July 2015 Meeting Minutes 

Yahara Lakes Association, Ltd.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 23, 2015 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

The Yahara Lakes Association Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2015, in the Greater Madison Area Chamber of Commerce Board room.

The following members and advisors were present: Dick Adler, Doug Bach, Roy Carter, Caroline Fribance, Chuck Gates, Carol Gillen, Allan Levin, Dan Schultz, Joe Tisserand, Sal Troia, Debbie Waite and Rhonda Arries

Members and advisors not present: David Bohl, Bill Fitzpatrick, Mike Gerner, Luke Hutchins, Bob Miller, Dick Pearson, Jerry Rekowski and James Tye

11:35 a.m. Call to Order: President, Joe Tisserand, called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.

11:36 a.m. Minutes: Allan Levin made a motion to approve the May 21, 2015 meeting minutes. Sal Troia seconded the motion. Motion passed.

11:37 a.m. Treasurer’s report: Sal Troia, Treasurer

  • Sal noted the membership dues are short of budget by $5,275. Some of the shortfall is due to non-renewals from 2014 and 2013 members. Dan Schultz and Carol Gillen made great efforts to get ~ 30 previously non-renewed members to pay 2015 dues. Joe Tisserand continued to urge board members to recruit 3 new members in order to make this year’s financial goals.

  • The Annual Dinner meeting had $4,775 income ($375 from the raffle) and expenses of $4,948 for a net loss of ($173). The net loss can be attributed to the 5 gratis meals at $40/meal for a total cost of $200 (gratis meals were for Bob Dunne and his 3 guests and Rhonda Arries). Overall, the event was a success.

  • $4,220 in donations continue to come in and exceed expectations and the budget of $2,500.

  • Dick Adler made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed.

11:45 a.m. Special Events Committee – Co-Chairs: Dick Adler & Joe Tisserand

  • Joe Tisserand and Dick Adler thanked all those who helped make the Annual Dinner Meeting on Tuesday, June 23 at Blackhawk Country Club a success. Attendees were very impressed with the meal, venue and gifts.

  • Joe noted that the historical attendance for the Annual Dinner meeting was typically at 60- 75 people. Attendance set a new record at 115 people this year. Dick thanked all board members who brought guests. Dick also thought Bob Dunne as a guest speaker helped increase attendance. Dick and Sal noted that work should begin to secure a guest speaker that will draw a crowd for 2016.

  • Dick Adler proposed next year’s event date to be Tuesday, June 21, 2016. Joe noted it will likely cost $5 more per meal for a cost of $45/meal in 2016 so pricing will likely be $50/meal. Dick Adler will check with The Edgewater as a potential new venue due to their sponsorship as well as with Blackhawk Country Club. Roy Carter noted YLA should continue to cultivate the relationship over time with The Edgewater but book Blackhawk for next year.

  • Sal Troia made a motion to reserve Blackhawk Country Club on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 for next year’s Annual Dinner meeting. Roy Carter seconded the motion. Motion passed.

  • Joe noted he and Dick would talk with Sam Ballweg to get a raffle item other than a pier bench for next year in order to increase collections on the raffle. Dick apologized to Carol for forgetting to bring the two terrific door prizes she secured from Olbrich Gardens and Madison Symphony. It was decided to offer these as door prizes to attendees at the Summer Social event. Carol will contact Olbrich and the Symphony to apprise them of the situation.

  • Dan Schultz has been coordinating the YLA Summer Social to be held Tuesday, August 11 at Christy’s Landing on Lake Waubesa. Dan has generously offered to personally pay for the first quarter barrel of beer. Rhonda Arries noted the budget has $150 for Membership Events to pay for a few appetizers. Carol Gillen made a motion for YLA to pay for $150 worth of appetizers at the Summer Social event. Caroline Fribance seconded the motion. Motion passed.

  • Allan Levin will include the Summer Social details in his meeting summary email blast to members. Carol Gillen will include an invite in the August newsletter. It was agreed that the door prize giveaway would occur at 7 p.m. and board members won’t be eligible for door prizes. Dan Schultz asked Rhonda to bring name tags, door prize tickets, a Sharpie and membership brochures.

  • Dan will invite Kevin Connors, Darren Marsh, Lakes & Watershed and others from water related organizations but wants to keep the event informal. Carol and Joe thanked Dan for all his efforts in pulling this event together. It was suggested that a similar event be hosted at The Edgewater Boathouse next year.

  • Dick Adler hasn’t heard if the von Rutenberg’s are hosting the annual Sheriff’s Lake Patrol event at the Nau-ti-gal in August. If the event will occur, YLA will once again donate $250 (it’s in the budget). If it’s not scheduled, nothing will be donated. Dick will follow-up and let Rhonda know if she needs to forward a check.

12:25 p.m. Membership Committee – Chair: Roy Carter

  • Rhonda Arries reported 334 members to-date (22 corporate and 312 individual members). The 2015 goal is for 478 – 28 corporate members and 450 individual members. A full breakdown of membership is on http://yaharalakes.org/board-members-only/

  • CLA/YLA Joint Mailing – preliminary results are 39 riparian responses received by CLA in June totaling $1345 in dues. In mid-August, CLA will issue a check and provide the final and complete data re: the joint mailing.

  • Joe Tisserand asked everyone to look at the non-renewals and to also recruit 3 new members per board member. Sal Troia volunteered to contact Blue Crane to renew their corporate membership.

  • Newsletter: Publishing schedule is February, May, August and November

  • Carol stated the August newsletter will go out in early August. The lead article will be from Dan Schultz re: how the recent budget changes impact NR115 and shoreland zoning. With this new budget bill, Dane County will no longer be able to be more restrictive than the state. Dan would like to do a follow-up article for the November newsletter recapping the shoreland zoning differences impacting incorporated vs unincorporated areas. James Tye will write a CLA article, Dick Adler will write about the annual meeting, UW Limnology will write an article re: spiny water flea.

  • Carol Gillen and Dan Schultz are working on a lake owner’s best practices brochure that will include the information from the newsletter articles re: shoreland zoning and NR115.

  • Sal Troia and Carol Gillen have updated the trifold membership recruiting brochure. Pictures are updated and the mission statement is restated. A reminder that membership dues for 2016 will be $40 for email newsletters and $50 for standard mail newsletters. Caroline Fribance will work on rewording the Key Accomplishments to put them as past tense, active verbs (i.e. change “working” to “worked”) and forward the edits to Carol Gillen by early August. Board members thanked Carol and Sal for their efforts and efficiency in getting this important document updated.

1:00 p.m. Government Committee – Chair: David Bohl Mbrs: Bob Miller, Dan Schultz

  • Rhonda Arries noted the Dane County Budget for 2016 is open for public input until August 5 if there are any issues YLA feels that need to be addressed and/or funded in the upcoming year.

1:05 p.m. Environmental Committee – Chair: Allan Levin

Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA) - Mike Gerner  Lakes & Watershed (L&W) – Mike Gerner o Roy Carter went to one of the L&W meetings as a rep for YLA to determine shared goals for the upcoming Watershed Summit. He will report updates as available.

1:13 p.m. Riparian Issues Committee – Chair: Luke Hutchins n/a

1:14 p.m. Old Business: n/a

1:15 p.m. New Business: Don Sanford’s book “On Fourth Lake: A Social History of Lake Mendota” will be published in August .

  • Don sent a letter to YLA requesting funding support. Sal Troia noted this is a private effort and YLA doesn’t have money in the budget. Sal would like to encourage board members and YLA members to buy the book and make donations. Carol suggested putting information about this in the August newsletter and let members support it as needed. Roy Carter will give a personal donation and will note his YLA affiliation. Dan Schultz made a motion to have YLA donate $100, include an article about the book in the August newsletter, invite Don to solicit at the Summer Social event on August 11 and suggest Don set up a www.GoFundMe.com account. Doug Bach seconded the motion. Motion passed.

  • Rhonda Arries will send a letter and check to Don recapping the board’s motion. Chuck Gates noted his business life is extremely busy and will not likely level off until 2017. If anyone wants to recruit a replacement, he would graciously step down from his board position.

  • Otherwise, he’ll continue to try to make board meetings and make contributions as his schedule allows.

1:25 p.m. Doug Bach made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Next meeting date is September 24, 2015