July 2016 Meeting Minutes
Yahara Lakes Association, Ltd.
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
The Yahara Lakes Association Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2016, 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, Carol Gillen, Annette Hellmer, Mike Jensen, Allan Levin, Dick Pearson, Dan Schultz, Joe Tisserand, Sal Troia and Rhonda Arries
Members and advisors not present: Bill Fitzpatrick, Mike Gerner, Luke Hutchins, Bob Miller, Jerry Rekowski, James Tye and Debbie Waite
11:40 a.m. Call to Order: President, Roy Carter, called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. 11:41 a.m. Minutes: Doug Bach made a motion to approve the May 12, 2016 meeting minutes. Dan Schultz seconded the motion. Motion passed.
11:42 a.m. Treasurer’s report: Sal Troia, Treasurer
Sal Troia reported individual membership dues are short ~ $4,300 vs budget. Even though overall membership is down vs last year, donations continue to come in to buoy the overall financials. The Annual Dinner was a net gain of $175. Cash assets are ~ $58k. Overall, the organization is in good financial health.
Dick Adler made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. Caroline Fribance seconded the motion. Motion passed. 11:50 a.m. Board meeting location change: Roy Carter
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce building is being sold and will not be available for future board meetings.
Annette Hellmer works for Johnson Bank and stated the westside location has a conference room available for future board meetings. There’s no cost for the room. Annette will check if a projector is available.
Discussion ensued regarding alternative locations such as a public library or Monona Community Center.
Sal Troia made a motion to schedule future board meetings at the westside Johnson Bank location. Joe Tisserand seconded the motion. Motion passed.
12:00 p.m. Special Events Committee – Co-Chairs: Dick Adler & Joe Tisserand
The Annual Dinner event was held Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at Blackhawk Country Club with 88 attendees.
Joe Tisserand thanked Dick Adler and all the board members for all the terrific door prizes. Caroline Fribance and all the board members also thanked Joe for his efforts.
Dave Taylor thanked the entire board for his Citizen of the Year award. Joe Tisserand noted that Dave was a great choice. Dane County Executive, Joe Parisi’s, introduction and Dave’s speech were well received. Joe Parisi is very lake-oriented and is open to working with YLA on lake issues brought forward to him. Carol Gillen noted that attendees commented on how much they enjoyed the event.
88 attendees this year vs 115 in 2015 and 86 in 2014. Raising dinner prices from $40 to $50 this year didn’t seem to impact attendance overall. Net income for the event was $175 vs ($173) last year. Joe Tisserand noted that giving out fewer awards is more meaningful and lowers expenses and therefore recommended this in the future.
Dick Adler requested that the Annual Dinner event be placed on September’s agenda so that work can begin on selecting a speaker and getting 100+ attendees. Mike Jensen noted that other organizational events allow attendees to host a table. This is a good idea for future planning.
Sal Troia made a motion to book Blackhawk Country Club for the 2017 Annual Dinner. Caroline Fribance seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Annette Hellmer noted that her neighbor would like YLA to host another social summer this year. Discussion ensued about whether it should be a program or social and where it should be held. Doug Bach suggested creating a handout so attendees go away with something. Joe Tisserand and Dick Adler are Elk members and offered it as a centrally located venue on Lake Monona. No further plans were made at this time.
Dick Adler asked the board to support the Sheriff’s Lake Patrol fund raiser in August at the NauTiGal. Roy Carter will contact Jack von Rutenberg to see if they’ll be holding the event. Doug Bach suggested that YLA should ask the Lake Patrol what they need and then make a donation directly to them for that specific need. There is $250 in the 2016 for a Lakes Patrol donation. Roy will follow-up with the Lake Patrol.
12:35 p.m. Membership Committee – Chair: Roy Carter
Rhonda Arries reported 312 members year-to-date in 2016 (25 corporate and 287 individual members). vs. 380 total members in 2015. A full breakdown of membership is on http://yaharalakes.org/board-members-only/
Rhonda provided a recap of membership drive activity this year. In February, 2015 members were asked to renew via the February newsletter. In March, renewal notices went to all lapsed 2013, 2014 and 2015 members (438 total). In May, 2013 – 2015 lapsed members were given a “final” renewal notice (231 total). Also in May, 198 “new” lake property owners were sent a free 2016 membership with a Welcome Letter and May newsletter.
Mike Jensen asked about membership turnover. Rhonda Arries stated that historically there have been ~ 400 members a year which includes ~ 45 new members per year so YLA loses ~ 45 members per year as well. This year, that trend is above average. Caroline Fribance noted that many of the organizations she’s involved in are having membership issues. Doug Bach noted that CLA has grabbed the spotlight for the lakes and has overshadowed YLA which currently doesn’t have a “cause”. Sal Troia noted that membership was strong in 2012 when YLA was heavily involved with a cause – the 200 ft no wake rule.
Joe Tisserand noted that a successful recruiting tool is to introduce yourself and YLA to any new neighbors and ask them to join.
Mike Jensen suggested plotting member addressees on a map to understand where members and board members live to see where there may be opportunities. He volunteered to work with Rhonda Arries on this.
Carol Gillen suggested that the board focus on 2 issues each year and set goals around those issues and then communicate them along with progress updates to the membership. Members want to see progress on issues.
Newsletter: Publishing schedule is February, May, August and November
Carol Gillen reported that she is working on the August newsletter. Dick Adler and Joe Tisserand will provide an annual dinner recap. Rhonda Arries was asked to put an insert in for the new lake property owners to get their email addresses. Doug Bach will forward a scuba club article and Annette Hellmer asked for a restaurants-on-the-lake summary. Dan Schultz will provide a C scow regatta update and Roy Carter will provide an E scow regatta update. Carol asked if anyone can help with getting an update on weed harvesting from either John Reimer or Kevin Connors. Carol has asked Dave Merritt for an update on the Mendota County Park beach improvements and an update from Jeff Endres regarding Yahara Pride Farms.
1:00 p.m. Environmental Committee – Chair: Allan Levin
Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA) – Mike Gerner and Bob Miller are CLA Board of Directors.
Roy Carter will contact James Tye regarding whether the joint CLA/YLA mailing occurred.
Also, CLA solicited YLA to be a part of the Lake Resource Guide. Rhonda Arries submitted the logo and caption and Roy Carter personally paid the $75 for YLA to be included. The guide will be directly mailed to all lake owners, placed in the Isthmus, and distributed to the general public. There will also be an app for electronic users.
Lakes & Watershed (L&W) – Mike Gerner n/a
1:10 p.m. Government Committee – Chair: Dan Schultz
1:11 p.m. Riparian Issues Committee – Chair: Annette Hellmer
1:12 p.m. Old/New Business: Roy Carter stated that he spoke with Luke Hutchins (Lake Waubesa) who has subsequently resigned from the board. Luke simply didn’t have the time to devote to YLA given his work and family obligations. Roy asked board members to help find a replacement on the board for Luke – with a preference for Lake Waubesa residents.
1:15 p.m. Caroline Fribance made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Joe Tisserand seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Next meeting date is September 8, 2016