Many thanks to all who came to the 2011 AGM on July 31. Great turnout. See the minutes area for the draft minutes.

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2011 Spring News

“The season started with a bang”
(Rick Milner, standing amid fallen trees, June 12)
Two major storms and unusually high water caused the most damage seen on Birch Island since the Great Ice Storm of '98. The latest storm on June 8 blew down large trees, some landing on cottages, and knocked out power for 72 hours. Be advised that food in fridges and freezers may be suspect.

[An idea: Ann Jaques suggests keeping a bag of ice cubes in the freezer to gauge length of power outages.]

Please send pictures of damage for posting on the website -- see below for contributions from Jae Shaw and Sylvia French.

New Executive
The 2011 executive members are John Curley (President), Jae Shaw (VP), Andy Shaw (Secretary), Alice Howarth (Treasurer), Bob Cavenagh (Past President), Directors Ry Weisiger, Russell Green, John Feltmate, and Sharron Curley.

A short note of introduction. Sharron and I built our cottage in 1977 and have spent thirty-plus happy summers on the lake, first with the kids and now the grandchildren, sailing, canoeing, swimming, watching sunsets, stargazing. We are retired now living in Peterborough.

Library
On behalf of the association, let me offer thanks to our past-President Bob Cavenagh for all he accomplished last year and in previous years. His “Branch Library” is particularly inspired.

Jae Shaw notes that children are big users but we’re really low on children’s books. Could we ask members for donations of children’s books and ask people to keep an eye out for kid’s books at yard sales? Also, could we ask for more diligence in returning books, particularly the ones labelled 'Treasured Island Books' some of which have gone missing without being signed out.

 

Newcomers
A warm welcome to island newcomers Al and Paola Diemert (#3), Muralee Murugesu & Philippa King (#29); and the Hanson family: Peter and Dianne Hanson, daughter Sarah and husband Patrick Dunnigan; and son Adam and wife Laura. The Hansons are at #71 Birch Island.

2011 Membership dues - $40
Dues this year remain at $40. We mailed a dues notice to members in mid-June along with a membership survey and a current directory for Birch Island. Please complete the survey (paper or on-line). Your response will be summarized on the website and discussed at the AGM slated for 10am, Sunday July 31 - mark your calendars!

Also, let us know of changes to your contact information, especially email addresses which we use to get information out, e.g. on the recent storm.

The Web Site - suggestions? volunteers?
I am the volunteer webmaster for Birch Island. The website needs reorganization and I welcome your suggestions. I’m sure we could enhance dissemination of timely information for example on the recent storm damage and power outages, perhaps adding twitter feeds, e-mailed news flashes, and the like. As always we welcome notices, articles, photos and so on for posting.

One interesting suggestion is a members-only area where plans and member surveys are open for comment, where cottagers might post short intros of themselves, photo albums, ads, etc. Send us your suggestions for site improvements any old way: the survey, e-mail, phone call etc.

Rights-of-Way
A few updates about last year’s big activity. You will recall that some of our deeds are deficient in “Right-of-Way” specifications, and that lawyer Richard Minard offered to rectify the problem. Progress is ongoing and John Feltmate will report status soon to the sixteen cottagers who signed on.

Septic pumpouts
One annual item of interest is septic pumpouts. Dan O’Grady has done this in the past. If you want a pumpout this year, give him a call at 613-283-9384, sooner rather than later as he will be on the lake only once.

Well, that’s about it for now. Keep in touch. If you have comments or questions, let me or anyone on the executive know.

John Curley,
President, BIRPOA
#75 Birch Island
705-745-9490
613-359-5085 - cottage
jpcurley@gmail.com