WINTER NEWSLETTER 2010

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

The year 2009 has come to a close and I trust that the time spent at Fox Lake for your family and friends has been an enjoyable one with more good memories to add to the memory book.

The major priority of the Board over the past year was to have a completed Lake Plan by the end of 2009. I am pleased to say that this goal will have been reached in the next week. It has been a big job but one that I believe will reap benefits for years to come. Our Lake Plan author, Jack van der Meer, has done a very professional and thorough job on the Lake Plan having put in many hours beyond what was contracted. The Board is very grateful for the work Jack has done and as you read the document I am sure you would agree. I would also express thanks to the Lake Plan Committee who worked with Jack throughout the process and spent many hours ensuring the final document was of a professional standard. Thanks to the current Lake Plan Committee: Elaine Jackson (Chair), David White, Ellen Fox, Gabriel Andersen, Rob Randall, Pat Currie and Jack van der Meer. The Board will follow up to ensure that the recommendations of the Lake Plan are prioritized and implemented over subsequent years.

There were several lake activities throughout the summer. Our second annual Rib Fest was held after our Annual AGM in July at Sandy McLennan’s cottage. Over 100 people attended. Thanks to Karen Beamer who coordinated this event, to Tibor and Simcoe County Smokers for their great barbecue and to Sandy for hosting and making such unique outdoor privies for this event. Sandy is graciously willing to host our third Rib Fest this year on July 17, 2010.

Our Regatta was held at the Finbow/Yule beach and run by the Association’s Vice-president, Robin Yule. It was a great day and well attended.

Our last social event was the Corn Roast at Camp Romuva coordinated by Robin Yule and Jim McMahon. Thanks to Camp Romuva for permitting us to use their beach area. The 70 who attended enjoyed fresh corn, hotdogs/sausages and chatting with their lake neighbours.

Having two camps, seasonal and permanent residences on the lake does at times create conflicts of interest among lake users. With both permanent and seasonal residents on the lake along with two camps, at times, there may be conflicts of interest amongst lake users. The FLA Board strives to ensure that lake users respect each other and that our waters and shorelines are protected from environmental damage, so that we can all enjoy the lake for years to come. The FLA Board has developed cordial relationships with both camps and wants to ensure this continues. Both Camp Romuva and Camp Winnebagoe are supportive in working with the FLA Board to ensure the needs and concerns of the lake community are respected. Unfortunately, several times this past summer, a number of complaints were made directly to Camp Winnebagoe by cottagers. These complaints were not directed through the FLA Board as requested at the AGM in 2007, consequently creating difficulty in resolving such issues. In order to deal with concerns in an effective, resolvable manner, we need to have concerns addressed through the President, or Vice-president (contact information on page 4). It is imperative that concerns be addressed through proper channels to ensure amicable resolutions. I ask that cottagers/renters do so.

I raise one other issue before closing. This past summer we have had a couple of incidents when individuals have visited or camped on Rock Island and left garbage and broken beer bottles and chopped down healthy trees. This has not been due to the Camp Winnebagoe overnights. The Camp has twice needed to clean up before using the island. The island is crown land and is available for lake users;

however, it is imperative that users remove garbage and bring their own firewood and water bucket. The island is a treasure to our lake and the FLA reminds all residents/guests to ensure that the island will remain a gem in our lake for years to come by treating it as if it were their own property.

It has been a good year and I have enjoyed working with the Board over the past year. They are a great working group and a pleasure to work with. They are: Robin Yule, Vice-president, who replaced Rob Randall in July, Gwen St. John, Secretary, Karen Beamer, Social, Pat Currie and Tom Perkin. Rob Randall served as Vice-president for three years and his efforts were appreciated by all. He stepped off the Board in July; consequently, we have a vacant spot for a Board Director. Please consider joining. Thanks to our Treasurer, Jim McMahon, who again has kept the Association in a good financial position.

Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year,

Jim Watson, President,

Fox Lake Association                                                   

FOX LAKE PLAN COMMITTEE UPDATE

As your President, Jim Watson, has mentioned above, your Lake Plan is being finalized as we

go to print with this newsletter.  The process was begun in 2002 and the completion of this project marks a major milestone for Fox Lakers and our Association.

Over the past seven years, in addition to those mentioned by Jim, others have also contributed significantly to this effort.  In the early years, Anne Lloyd and Peter Hubbard (former Presidents); Harold Hadley (former Board Chair) for his ongoing support and encouragement; Alix Yule, who created and with former resident, Brad Mitchell, analyzed the results of our Fox Lake Community Questionnaire in 2003; Lynda Howe  (former resident) who created our master database of landowners and transferred this information to a lake map; Karen Beamer for her ongoing fundraising efforts and initiating a new logo for Fox Lake; Gordon Finbow, Barbara Yule, the McMahon/Maxwell families, my mother, Betty Perkin and numerous others who contributed early cottage history. 

More recently, Rob Randall, Gwen St. John and Ellen Fox who helped in the selection process of choosing a resource planner to author our lake plan; Bob Ahrens, who flew his plane over our lake, enabling Jack van der Meer to take current photographs; Gabrielle Andersen who researched and consolidated local history for us, contributed to photos and helped edit and proofread the final document; Ellen Fox who led the process to finalize a new logo for the Association, updated our database, improved numerous maps and photos in our lake plan, contributed photos and helped to edit and proofread; Pat Currie who assisted in editing and proofreading and finalized printing quotations with various potential suppliers; David White for his ongoing work as our Lake Steward and his assistance with lake plan content and environmental issues; Jack van der Meer, onboard since Day One, for his unwavering support and advice and for writing such a great lake plan for our lake; my husband, Gord, for his patience and steadfast support over the years; Jim Watson and past and current Association Boards for their ongoing support; and last, but not least, the entire Fox Lake Community for your volunteer efforts in achieving this goal.  As in any acknowledgement, one worries about leaving someone “off the list”.  If I have done so inadvertently, I apologize.  To quote Jack:  “You know how you helped.  Thank you!” 

Soon, your Lake Plan will be posted to the Fox Lake Association website at www.foxlakeassociation.org.  It is a fascinating and informative document and I encourage all of you to read it from cover to cover.  Pending final Board approval, it will be printed and distributed to lake residents in the spring/summer of 2010 by volunteers.  Now the real work of implementing the recommendations and action plan will begin.  We will be counting on your support in this, the most important process of all, over the coming years.

Elaine Jackson, Chair

Fox Lake Plan Committee

Note:    Your new Fox Lake Association logo is featured at the top of page 1 of this winter newsletter J

Varied versions in greyscale or colour will be available for stitching or imprinting on clothing soon.