Twin Lakes Associationwill hold its 2020 annual meeting outdoors at Isola Bella on Aug. 8 at 10 a.m., adhering to social distancing guidelines. There is a full agenda and we encourage members to attend. We need a quorum to conduct any official business. If you are unable to attend, you may vote by proxy. Instructions are below
Here are the agenda highlights:
· President’s report
· Review of the revised bylaws and vote
· Vote on officers and directors
· Discussion of new board committees and request for member participation
· Vote on the authorization to spend up to $10,000 on weed harvesting
· Recognition of retiring board members
· Update on website redesign and winners of the photo contest
· Other business
The proposed bylaw revisions change “executive committee” to “board of directors” throughout the document. The revisions clarify the roles of officers (section IV) and directors (section V) and provide greater flexibility for board member discussion and voting.
The proposed changes also include language indemnifying the board of directors and allowing for the purchase of liability insurance for the TLA and board (new section VIII). They clarify section IX on membership meeting as it relates to the election of officers and directors (allowing a member to nominate either himself or herself), voting by proxy, and providing greater flexibility in membership discussion and voting.
For greater detail, look here for a redlined version of the bylaw changes. Here is where you can find a clean version of the amended bylaws, as proposed. Look here for the proxy. These are all posted on the TLA website. The entire slate of directors is listed below.
How to vote by proxy: If you cannot attend the Aug. 8 meeting, please complete the proxy and scan or mail to president@twinlakesassociation.org, or text a photo of it to 860-480-8496. It is important that you either attend the meeting or return this proxy before the meeting so that the board can conduct necessary business.
The TLA photo contest closes to new entries on Sunday, Aug. 2. You still have time to open an Instagram account and enter by posting pictures to your Instagram account and tagging #tlaphoto2020. We have some wonderful pictures coming in and will award two prizes on Aug. 8. If you or anyone you know is 16 or under and submitted an entry please email dankadlec17@gmail.com and identify the pictures that are eligible for the 16-and-under prize.
Traffic on the water is up nationwide, and so are boating accidents. Twin Lakes is part of this trend. Our waters have been largely free of incident this summer. But we should not be complacent. A jet-ski collision resulting in two deaths on July 20 off the shores of New York City reminds us that boating safety is not to be taken lightly.
Jet skis are more prevalent at Twin Lakes this year. Riders should note that personal watercraft are subject to the same safety rules as motorboats. Find the rules and regulations on the Twin Lakes website and more in the 2020 Connecticut Boater’s Guide.
According to a report in the New York Times:
“Recreational boating accidents, including those involving personal watercraft, rose nationwide in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2019, according to the Coast Guard’s National Office of Boating Safety. Nationwide, fatal boating accidents were up 19% in the first six months of the year, the Coast Guard said. In the Northeast region, which includes New York and the New England states, deadly boating incidents were up 400%.”
We are currently scheduled to hold the 120th Annual Twin Lakes Day celebration on Isola Bella grounds beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Rain date is the following day. In light of the pandemic, we will make a final decision around Aug. 1 as to whether it is possible to hold the event safely. Please stay tuned.
Here are the new board nominees:
Jackie Blombach Jackie has been a member of the TLA since she and her husband, Michael Duca, purchased their home on Rocky Lane 36 years ago. They moved to the lake full time in 2017. She enjoys gardening, biking, hiking, kayaking, and cross-county skiing. She has been active in the care and preservation of historic houses in Massachusetts. She has attended symposiums on invasive species, gardening with native plants and providing plant support for birds and pollinators.
Jeff Bravin Jeff was born and raised in New York City. He is married with three children and loves skiing with his family. He acted as a child and played Jonah in the 1979 CBS movie, And Your Name is Jonah. He biked across America in 1988 for the Ronald McDonald House and rode for the American School for the Deaf’s anniversary celebration. He has been employed at ASD in West Hartford since 2002. He is currently Executive Director responsible for oversight of the school.
Terry Cohen Terry has kept a house and boat in the channel area along Taconic Road for 30 years and has been a TLA member nearly as long. In that time she has come to recognize our unique lake environment and the many challenges we face keeping the lakes and channel healthy. Terry is retired and looks forward to spending time on issues that affect the larger lake habitat. Most recently, she worked for the Riverside Park Conservancy in New York.
Richard HauptRichard has been coming to the lake his entire life, enjoying the community in summer and winter alike. He is a fourth generation property owner on the water and a member of TLA for 30 continuous years. He enjoys sailing, waterskiing and fishing and is committed to keeping the environment safe for all. He is experienced with Wooden Boat Restoration and Preservation. He is vice president of operations at JayPro Sports Equipment in Waterford, Ct.Dan KadlecDan and his wife Kim have been coming to the lakes with their three children (now grown) for 20 years. For most of that time they lived in Westchester County, N.Y., or New York City and were members of the Twin Lakes Beach Club. He is a long-time member of the TLA. Today, he and Kim spend summers at their home on South Shore. He enjoys boating, kayaking and hiking. He is an author and journalist, most recently with Time magazine.
Eric Stoer Eric has a passion for Salisbury and the surrounding area, which he has explored in all seasons for 25 years. He has twin seven-year-olds, Dylan & Julia, and is a member of the Twin Lakes Beach Club. He lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He became familiar with Salisbury while a student in 1995, when his parents bought a second home on Preston Lane. He is dedicated to preserving the area’s natural beauty and looks forward to an active role. He is a commercial property underwriting manager for Chubb in New York City.
These directors would join:
Grant Bogle for President
Bill Barton for Senior Vice President
Jean Bell for Treasurer
Pat Miller for Secretary
Susan Knight for Membership
Danny Vogus for Legal Counsel
And members at large: Blake Morrison, Justin Meyer, and Dave Haab
Carey Fiertz will continue to serve as the past president for four years. The new board wishes to thank retiring and long-serving TLA directors and past presidents Jack Silliman and Louis Fox. We honor their many years of service to the lake community