| How to Form a
Lake Association
People who live on
lakes have some advantages not available to other citizens. They also
have some unique responsibilities which may be difficult for them to
deal with as individuals. Sharing and meeting with others with common
interests can both stimulate problem solving and provide solutions that
may not be otherwise available.
A lake
association may help you and your neighbors in many ways to:
- Develop a
partnership with your lake neighbors.
- Gain awareness
of your neighbors' lake interests.
- Develop a
communications network for sharing lake news.
- Raise
awareness of lake issues in the community.
- Launch fund
raising events and apply for grants.
- Develop a
wise, long range lake management plan.
- Gain strength
in numbers. The group's opinions and needs can be constructively
represented in dealing with government officials and agencies.
- Gather
information and present educational programs for your membership and
other lake users living within the community.
- Conduct data
collection on a broad range of lake concerns (water quality, real
estate developments, lake use conflicts).
- Gain a
historical perspective from longtime residents.
Typical
Projects for Lake Associations
- Establish
contracts for aquatic plant removal.
- Form groups
for monitoring water quality.
- Buy and
operate an aquatic plant harvester (with the required permits).
- Develop long
range lake management plans.
- Develop plans
for funding weed control and water quality projects.
- Negotiate with
government entities for grants to fund weed control and water
quality projects.
- Conduct
educational programs relating to both the effect of and possible
sources of plant nutrient loading of the lake waters.
- Conduct
boating and swimming safety training programs.
What To
Expect
- Expect
divergence from your own philosophy and expectations about how a
lake should be used or managed. If an organization is formed over
one issue or point of view, the prospects for long-term success may
be limited.
- Costs and
funding matters are nearly always controversial issues. Approach
them with caution, particularly in the early stages of forming an
association.
An
Organization With the Best Chance of Success
- Has an eye
toward the future.
- Recognizes a
broad range of issues and requirements.
- Anticipates
unforeseen occurrences that could change the lake.
- Balances the
needs of today's lake community against the possibilities of
tomorrow's needs.
- Is sensitive
to differences in the views of those who have lived on the lake for
many years.
- Is aware of
the distinctive requirements of year-round and seasonal residents.
- Is sensitive
to the various user groups and their expectations (boaters, fishing
clubs, seasonal users, etc.).
Where To
Start?
- Talk to
longtime residents to develop a complete history of the lake.
- Find out
whether there are existing groups that represent lake interests.
- Have there
ever been other lake organizations? If so, what happened to them?
Who were the officers?
- Have there
been major management projects such as aquatic plant harvesting? Who
was involved?
- Are there any
government agencies or institutions involved in management projects
on the lake?
- Are there any
groups with a substantial interest in the management of the lake
(lodges, marinas, industries, city or county governments, large
landowners, boaters, fishing clubs)?
- Are there any
political situations or issues (development, use conflicts, plant
harvesting, etc.)?
Before Your
First Informational Meeting
- Assemble a
nucleus of interested people whom you believe may wish to be
involved in helping to solve the problems of the lake. This group
might include a representative of your city or county lake
management group, a longtime resident, a special interest person and
someone who lives near, but not on the lake.
- Be prepared to
present a list of all the reasons you believe a lake organization is
needed.
- Be prepared to
consider possible objections to an organization and how they might
be addressed.
- Develop a
preliminary plan of neighborhood divisions or areas in order to
recruit representatives so that all groups are represented.
- Distribute any
information that may be available concerning issues or problems and
their potential solutions.
- Form a
committee to plan the first informational meeting. This committee
should include in their planning such items as meeting location
(school auditoriums, public library meeting rooms, church meeting
rooms or auditoriums). In the planning also include such items as
agenda, invitations to professionals in the field of lake concerns
to speak, as well as the selection of a time and a date for the
meeting.
- Using the city
or county tax rolls to make a list, invite everyone residing on the
lake to your informational meeting. Preferably, this should be done
by mail or hand delivery, but in any event a "telephone
tree" should be set up to remind people a few days before the
meeting of the date, time, and location.
- Prepare a news
release for your local newspaper and your radio and television
public affairs program to invite other interested members of the
community to attend. Send it out early and be sure to follow it up
with a telephone call to help insure its use.
At The First
Informational Meeting
- Before the
meeting, inspect the logistics (chairs, audio visual equipment,
paper, pencils, sign-in sheets, etc.). Be sure to ask for addresses
and telephone numbers at the sign-in.
- When the
meeting has been called to order, introduce yourself, your committee
and any guest speakers, as appropriate.
- Explain why
you feel there is a need for an organization.
- Start on time
and stay on schedule.
- Allow plenty
of time for questions and answers and to get feedback.
| Note:
The need to form an association will usually be to seek a
solution to an existing problem or problems, but to help make
the need a cogent one, you might also discuss the history of
the lake in terms of boating, swimming, fishing and potability
of the water. A discussion of the effect of changes in the
lake's watershed might also be pertinent. |
After the
information has been provided and all of the questions have been
answered, you will need to confirm the desire of the group to form an
association. A straw vote may suffice for this.
If the result is
positive, you may wish to elect temporary officers and to get agreement
on a date for the first organizational meeting. This meeting should
follow the first informational meeting as soon as possible. The
temporary officers should, in the interval, prepare suggestions for
bylaws and nominations for permanent officers.
If the people
attending the preliminary meeting are not sold on the idea of a
permanent association, you may wish to form a steering committee to
explore the idea further or to set up another preliminary meeting. This
second informational meeting could invite a speaker from a successfully
operating lake association to address the specific concerns of those who
were negative to the idea of forming an association.
Other
Considerations
IRS
Reporting:
Lake associations
are usually organized as "not for profit" corporations. The
procedure for doing this requires that application be made to the
Washington State Secretary of State for a certification of
incorporation. Information for completing this application can be
obtained by contacting the Secretary of State's office at 505 E. Union
Street (PO Box 40234), Olympia, WA 98504-0234. Their telephone number is
(360) 753-7115.
Once the
certificate of incorporation is received, it may be necessary also to
apply to the U.S. Department of Internal Revenue for tax exempt status
under section "501(c)3." Groups such as lake associations are
usually considered as scientific or educational; but since they raise
funds through dues or other means, the exemption may be required
depending on the amount of money raised. The IRS telephone number is
1-800-829-1040.
It is important
that careful records be kept of all disbursements, receipts and other
financial transactions. If you have association members who are
attorneys or accountants, they may be willing to help in setting up your
association's accounting records and filing for tax exempt status.
Lake
Management and Sewer Districts:
It may be
necessary, in order to fund large projects, to assess or tax lake
property owners. Limited authority to do this may be granted by city or
county governments upon petition by a majority of the lake's property
owners.
Insurance
Liability
insurance for the directors and officers are two additional items that
your organization may wish to consider. Perhaps one of your members who
is in the insurance business can provide information about the need for
this type of insurance. Alternately, you can contact The Community
Association Institute at 1423 Powhatan St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703)
548-8600, for additional information.
Sources for
More Information
Join the North
American Lake Management Society (NALMS) (906) 462-2554 and the
Washington State Lake Protection Association (WALPA) P.O. Box 1206,
Seattle, WA 98111-1206.
"Organizing
Lake Users: A Practical Guide" published by Terrene Institute,
1000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20036.
"A
Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams."
Now out of print but available on the web - Just click on the title.
"Lake and
Reservoir Restoration Guidance Manual," 2nd Edition EPA
440/490006. Write to Clean Lakes Program, Assessment and Watershed
Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
"A
Citizen's Manual for Developing Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management
Plans" Contact Ecology publications at (360) 407-7472 or
E-mail: jewi461@ecy.wa.gov. Also available on the web - just click on
the title.
Acknowledgment:
University of Wisconsin, College of Natural Resources for permission to
use portions of their publication "Starting a Lake Association."
Lake
Information Table of Contents | Washington Lake Book Table of
Contents |