Yahara Lakes Association, Ltd.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 11, 2019 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.                   

The Yahara Lakes Association Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 11, 2019, in the American Family Insurance Spark Building (821 E. Washington Ave) 1st Floor Conference room.

The following members were present: Dick Adler, Roy Carter, Eric Englund, Caroline Fribance, Carol Gillen, Annette Hellmer, Allan Levin, Dick Pearson, Nancy Peckham, Jerry Rekowski, Dan Schultz, Dave Silverberg, Joe Tisserand, Sal Troia, and Brenda Matthias

Members and advisors not present:  Stuart Allbaugh, Eric Olson, Eric Vieth, Bill Fitzpatrick, and James Tye

11:30 a.m.    Call to Order:  President, Sal Troia, called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m.

11:40 a.m.    Executive Session: Nancy Peckham & Jerry Rekowski

  • The membership and marketing & communications committees meet on June 21, 2019 to discuss YLA’s strategic direction and setting up a 501(c)3 sister organization. 

  • By having the 501(c)3 status it will allow YLA to take advantage of raising money through donations that are deductible.

  • One requirement of having the 501(c)3 status, YLA would need to do more charity work and not just serve YLA members.  We would need to have a public purpose.

  • Dan Schultz made a motion to not move forward unless we are a riparian organization.  Allan Levin seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

  • Nancy made a motion to explore strategic planning services and costs for the 501(c)3.  ? seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

  • Dick Adler made a motion to give Dave Silverberg 2 hours to inquire with the attorney whether we can have exclusive membership requirements in a 501(c)3.  Annette Hellmer seconded the motion. Motion passed.

12:40 p.m.    President Items – Sal

  • Joe Tisserand made a motion to change the membership fiscal year to April 1 through March 31 from the calendar year.  Carol Fribance seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

  • Due to the additional work needed for the continued membership renewal campaign there was 5 additional administrative hours above the contracted number of hours in June.

12:50 p.m.  Treasurer Report - Dan Schultz 

  • Financial report -

o   Year to date net income is $587 – budgeted net income is $9,380

o   Factors contributing the difference include board insurance, contract services, new website, and lower membership renewals.

o   With these contributing factors, expected to be $5k to $6k below budget for this year.

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

1:00 p.m.      May Minutes: 

  • Eric Englund made a motion to accept the May 9, 2019 meeting minutes.  Joe Tisserand seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

1:05 p.m.      Marketing & Communications Committee – Nancy Peckham

  • Continued the membership renewal campaign efforts by drafting a call to action notice that was sent to all “non-paid” members. 

  • May newsletter was completed and sent to all YLA members.

  • There were several revisions made to the YLA website.

  • Carol Gillen is currently gathering articles for the August newsletter with a deadline of July 22nd to submit articles.

  • The password to the Board area on the YLA website will be changed to FOYL19BOD.

1:10 p.m.      Membership Retention and Recruitment – Jerry Rekowski

  • YLA now has access to the riparian name list for the Yahara lakes and river.  This list can be used for our own YLA membership recruiting.

  • YLA is now positioned to work closely with Clean Lakes Alliance on creating the 2020 membership drive joint letter.  Agreement has been reached to create a document that highlights the value of both organizations and goals to accomplish.  Confusion over joint membership renewal payments will be resolved. Letter release will be in the area of February-March 2020.

  • As of April 11, 2019 we had 261 non-renewed members.  As of July 1st we have 219 renewed/new members and 138 non-renewed members.

1:15 p.m.      Legislative & Legal Committee – Caroline Fribance

  • Dan Schultz made a motion to adapt the nondiscrimination provision and add that to the bylaws.  Joe Tisserand seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

Yahara Lakes Association does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services to members and the public. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.

  • Dan Schultz made a motion to adopt the No Harassment policy.  Annette Hellmer seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

YLA is committed to providing an environment for our members, directors, officers, employees if any, volunteers and persons served by YLA that is comfortable, safe, and free from harassment of any kind.  Any type of harassment is a violation of this policy and may be illegal.

1:20 p.m.      Lake Levels & Flow Committee – Dan Schultz

  • Representatives from the Yahara Lakes Association met with Officers Thomas Sankey and Todd Bernisch from the Dane County Sheriff’s department and John Reimer from the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department to discuss the feasibility of adding the option of a 500 ft slow-no-wake zone along the shoreline to the toolbox for managing the high water conditions on the Yahara Lakes. The goal is to provide an interim step that enhances the shoreline protection at moderately high water levels rise but leaves, approximately, 70-80% of the lake available for recreational uses or boat transit without any speed restrictions. This would effectively put a “yellow zone” step to the “red zone” step of whole lake slow-no-wake order.

  • Dave Silverberg made motion to move forward with supporting the option to add a 500 ft slow-no-wake zone along the shoreline.  Nancy Peckham seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

  • Items to be included in the 2020 budget are due July 18th.  Allan Levin will be putting in a request for 200/500 foot marker buoys at launch sites.

1:25 p.m.      Events Committee (Annual Dinner) – Dick Adler & Joe Tisserand

  • Joe Tisserand and Dick Adler thanked the Board members for their efforts in securing door prizes.  They also thanked Allan Levin and his wife for helping with check in. 

  • Financial recap - $5,926 income from registrations and raffle / $5,709 expenses leaving a net income of $217.

  • Dick Adler made a motion to hold next year’s Annual Dinner on Tuesday, June 16th at Blackhawk Country Club.  Dan Schultz seconded the motion.  Motion passed.

1:30 p.m.   Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting date is September 12th, 2019 at American Family Insurance on E. Washington.