This summer the JLMA needs to hold Beach Rep. Elections for each
subdivision/
interest group around Jackfish Lake. There are 22 available board positions
to be filled. It is a
time for some board members to show that they are still committed to
our mission and a
time for new people to step forward to get more involved with
the JLMA.
I’m hoping that someone will step forward from my beach so that I can
just concentrate on the
President duties. I would like to review a beach rep’s responsibility
and get everyone thinking about
whether they would be willing to volunteer for a board position. Instead
of publishing the stale
bylaw version, I’ll share my personal story and life’s little lessons
that I have learnt by being a
beach rep for 4 years.
When our community decided to set up an association, Don and I had been
full-time residents
for almost a year. We had made a huge financial and lifestyle
commitment to make Jackfish Lake
our home. We both recognized that a lake association was a good idea
but Don was already
feeling spread too thin with his current workload and commitments.
He suggested that I should get
involved instead of him. I had quit work to be a “stay at home mom”
for my then 3-year-old
daughter Jessica and was 6 months pregnant with Kristen. Our house
wasn’t quite finished yet and
landscaping was dirt. I didn’t know many of my new neighbours
and I knew that the association
would be dealing with controversial environmental and social issues.
Boy, was I ever surprised to hear
myself saying “O.K., I’ll volunteer.” (Then I surprised myself further
by sitting on the executive).
The first couple of years required a lot of work because we were starting
from scratch but
each year becomes easier with experience. We have files for the social
events and programs that we have
offered in the past as a starting point for the next year, etc. My
list of Beach Rep Responsibilities include:
Attend 4 to 6 Board meetings each year to conduct association business
Provide reminder phone calls to members for General Meeting and Event
dates
Provide a channel of communication in between newsletter publications
Help collect input and distribute educational material
Help coordinate social events/fund-raisers
Help develop special programs/projects as directed by our general
membership
as a means of finding solutions to issues affecting our lake community.
LIFE LESSON #1: When you need help, be brave enough to ask
for it and willing to receive it.
When life got hectic, I was fortunate to have very supportive and understanding
JLMA members on
my beach. I’d make reminder phone calls, the baby would start crying
and I’d ask each person that I
called to phone his/her next door neighbor for me. The simple
request cut my phone list in half. Now I
have a wonderful lady who volunteered to phone our beach if I’m too
busy. Some of my summer
walks became a time to distribute educational material and collect
input. When I was too busy,
the neighbors would stop in at my place.
LIFE LESSON #2: Include everyone and search for common ground.
I have discovered that I have incredible neighbours with various skills,
backgrounds and interests.
We all share at least one thing in common though; we all love Jackfish
Lake. The opportunity to get
better aquainted with them has enriched my life. Many hands make light
work when it comes
to coordinating social events and programs. It is a great way to meet
people, make friends and
have some fun.
LIFE LESSON #3: If you are getting nowhere fast… sit down,
shut up and really listen.
(Yes, my parents taught me this one and it can still be a hard one
to do.)
At times, the various ideas and opinions can make decision-making challenging
but I know that
the experience has made me more open-minded and understanding of the
other interest groups
with whom I share the lake.
LIFE LESSON #4: When you least expect it, someone will do
something incredibly generous and kind!
I hired a local teenager to baby-sit for me while I went to a General
Meeting. When I picked up my girls,
she wouldn’t accept any money. I panicked because I remembered
how many things I was saving for
when I was her age. She calmly and quietly reminded me that she lived
at the lake too. Although she wasn’t
old enough to be a JLMA member, she understood that we were trying
to protect and conserve the lake's
resources for future generations and she wanted to show her support.
I have also had numerous business
people/neighbours offer their time, services and merchandise for social
events, prizes and to reduce
administration costs. Many of the offers have came in unsolicited and
in a profoundly timely manner.
I must express my gratitude. Thank you very much.
The only things I can say with clarity about the position are:
It is a two-year term.
The non-monetary rewards that you will receive will be as
varied and unique as the lake people who make up the association.
The executive will try to have you working from your strengths not
your weaknesses.
The JLMA will only be able to offer programs and events in direct
proportion with
the commitment of the Board members and the involvement of the general
membership.
Have a Great Fall!
We only have two general meetings each year; one in the spring and the
AGM in the fall. It is
imperative that we have quorum to conduct association business. For
the 38 members who did
attend the “gathering”, thank you for coming out on such a cold and
rainy day and our sincerest
apologies.
Our guest speaker, Cst. Wayne Oakes gave an excellent presentation on
two topics: the New
Boating Regulations and Rural Crime Watch. We have included some of
the information that he
discussed on pages 4 & 5 of this newsletter.
Thanks to all who sold tickets for this raffle.
A special thanks to Gary Truhn, JLMA Vice President, for organizing
the raffle and
for selling 600 tickets on his own. Way to go Gary!
For more information or recent updates, contact the web site at www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca or Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
You are invited to the 7th Annual Conference of the Alberta Lake Management Society, to be held in the beautiful, historic area of Lac Ste-Anne.
This Conference will provide an opportunity for everyone interested in lakes, including ordinary citizens, academics and governments, to learn from each other about these precious resources.
The preliminary program includes:
For further information, please contact Patrick Marriott at (780) 427-7033
(toll-free by dialling 310-0000 first), e-mail: Pat. Marriott@gov.ab.ca
or Steve Smart at (780) 430-6706.
CABIN PARTS & CONTENTS SALE
SEPTEMBER 4-5-6/99
Household furnishings, propane tanks, acorn fireplace, fridge, electric
range,
microwave and stand, propane heater, propane lights and assorted odds
& ends
Contact Ken & Lois Darby on Kenglened Beach or phone 963-5180 or
468-4757
KNEE-HIGH NATURE PLAYSCHOOL
Accepting Registration for October to May
To register call Priscilla Spratt B.Ed. 968-2336 e-mail:
aspratt@ecn.ab.ca
Parent & Tot Program now offered. Please phone for more info.
VELOCITY WATER SKI CLUB
Affiliated with Alberta Water Ski
For more information phone Don Holmes 963-1690
CANADIAN POWER AND SAIL SQUADRON
BOAT PRO COURSE
JLMA will arrange for courses at Jackfish Lake.
To register or for more information contact Rhonda Holmes 963-1690
e-mail: jlma@enable.org
Thank you to the following businesses for their support of our Association.
GARDEN MARKET IGA (Wayne & Wendy Van de Ligt)
11 Westway Road, Spruce Grove AB, 962-4121
PATIO UMBRELLA REPAIRS
Cords, Cranks, Tilters (Most Models)
Prompt Service
Noel Constantin (780) 465-3209
Lot 3, Edwards Beach "Seven C's"
MINK LAKE RESORT & CAMPGROUND
Fishing, Mini-Golf, Hall Rentals, Ball Diamonds, Store & Concession
Showers, Laudromat, Seasonal Lots, Group Camping
Carvel, Alberta (780) 963-8264
VANDERDANN CONTRACTING
24 hour Backhoe & Snow Removal
MIKE VANDERWELL phone: 780-963-2094
OWNER / OPERATOR CELL: 780-940-4006
Box 2 Site 27 RR2 Carvel, Alberta
T0E 0H0
Lot 4, Kenglened
Mail your comments to Jackfish Lake ECHO
Box 7, Site 20, R.R. #2 Carvel, Alberta
T0E 0H0
or email us at jlma@enable.org
Why does a ship move to starboard or port instead of to the right or
left?
The Answer:
As soon as you board a ship, something strange happens. You can't tell
whether you're moving to the
left or the right, because there is no left or right. Instead,
it's port or starboard. Most people quickly
learn to say port when they mean left, and starboard for right. But
I bet few people -- sailors or landlubbers --
know why we use these words.
Starboard comes from the Old English word for the paddles that Vikings
used on the right side of
their ships to steer: "steorbords." In that spirit, the left side became
"larboard"--from lade, "to load"
and bord, "side" (ships were loaded from the left side). But later
the English thought that larboard
sounded too close to starboard so they arbitrarily changed it to "port."
Moral of the story: When you rule the seas, you get to
make up the words.
The Rules of Chocolate
If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that
a balanced diet?
Don't they actually counteract each other?
If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge.
Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate
to protect themselves.
If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose.
An entire garment industry would be devastated.
You can't let that happen, can you?
jlma@enable.org --
Updated November 15, 1999