Full, 1 Half Bath MLS #17014140
LAKE LAURA - $319,900 Outstanding Views ~ Finished Walkout 4 Bedroom ~ 3 Full Bath MLS #18028174
SPECTACULAR HOME - $299,900 Updated & Pampered to Perfection 3 Bedroom ~ 3 Full, 1 Half Bath MLS #18009356
LAKE LAURA - $269,000 Great Lake Views – Finished Basement 3 Bedroom ~ 3 Full Bath MLS #18024354
BIRCHES CONDO - $259,900 Great Floor Plan ~ Finished Walkout L/L 3 Bedroom ~ 3 Full Bath MLS #18022668
HIGHLANDS GOLF COURSE - $259,900 Pristine Home Overlooking 9th Hole 4 Bedroom ~ 3 Full Bath MLS #18029708
HIGHLANDS GOLF COURSE - $259,000 Beautiful Home Overlooking 7th Fairway 4 Bedroom ~ 4 Full Bath MLS #18002442
BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED - $239,900 Open Floor Plan ~ Seasonal Lake Views 3 Bedroom ~ 2 Full, 1 Half Bath MLS #18033402
SPACIOUS CHALET - $189,900 Open Floor Plan ~ Finished Walkout L/L 3 Bedroom ~ 2 Full Bath MLS #18032843
UNDER CONSTRUCTION- $174,900 Affordable Ranch w/Split Floor Plan 3 Bedroom ~ 2 Full Bath MLS #18021288
ROYAL GOLF COURSE - $169,900 Golf Course & Pond View ~ Walkout L/L 2 Bedroom ~ 2 Full, 1 Half Bath MLS #18007943
HIGHLANDS GOLF COURSE - $114,000 2 Fireplaces ~ Walkout L/L 3 Bedroom ~ 2 Full Bath MLS #18002370
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Sue Kempton Kathleen Adams Todd Lincoln Michael Roberts 231-638-3498 231-250-3197 989-560-4884 989-506-4275
Don Dean Robert Manzagol 231-250-2027 231-349-8096
James Lowry 231-202-1014
Jim Bradley 231-598-4640
Marshall Henry Tammy Staunton Rick Kempton 231-598-0838 231-408-8589 231-349-8300 Broker/Owner
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c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
5/8/18 11:46 AM
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AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018
Dear Members, It’s been a successful summer so far, but we are not ready to let go of the fun just yet! Members are holding on to the activities and memories that summer in Canadian Lakes provides. As we grow as a community, we all can enjoy the abundance of busy amenities such as our lakes and golf courses. More and more people are grabbing a piece of the good life and making it their own. So, with the last months of summer on the horizon, we hope you enjoy this Canadian Laker. In this issue, we have tried to capture the essence of the area and the people living here. We found local talent, new events, outstanding volunteers and even some cool insight into the lives of our friends just outside of Canadian Lakes. With Art Prize approaching in September, we talked with Marilyn Rutkowski, a Canadian Lakes member who will be showcasing her art during the event. We met with and learned from our Amish neighbors about their unique lifestyle. We all can agree that the sight of August on our calendars can cause us to hold on to summer as tightly as our young tubers, but don’t worry, there is still plenty of time to enjoy our beautiful summer oasis before we begin seeing the colors of fall. So sit back and enjoy this issue of the Canadian Laker and continue to plan more summer fun. As always, we would love to hear your stories and see your cool spaces. If you have a story idea, send it to thecanadianlaker@gmail.com. We love hearing from you! Best Regards, Estelle Molitor, Marketing Associate
Hailee McElhaney (left) and Sam Pollack (right) Photo by Chuck Richardson
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Dan Bollman Associate Broker
23I-629-2680 Over 30 Years Experience | dan@century21whitehouse.com
Lakefront Main Canadian
$449,000
Riverfront Lot Canadian Lakes
Lakefront Lot Canadian Lakes
$19,900
$29,900
SOLD
Home and Pole Barn Mecosta Area
$139,900
40 acres Stanwood area
$299,900
Canadian Lakes Lake Access
$124,900
Canadian Lakes Golf Front
$216,900
Buying or Selling? PLEASE Call ME! SOLD
Lakefront Lake Mecosta
$373,900
Canadian Lakes Lake View
School Section Lake Area
$223,900
St. Ives Golf Course Canadian Lakes
$299,900
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C21_DBollman_FP_0809CL.indd 1
$59,999
Lakefront Lot Lake Laura/Canadian Lakes
$25,000
Lakefront Lot Lake Laura/Canadian Lakes
$25,900
T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
Lakefront Lot Tullymore Area
$29,900
7/27/18 8:45 AM
CONTENTS
August/September 2018 24
Another Great Summer of Fishing
26
Doing Good In and Around Canadian Lakes
27
Canadian Lakes Men’s Senior Softball Team Takes on Area 5 for the Second Year
30 32 34
Minimizing Shoreline Erosion
36 41 42
Our Amish Neighbors ArtPrize Gets Ready for its Next Decade Growing the Game Drinking Wine in Pure Michigan Rock-n-Roll with Bob Mangazol
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Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation
In Every Issue
8 From The General Manager
10 From The Board 11 CLPOC Nominating Committee
12 Lot Default
Equalization
14 Facilities and
Compliance Notes
15 Busy as Bees 16 From The CLA 20 Focus On A
31 Yard Waste 38 Life on Our Links 40 Mobile Watch 44 CLPOC Board Minutes
52 Calendar of
Area Events
54 Let’s Get Social 56 Art Expression
Community Member
Publisher Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation 10690 Pierce Road, Canadian Lakes Michigan 49346-9761 P 231-972-7651 • F 231-972-8884 canadianlakes.org Production & Advertising SVK Multimedia & Publishing PO Box 586 Hudsonville, MI 49426 616.379.4001 SVKmp.com Editorial Art and Editorial provided by Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation Estelle Molitor thecanadianlaker@gmail.com Photography Chuck Richardson and Candy Parnell Volunteer Staff Gary Knudson, Josh Howard Deadline Dates Feb/Mar Issue - Dec 27 Apr/May Issue - Feb 26 June/July Issue - May 4 Aug/Sept Issue - July 6 Oct/Nov Issue - Sept 6 Dec/Jan Issue - Nov 6 Submissions Canadian Lakes sanctioned groups and outside organizations are encouraged to submit articles, pending approval by CLPOC Board. Submit all copy as an email attachment to Editor at thecanadianlaker@gmail.com. Credits are noted with articles and photos. Guidelines for Articles Submit in Microsoft Word®, double spaced, preferably in Calibri font 11pt. or Arial font 11pt. For complete guidelines, contact thecanadianlaker@gmail.com.
22 Focus on Fishing
Guidelines for Photos/Graphics Photos: Digital high-resolution photos or photo prints saved to CD. Low resolution photos usually not accepted. Graphics: Submit graphics in .pdf or .jpg format.
On the cover: Carolyn Allingham, LPGA Professional, watches as Megan Wilcox swings her club. Cover photo: by Jessica Slendak
Get Social With Canadian Lakes canadianlakes.org members.canadianlakes.org The Canadian Laker is owned and published bimonthly by the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation (CLPOC) as its official magazine and is mailed at standard rate to each property owner of record to the address on file with the corporation. The Canadian Laker is a trademark of the CLPOC. Copyright ©2018 by CLPOC, all rights reserved. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content published in The Canadian Laker, the CLPOC cannot assume any responsibility for content, warranties, and representations made in advertisements herein. Advertisements or sponsor recognition appearing in The Canadian Laker is not an endorsement or recommendation of the advertiser’s product or service by the CLPOC. All warranties and representations made are solely those of the advertiser and any such claims regarding an ad’s content should be addressed directly to the individual advertiser. CLPOC reserves the right to refuse publication of any editorial content, advertisement, or unsolicited material.
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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
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231-972-4813 231 972 4813 www.emsboatstorage.com
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From The General Manager
I GREG BABBITT General Manager gbabbitt@clpoc.org
hope this finds all of you enjoying your summer and spending lots of time with family and friends in our great community. I am also hopeful you enjoyed some of our traditional Fourth of July holiday activities that just wrapped up as I write this. Please keep in mind, these holiday events would not be possible without the many volunteers who spend their time and energy making everything so successful. I personally thank each of you for all that you do. I also want to thank my staff for all their efforts. They are always willing to do the additional tasks and work any extra hours required to provide the needed assistance so that these events run smoothly. COMMUNITY PROJECTS A couple of projects planned for this year that I want to keep you aware of are the East Royal Bridge replacement, tentatively scheduled for shortly after Labor Day, and the Royal Deck replacement, tentatively scheduled for this fall/next spring. My staff and committees continue to work on these. Royal and Alpine tennis court re-surfacing will be tentatively occurring in late July or early August per our contractor. MAINTENANCE We were able to complete our roadside mowing, and the gravel roads received their second brining for the season, all in time for the holiday weekend. Roadsides will be mowed once more prior to Labor Day weekend. We will continue the summer with other routine activities including roadside tree/brush trimming, common area mowing, beach maintenance, etc. Also, by the time you read this our asphalt road overlays/repairs for the year should be completed in the various areas we have identified. The Truxor lake maintenance machine has been busy this summer cutting and
OFFICE 10690 Pierce Rd. Canadian Lakes, MI 49346-9761 Phone: 231-972-7651 Fax: 231-972-8884 8
removing weeds from various lakes and ponds. This has been a great tool in certain areas as it allows us to remove the weeds from the lake thereby not adding to the bio mass/muck at the bottom of the lake. ADMINISTRATION My staff continues to verify compliance with Deed Restrictions and the Rulebook. This is something we have to do but please keep in mind, the last thing my staff or I want to do is to have to contact you regarding a violation. Therefore, we need you to be mindful of your compliance with the various requirements. My staff has been busy verifying that vehicles on common property have the proper identification in a 2018 member sticker or guest pass. If not properly identified, Safety has been applying a “sticky� ticket to the vehicle. Please make sure that all your member and guest vehicles on common property have the proper identification. My staff also will be completing our annual review of common area docks and their condition. If your dock is found to be in violation of our rulebook, section 3.01, you will receive a letter. I would ask for your cooperation in making any and all requested corrections to your dock. IN CLOSING Unfortunately, with Labor Day weekend approaching it signifies that our busy summer season is coming to an end with cooler temperatures ahead. Some members will begin thinking about warmer destinations and the kids will be complaining because their summer break was too short. In the meantime, I hope each of you will enjoy what is left of summer before we all begin to prepare for fall activities. I appreciate each of you continuing to be safe and courteous as we all enjoy this amazing community.
OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
MEMBER SERVICES Jill Warners Beth Michalski Paige Terry memberservices@clpoc.org
Let’s get your HOME Featured Here!!
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MAIN CANADIAN LAKE
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#18031101 $199,900 This 4 bedroom, 2 bath home is perfect for year round living or a vacation getaway. There are so many things to love about this property, but the first thing you will notice is the amazing view of the lake!
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MAIN CANADIAN LAKE
~est. 1969~
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#18019413 $149,900 Your lake access, swimming area and private dock are steps away! Home features a very open floor plan with 3 bedrooms and a loft that could be used for an additional bedroom, 2 bathrooms and main floor laundry.
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ST.IVES
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#17042366 $14,900 Build your dream home on this tranquil no-wake lake that comes with a Tullymore and St. Ives Resort membership. Come join Michigan’s largest most successful lifestyle and resort community.
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ST.IVES
#16046642 $12,000 Enjoy all of the amenities of Canadian Lakes! This lot is located on the 11th hole, approximately 100 yards from the green.
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www.bigrapidsrealty.com 202 S. State St, Big Rapids, MI 49307 · 231-796-4871 · brr@bigrapidsrealty.com
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From The Board
Hello Fellow Members, Written by: Vice President Janice Watts
CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS board@clpoc.org OFFICERS President Steve Wilcox doctorw.clpoc @gmail.com Vice President Janice Watts janiceleewatts2002 @yahoo.com Secretary Beckie DeYoung larrybeckie@aol.com Treasurer James French jbf.clpoc@gmail.com DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Paul Szymkowicz paulepi1@sbcglobal.net Jim Brakora jbrakora@hotmail.com James Swartzendruber jswartz744@yahoo.com John Colley jacclpoc@gmail.com Dan Altier altierdt@gmail.com CLPOC BOARD MEETINGS Regular Monthly Board Meeting Fourth Saturday 9 a.m., Highland Haus Workshop Board Meeting Second Wednesday 4:30 p.m., CLPOC Office Conference Room 10
I
sn’t this a vibrant time of year? We are all so fortunate to have ownership in a community like Canadian Lakes. Our aesthetically beautiful grounds are balanced by having a professional, enthusiastic staff and a membership that is considerate and charitable. I am not only grateful for all Canadian Lakes has to offer but am cognizant to not underestimate what is entailed to maintain a high-quality environment like ours. We are a property owners corporation which means that all lot owners in good standing have an invested stake in Canadian Lakes. With having corporate/community ownership comes the responsibility of keeping in the forefront the best interests of Canadian Lakes today and in the future. There is not a place for “me” or “you” statements -- this is a “we” statement; no finger pointing at the CLPOC Board of Directors or the operational staff when challenges are set before us but rather addressing what “we” can do to protect what we have and continue to thrive. Our vision statement presents that Canadian Lakes shall be characterized by: • its natural beauty and its desirability as a place to live, • its outstanding recreational and social activities, • its financial soundness and sustainability, • and its protection of property values through disciplined growth and development and maintenance of a high-quality infrastructure. This is our fundamental vision which we should continually strive for. The purpose of mentioning the above is to place a foundation as I segue into our upcoming November ballot. Over the last year and a half, the AdHoc Funding Committee has reached out to the membership with various forms of communication to receive membership input while sharing information on the development of our next funding proposal/s. I speak confidently when I say we have responded to all suggestions, concerns, and input. If a member has chosen not to engage in being part of the funding process, it is their prerogative; but I am comfortable in T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
stating that our committee has done and will continue to do all we can to engage all of you. Between now and November I am reaching out to every member in good standing and recommending you become informed regarding the funding proposal/s and to vote come November. Our next funding fee schedule, whichever plan the membership supports, will undoubtedly bring some controversy. Whenever there is an increase of fees, there are members who stress that they will be put under additional financial strain. Compassionately, I speak for the board when I say that we go to great lengths to meet the needs of the membership without compromising the collective bigger picture--Canadian Lakes’ future. Each month, Operations and the CLPOC Board discuss economical ways to achieve our needed goals going to great lengths to keep costs down. There may be strong statements made by a few vocal members about the board without ever attending a board meeting or solicitating information from our General Manager, Greg Babbitt, to get the answers or reasons why we have chosen a certain path in our governing process. Fortunately, the vast majority of members acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and professionalism exhibited by the Board and staff. It is understandable and expected that we, as individual lot owners, will not always agree on every issue. I accept that and hope you do as well. I also hope that there is an equal understanding that every corporate decision made will have been determined to be the best recourse and action for our corporation and community moving forward. In the end, come November, whatever future funding is determined by the majority of members’ votes will be respected by me and my fellow Board members. We all have a personal stake in Canadian Lakes. As a lot owner, placing your vote is not only needed but is a responsibility. If you have a question about our future funding, please email the Ad Hoc Funding Committee at clpocfunding@gmail.com. Your feedback is always considered, appreciated, and valued.
Lend Your Expertise to the Continuing Success of the Canadian Lakes Community By: Paul Szymkowicz
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very calendar year, three of the nine CLPOC board seats become available to any Canadian Lakes member in good standing. Sometimes an exiting board member may choose to run for another term or decide to take a well-deserved break. This is an outstanding opportunity for members that are interested in the future of their community to step up to the challenge of becoming a CLPOC board member. This year, the three open director seats have a three-year term starting on January 1, 2019 and ending on December 31, 2021.
To become a candidate, you need to submit a couple of items. First, a petition must be signed by ten members in good standing. This is due at the CLPOC office by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 31. Along with that petition, you will need a maximum 100-word profile. After submitting a hard copy to the office, please also submit a digital copy of your profile to clpocnominating@gmail.com. Details of the complete nominating process are available by logging onto the CLPOC website. www.members. canadianlakes.org The Nominating Committee is available to answer any question that you may have. Please email them at clpocnominating@gmail.com.
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• • • • •
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CHAIR Paul Szymkowic 586-596-7191 paulepi1@sbcglobal.net BOARD MEMBER Jim Brakor 231-972-0357 jbrakora@hotmail.com Jim Swartzendruber 989-284-9732 jswartz744@yahoo.com Committee Member-at-Large Robert Destrampe 231-972-0511 rdhunter57@charter.net Marc Hernandez 231-349-2184 hernandezm@aol.com Doud Kiersey 231-735-7160 im4winter@gmail.com CLPOC Main Office 231-972-7651
BUYING OR SELLING? WANT PROFESSIONAL RESULTS?
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NOMINATING COMMITTEE
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7/17/18 9:20 AM
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Lot Default Equalization Written by: James French CLPOC Treasurer
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or the last eighteen months the finance and ad hoc funding committees have been working to gather input from the CLPOC membership in regard to establishing a new five-year funding plan that would start in Fiscal 2020. They have distributed a significant amount of information to the membership through various communication methods. One of those tidbits of information relates to the need for an annual “Lot Default Equalization” adjustment and the realization of that fact has caused many members to complain. The basic problem identified is that members of the CLPOC don’t want to pay for others who do not uphold their end of the bargain. When we all took possession of our Canadian Lakes lot or lots we should have been made aware that there would be some financial obligation that we were expected to cover.
T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
Following the creation of the CLPOC in 1995 it was obvious that there would be ongoing financial obligations that needed to be funded by the members of the community. That fact continues to this day and is highlighted by the current discussion related to the currently proposed five-year funding plan. CLPOC, since its inception, has always experienced the loss of lots due to members’ default on their property taxes to the State of Michigan. This condition was escalated in the late 2000’s and early teens due to the national economic situation as more than seventy lots defaulted yearly. That trend is gradually slowing but continues to be a wound that is difficult to heal. What lot defaults means is that each year there are fewer members in good standing that are paying their annual fees. Since the only two sources of revenue are the amenities that produce income and the membership fees, the declining number of paying members significantly impacts the CLPOC ability to operate. Each year since 1995, the funding has been adjusted to account for the declining number of lots or paying members and that is what is known as the “Lot Default Equalization” adjustment. There seems to be confusion among the membership that this adjustment accounts for those that are considered delinquent in payment of their fees rather than defaulted lots. That is not the case as CLPOC actively pursues those that are not paying their yearly fee but continue to pay their State property tax and don’t ultimately default. Those delinquent members are being actively and aggressively pursued through small claims court which has generated much needed past due funds to date. I hope this article provides you, the member in good standing, with clarity in regard to the “Lot Default Equalization” issue. It has always been with us but is now something that all members should be aware of and understand how it impacts your annual fee.
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Facilities and Compliance Notes
New Home Construction in Canadian Lakes CASEY SMITH Facilities and Compliance Director csmith@clpoc.org
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ew home construction is on the up-swing here at Canadian Lakes! With the resale housing inventory lower than previous years, members are turning to building on vacant lots. This is great news as there is always a buzz of excitement and activity that follows a new home construction. From builders and tradesmen to local lumber companies, excavators and landscapers, a variety of local trades are busy and makes our community more viable. Canadian Lakes was in a dry spell for new home constructions in 2014 and 2015 with zero being built. Then in 2016 we had three new homes built, 11 new homes in 2017, and now in 2018 we have already approved six new constructions. This news is very encouraging to the growth and viability of our wonderful community. Not only is new construction on the rise but also additions of every kind! A multitude of addition requests have been approved from additional rooms to enclosed porches, workshops to additional garage stalls. The building trade is alive and well here in Canadian Lakes. This flourish of building activity is great; not only is it updating the look of our community, but it is increasing our property values. I invite each of you to drive through our great community and check out the updates to the neighborhoods. Members should be very proud to own a piece of the good life!
New home on West Royal
New construction on Ryans Run
New home on Westlawn Drive
New construction on Donegal Court 14
T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
Marketing
Busy as Bees JESSICA SLENDAK Marketing Director jslendak@clpoc.org
S
how of hands. Who’s sad that summer is practically over? Both of my hands are up – straight up and as high as possible. Although I have never traveled the country during the summer months, I will say that Michigan has the best summers. I don’t need to travel to be sure of this because everything about summer is right here, not only in Michigan, but also right here in Canadian Lakes. Boating, swimming, fishing, bonfires, camping - the list can go on forever. We are truly blessed. I am able to enjoy all of these features of summer close to home because normally the marketing department in Canadian Lakes slows down a bit during the summer, believe it or not. Sure, we have more visitors to Canadian Lakes and more inquiries than the winter months, but all marketing and advertising plans are set in the late fall, early winter for the next year’s season. By the time summer fun is to be had, everything is set and in place. However, this summer has been different. To say that things have been busy is an understatement. I believe Canadian Lakes has reached a pivotal point and we need to embrace this time of growth. As you saw in the last
edition of The Canadian Laker, Estelle Molitor is now a part of the Marketing team. Estelle was Marketing’s (unpaid) intern last spring so it only made sense that this gem of person who is already familiar with our marketing be part of the team. So, why is the Marketing Department so busy, you ask? I’m not one for lists, and lists make for a boring read, so I’ll just say that we are busy communicating with current and future members every moment of every day through emails, website, magazines, radio, meetings, search engine marketing, event marketing, Instagram, twitter, Facebook, budgets….oh wait…..no lists! The Marketing Department has pushed our brand and used the best media available to shout “Canadian Lakes, Michigan – the GOOD life” as loud as we could and as the budget allows. We are now at a point where we will expand our plans. It’s our intention to bring even more awareness to Canadian Lakes, not only with more advertising, but also with promotions and partnerships. Promotions with iHeart media will become bigger, better and perhaps more frequent. Partnership with area builders and contractors will be visible. Advertising
in more markets will be done and on different media. Event marketing and partnerships with other business will be more prevalent. Plans are being made for a few internal marketing initiatives involving current, new and prospective members. So, all this planning is happening a lot sooner than previous years because there’s a lot more planning to do. No one else knows Canadian Lakes like you, the members. You’ve seen the lakes in the dead of winter, you’ve seen the golf courses as the snow starts to melt, and you’ve loved the area all the same. Great things are happening here at Canadian Lakes. Lots are selling, homes are being built and remodeled, and people outside of Canadian Lakes know who we are. We all can agree that we want to see the area prosper, but that will only happen with your vote this fall. We encourage you to be an informed and educated member by voting in November! As for all this planning that’s going on early for 2019, we can’t wait for you to see it all. 2018 initiatives will be engaging, informative, enticing, exciting and of course, super cool. Stay tuned, Canadian Lakes members for double awesomesauce!
GET SOCIAL WITH CANADIAN LAKES Marketing Director Jessica Slendak jslendak@clpoc.org Marketing Associate Estelle Molitor emolitor@clpoc.org Assistant Webmaster Lee Ann McCormick canadianlakes.org
canadianlakes.org members.canadianlakes.org twitter.com/canadian_lakes facebook.com/campcanadianlakes facebook.com/canadianlakes facebook.com/castleincanadianlakes facebook.com/royalgrille facebook.com/theroyalcanadianlakes Instagram: canadianlakes_mi c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
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From The CLA BY EARL CHRISTENSEN President 313-204-0877 eande751@sbcglobal.net
Hi Everyone, As you will read in this issue of The Canadian Laker, the Canadian Lakes Association is wrapping up this summer with some great activities. • The CLA Annual Ice Cream Social will be held in August at the Castle. Musical entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment. • The incredible Voices of Freedom will be appearing this September to get our toes tapping, our blood stirring and increase our feelings of pride to be Americans. This biennial event is the only time we ask for a freewill donation. As long as the weather is cooperative, we will hold the concert at the Reuther Pavilion. If not, we go to the Castle. Please remember, while we are permitted to B.Y.O.B. at the Pavilion, due to our Royal Grille Liquor License (which is tied to the Castle), we are NOT allowed to B.Y.O.B. at the Castle. These two events are open to all CLPOC members, their family and guests. • Also in September is the very important CLA Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Meet the Candidates which takes place following the monthly CLPOC Board Meeting at the Highland Haus. You will get to hear what the CLA has accomplished this year and what our plans are for 2019. You will also have the opportunity to listen to and speak with the community members who are running for a position on the CLPOC Board of Directors. It’s an important event to attend in person.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President - Earl Christianson Vice-President - Lee Ann McCormick 616-706-7313 | jlmccorm@att.net Secretary - Sharon Schmidt 517-483-3182 | schmidts55@yahoo.com Treasurer - John Loy 616-481-4000 | jloy@carlsonwagonlit.com COMMUNICATIONS Jo Preston-Alex 847-754-8137 | jolalexclakes@comcast.net Judy Watson 313-614-3016 | watsoj21@outlook.com Mike Burke 231-359-1114 | mburke890@charter.net DIRECTORY WHITE PAGES/MEMBERSHIP Lee Ann McCormick Jo Preston-Alex
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Watch for more detailed information on these events in the Lite Lines, the CL News and the Member eNews. I want to take a minute and discuss the CLA Board of Directors. During any given year we plan and execute approximately 18 different events for the Canadian Lakes community. A few are for CLA Members only, but most are open to all CLPOC members, their family and guests. All Board members plan for and work on the major events and most of the small ones; however, some Board members have additional duties to perform. Take a look at the types of positions we have. president vice-president secretary treasurer advertising sales newcomers membership volunteers medical supplies Lite Lines editor sanctioned clubs social activities signage/billboards purchasing communications directory Yellow Pages website directory White Pages commemorative brick sales
DIRECTORY YELLOW PAGES Earl Christianson Bill Kerwin 231-972-8918 | billkerwin35@gmail.com DIRECTORY AND SALES Bill Kerwin LITE LINES Elaine Christianson 313-204-7751 | eande751@sbcglobal.net MEDICAL SUPPLIES Sharon Schmidt Elayne McCollum 231-972-3695 | gemccollum@chartermi.net Bob Teeter 231-972-0072 | bobteeter1@gmail.com NEWCOMERS Earl Christianson Elaine Christianson
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PURCHASING John Loy Mike Burke Bob Teeter SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES - SIGNS Tom Gawenda 231-557-4776 | btgawenda@charter.net SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Elayne McCollum VOLUNTEERS AND KITCHEN Robin Bielby 231-823-4302 | rbielby3@gmail.com Judy Watson WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR Lee Ann McCormick BRICK SALES Liz Dean 231-972-8576 | ldean710@charter.net
None of these positions can be effective without the cooperation and interaction with some of the other positions. I won’t take the time or space here to describe what each position does, but believe me when I say there is more to being secretary than just taking minutes, more to being responsible for volunteers than just jotting down names and so on. Some of our positions require more than one person, like the Medical Supply Room. There are four people listed as contacts on the back of the Lite Lines who will help you get your needed item or accept donated medical supplies; although any Board member would be willing to help. When you come to an event like the Summer Picnic or the Winter Carnival, you see games, pony rides, wagon rides, the clown show, crafts, friends visiting and having fun, kids using the ice rink and/or snow tube hill or jumping in the bounce house. And then there’s all the food consisting of hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips, lemonade, ice cream and cookies. All of this is free to any CLPOC member, their family and guests. This doesn’t even take into consideration who organizes the kitchen help, makes sure we have enough supplies, contacts appropriate vendors who provides the music and makes the arrangements for the entertainment for kids and adults! Who makes the signs and hangs them? And who does the planning for numerous other avenues of entertainment and educational programs each month, monitors our sanctioned clubs, who delivers, picks up and mails the Lite Lines? CLA Board members… that’s who. Before I go any further, I do need to point out that when it comes to large events like the Summer Picnic and the Winter Carnival, we can always count on some of the members of this community to step up and volunteer to work at these events to make sure that everything goes off smoothly and as planned. For that, the CLA Board of Directors will always be extremely grateful. The CLA has been around since
1975 under a couple different names. If you look at our By-Laws, you will see that we were established to “Promote friendship and goodwill among the Canadian Lakes Property Owners and to sponsor social functions and activities for the entertainment and education of the property owners, their family and guests”. Year after year, people have stepped forward to join the CLA Board and help this organization fulfill its purpose.
To be honest, I’m a little concerned at this point of my tenure. We are not getting the response from our great community to join the CLA Board that we should be getting. Every year we lose a few Board members (due to our by-law stating the length of tenure one can serve), so every year we look for new people to fill the void. So why is it so difficult to get CLA members to volunteer for the Board? I have heard reasons like: I just retired and
Canadian Lakes Association Events BY JUDY WATSON
It’s Time for the CLA Annual Ice Cream Social!
The Canadian Lakes Association invites you to join us at the Castle on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 from 7 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. You don’t want to miss this treat! Vanilla and chocolate ice cream will be served with a choice of toppings and it’s FREE. Yummy! Musical entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment. This event is open to all CLPOC members, their family and guests. Please note that The Royal Grill/Castle liquor license prohibits bringing any alcohol into or on the premises. There is Music in the Air
Wonderful music will be provided by the “Voices of Freedom” at the Reuther Pavilion from 7 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2018. “The Voices of Freedom” is an acappella group of men and women from Grand Rapids who sing a variety of songs but give special attention to Americana and patriotic songs. This group performs in Canadian Lakes every other year and this is the only time that the Canadian Lakes Association asks for a free will donation. In case of bad weather, the concert will be moved to the Castle. Please remember that the Royal Grille/Castle liquor license prohibits bringing any alcohol into or on the premises of the Castle. Canadian Lakes Association Annual Meeting and Meet the Candidates
The Canadian Lakes Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 11 a.m. in conjunction with the CLPOC Meet the Candidates, sponsored by the Canadian Lakes Association. This will follow the monthly CLPOC Board Meeting at 9 a.m. at the Highland Haus. You will meet the Canadian Lakes Association Board of Directors and hear about what we accomplished so far in 2018 and our plans for 2019. Immediately following the Canadian Lakes Association meeting, the CLPOC Nominating Committee will introduce the members of the Canadian Lakes Community who are running for a position on the CLPOC Board of Directors. You will have the opportunity to listen to and ask questions of the candidates. c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
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I’m not ready to do anything right now; I work part time and I don’t have the extra time; I have too much to do; and it goes on and on. We have people on the Board now who work full time, do other volunteer work and have an active life outside of the Board, yet they do all that they can for this community. I was very pleased awhile back when I read an article about the increased number of young families moving into Canadian Lakes. The person acknowledged the many activities the CLA provides for the children (the Easter Egg Hunt, the Kite Flying Day and the Halloween Trick or Treating inside the Highland Haus are a couple that come to mind), as well as adults. So if we are getting more young families, then we should be getting more young Board members. I’m sure one of the first responses to this would be “I work during the day and I don’t have time for the meetings” and this is very true. However, there are no rules that dictate that CLA Board meetings have to be held on a Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. They can be held on a Tuesday night or any day or time that the current Board members would agree to. Considering that we are all volunteers and have outside interests as well, I think there is a better way to divide the workload. With the help of the current Board, I am looking into restructuring the Board of Directors and changing things a bit so that the workload is divided more evenly. The CLA Board of Directors has always been a group of 12 community volunteers. Because it has been difficult over the past few years to get volunteers to join the Board, I am now looking to increase the number of Directors up to 15. By having a Board of this size, I think it is possible to spread out the work more evenly and have multiple people trained in more than one area. By doing this, we are not putting complete responsibility of a particular job on one person, but rather a team. We have one meeting per month that lasts approximately two hours. Twice a year (for the Winter Carnival and the Summer Picnic), we have additional meetings to plan and tie up loose ends in order to have a successful event. As President, I ask our Board members to attend each meeting and as many CLA events as possible. If a meeting or an event is missed, it is not the end of 18
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the world. Again, we are all volunteers and the CLA is not a fortune 500 company. You won’t lose your job. I have heard questions like “why don’t you have this or that” or additional comments regarding the music that is chosen for our New Year’s Party or other CLA events. Join the Board and make some changes. We do have guidelines that we follow, but change can be good. As I have stated before, this is a fun job that we all take seriously. You do a lot as a volunteer CLA Board member, and it’s worth it when you see the good things that this organization brings to the Canadian Lakes community and the appreciation of its members. I may be biased, but I think we, the CLA, are a valuable asset. Here’s what I am thinking. I would like to get the current Board members together some evening this fall with people interested in joining the Board to discuss responsibilities in more detail. Prior experience of working on a board is not necessary. There are only a few qualifications. First you have to be a CLA member, not just a member of the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation. You will need to fill out a CLA Board Member Application and most importantly, you need to be able to make a commitment to serve at least one term of three years. A second term can be served if desired. Although this is a very definite concern, it won’t stop the CLA from doing what we do. If we cannot fill open positions on the Board, we may have to cut back on some of the events we offer. You can only do so much with a limited group. But if you want to keep all these activities going for you, your family and guests and help to make the CLA even better than it is, join us. You don’t have to wait until the fall to discuss joining the Board. Contact me and we can set up a time to get together. My number is on the back of the Lite Lines. If you don’t get the Lite Lines, then you are not presently a CLA member (but that can easily be rectified). If you are not presently receiving the Lite Lines, you can contact me at (313) 204-0877 or eande751@sbcglobal. net or our Membership Director, Jo Alex at 847-754-8137. My best to you all, Earl
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Focus On A Community Member
TRICIA DONEGAN
FRAN VOCI
NANCY WALLACE
Canadian Lakes Members Receive the 2018 Mary Pine Award. BY HEIDI LITOBAR AND ELAYNE MCCOLLUM
E
ach year the Mary Pine Elder Citizenship Award is given by the Senior Enrichment Day Committee to nominated Mecosta County seniors who ordinarily don’t receive recognition for their volunteerism. The following Canadian Lakers were among the five recognized during the luncheon on Senior Enrichment Day in June in Big Rapids: Tricia Donegan (nominated by Elayne McCollum) is the Hub Director for Mid-Michigan Honor Flight. Officially recognized in 2013, the Hub has flown nine missions taking over 587 Michigan veterans to Washington, D.C. for a “day like no other.” Taking two flights per calendar year, at an average cost of $110,000, fundraising is a key component to their success, one Tricia is very versed in. Her passion and respect for the veteran community has given her the name “Hub Mama” because she is genuine in her words and shows it in her actions. To her, “it’s all about the veteran.” Tricia has a servant’s heart which is modelled after her grandmother who in-
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spired her. From selling Girl Scout cookies, to helping grandma at the church fair, to running the Capital Campaign for the expansion of the Morton Township Library, she brings over 50 years’ experience to the table. She also has volunteered with God’s Helping Hands and the CLA producing their Memorial Day Program for seven years in a row. Tricia always offers 100 percent of her time and talents to causes that move her deeply. Tricia is accepting this award on behalf of her fellow volunteers – they are the many unsung heroes in her book. Nowhere but in America could you find a network of citizens willing to devote their time and talents to raise up their fellow man and reach out in their communities. Tricia is a proud American and humbly accepts this award knowing there are many others just as deserving. Fran Voci (nominated by Heidi Litobar) is a “woman of faith,” who lives her faith not only at her church, but throughout Mecosta County. If there is a need, Fran will PHOTOS BY HEIDI LITOBAR
be there (usually behind the scenes) helping to find solutions. Fran is a tireless promoter of the Senior Center. You will find her encouraging folks to work out, have lunch, play cards, buy lovely cards and bags and become a driver for Meals on Wheels. She knows these are worthwhile endeavors because she has done or is doing all of the above. Fran has been active in both CLA and CLPOC. Presently Fran is on the CLPOC Marketing Committee and is the person in charge of keeping the History of Canadian Lakes. The Morton Township Library is fortunate to have Fran as a promoter. She was one of the three Core Members of the Capital Campaign to raise money for the addition to the Library. She is a past officer and active member of Friends of the Library where she works in the Used Book Store and on every sale or fundraiser they have. GFWC- General Federation of
Women’s Clubs - is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Fran has been a member of the local club GFWC Mecosta-Heart of the Lakes since it was formed 10 years ago. She has been an officer at the local, district and state level. Fran is also active in God’s Helping Hands, New2You, Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity, Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, WISE and local veteran’s groups. Somehow, Fran finds the time to be a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. As one friend described her, “Fran has a good heart!” Nancy Wallace (nominated by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program – RSVP) has helped in CLA events, and works for CLPOC on The Canadian Laker and Play for P.I.N.K.
She has worked with students at St. Michael School. She has been an American Red Cross volunteer for twenty years and works at blood drives in the area through RSVP. She made a number of teddy bears for Project Hero Hugs, a small organization that presents the bears to veterans returning from Washington, D.C. on their Mid-Michigan Honor Flights. Nancy has been making garments for disadvantaged children for nine years. She donates these items to Project Starburst here in Big Rapids, and to Help4Kids/Backpack Buddies in Myrtle Beach, SC. She spends upwards of 70 hours a month on average sewing for these boys and girls. She sews almost every day, completing well over 100 garments a year. If anyone has any fabric or other sewing supplies no longer needed, contact Nancy – she will put them to good use!
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Fishing DALE DOEPKER Questions about fishing in Canadian Lakes or the Fishing Club, call Dale Doepker, dtroutman97@aol.com, 972-8663
20th Annual Bass Tournament Results We had 17 boats entered in our 20th Annual Bass Tournament Saturday, June 23. The tournament started at 7 a.m. and lasted until 2 p.m. Sixteen of them weighed in the limit of five largemouth bass. The first place winners, Will Ford and his son Tim weighed in five fish at a total of 22.87 pounds. They also had the largest bass at 6.58 pounds. Second place winners Carmen and Austin weighed in at 19.63 pounds which would have taken first place every year except 2016. The second largest bass was 5.40 pounds by Justin Courtright. The top five places for total weight of five fish all recorded over 16.7 pounds, and the four largest bass were all over five pounds. Both the largest bass at 6.58 pounds and the highest total weight of five bass at 22.87 pounds were new records for our 20 years of Bass Tournaments. These results again indicate that our bass fishery is very healthy, growing every year, and the continued practice by all good fishermen of “catch and live release of bass” is helping. It was great to see several young kids in the tournament this year, even in three of the top five teams. Thanks again to Jason Snyder for directing this tournament. Results of 17th Annual Young Angler’s Contest, Saturday, July 7, 2018 The Young Angler’s Contest was very successful again this year, with over 110 kids participating in the fishing and awards. We gave out 110 gift bags, 27 awards, 32 prizes in the raffle, along with the picnic lunch of fish, hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks. The Canadian Lakes Fishing club thanks the volunteers who gave of their time and effort to make this annual event a success. We also thank the 30 raffle and gift donors. Included in the gift bag, which ev-
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ery kid received, was an MDNR magazine, MUCC Tracks magazine, small flag, some miscellaneous fishing items and a Ziploc bag for their fish entry. A surprise this year was entry of the largest bluegill ever entered in this contest and a new record for all Canadian Lakes at 11 ¼ inches and 1 pound, .06 ounces, by Halie Dionne. 14th Annual Bullhead Tournament August 10 & 11, 2018 This year, the 14th Annual Bullhead Tournament will be August 10 and 11. Fishing will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, August 10 and will end at 2 a.m. Saturday, August 11. Fishing for the tournament can be in any of the Canadian Lakes water bodies, although shore fishing is usually best. It is $10 a person to enter. It will be free for kids 6 and under with separate prizes. All bullhead are to be brought to the Pines Pavilion on Saturday, August 11 at 11 a.m. where they will be weighed, recorded, cleaned, cooked and eaten by tournament participants. Four cash prizes will be given for the most total weight and largest bullhead that are nine inches and over only. For more details, check out the Canadian Lakes Association website and the kiosk in the CLPOC office. Send entry fee and name(s) to Sue Glazier at 8339 West Royal. To contact her, call 231679-1938. Bullhead are very prolific, easy to catch and clean, and in my opinion the best tasting fish in our lakes. So come join in the fun of the 14th Annual Bullhead Tournament. Fishing Fun Nights, August 23 Bass & September 27 Pike. We have two fishing fun nights coming up in the next couple of months. August 23 will be 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will focus on bass. September 27 is 4 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will focus on pike. To join, check in by the start times at Pierce Beach, then fish un-
til end time. It will cost $6 for Canadian Lakes Fishing Club members and $8 for others. It’s free for kids 16 and under, but with separate prize. When we have the measure-in and prizes for longest fish and most total inches of legal size fish, there will be pizza and refreshments. All Canadian Lakes members, family and guests are welcome. If you cannot come with a boat, someone can likely take you on theirs. All bass or pike are to be measured, recorded and released immediately. 15th Annual Pike Tournament, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be our 15th Annual Pike Tournament. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Friday, September 14. Eligible are Canadian Lakes members, family and guests. Any number may be in a boat, but this is an individual tournament. Entry fee is $10 each, free for junior anglers 17 and under. The tournament will start with a meeting at 8:45 a.m. and end with a party at 3 p.m. both of which will be at Pierce Beach on West Canadian Lake. Only artificial lures allowed and one rod per fisherman, trolling allowed. Fishing will only be allowed on the main chain of Canadian Lakes, from boat or shore. All pike and muskies caught are to be measured, documented on a form provided, and released immediately. (honor system) Refreshments and pizza will be provided at 3 p.m. Cash prizes will be given to those who paid the entry fee for the longest pike or muskie, second longest, most total inches of pike 24 inches and over and most total pike and muskie any size. Get your $10 and name to Jeff or Natalie Abel, 9325 Edgewater, 904753-2596 by September 14 or in the Fish Club mail slot at CLPOC office by September 13. Bulletins with full details available on the CLA website or in the office kiosk. Annual Big Fish Contests Both the Youth Big Fish and Largest Fish of the Year contests have been running all year, from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018. There is one
entry form for both. If it is an entry for the Youth Big Fish Contest, 14 years and under when caught, the information for the angler must be filled in as to age, etc. Every youth who enters will receive a trophy, regardless of length, so long as it is for a species trophy they do not already have. If it is an entry into the Largest Fish of the Year contest, the fish must meet the listed length requirements for that species to be eligible. All entries will be eligible for the Largest Fish Contest trophy and $10 award, if the minimum length is met. The entry forms are available on the web site and at the CLPOC Office kiosk. Keep track of your catches and take photos if possible, so you can enter them by the deadline of September 30, 2018. Remember to release live all bass, all pike over 24 inches and muskies. Little Pine Island Salvation Army Youth Camp This year, Canadian Lakes Fishing Club members and a few others traveled the 50 miles to teach and assist kids catching fish for 13 days this summer at the Little Pine Island Salvation Army Youth Camp. The Fishing Club furnished all the tackle and bait and assisted over 120 kids to catch many bluegill, several bass and a few turtles. Thanks to the 16 or more men and women who volunteered six hours of their day multiple times, at their own expense, to help these kids, many of whom had never fished before.
Still, the most frequent law violation observed by boaters on our lakes is the 100 foot rule. Michigan Boating Law requires: “vessels and anything they are pulling, at higher than “No Wake” speed, must stay clear at least 100 feet from any dock, anchored or moored boat, marked swimming area or person in the water.” Please be sure to stay aware of this law. Watch out for Loons Unfortunately, we have only three baby loons on our Canadian Lakes lakes this year. One on Lake of the Clouds and two in the East Lake nest. On Far West Lake, they nested twice but abandoned them both times. Boaters, please stay at least 100 feet clear of all loons in the water. Excessive disturbance can cause them to abandon our lakes. It has been a bad loon year for the entire Mecosta County, with only nine surviving loon babies reported.
Lake Stewards Observations c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
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Another Great Summer of Fishing I
t’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of another summer at Canadian Lakes. I’ll open my tackle box when the fishing season ends, and it will surely stir up memories and emotions. It will look much different than it did in May, too. Yes, my tackle box is completely organized in May. My deep-water lures are in the top rack. I have all sizes hooks designated in their own slot, and various weights and bobbers are arranged in order from smallest to largest. The bottom of the tackle box has my tools, spools of extra line, a few rags (neatly folded), my fishing license, and some rigs that don’t quite fit in any of the trays. Excitedly, I commented to myself, in May, “boy oh boy, I can’t wait to try that shallow-water lure that floats on the surface or that lightup bobber so I can fish after dark!” Yet I don’t dare look in my tackle box, today, and I know by October (when my fishing season ends), everything - and I mean everything - will be in the bottom of the tackle box (nothing will be neatly organized in the trays by then) and I will have added an assortment of rubber worms, candy bar wrappers, a beer can, lures I’ll never use because I’m not fishing deep-ocean, and I’ll find my wallet I thought I lost on Fourth of July weekend when I fell off the dock with both arms full of flotation devices, rods, a net, and a cooler (I should’ve made two trips). That new driver’s license cost me $157. Oh. Shhhh. Please don’t tell my wife I found my wallet. She Jimmy Kowalewski
BY: DON KOWALEWSKI
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completely bought my story that I was mugged by pirates and that’s why I don’t take her fishing - because it’s too dangerous! I love fishing at Canadian Lakes, but I can hear you asking how that could be given the chaos of the season I just described. Not a single thing I’ve said so far sounds charming or relaxing. Despite the chaos, fishing at Canadian Lakes is like my tackle box in that is has something for everyone and every situation. Young and old. People new to fishing or wanna-be professionals. Worm-hook-and-bobber types to pike and bass enthusiasts. Canadian Lakes can accommodate your most grandiose plans, but if you don’t have a plan, don’t worry, the various fishing clubs and the Canadian Lakes board of directors will make your summer of fishing memorable. Canadian Lakes has tournaments on holiday weekends for the kids complete with hundreds of donated prizes,and that explains why I have more rubber crickets than I could use in a lifetime. (Thanks, kids! Love you!) Volunteers clean hundreds (maybe thousands) of bluegill on Fourth of July weekend when the kids compete. Families come out by the hundreds for the free hotdogs and freshly cleaned and fried fish. Maybe you spent your year-end bonus or your tax refund and opened a credit card to buy the fishing boat of your dreams. If so, Canadian Lakes has a foggy, weedy, magic spot for you at sunrise and sunset when it’s “no wake” out on the water. Grab your phone and Snapchat or Instagram what you caught so all your high-school buddies and co-workers will be jealous. Or, if you’ve ever pictured yourself sitting under a shady tree with a line in the water, all by your lonesome, nodding off while birds and frogs sing you a lul-
laby, Canadian Lakes has that, too, with miles and miles of available shoreline and shady trees, far away from the wife and kids. Oops. No. I meant far away from the boss and the office. (Hi, dear! Love you!) What does all this have to do with my tackle box? Remember, on Memorial Day when I put my boat in the water, I had a grand plan for the season. I told myself I’d learn to catch walleye and pike (I watched hours of YouTube how-to’s). I was going to get serious about catching bass and figure out why my tangle-free lure, when I use it, always gets tangled in weeds. I was going to keep a journal and photo log of my record-setting catches. May turns to June, then into July, and before you know it August is ending and we’re into September and I’ll be looking back on a season where I lost my wallet, my daughter accidentally dropped a rod off the boat when a wasp flew by her head (I’ll never get that rod back and it cost me my entire tax refund ...and why don’t fishing rods float?!). I never got a nap. I got horribly sunburned
on the Fourth of July and didn’t fish at all that weekend. My tangle-free lure got so tangled I had to cut the line and lost it forever (that lure cost me my entire bonus). I can’t find a thing in my tackle box (what with the dozens of candy bar wrappers in the way), my trolling motor hasn’t started since early August, and the 21-inch bass I caught? I didn’t snap a picture. I swear. It was huge! Yet, I spent hours fishing with my son. The retirees cleaned every last fish and everyone at Canadian Lakes ate like kings. I have a hilarious photo of me, in the water, with all my fishing stuff floating around me when I fell off the dock, and my kids laugh to the point of tears telling that story. That photo made it to Snapchat and Instagram. I guess it was a good year. Next year, I’m going to do it better and take my fishing to the next level. Thankfully, Canadian Lakes will make sure the fishing is always good.
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Doing Good In and Around Canadian Lakes BY ESTELLE MOLITOR
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here is always a variety of opportunities for members of Canadian Lakes to volunteer and spread the good life. Sometimes that may be thorough a clean up project or helping spread cheer during the holidays. For some recipients, volunteerism drastically changes their lives. One example of this is Jen and Zac, who have found lots of support and love from the volunteers of the Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity. Jen is a single mother working in the Big Rapids School system. She loves the area and it has been a home to her and her son Zac for many years. Even though Big Rapids has been a perfect place for them, they never had a home to call their own. Jen has not been able to find a home she can purchase or buy due to the calendar year of school. Jen does not get paid due to the school calendar year over the three months of summer and regardless of her good credit and record, she was not able to get a loan. She and Zac were forced to rent. That was until Habitat for Humanity was able to help. After hearing from a friend about the help Habitat can provide, Jen applied for and went through their financial counselling program. Mecosta County’s Habitat for Humanity then met with Jen and after multiple discussions, it was decided that a new house build was in line for Jen and Zac. With Habitat’s help, the bank was able to issue a loan and the plans began for their new home. In June of T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
this year, the official ground breaking took place and construction has been underway. Along with the “sweat equity” Jen and Zac will put into building their new home, volunteers will be a crucial part of making this a reality. Habitat for Humanity has been an amazing avenue for many Canadian Lakes members to give to the county. Habitat’s very own president Lee Wolken is an involved Canadian Lakes member. Lisa Barnum is also very involved as the organization’s Community Outreach Director. Lisa says volunteering has been an amazing experience for her, “you are very humbled when there is such a great need. You take for granted a lot of things. It’s a very humbling experience.” Even more members of Canadian Lakes are volunteering in the organization and on the board. There is more than just home construction as a way to volunteer and help. Anyone can volunteer their time in the ReSale Store, a store that helps raise funds for Habitat by accepting donated items and reselling them. Others can help with the Critical Home Repair Program which helps restore and revamp homes in the area for families in need. There is also the Veteran Program and Habitat Helping Hands. With a guiding vision of “A world where everyone has a decent place to live”, Mecosta Habitat for Humanity will continue to be a significant helping hand in the community for people like Jen and Zac.
Canadian Lakes Men’s Senior Softball Team Takes on Area 5 for the Second Year BY ESTELLE MOLITOR
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he athletes of the Area 5 Special Olympics softball team will be coming to Canadian Lakes to play the Canadian Lakes Men’s Senior Softball team for the second year in a row on Tuesday, September 18 at 6 p.m. at Legacy Park. Last fall, the Canadian Lakes team received a call about an opportunity to play the Area 5 softball team. There was no hesitation and an impromptu game was put together. Besides the fact that our very own Canadian Lakers fell short of a victory, they had such a fun time that they want to do it again this year. The first game took place in Big Rapids. Family members for both teams watched a fun game filled with smiles. This year, Canadian Lakes will have the home
field advantage. The team wants to invite the whole community to the game. Come, bring a chair and snacks, and cheer on your favorite players. The game will be free of charge. Special Olympics Michigan offers 24 sports to its 27,745 athletes. Area 5 serves 69 athletes in the counties of Osceola and Mecosta. Area 5 athletes compete in 13 sports including poly hockey, aquatics, volleyball and more. Come join the fun!
Micki Armon
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Minimizing Shoreline Erosion N BY JOEL STEENSTRA, LAKES MANAGER
one of my family members responded when I asked, “What do you want to do this summer?” After all, it was February and we hadn’t even seen the sun in weeks, let alone had any indication that summer would ever actually return again. They didn’t realize that I was both seriously interested in making some summer plans and also attempting to escape the building cabin fever threatening to turn our quiet evening into something out of the Donner Party saga. Well, we survived and summer is now in full bloom so hopefully, like my family, you are crossing off items on your summer bucket list. While you’re out there enjoying “the good life,” I have a couple things I would love your help on with our efforts to protect lake water quality and your property values. Minimizing Erosion: Erosion allows aquatic plant producing nutrients to enter the lake as well as reducing the depth of the lake and creating navigational hazards. Removing eroded sediments from the lake is incredibly expensive but actions to minimize erosion are often inexpensive and fairly easy to implement. Following are a few things lakefront property owners can do to minimize erosion: Keep beach areas realistic in size and use natural stone to reduce erosion and provide unique habitat. I have purchased field stone very inexpensively from local Amish farmers. It is outstanding for erosion control and provides critical shoreline habitat for aquatic critters. Why spend all summer raking a beach that is larger than you need? C.L.P.O.C. maintains a number of beautiful beaches perfect for swimming. Establishing shoreline buffers will improve runoff water quality as well as minimize erosion. The natural vegetation in shoreline buffers acts to slow down runoff water, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil and for pollutants to be removed through deposition or plant uptake. Buffers can be composed of planted native vegetation designed to enhance the aesthetics or they can be established by simply allowing existing vegetation to grow unimpeded. An
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unmowed strip of natural vegetation along the water’s edge 20-30 feet wide is ideal but even a few feet are better than nothing. Mulching leaves and grass clippings on lawns increase soil organic matter, increasing the infiltration rate and moisture-holding capacity of the soil. Consider mowing your grass at a height of at least three inches; your lawn will require less maintenance too. Replacing turf with shrub beds, gardens, and flowerbeds will increase rainwater filtration. Rain gardens (small depressions in lawns that capture runoff from roofs and driveways) are becoming increasingly popular. Consider relocating roof gutter downspouts away from impervious driveways and sidewalks. Be mindful of your grass clippings; try to keep them out of the lake and out of hard paved surfaces off which storm water drains into the lake. Bag or tarp your tree leaves along shoreline and paved areas. If you burn them, do it as far from the lake as you can. Light leaf cover is great to mulch directly onto your lawn. Insure that all grass clippings and other plant debris stay out of the lake. During new construction or putting in a new lawn, be sure silt fences are in place and functioning properly. Conserve ground water. The more groundwater withdrawn, the more depressed the local aquifer becomes, lowering the lake levels. One of the big water wasters is inefficient lawn watering. Most experts recommend watering in the early morning is best. Canadian Lakes is unique in that non-lakefront property owners are often just as lake active as their riparian brethren. They can help reduce erosion by upgrading to a floating marina (dock) slip and adhering to “no wake” zones. Additionally, they can keep an eye out for erosion on common areas and contact us if they spot anything that needs to be addressed. Purple Loosestrife: Despite the marked success of purple loosestrife control efforts within the Canadian Lakes development, a handful of flowering
adult plants still remain. Given that there are so few plants left around the shoreline to threaten ecological stability, we have opted to utilize treatment dollars on higher priority ecological risks. This means we need your help! When the remaining plants flower (see photo) in late July and August, we are asking any willing volunteers to please pull and dispose of any plants you encounter by bagging or burning them. Uprooting adult plants is a tough task, but unless the entire root system is removed, the plant will grow back next year. Mowing or weed whacking does not remove the root system so plants return the following season. If you are not able to pull up the entire plant, remove as much as you can. By uprooting entire plants, we can continue to reduce the purple loosestrife population. The population has been limited to shorelines of the main lakes with the exception of a few small patches on Lakes of the Clouds and Lake Laura. Please refer to http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/downloads/ais/fs-97-501_purple_loosestrife.pdf or the archives of the lake manager’s blog at http://summitclpoc.blogspot.com/ for more detailed information. If it is the cumulative total of each individual property’s almost immeasurable nutrient contribution to the lake each
year that fuels aquatic nuisances and water quality degradations over time, then by doing the “little things” to minimize or remove those nutrient contributions, each individual can have a big positive impact. The most cost-effective means of aquatic plant and algae control is to reduce nutrient inputs and erosion. I hope to see you on, in or near the water soon, and never hesitate to call (616) 245-3818 or email mail@ summitlaboratory.com with any questions or comments.
Be on the lookout for the distinctive pink-purple flowers of Purple Loosestrife along the Main Lakes shoreline this August. Plants with flowers like these and angular, not round stems are very likely Purple Loosestrife. (Photo: Joel Steenstra)
Canadian Lakes Yard Waste Site Information As open burning of yard wastes is not allowed in Canadian Lakes and to preclude the dumping of these wastes on neighboring lots and common areas, the yard waste site was established to provide CLPOC members in good standing with a place to dispose of their residential yard waste free of charge. The Yard Waste Site is located on the south side of Pierce Road between 110th Ave. and Tullymore Dr. The Yard Waste Site is OPEN every Wednesday and Sunday, 10 – 4p.m., April through November. For access to the Site at other times contact CL Safety at 231-972-8555.
To gain access you will need a current CLPOC ID, vehicle sticker, or guest pass. Contractors doing yard maintenance for members may also use the facilities, but they must provide the CLPOC ID, guest pass, or the lot number and member’s name to gain access. Items allowed to be brought to the Yard Waste Site include tree and shrub branches and limbs less than 4” in diameter and plant-based materials normally associated with residential yard maintenance such as grass clippings, leaves, and discarded mulch. Garbage, including food scraps such as rinds, peels, cores, etc., campfire ashes, and yard waste containers are NOT allowed to be left at the site. Please dump your yard waste as far off from the access road and prefc a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
erably on top of rather than alongside previously deposited wastes. This helps to maximize the amount of yard waste that can be accommodated before the need for costly waste push backs. Wood chips may also be obtained by CLPOC members on an as available basis. These wood chips, when available, are located at the far southwest corner of the facility. Thanks to all the dedicated Yard Waste attendants who volunteer their time to ensure this facility is only used by those authorized and that the rules are followed. Should you have any questions related to the Yard Waste Site please contact Roger Stobert, Yard Waste Coordinator, 231-972-1232 or spankky@charter.net. 31
Our Amish Neighbors BY ALAN LEE
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Most of us have seen the Amish horse and buggy heading down a road here in Mecosta County. However, did you know that the local Amish came to Mecosta County in the 80’s and of the original 7 families, they were all here by 1984? Today, the families in our neighboring community total almost 150 . On average a family consists of 10 people—husband, wife and children. They live a Christ-centered life, study both the Old and New Testament in German, and currently are drawn into 7 Church Districts. A Church District is established when a District exceeds a specific size and is subsequently divided. During this division, new church elders and leaders are selected, lines are redrawn for
the Districts and life continues. German is spoken in church and in the home, however, in school, children are required to learn English and classes are taught in English. Just as we have multiple townships within our county, the Amish have various communities around our state. Our neighboring Amish boundaries are roughly Buchanan Road to the north, County Line to the south, 200th Avenue to the west and 80th Avenue to the east. Our Amish neighbors abide by federal, state, county and township rules, ordinances and laws. They too pay taxes to their township, just as we pay ours. They also support their own school districts and have special education classes. While they do not make a special trip to go to a restaurant in Big Rapids or other location, they do enjoy getting some fast food once in a while and certainly when necessitated while traveling. Our Amish neighbors appreciate a ride into town and are thankful for public transportation. If you have ever thought you would enjoy being Amish, please know that in order to join, for starters, you must give up your car, mobile devices, electricity and air conditioning. Watching the Tigers or Lions play or even listening to them on the radio is not permitted. You will also have to live a christian-centered life, and most of all, in this writer’s opinion, understand that as long as you are able bodied and of sound mind, you will be required to work and contribute to the betterment of the family and community each and every day. Barn raising is a community event, and while each family does some type of work/business, they are not exclusive, as supply and demand is a core belief with these neighbors. As mentioned, Amish do pay taxes and have bank accounts. They laughed at me when I suggested they had boxes of money buried in the fields. They do get diesel and fuel deliveries to run their engines that power belt-driven equipment. Some use windmills to power well pumps. However, those that produce milk-related products use belt-driven equipment as they cannot be dependent on the wind. Their diet is primarily meat, fruit and
vegetables, and they do a lot of canning. This includes fruits and vegetables, plus venison. However, to my surprise, they have numerous ice houses, where they store winter ice. Most of the blocks weigh about 70 pounds, and to my amazement some of the ice houses have ice that is over two years of age. Three families this past winter cut 2000 blocks of 70-pound ice from their pond to ensure they made it to the next winter. As of right now, they are confident they will have ice remaining come January. Amish businesses make, sell, grow and construct many different products. They have millwrights, farmers of flowers, fruits and vegetables, shed and chicken coop builders, furniture builders and more. You can even contract them to clean out your beach area, or ask them to do just about any job you want to pay for. They will take a check in certain circumstances, but prefer to work with cash. They also do bank transfers for larger scale buyers/projects. They work hard to ensure their Produce Auction is successful. The Produce Auction is open to everyone. Our Amish neighbors appreciate your understanding of their horse transportation and your patience when driving by them. Yes, they have conditioned themselves for the elements of Mother Nature , and yes they do make some mighty warm blankets too. They wish each and every one of us a blessed day. c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
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ArtPrize Gets Ready for its Next Decade: Introduces Project 1, Shifts to Biennial Schedule CONTENT AND PHOTOS CREATED BY ARTPRIZE.
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ArtPrize revealed plans for a new citywide public art project, slated to take place in alternate years, beginning in 2019 titled “Project 1 by ArtPrize.” Concurrently, the organization announced that the ArtPrize event will be shifting to a biennial schedule following its tenth year this fall, returning for its 11th edition in 2020. “Since its inception in 2009, ArtPrize has been an evolving experiment. Our job is to continue to push the bounds of how we engage the public in conversation about art and why it matters,” said Jori Bennett, ArtPrize Executive Director. “With the incredible support of the community, we are now in an exciting position to again be the accelerant for conversation about art and creative expression.” “For the last decade, ArtPrize has infused the City of Grand Rapids with unparalleled energy, staging world-class exhibitions that have engaged over 3 million visitors from near and far with contemT h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
porary art,” said Rosalynn Bliss, Mayor of Grand Rapids. “This next evolution of the event will generate new ways for us all to be inspired and challenged, to come together as a community and deepen our connection.” In 2019 and in subsequent years, a single artist or small group of artists will present a dynamic citywide public art project. Project 1 will take place in September-October 2019 at sites in downtown Grand Rapids, and will include education and cultural programming that is free and open to the public. The entire cost and accompanying programming will be funded by ArtPrize with the support of its donors and sponsors. “As a counterpoint to the vast array of artworks vying for attention during ArtPrize competitions, Project 1 will invite visitors to slow down and engage with large scale immersive work,” said Kevin Buist, ArtPrize Artistic Director. “The artist or artists will present a temporary, focused
Canadian Lakes and Art Prize Included in the talented line up of artists at Art Prize this year is our very own Marilyn Rutkowski. This year will be Marilyn’s second time in the event, the first year being 2015. This year, Marilyn’s piece Pollution Evolution will be in Studio D 2D in the Harris Building. Be sure to check out her art and support a fellow Canadian Laker.
activation that will respond to the city’s history, community and sense of place.” As ArtPrize shifts to a biennial schedule, the series of Projects will be presented in the fall of each alternating year: · 2019: Project 1 · 2020: ArtPrize 11 · 2021: Project 2 · 2022: ArtPrize 12 · 2023: Project 3 “We’re thrilled by the new creative and community opportunities that Project 1 presents, and the platform it offers to develop collaborative programming inspired by a citywide art project,” said Dana Friis-Hansen, Director and CEO at Grand Rapids Art Museum. “ArtPrize’s move to a biennial schedule will breathe new energy into the event, allowing venues space to continue to create exciting exhibitions on a grand scale.” “Grand Rapids Public Schools’ partnership with ArtPrize has engaged thousands of students in contemporary art experiences, and we’re looking ahead to 2019 and Project 1 with anticipation,” said Teresa Weatherall Neal, Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools. “This change will deepen our work together as we seek to inspire our community’s next leaders, a new generation of artists and art lovers.” ArtPrize announced these changes at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park atop Grand Rapids Project X (1974), an asphalt earthwork by the
American sculptor Robert Morris. ArtPrize staff and board members were joined by Founder and Board Chairman Rick DeVos, as well as Grand Rapids community leaders and cultural partners. The piece, a several acre “X” inscribed in a hillside, marks an important milestone in the history of public art in Grand Rapids and nationwide. Additional details about “Project 1 by ArtPrize,” including selected artists will be announced in early 2019. Now in its 10th year, ArtPrize distributes $500,000 in cash prizes by public vote and expert jury, making the event the world’s largest art competition. More than 500,000 spectators take an active role as judge and critic to decide the public vote, a format that will continue in 2018 and
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beyond with the biennial ArtPrize schedule. ArtPrize is slated to return to Grand Rapids, Michigan for its tenth iteration this fall, from September 19-October 7, 2018. Artist registration closed earlier this month, and over 2,100 artists or artist teams seek to show their work at more than 190 venues across the city. Returning to the event will be several past ArtPrize winners, including Ran Ortner—who took home the $250,000 Public Vote Grand Prize at the inaugural ArtPrize in 2009—serving as Grand Prize Juror. ArtPrize participants are invited to help the organization celebrate the first decade by sharing their favorite ArtPrize memories to be included in ArtPrize Stories. Find more information and submit stories at stories.artprize.org.
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Growing the game BY: R. COLLINS
A
mong 20 picturesque lakes, beaches, and an array of sporting activities, the private residential community of Canadian Lakes is known for its pristine golf courses and women’s golf programs. Carolyn Allingham, LPGA professional and golf teacher with Canadian Lakes Country Club, has crafted two of these programs: one for juniors aged seven-years-old through 16-years-old; and a growing adult program for women learning the game, which has
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nearly 35 new participants this season. Programming aside, Canadian Lakes offers golfers many options for drop-in scrambles, tournaments, clinics, and private lessons with Allingham—member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division—and Dennis Wolfe, PGA professional; both of whom enjoy helping their golfers with every aspect of the game. “Watching people have fun and laugh— that is one of my favorite things,” Allingham
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said. “To see these women out there having fun and then going to lunch and talking about their games... It’s fun to see them having a good time.” She noted that a lot of the women joining her programs have not yet had the free time to develop their golf game—some have been busy raising families, building their careers, or pursuing other goals. Allingham’s goal has been to connect them with the joys of the sport and its way of building community. She conducts clinics with participants to work on different shots including chipping from the foliage and other swings appropriate for the short game. Every Wednesday, the group plays a complete round to practice the shots they have been developing, and Allingham’s thorough teaching style has helped make the program a success, according to Wolfe. “We have a very active women’s player development program,” Wolfe said. “Targeting a program towards the lady golfers is incredibly important, because a number of our players who have participated in it may have given up the game earlier in their life.” Canadian Lakes continues to invest resources in growing their juniors and women’s programs, resulting in more girls hitting the course at a young age—as well as adults. Within the junior program, many of Allingham’s students—some as young as 16-years-old—have received scholarships for their skills. “I find a lot of the girls I teach—the younger ones—they want to play with the boys now,” Allingham said. “It’s definitely changing. The LGPA tour has grown a great deal compared to what it was back in the 1950s.” Allingham has been teaching and conducting golf clinics for about 20 years and has participated in many amateur tours before developing her teaching profile, but her journey to her dream job was not straightforward. Growing up in Michigan, the promotion for women’s golf was extremely lacking compared to what it has been in recent years, according to Allingham. Though she recognized her love for the sport at a young age in a junior’s league, she ended up following a high-paying corporate career for many years before taking a chance on professional women’s golf. She said that one piece of advice given to her by a long-time friend put her career into perspective and rings true to this day. “[She said], ‘when I get older, I don’t want
to be sitting on the porch rocking in my chair and saying ‘I wish I had done that.’ So, I gave up working at my dad’s company making very good money and went for my dream which was to become a golf teacher. I’d say that was good advice,” Allingham said. After a successful career playing competitively, she decided to turn her attention to teaching and inspiring other young girls and women to give golf a shot, and describes it now as her life’s joy. Between clinics and private lessons, Allingham also enjoys studying the golf swing and cites sports instructor David Leadbetter as one of her favorite authors of golf literature. As a Canadian Lakes resident, she also enjoys the sites and activities the area has to offer and deems the residential community one of Michigan’s “best kept secrets.” “Canadian Lakes is an awesome place to live; there’s so much to do here,” Allingham said. “The people are so friendly and you’re away from the city and the noise. I love it up here.” With three dynamic signature courses to explore, Canadian Lakes offers golfers of every skill level a unique environment in which to develop their game. The Royal—an 18-hole championship layout—offers golfers a set of challenges and is serviced by The Royal Pro Shop and Royal Grille Restaurant and Lounge. Both The Highlands and The Pines offer 9-hole alternatives with scenic, elevated views, small greens, and challenging par3’s. Wolfe sites the back 9 holes of The Royal and The Highlands as his favorite 9-hole sets due to their diverse topography and series of inclines. “We’re very lucky to have three golf courses that all have their own personality and they’re well maintained,” Wolfe said. The dynamic set of courses, with all of their scenic features and topographical challenges, have made Canadian Lakes a unique place for skilled and returning golfers to develop their skillsets and for emerging junior golfers to learn the game and test their strengths on the course. For Allingham, it is a place where she has been able to form her passion for teaching into practice. “I took a big chance and went for it,” Allingham said. “You don’t want to be sitting in that rocking chair saying ‘I wonder what would’ve happened.’ I think it’s important that these young people to pursue something. I think it’s important to go for it.” c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
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Life on the Links
DENNIS WOLFE PGA Golf Pro If you have questions about golfing in Canadian Lakes, call Dennis Wolfe at The Royal Golf Shop. 231-972-8979 dwolfe@clpoc.org.
First Annual Canadian Lakes Kings & Queens Golf Tournament
The Kings and Queens is an 18-hole Shamble featuring teams of two couples (member/member or member/ guest). Congratulations to Marc and Rita Hernandez and Ron and Millie Spinney for their one stroke victory over Terry and Sandy Wallin and Phil and Muriel Bouman. The format required one score on the Par 5’s, two scores on the Par 4’s and three scores on the Par 3’s. The winners had a score of 101. Thank you to the ten teams that participated. Please join us next year on the last Saturday in June.
Golf Cart Etiquette We have some simple rules for golf cart usage that all players should adhere to. They are as follows: • Use cart paths where they are provided. • Park your carts on the cart path around the tees and greens. It is not necessary to pull off the path to park. • What do the 4 x 4 posts mean near the greens? These indicate an imaginary circle that you should not enter with a cart. Keep them outside this perimeter space and this will enhance turf conditions. • Avoid taking more than two carts per group while playing. This reduces turf wear and shows a greater level of respect for our courses. • Players with a physical disability or health condition that limits mobility can gain greater access. You need to contact PGA Professional, Dennis Wolfe, to acquire the proper authorization. These players are provided guidelines for handicap access and an ID card to display from their golf cart while playing. Thank you for your cooperation while you enjoy golf at Canadian Lakes. Our Golf Courses are simply Golf Courses Our golf courses are for golfers, it is that simple. Our 7,000 acres provide a wealth 38
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of places to walk, bicycle or play yard games. Our community is developing a proliferation of recreational golf carts and ATV’s. These seem to be very popular for your trip to the store or your boat. Please use our network of roads to reach your destination. Our golf courses do not exist for the shortcut to your destination. Please remember that we all benefit from the quality of our amenities. Using the golf course for your shortcut is an abuse of a fine amenity. Thank you for your cooperation. August is Club Championship Month at Canadian Lakes We offer Club Championships for all categories of players in August. These events are stroke play trophy events. We begin with the Junior Club Championship which is held at The Pines on August 9 and 10. Players compete by age categories. Our adult championships play all three courses with day one at The Highlands and The Pines. The second round is always played at The Royal. The Ladies Club Championship will be played August 11 and 12. Trophies will be awarded for both low gross and low net for each flight. The Men’s Club Championship is August 18 and 19. We offer an Open Division which will play the White Tees at The Royal on
Sunday. We have a Senior Division for players 55 year and older which plays the Combo Tees on Sunday. We have a Super Senior Division for players 70 years and older and they play from the Gold Tees on Sunday. These events are a great opportunity to test your skill against your peers. Good luck to all of this year’s participants. Hole-In-One Club Winners through July 5 There have been three aces so far this season. Congratulations to the following players on their success! Kim Elder made her ace on #3 at The Royal on May 8. Roger Barr made his ace on #12 at The Royal on May 31. John Napiewocki made his ace on #3 at The Royal on June 18. We anticipate that we will have more winners before the season is over. Please remember‌you never know when the next shot is going in!
Your eyes are amazing, keep them healthy! Comprehensive eye exams and full optical services offered!
Most insurances accepted. Schedule your appointment today!
231.972.EYES (3937)
10085 Buchanan Rd. Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 www.canadianlakeseyecare.com
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Mary E. Miller, O.D.
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Mobile Watch Appreciation Golf Outing SUBMITTED BY ROGER STOBERT
The Mobile Watch Appreciation Golf Outing will be held at the Pines Golf Course on Wednesday, August 22 with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. All participants should be at the Pines Pro Shop by 8:30 a.m. Current Mobile Watch volunteers and Safety personnel are welcome. If you haven’t already, please inform Roger Stobert if you plan to participate. MOBILE WATCH APPRECIATION PICNIC The Mobile Watch Appreciation Picnic will be held at the Pines Pavilion around 4:30 p.m.Wednesday, August 22. Current Mobile Watch volunteers and Safety personnel are welcome to attend. As in the past participants may bring an appetizer or dessert if you so desire. Please bring your own place setting and beverages. Everything else, burgers & hot dogs, buns, condiments, and salads, etc., will be provided. If you haven’t already, please inform your Area Captain if you plan to attend. This annual picnic and the golf outing are tokens of appreciation to the volunteers of the Mobile Watch and the many hours and resources they contribute every day to help keep our community safe and to the Canadian Lakes Safety Department for their constant vigilance and the service they provide. BUSY SUMMER It has also been a busy summer for your Mobile Watch volunteers. Over 500 patrols were conducted in June and July alone. The Mobile Watch assisted Canadian Lakes Safety with parking and traffic control for the Independence Day parade and fireworks. Both the Mobile Watch and CL Safety help ensure a safe and enjoyable parade for participants and spectators alike. Aiding with pre-fireworks traffic control
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and assisting spectators help make the event safe and incident free. The post-fireworks traffic control at key intersections made exiting the fireworks relatively easy which can be a daunting task for those unfamiliar with the area, especially after dark. Thanks to all the Mobile Watch patrollers and a special thanks to those who assisted with the Parade and Fireworks. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TIPS The number of residents walking, jogging, and running on our roads increases dramatically during the summer months. For your personal safety, please walk, run, and jog on the LEFT side of the road, against traffic. Wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight at night to make it easier for drivers to see you. VEHICULAR SAFETY TIPS Please remember the speed limit throughout Canadian Lakes is 25 mph. With the number of pedestrians, bicyclists, ATV’s, and golf carts, not to mention the deer and other wildlife sharing our roads, we must remain alert. Distracted driving is one of the major contributors to accidents. For your safety and that of your loved ones, please keep your attention on the road whether driving a car, truck, ATV, or golf cart! Speed bumps are being added to roads where habitual speeders have been noted. Please do not be one of those who necessitate more. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED One of the goals of the Mobile Watch is to have at least two patrols every day in each of the nine Mobile Watch patrol areas. While we have been successful in attracting new MW members, we continue to need additional volunteers to fill vacancies. Even if you cannot serve on a full-time basis we welcome your assistance as a back-up or part time patroller. Remember, we are all Canadian Lakers, and our strong suit has always been helping one another. If you believe the safety of our residents and homes is important, please contact Roger Stobert at 231-972-1232 or at spankky@charter.net Enjoy the remaining summer and be safe out there!!
Drinking Wine in Pure Michigan BY CARLY ROBERTS Royal Grille Assistant Manager
It is hard to believe a place so far from the well-known wine producers in the world can be the home of over three thousand acres of vineyards and produces over one million gallons of wine each year. Our beautiful state has become the host of a $300 million wine tourism industry and it is only the beginning. The first wild native grape vines were found near Detroit as far back as 1679. After the repeal of prohibition, vineyards began popping up all over the state. Most of them stayed close to Lake Michigan for the unique flavor-enhancing qualities that the lake effect caused. Today, we have over one hundred wineries in Michigan. Because the grapes are affected directly by the environment in which they grow, the flavor of the wine will be distinct to its home. A California Chardonnay will not taste like a Michigan Chardonnay even though they are made with the same grape varietal. Many people rule out all of Michigan wine because they try one that does not taste like they expect, but this shouldn’t stop you from trying another type. Here at the Royal Grille, we carry some of my personal favorite Michigan wines. From Traverse City, the Left Foot Charley, Murmur, is a blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, & Pinot Blanc and one of the most refreshing and flavorful white wines I have ever had. From my favorite Michigan vineyard, we house the Bowers Harbor Rose. This wine tastes like a mix of strawberries and pomegranate. When paired with a nice cheese platter or pasta entrÊe, it sure is hard to beat. Even if wine is not a passion of yours, as it is mine, I think the experience of enjoying a product made so close to home can be something we all ap
preciate. Come try a glass of Michigan wine at the Royal Grille and see what all the fuss is about!
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Rock-n-Roll with
Bob Mangazol BY MARILYN YVON
R
eturn with us now to those heady days of early rock-n-roll, when the Motown sound took over the Motor City and beyond, when gas was cheap and cars were big, and when the Four Imperials sang their own songs as well as backup to some of Motown’s iconic talent. The Four Imperials? Perhaps you aren’t familiar with them. But if you know Canadian Lakes resident Bob Manzagol, you know one of the group’s singers. Bob has some fond memories of the years 1955 to 1961 when the group, formed by four guys who attended Highland Park High School in suburban Detroit, performed. “We had some good times,” Bob recalls fondly. “At first, we sang on street corners, a capella.” Then came occasional gigs at sock hops and fundraisers. A talent manager discovered them and introduced them to legendary music producer Barry Gordy. “We got to meet all the Motown greats,” Bob says. They worked with backup vocals for Jackie Wilson, among others in the recording studios. They even played with Paul Anka and Jimmy Dean at the Michigan State Fair Colosseum. In the group, Bob provided baritone vocals, Lynn Best was the lead singer, Frank Amodeo sang bass, and Jim Hartrick sang tenor. During a seven-day rock-n-roll show at Detroit’s Fox Theater, the Four Imperials
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met popular British singer Lonnie Donegan, whose “Rock Island Line” was a big hit at the time. “He drove us around Detroit in his new white Cadillac,” Bob remembers. The Four Imperials cut many sides— meaning several 45-rpm records (remember those?)—all original songs written by group members and recorded at Motown or Specialty Recordings in Detroit. The A sides were “Lazy Bonnie,” “Teenage Fool,” “Let’s Make a Scene,” and “Come on Baby.” “Lazy Bonnie may have been the first record to include sound effects,” according to Bob—the song begins with the sound of a car engine revving and a horn honking. Although the group didn’t quite make it to the big time, it got local air play, did some touring, and even had fan clubs. “We didn’t get in too much trouble,” Bob laughs. “We were nice boys.” The Four Imperials went their separate ways in 1961 as members went on to marriages and careers. Of the four, only Bob and Lynn Best survive. “We still talk about the old times occasionally,” Bob says. Bob went on to work for Bendix Aviation, attaining a top secret clearance. In 1963, he began a 26-year career as a firefighter in suburban Detroit. Bob says he took the job because “I wanted something adventurous.” He also got involved in sports car racing. In 1963 he got his first real estate license; Bob is now part of the Coldwell-Banker Lakes Realty team. “I don’t want to retire!” Bob admits.
Bob met his wife of 55 years, Sally, on a blind date. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. The couple moved to Canadian Lakes in 2001, first living at Lake Laura and subsequently downsizing to Sunset Shores. “I love people,” Bob says enthusiastically. A self-described “very Christian man,” he likes helping people through his church’s Benevolence Committee and Prayer Team. Today Bob sings in church and sometimes performs with other Canadian Lakers at events in the Sunset Shores and Canadian Lakes clubhouses. He inherited his love of music from his father. “All my father’s family sang,” Bob says, characterizing his father as “a happy guy.” Evidence shows that Bob is carrying on that family tradition. [Author’s Note: I recall the song Lazy Bonnie (I can still sing part of it) playing on a Detroit radio station. In a page from the “small world playbook,” it turns out that Bob and I both grew up in Highland Park---he on the street where my father grew up—and frequented several of the same places. Bob is a few years my senior, but my sister found his photo in her high school yearbook. Go Polar Bears!]
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CLPOC Board Minutes Approved Meeting Minutes CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES Saturday May 26th, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Steve Wilcox at 8:56 am. Board members present: Jim Brakora, James French, Jan Watts, Paul Szymkowicz, John Colley, Jim Swartzendruber, Dan Altier, and Beckie De Young Board members absent: None Staff present: Greg Babbitt, Jessica Slendak, Estelle Molitor and Kim Dowell Members at Large in Attendance: 30 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE: Members and Directors. 3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Szymkowicz moved to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 4. AUSTIN TOWNSHIP REPORT: No report 5. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Steve Wilcox. Wilcox stated that the Board in January 2017 committed to provide to the members the maximum exposure possible to CLPOC, staff and the governing board. He listed the nearly dozen initiatives put in place to accomplish this. This was done because of the belief that it is the Board’s job to operate in a manner reflective of the concerns of the community, yet knowing they will never satisfy everyone. It is the Board’s charge to protect this community and its assets going forward. The Board not only invites dissenting opinions but encourages them because it is from dissenting opinions we grow and develop the best community we can. All civil discussion is welcomed. However, when interactions from the membership cease to be civil, we will not engage. When false statements of facts resulting in harm to a person’s reputation or claims against individuals which include untrue or humiliating insinuations are published, they provide an actionable claim under MCL 600.2911 and the CLPOC will engage to the fullest extent of the law. While civil dialogue is supported and encouraged, we will not stand by and have our reputations or the reputation of the CLPOC destroyed. There have been many egregious posting to date. Wilcox asked that as we move forward we just remember to keep things civil and honest. 6. FINANCIAL REPORT: Kim Dowell reviewed the financial information for the month of April 2018. Compared to last year, the total current assets have increased $534,721 and the net fixed assets 44
have increased $312,520, yielding a total assets increase of $847,243. Compared to last year, the current liabilities have increased $315,350. Long term liabilities are $380,542 which is the golf cart lease over the next six years. Compared to last year, the total net worth has increased bringing the total liabilities and net worth to $847,243 increase over last year. The net income YTD is $266,110 versus a budgeted $202,296. There are currently 325 lots that have outstanding 2017 fees which totals $160,157. We will deposit $514,922 into the Replacement Reserve Fund for FY2019 and $70,000 into the Capital Improvement Fund. We have budgeted to spend $800,669 out of the Reserve Replacement Fund. We are currently pursuing thru small claims court the collection of delinquent membership fees. The process has been successful resulting in a collection of over $9,600 so far with three judgments which will be taken to the next stage of the process and 3 parties have not yet been served. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Committees reported as follows: a. ACC: (Paul Szymkowicz) • The committee approved one new house construction bringing the total number of new house constructions to 5 this year. • They approved two garage expansions and two attached outbuildings b. CLA Liaison: (Jan Watts) • This month’s winner of the CLA $10 member appreciation drawing was Patrick Dunn. • The CLA membership is up this year compared to last year. She encouraged anyone not a member of the CLA to join. • On June 13 at 7:00pm the Ferris Band will be performing on the Castle veranda. Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed. • Their newcomer gathering on May 5th had over 140 people in attendance. It was a wonderful event with booths of the sanctioned clubs along with businesses represented and was very informative. c. EXECUTIVE: (Steve Wilcox) • At their May meeting the committee dealt with legal issues that will be discussed at the Executive Session. • There are good funding proposals that the Board is looking at are they are generating good input from the membership. As realists, on the chance that something does not pass in November’s vote, a small group has been formed to look at options if a funding proposal does not pass. An ad hoc committee as a subcommittee under the Finance Committee has been formed with Szymkowicz serving as its chair. They have met twice and will be T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
moving forward looking at worst case scenarios. d. FINANCE: (Jim French) • Reviewed the financial status of the corporation and the upcoming audit. • Talked about the Replacement Reserve items which will be discussed later on the agenda. • Discussed aggressive actions involving small claims court to deal with members who have chosen not to pay their membership fees. Pleased with the results from the first batch of 10 which have been taken to small claims court. About to move forward with the next batch. • Watts presented an update on the Ad Hoc Funding Committee which is waiting for the decision on how we are moving forward on the funding plan. • Colley gave an update from the Strategic Planning Committee. Talked quite a bit about the lake dredging issue which has been on the table for quite a while. Feedback indicates it is a very important issue with the membership. Finance Committee is working with SPC to come up with an approach for dredging. • Reviewed status of the four funding models including what to do if a funding proposal doesn’t pass in November. e. AD HOC FUNDING: (Jan Watts) • At their May meeting, they discussed the financial survey. The data from 522 responses will be out at a future date. Watts stated appreciation for those who took the time to take the survey. • Discussed how to reach out to the membership. The last surveys tried to get a feel for membership sensitivity to the funding plans’ structure and content. The next step is to get into the details of the plans. f. STRATEGIC PLANNING (SPC): (Dan Altier) • At their May meeting the committee continued their focus on individual areas. • Decided they will have a membership forum/mixer sometime the week of July 4th to explain the strategy, the strategic items, and the costs associated with them. • They are looking at moving their meeting date from the second Saturday to a week day. 8. GENERAL MANAGER REPORT: a. Marketing Update: • Our new part-time marketing employee Estelle Molitor recently graduated from Ferris and we are very please to have her working with us. Molitor gave the following report: The Mojo lake house marketing promotion is happening this coming Sunday. It was well received, bringing approximately 2000 new viewers to our website with 50
CLPOC Board Minutes people sharing their contact information. Thank you for all the sponsors who made this marketing opportunity happen. • We are again selling $500 lots. This spring we are purchasing Facebook ads. With our search engine marketing we have sold 2 lots and the sale of two more is pending. • Lots of work going into the Lights at the Castle with more information to come. b. Community Projects Update: • Planning is ongoing for the new Royal Starter building and it will be figured into the cart path paving project occurring in the next couple of months. • The East Royal bridge replacement scheduled for this fall continues as the engineering firm continues their work. • The Royal Deck replacement scheduled for this fall continues, as the BAG Committee is in the process of obtaining bids for the pool area and the deck area by the 18 green. c. Maintenance Items: • Spring road grading occurred in the areas deemed necessary in preparation for the road brining which has taken place. • Goose round up will occur around the second week of June. • Lake weed spraying is scheduled for the second or third week of June depending on weed growth. Lake Manager Joel will be surveying periodically to determine the dates for the spraying. • All beach areas have been tilled and all lake navigational stump buoys have been placed for the holiday weekend. • Staff continues to brush hog and mow common area locations • Truxor is scheduled to begin work next week. • Common area docking has consumed a lot of staff time due to members taking advantage of more than their 12ft of allotted space or putting their boat in the wrong space. Casey and staff are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience. d. Amenity Update: • The restaurant manager reports that is has been a good season thus far. Karaoke and $5 burger night are enormous successes. The new menu has received good reviews. An upcoming event is Elvis Night scheduled for Saturday, June 23. • Now that the weather has cooperated, Dennis reports the courses are doing well. • Campground has been opened and running smoothly. There are only 3 seasonal spaces available. • Storage remains full with a waiting list. • The Indoor pool and fitness center continues to do well. The outdoor pool opened yesterday for the season and is
open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, weather permitting. e. General Manager Committee Update: • BAG recently met and discussed upcoming Replacement Reserve projects and the East Royal bridge status and time line. They will assist in obtaining preliminary pricing for the Royal Building deck project. • Lakes & Environmental recently met and discussed several seasonal items including the upcoming lake spraying, goose round up, muskrat trapping etc. They appointed Ron Beck as a new member. Discussed Truxor scheduled areas
and volunteer members removing purple loosestrife in the areas when timing is appropriate. • Golf met in May and discussed league/ tournament information, internal fundraiser events and USGA handicapping. They also discussed new tee markers, new yardage markers on the Royal, and potential new locations for the hitting net at the Royal. Babbitt requested committee input on which cart paths to resurface this year. • Marketing & Awareness discussed Canadian Lake Landing Nights plans, the Mojo lake house promotion details, and a community cookbook idea for a fund-
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CLPOC Board Minutes raiser. We received approval for signage directing motorists to Canadian Lakes from both the US 131 expressway and M 20. Signage and posts have been ordered. They also received approval for signage at Pierce Rd &/100th directing passerby’s to both the Royal Grille and the Royal Golf Course. • Compliance developed a community video camera location priority list and now are obtaining preliminary pricing. They discussed various enforcement issues and activities. Discussed Mobile Watch assigned duties and routes. • Restaurant did not meet in May, but committee continues to assist by placing restaurant fliers in different locations, help promote special events and help develop different ideas. f. Seasonal Activities: • This year the number of garage sale sites is the largest we have ever had. • The yard waste area remains open on Sundays and Wednesdays from 10:00 – 4:00 and we ask all members to dispose of their debris at this location. • The main launch area is now open daily, expect for Thursdays. The Lake of the Clouds launch is now unlocked for any
member needing access. Safety will continue to lock this gate at 10:00 pm. 9. CONSENT CALENDAR: A motion was made by Beckie De Young to approve the April 11th, 2018 Workshop notes and the April 28th, 2018 Board meeting minutes as well as receive and file the April 2018 check disbursement reports. Motion approved unanimously. 10. MEMBERS COMMENTS ONLY ON ITEMS FOR ACTION OR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: a Jack Korb (HV 217 & 218): Commented regarding Item 12C, boat racks. He stated that he had utilized a boat rack in his area but had his canoe taken from the rack. He recommended that any boat using the rack be required to have identification on it as well as be chained and locked. 11. ITEMS FOR ACTION: a. Approve Nominating Committee: Watts made a motion to appoint Directors Paul Szymkowicz as chair along with Jim Brakora and Jim Swartzendruber and CLPOC at large members Marc Hernandez, Robert Destrampe, and Doug Kiersey to the 2018 Nominating Committee.
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The motion passed unanimously. b. Approve Replacement Reserve Request for Alpine & Royal Tennis Courts Resurfacing: French made a motion to approve the drawdown of the Replacement Reserve Fund in the amount of $21,150 for the Resurfacing of 4 asphalt tennis courts. Babbitt explained the process and stated the life expectancy of the coating is about 5 years. The last time we did the Royal courts we got about 8 years from it. Motion passed unanimously. c. Approve Replacement Reserve Request for Golf Course Mower: French moved to approve the drawdown of the Replacement Reserve Fund in the amount of $32,841 for the replacement of a golf course sidewinder mower. Brakora wanted the membership to know these two Replacement Reserve items were thoroughly discussed at the Finance Committee meeting. The funds will come from the Replacement Reserve Fund and are close to the amount set aside in the fund for the replacements and lower than the original estimate. The old sidewinder is for sale as it did not have a trade-in value. Motion passed unanimously. 12. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: a. Funding Proposal An item to approve a funding proposal: Wilcox stated the plan had been for today’s meeting to be a discussion of funding plans brought to the Board and not to approve at this meeting a proposal to go on the November’s ballot. We will now begin in earnest an education process for the members on the three proposals submitted by the Finance Committee. It is estimated the approval of the ballot language of the proposal or proposals will be at the July Board Business Meeting. Now we will be making sure the membership understands what the Finance Committee has been looking at for the last18 months and what is entailed in the proposals. The concepts have been presented; the next step is to get out the actual costs of the proposals. French added that part of the education process will include what the corporation will have to do if a funding plan is not approved. The current seven year plan we are in has one more year left beyond this year with projected significant shortfalls. Altier emphasized that any projected numbers presented so far are just relative concepts and not the real numbers. De Young brought up that one, two, or three plans may be on the ballot. The number is not set at this time. Watts said now is the time for discussion and sharing of thoughts. Comments from the last survey showed the dollar amount is important
CLPOC Board Minutes as respondents like something because of the dollar amount. The bottom line is there is amount the corporation needs and each plan simply has a different way of achieving that amount. She encouraged everyone to become educated and consider what each plan represents as their risks vary. Brakora brought up the difficulty in developing a funding plan without some idea of where the corporation is going in the future. There will be some broad outlines of this yet to come from the strategic plan. There are significant expenses being considered. Swartzendruber asked if the number of years in a funding plan could be reduced and discussion followed on the difficulties with short term funding plans and incorporating large long term costs like lake dredging and other plan items. It was stated several ways that a strategic plan is in the process, will be considered in the dollar figures for the funding plan, and will be presented to the membership for their willingness to accept and pay for it. Watts pointed out that the three very different plans presented to the membership were based on input from the membership with differing pros and cons. Altier added the purpose of the July membership forum/mixer will be to present the strategy SPC wants to present to the membership for their awareness and willingness to fund. The importance of member participation at the July session was emphasized. Wilcox stated this discussion will continue during the June and July workshops and will culminate at the July Board Business Meeting. b. An item to expend $31,119 for the resurfacing of asphalt golf cart paths: As a part of the Reserve Replacement Plan, golf cart paths are replaced every other year. Staff and the Golf Committee are currently evaluating the paths to determine which ones should be replaced or overlaid this year. This will be an item for action next month. c. An item to expend an amount not to exceed $2,000 for three common area boat racks: As the CLPOC Rules require boats using common or floating docking spaces to be registered with the state, these racks are a possible solution for lakeside storage of non-motorized watercraft. Each rack would have 8 spaces. The three areas chosen for the racks provide parking and access to the lakes eliminating the need to transport the watercraft to the lake with each desired use. The staff would assign on a first come basis and monitor their usage. There are already a number of these racks within Canadian Lakes. The new racks would be a Capital Improvement expense. Brakora made a
motion to suspend the rules in order to begin construction of the racks. Motion passed unanimously. Brakora made a motion that we approve the building of the racks as proposed by staff and give the General Manager authority to spend $2,000 to complete that task as timely as he can. The motion was amended to include the words “with the funds to come from the Capital Improvement Fund”. Motion passed unanimously. d. An item to approve the Michigan Liquor Control Commission Liquor License Resolution: The Board is being requested to approve an application for a special license to serve alcohol at the Castle on October 13, 2018 for a wedding anniversary. French made a motion to suspend the rules in order to take action on this item at this time. Motion passed unanimously. French made a motion to approve the Michigan Liquor Control Commission Liquor License Resolution for the application date stated above for the special license to provide alcohol. Motion passed unanimously. 13. MEMBERS COMMENTS: a. Jack Korb (HV 217&218): Stated there will be a memorial for his wife Liz on June 18 at 6:00 at the Highland Haus. He invited all who knew her to attend but requested they RSVP to Liz Dean at 972-8576. b. Mike Molesky (RS 458): Appreciated all the efforts in creating the survey. Said he could not support any of the 3 presented funding plans. Cautioned about problems in projecting bad debt forward and it should be an operational cost, not an additional fee. Need to keep the funding proposals simpler. Thanks for maintaining the amenities. c. Karl Pfister (CL194): Appreciates the efforts of the Board. Asked about the strategic plan; more information would be helpful. Talked about the cost of delinquent lots having to be picked up by paying members. Trying to develop a formula to project these costs but doesn’t have sufficient data. Was told the number of CL lots dropped from 5,300 lots initially to about 4,500 billable lots with 400500 not paying. There is a process used to try to collect delinquent fees. Collected over $50,000 last year using the process, not including what was collect thru the small claims process. He emphasized the importance of members know how much non-paying members are costing the corporation and the paying members. Brakora added that the ultimate result of members not paying for their lots is the lots going back to the state. He explained c a n a d i a n l a ke s .o r g
how this is accounted for in all three funding plans with an increased fee. Pfister was told the first step in taking the plans to the membership was the concepts and that costs are yet to be set. He tasked for explicit numbers. 14. DIRECTORS COMMENTS: a. French: Appears the concept of volunteerism in the community is fading. With the last (funding) survey, although it only went to the 2300 email address the CLPOC has, only 522 responses were received. Need to start doing something to promote volunteers. b. Altier: We have had a lot of surveys and 500 seems to be the base return rate. He thinks that is a good survey return rate even though we would like to have more. c. Colley: Volunteerism is one of the non-tangible items in the strategic plan that the SPC spent a fair amount of time discussing in terms of how to engage people. d. Swartzendruber thanked everyone for the discussions that he found helpful. Nominating committee is formed and urged people to get their petitions in as that window goes by quickly. Anyone interested in being part of the important business taking place here should consider it. 15.MEMBER COMMUNICATIO N REQUIREMENTS: • Email addresses of the committees published periodically as a reminder that we seek member communication • Success with small claims court cases in collecting delinquent membership fees and that we are actively pursuing delinquent members. • Schedule of events for further discussion on funding plans • Board’s desire for communication from members but once communication crosses the legal line we will take legal action. Communication must be civil. • Names of members appointed to the Nominating Committee. Urge people to contact committee members. • Approved the construction of four more boat four racks 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 17. ADJOURNMENT: Altier moved to adjourn at 10:37 am with support. 18. NOTICE OF FUTURE MEETINGS: • The Board of Directors will hold a meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in the CLPOC Conference Room, 10690 Pierce Road, Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 beginning at 4:30 p.m. • The Board of Directors will hold a 47
CLPOC Board Minutes meeting on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Highland Haus, 11560 Belle Isle, Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 beginning at 9:00 am.
• They received fire and rescue inventory from Mecosta Township after their last meeting and it is currently being studied.
Respectfully submitted, Kris Bybee, Recording Secretary Beckie DeYoung, CLPOC Board of Directors Secretary (board minutes are printed as submitted)
5. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Steve Wilcox • Wilcox addressed a posting on local social media which contained numerous inaccuracies about defaulted lots and the proposed Lot Default Equalization Charge as well as the CLPOC leadership. He asked his comments to be read into the minutes. They are included as Attachment A.
Unapproved Meeting Minutes CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES Saturday June 23, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Steve Wilcox at 8:56 am. Board members present: Jim Brakora, James French, Dan Altier, Paul Szymkowicz, John Colley, Jim Swartzendruber, and Beckie De Young Board members absent: Jan Watts Staff present: Greg Babbitt, Estelle Molitor and Kim Dowell Members at Large in Attendance: 16 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE: Members and Directors. 3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: French moved to approve the agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 4. AUSTIN TOWNSHIP REPORT: Sandy Mayo • In January at the annual joint township meeting Mecosta Township stated they would not be renewing the contract for a joint fire and rescue operations which expired March 31st. They are unable to continue this 60-year-old joint venture. They are currently operating on a 6-month extension of the most recent contract of 20 years while they work out the dissolution, review their options, and determine the worth of jointly owned property and equipment. The area will continue to be covered by support from neighboring departments as needed the same as now. Mecosta County will send necessary help. • At the June meeting they discussed replacing the clerk’s computer. The clerk will research and decision to be made at July’s meeting. • The first brining of the gravel township roads should be done. • They had a request from Mecosta-Osceola Lake Conservation to increase their annual support for the hazardous waste removal program. They agreed to $350.00 this year, an increase of $50.00. 48
6. FINANCIAL REPORT: • Kim Dowell reviewed the financial information for the month of May 2018. Compared to last year, the total current assets have increased $515,239 and the net fixed assets have increased $171,711, yielding a total asset increase of $686,950 • Compared to last year, the current liabilities have increased $153,948. Compared to last year, the total net worth has increased bringing the total liabilities and net worth to $686,951 increase over last year. The net income YTD is $341,036 versus a budgeted $256,669. There are currently 666 lots that have outstanding 2018 fees which totals $329,504. We will deposit $514,922 into the Replacement Reserve Fund for FY2019 and $70,000 into the Capital Improvement Fund. We have budgeted to spend $800,669 out of the Reserve Replacement Fund of which we have spent $22,654. We expect to spend $2,000 out of the Capital Improvement Fund. 7. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Committees reported as follows: a. ACC: (Paul Szymkowicz) • The committee approved one new house construction bringing the total number of new house constructions to 6 this year. • They reviewed and denied one shed/ outbuilding application as it did not meet deed restrictions. b. CLA Liaison: (Wilcox reporting for Watts) • This month’s winner of the CLA $10 member appreciation drawing was Dale and Toula Doepker. • The CLA membership is up by 47 members from last year. She encouraged anyone not a member of the CLA to join. They have many events for the membership and interesting clubs. • The CLA picnic will be on Saturday, July 7. Fireworks to follow at 10:00pm. • The CLA is looking for new Board members for 2019. If interested or if more information is needed, contact Earl Christianson. T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
• There are approximately 45 sanctioned clubs in the CLA c. EXECUTIVE: (Steve Wilcox) • At their June meeting the committee dealt with legal issues that will be discussed at the Executive Session. d. FINANCE: (Jim French) • Reviewed the financial status of the corporation and the audit that will be conducted in June. • Dowell and Babbitt gave an update on the small claims actions. Phase two starting. • Watts presented an update on the Ad Hoc Funding Committee. • Colley gave an update on the status of the strategic planning as it relates to the Finance Committee. • Had a lengthy discussion on the funding plans. The fees have been established, reviewed and will be released to the membership in the coming week for their review. • Received an update on the status of the Membership ID System and accounting software. Beta testing should start in July. e. AD HOC FUNDING: (Jim French) • Committee met in June • Is working on pulling together information for the July 6 membership joint meeting with the Strategic Planning Committee. The membership meeting will be held at the Castle from 10:00 to 12:00 noon. They are looking for as many people to attend as possible. The meeting will be streamed over Facebook and recorded to be watched at a later time. f. Nominating Committee: (Paul Szymkowicz) • CLA has been contacted with the request that the committee have a presence at upcoming CLA events • A table will be set up with information at the CLA picnic and prior to the concerts at the music pavilion as well as in the Pines Office. • Business cards have been printed with the contact information for the committee. g. Strategic Planning (SPC): (Dan Altier) • They looked at the four areas – lakes, physical activities, infrastructure, and community culture • Began preparing for the July 6 membership forum at the Castle where they will present what they want the membership to consider for the strategic plan for the next three years. • Their meetings are being moved from Saturdays to Tuesday nights from July to September. The meetings will be in the Pines Office Conference Room from 6 to 8pm • The Pickleball Club will not be holding
CLPOC Board Minutes a pickleball tournament this year but will hold an informational/educational activity on July 6 & 7 from 2 to 6pm. 8. GENERAL MANAGER REPORT: (Greg Babbitt) a. Marketing Update: (Estelle Molitor) • The deadline for the August/September edition of the Canadian Laker is July 6th. Please send your content to thecanadianlaker@gmail.com. They are currently looking for members’ recipes to feature in this publication, or anything you’d like to share. • Members’ night at Fifth Third Ball Park is July 26th. Volunteer and employee night is August 24th. • $500 lots status is 14 sold, 2 pending, and 13 remaining. • Century 21 White House Realty’s Night of Lights website is live. Visit it at nightsoflight.org for more information. Cocktail party affair will be held November 9th and tickets will go on sale July 23th, available to anyone. Benefits will go to Angels of Action. There will be a private lighting event for CLPOC members on November 20th. • The Marketing Department is exploring different ways to connect with members who do not use the internet or email. Automated phone calls can be made with our voices telling the member that there is valuable information at the office for them. We would use the phone numbers in our current data base. We will have a full plan coming soon. • A big thank you to the team at Century 21 White House Reality and The Woods for being the top commercial donor to the Canadian Lakes fireworks. The Woods, formerly the Wintergreen Quarters, is the area’s new and improved vacation rentals they will be exclusively featured at the Fireworks. b. Community Projects Update: • A couple of projects planned for this year are the East Royal Bridge and the Royal Deck replacements. Staff and his committee’s continue to work on these projects. • Royal and Alpine tennis courts re-surfacing will be tentatively occurring in late July or early August per our contractor. • Asphalt contractor was here to pulverize the section of Main Street and the undercuts of the bad base areas were removed. This section was then re-graded and re-opened. The contractors plan on returning July 16th to overlay this area as well as others for intended overlay this year. c. Maintenance Items:
• Road grading is currently being done on required roads for brining. The brining will occur next week, beginning Wednesday and continuing thru Friday. • Goose round-up took place and we removed 88 geese with the assistance of our DNR approved contractor. • Staff has completed 3 boat racks. Locations are across from the office, behind the music pavilion, and by the Sunset Shores floating docks. Members may use these racks on a first come first served basis free of charge. The office will not be maintaining records for these racks. • First lake weed spraying has occurred
and the Truxor is in operation. Hopefully both of these will have our lakes in good condition for the July 4th holiday. • Contractor is in the process of roadside mowing to have completed prior to July 4th. d.Amenity Update: • The restaurant manager reports it has been a very good season thus far. Karaoke continues to be a big success and the $5 burger night also continues to do well. Elvis will be at the Royal Grille this evening. Dan is working on a magic show for some time in July. • Dennis reports that after a bad start
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CLPOC Board Minutes to the season all courses are now doing well. Both junior golf camps are sold out. The new hitting nets have been relocated closer to putting/chipping area. • Campground has only 2 seasonal spaces available. • Storage remains full, with a waiting list. • The Indoor Pool and Fitness Center continues to do well. The outdoor pool opened yesterday for the season and is open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, weather permitting. e. General Manager Committee Update: • BAG will meet next Thursday. • Lakes & Environmental will meet next Thursday. • Golf met this month and discussed golf financials and league/tournament information. Potential golf cart service day in the fall. The committee discussed which golf cart paths to resurface this year as well as discussed course conditions and potential improvements. • Marketing & Awareness met and discussed the Canadian Lakes Landing night and plans as well as future Canadian Laker articles. Were informed that shortly the process of erecting directional road signage from US131 and M20 to Canadian Lakes will begin but is waiting on Miss-dig. We will also be placing directional signage on Pierce Rd and 100th directing passerby’s to both the Royal golf course and Royal Grille. • Compliance will be meeting Tuesday. • Restaurant next meeting is scheduled for July 5th. Committee continues to assist with restaurant flyers around the community, helping promote special events, and developing other restaurant ideas. f. Seasonal Activities: • The July 4th holiday will be here before we know it. We have many events planned for the upcoming holiday weekend including the parade, 5K walk/ run, Firecracker Open, fireworks, CLA Summer Picnic, Pickleball Instructional, young anglers fishing contest, and Reuther Music Pavilion concert. All events were in the latest edition of the Laker. Also stay tuned to the eNews as well as we will be publishing those closer to July 4th. 9. CONSENT CALENDAR: A motion was made by Beckie De Young to approve the May 9th, 2018 Workshop notes and the May 26th, 2018 Board meeting minutes as well as receive and file the May 2018 check disbursement reports. Motion approved unanimously. 10. MEMBERS COMMENTS 50
ONLY ON ITEMS FOR ACTION OR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: None 11. ITEMS FOR ACTION: a. Approve Ad Hoc Funding Committee Budget: French made a motion to approve an amount not to exceed $8,000 from the operating contingency for the Ad Hoc Funding Committee budget as defined above. De Young commented this is another attempt to reach out to the membership. A number of electronic means have been used to reach out and this is an attempt with a mailing to reach those who do not get the electronic communications. The motion passed unanimously. b. Approve Gifts and Memorials Procedure: French made a motion to approve the Gifts & Memorials procedure as stated above. This procedure has been discussed several time prior to this meeting and reviewed with Gifts & Memorial Committee as well. Motion passed unanimously. c. Approve Article Amendment for Electronic Voting: French moved to approve the wording for the amendment to CLPOC Articles of Incorporation IX (J) and place said amendment on the 2018 annual meeting ballot for membership approval. Wilcox stated this is an item the Board has discussed over a period of a year. To do this requires a change to AOI Article IX which pertains to the ballots which does not allow for electronic balloting. The Board recommends amending the AOI to give members this option in addition to voting by paper ballot. Initial research showed electronic ballots would save the CLPOC money on mailing ballots and would require less volunteer time to count. The amended article would read “A member of record shall be allowed to vote in any election by mail-in ballot or by electronic voting procedure pursuant to procedure set forth in the Bylaws, or in the absence of such procedures, pursuant to procedures established by resolution of the Board of Directors. All ballots received shall be counted at one time at the meeting at which the election is held.” Wilcox stated electronic voting will not be required but over time should save the CLPOC money. Discussion followed on the process that would be followed for electronic voting along with the mail-in voting. If the membership votes to approve the AOI article amendment, a change to the Bylaws will also be required by the Board. Motion passed unanimously. d. Approve Liquor License Resolution: French made a motion to approve the T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
Michigan Liquor Control Commission liquor license resolution for the application dates stated above for a special license to provide alcohol. The dates are September 1st, 2018 for a wedding reception and September 29th, 2018 also for wedding reception. Motion passed unanimously. 12. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: a. Funding Proposal(s) An item to approve a funding proposal: (French) • Action will not be taken at this time but a decision will be made at the next Board meeting as to what goes on the ballot. The funding plans have been circulated. Membership input is still being requested. A brief summary of the three plans was given. Wilcox added that there are three plans before us; the Board has to determine the number of plans to put on the ballot. The committees were charged with recommending to the Board viable possible funding plans. The directors now have to debate what plan or plans to put on the ballot which will be done over the next month. The fees for the plans will be released to the membership next week along with the plan concepts. Further discussion followed between the Board and members regarding the plans, the lot default charge, the difference between lots that are delinquent in paying their fees and lots that have defaulted (gone to the state) and inflation adjustment. Colley pointed out that the social media posting that Wilcox addressed earlier was very, very misleading as lot defaults have been a topic for years, are driven by outside factors, and are addressed by the CLPOC, the Board and its committees consistently with considerable effort. Regarding the vote, the Board will discuss what constitutes a majority vote in Executive Session as there are legal consequences at this point. There will be discussion on this after that. b. Safety vehicle: An item to expend $28,560 from the Replacement Reserve Fund for the replacement of the Safety Department vehicle. (Babbitt) • This will be an item for action next month. The oldest of the vehicles we have is replaced every other year due to high mileage. This vehicle has over 143,000 miles on it. Electric vehicles had been investigated previously but were not appropriate for our usage. This item is out for bids. 13. MEMBERS COMMENTS: a. Dave Mariner (RS 318): Questioned the need to discuss all topics with a legal component in a closed session. Stated he
CLPOC CLPOC Board Board Minutes Minutes does not believe this is mandatory for all cases as some discussions could occur with the general membership listening that would not put the Board in jeopardy. Wilcox replied our attorneys have indicated their legal opinions are privileged opinions for the use of the directors only. b. Dennis Jager (Pines 14): Asked about further discussions on the three funding plans. Was told these would be discussed at our July 11 workshop meeting and there will be opportunities to have candid discussions with the people who put the plans together at the July 6 Membership Forum breakout sessions. c. Joe Lanz (WF 36): Asked how many lots were billed this year and was told 4548. Stated a number of committees are identified on the CLPOC web site but their meeting schedules are not posted. Thinks there should be a monthly calendar published listing the meeting times and locations to encourage more participation. Stated he sees an increasing problem with motorized vehicle traffic potentially creating a safety issue as the rule regarding their usage is seldom enforced. Doesn’t believe the membership understands the role Safety Department plays in protecting them. d. Dick Stockmar (CL 190): Commented issue of motorized vehicles was solved where he winters in New Mexico by requiring any vehicle traveling on a public road to be licensed. He sees many recreational vehicles here which are not street prepared. Thinks what Joe referred to is more a county or state issue. 14. DIRECTORS COMMENTS: a. French: Emphasized the format of the
forum on July 6 is to talk about strategic planning, vision for the future, and the funding and finance projects we are working on. Encouraged people to come to learn about what is in the works strategic planning wise and funding wise. b. Colley: Encouraged everyone to attend the Membership Forum on July 6 which will be informative but is meant to engage people. c. Altier: Ditto to Colley’s comments but added there will be a chance to win a $25 gift card. d. Swartzendruber: Read the CLPOC Mission Statement saying that is the reason why the Board is here, the reason for the forum, and the reason for what we do. e. De Young: Asked the cost of the July 4th fireworks and was told about $7,500 and people can make donations towards them. The cost is offset by donations including $2,000 annual donation by the CLA and donations by members and local businesses. Commented that it would be beneficial to regularly publish the Board and General Manager committee meeting agendas. f. Szymkowicz: None g. Brakora: None h. Wilcox: Stated social media has brought many good things and provides good services. However it has become much less than that and for many a forum to take pot shots at this community and the Board of Directors. His answer is for people to just come talk to us. He has put his information out there and is available. The Board is open and willing to deal with things. He ended by thank-
ing those had taken to time to come today as well as those who have watched on Facebook. He hopes to see them at future meetings. 15. MEMBER COMMUNICATIO N REQUIREMENTS: • July 6 Ad Hoc Funding and Strategic Planning Committees’ membership meeting at the Castle. • Approval of the Gifts & Memorials procedure. • Babbitt will look into publishing a calendar of events. • Moving forward to put electronic voting AOI amendment on the November ballot after attorney review 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 17. ADJOURNMENT: French moved to adjourn at 10:20 am with support. 18. NOTICE OF FUTURE MEETINGS: a. The Board of Directors will hold a meeting on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 in the CLPOC Conference Room, 10690 Pierce Road, Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 beginning at 4:30 p.m. b. The Board of Directors will hold a meeting on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Highland Haus, 11560 Belle Isle, Canadian Lakes, MI 49346 beginning at 9:00 am. Respectfully submitted, Kris Bybee, Recording Secretary Beckie DeYoung, CLPOC Board of Directors Secretary (board minutes are printed as submitted)
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Calendar of Area Events Information is from the following websites:
1. Ferris State University – www.ferris.edu/arts 2. Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids – vanandelarena.com; 616-742-6600 3. Central Michigan University – cmich.edu/Calendar 4. Big Rapids area – cityofbr.org, Community Calendar; 231-796-7640 5. DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids – devosperformancehall.com; 616-742-6500 6. Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant – soaringeaglecasino.com; 888-732-4537 7. Canadian Lakes Association — canadianlakesassociation.org
September
October
2 Lady Antebellum &
6 Color Run 5k 4 12 Paws in the PARC 5k 4 15 Elton John 2 18 Keith Urban: Graffiti U World Tour 2018 2 18-21 Players Production 7 28 Halloween Dance 7 31 Trick or Treat 7
Darius Rucker with special guest Russell Dickerson 4
2 Classic Car/Bike Show 7 8 Voices of Freedom 7 15 13th Annual Pike
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22 9th Annual Central
Michigan HIV/Aids Rainbow 5k Run/Walk 7
November
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Let’s Get Social Canadian Lakes
DAY TIME
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Canadian Lakes Weekly Scheduled Activities NOTE: All activities are open to Canadian Lakes property owners, family members, and guests. Property owners are asked to obtain “Guest Passes” from the CLPOC office.
SEASONAL
LOCATION
MONDAY 4th 2nd
8:30 am 9 am 9:30 am 1 pm 2-4 pm 5:30 pm-9 pm
Yoga Club Oct-Apr Mah Jongg Melody Makers (ladies) Apr-Jul, Oct-Dec Dotted Cubes (bunko) Canadian Lakes Men’s Chorus Apr-Dec Euchre/Pinochle Club
Alpine Haus Highland Haus Highland Haus Alpine Haus Highland Haus Alpine Haus
TUESDAY 2nd 2nd 2nd
9 am 10 am-12 pm 1 pm 7 pm 7 pm 7:30 pm 2-3 pm 9-11 am
Morton Township Meeting Odd months Women’s Bible Study Sept-Oct Pool Cue League Oct-Dec/Jan-Mar Table Tennis Morton Township Meeting Even months Austin Township Meeting Monthly Exercise/Dance Class Drop-In Mixed Tennis
290 Main, Mecosta Highland Haus member homes Alpine Haus 290 Main, Mecosta 14132 Pierce, Stanwood Alpine Haus Alpine Haus courts
WEDNESDAY 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 4th
9 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 9:30 am 10 am-4 pm 12:30 pm 1 pm 1 pm 4:30 pm 6:30 pm 6:30 pm-9 pm 7 pm 7 pm Variable Variable
Flower Power Apr-Oct Bible Study Book Babes Book Club Novel Friends Book Club Quilt Club Mixed Bowling Sept-May Bridge (duplicate) CLPOC Workshop/Agenda Mtg Canadian Lakes Players Bridge (duplicate) Mah Jongg Apr-Oct Canadian Lakes Fishing Club Apr-Oct Morton Twp. Planning Comm. Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct 290 Treasure Seekers Fishing Fun Night May-Sept
Highland Haus Alpine Haus Member homes Member homes Highland Haus Remus Lanes Alpine Haus Main Conf. Rm. Highland Haus Highland Haus Alpine Haus Alpine Haus Main, Mecosta destinations vary Main beach
THURSDAY 10-11 am Exercise/Dance Class Alpine Haus 1st, 3rd 1 pm Needles and News - See Lite Lines Alpine Haus 1 pm-3 pm Model Yacht Club Sept/Dec Edgewater Park 7-9 pm Ballroom Dance Club Mid-Sept—Apr Alpine Haus/Castle
CONTACT 231-408-8801 972-3054 796-2460 972-7920 972-3016 972-5661 972-7138 972-5132 972-7327 972-7749 972-7138 972-7472 972-0029 408-8801 972-5702 972-8084 250-6319 972-7140 972-4039 231-225-5556 972-2855 972-7651 972-4257 972-2855 972-3054 972-8663 972-7138 231-359-1023 972-8663 972-0029 598-2203 231-629-1004 231-359-1355 517-262-3475
FRIDAY 1st
9-11 am 3:30 pm 6pm-9pm
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408-8801 972-3004 231.972.0511
SATURDAY 4th 2nd
9 am 12:30 pm 1-3 pm
CLPOC Monthly Board Meeting Euchre Tournament Oct-April Model Yacht Club Apr./Oct.
Highland Haus Highland Haus Edgewater Park
972-7651 972-7201 231-629-1004
Indoor Pool & Fitness Center - 972-2123 (CLOSED on Tuesdays) Lap Swimming Mon, Wed-Fri 7-8 am Water Walking (mixed) Mon, Wed-Fri 8-9 am Aquacize Mon/Wed, Fri 10-11 am Adult Open Swim Mon/Wed 9-10 am Tues/Thurs, Fri 9-11 am Open Swim Mon, Wed-Fri 11 am-8 pm Sat/Sun 9 am-8 pm Outdoor Pool/Pines Pavilion - 972-4462 May 28-Sept. 7 11 am-6 pm
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Pickleball - Mon-Sat 9-11 am - New Hope Methodist Church 517-719-5390 - canadianlakespickleballclub.com Tennis - Open Play Daily at All Courts (see above for drop-in mixed tennis) Ladies 9-Hole Golf - 248-765-0680 Ladies 18-Hole Golf - 972-0456 Tournament Bridge Club - Contact Karen Melson, 972-2855, karenincanlakes@gmail.com; days, times and locations vary Silver Spokes - Contact James Diehm, 598-0383, jim-diehm@cmsimter.net
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