As the new COLA membership chair, I first want to thank my predecessors, Bob and Doris Sanders. They kept the membership records in tremendous shape. They worked very hard to identify all LCO property owners in order divide up the lake into sections so that we can individually contact our neighbors on COLA’s behalf. Their efforts have really paid off. COLA paid membership is now at 445, or about 60% of all LCO property owners. What’s even more impressive is that of the 775 LCO property owners, 206 people contributed in excess of $117,000 during the inaugural fund raising campaign for the Lac Courte Oreilles Foundation. This level of support is extraordinary and really shows how much people care about the health and future of our lakes.

The Foundation now has the ability to support COLA in its efforts to protect our lakes, including expanded control of curly leaf pondweed, monitoring of agricultural discharges, the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program and several other water-quality projects that are either underway or under consideration. But there is a continuing need for all COLA members and their LCO neighbors to continue their support well into the future. We can only make a difference if we recognize that our challenges are ongoing and that we all must work together. Thanks again for your help, and I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible as the summer unfolds.