The Annual meeting of the Turtle Lake Protective Association was held on July 15^th at the Richmond Township meeting hall. Turnout was lighter than hoped with the important agenda items to be discussed. After a terrific pot-luck dinner (special thanks to Carol Behrens for all her hard work!) and the raffle where most of the prizes were won by Mary Bass & Family, we got down to the business at hand.

First off was the election of the board members and officers of the Association. New board member Rob Kaye was elected President, Cheryl Mitacek returned as VP, Judy Jaeger continued as Treasurer and Linda Kaye-Witt as Secretary. Pam Paul, Mary Bass, Don Trottier, Pat Carroll and Ed Gross will be officers of the board.

The treasurer's report presented a balance of $3,044.89 in the bank. This money will be put to good use in the future for the well-being of the lake.

A milfoil/lake clarity report was presented by the Gronerts. Most importantly, according to the DNR we have "a jewel" of a lake. We have to all work hard to keep it that way. The milfoil spraying was a success. There is little milfoil evident by the docks in the channel. Unfortunately, since the meeting a HUGE deposit of the weed has been discovered in the east corner of the lake outside the buoys near the Turtle Inn. Elaine Gronert will be contacting the DNR to see about an additional spraying. We would have to pay for this one. It can't be stressed enough that EVERY LITTLE PIECE of milfoil should be pulled from the lake, floating or otherwise. This weed could spell the end of our "jewel".

In a report presented by Pat Carroll, the state is slowly purchasing lands to preserve as wetlands. WisDOT purchased 420 acres of land around Turtle Creek which will help hold up water levels and provide filtering. More lands will be purchased over the next 20 years.

To get a full copy of the minutes, call Association Secretary Linda Kaye-Witt at 262-728-5315 or go to rekaye.home.mindspring.com/TLA.

An alert DNR warden recently issued a ticket to a man for violating Section 30.69 which requires a second "competent" passenger to "observe the progress" of a waterskier. Nothing unusual there. What was unusual was this: The boat operator and his friend were apparently unable to recruit a 3^rd person to serve as observer. They attempted to remedy the problem by fashioning a mannequin using a stuffed sweatshirt with a head and hat. The warden wasn't fooled. He concluded the mannequin was not a "competent" observer and a ticket was issued.

Do you have any interesting lake news? Call Association "Secretary for Life" Linda Kaye-Witt at 262-728-5315 or e-mail her at pandafru@elknet.net

I'm putting together lake info at: rekaye.home.mindspring.com/TLA

Dues are $25 per household. This donation helps us provide you lake information through this newsletter along with allowing us to support various lake organizations like the dockominium legal fund or the Wis. Assoc. of Lakes. The milfoil spraying comes from this money also. Send those dues in!

How did this all happen? Last thing I remember, I was helping put out buoys in April, and the next thing I know, I'm president of the Turtle Lake Association. I always figured I'd get involved someday, but not quite like this. I'm not even sure I know what it all entails. But I do know one thing;

I love the skiing and sailing and water and sun. I love being next to some of the greatest neighbors a person could ask for. I love sitting under the shade tree where my grandfather used to sit. I'm one lucky grandson. Thanks Gram...

I've been at Turtle Lake for 33 summers now. I learned how to swim and ski and drive a boat here. I grew up here. Well, I've been doing more growing up recently. I've been married for 2 ½ years, a step dad for that length of time, and a proud daddy of my own new little guy.

Two years ago, as I took my (then) 9 year old step son around the lake for the first time, he asked me;

"This is our boat?"
"Yup."
"Wow... (pause)... Could I bring my kids up here some day?"

It wasn't the wind whipping my face that made me tear up a little. And now I have my own little son. I carried him into the water for the first time (he didn't like it! Too cold...). I thought back to my grandfather sitting on the shore watching us swim, and all the joy he got from that.

I want to give all of this to my son. And my new niece. And everyone who hasn't had the chance to grow up like I did. I don't want any more development. I want the waters to be safe from nutty boat drivers. I want those waters to be clear.

I can't do it alone. The BOARD can't do it alone. We need everyone to lend a hand. I'm not asking for long term commitment, but to give an hour to help bring in the buoys or pull milfoil. We need people to help with this newsletter, or do the mailings, or dig up information.

Don't we all love this lake? Lets all put in some time, and Turtle Lake will always be the same beautiful little corner of the world.

You can contact me at rek@sis.rpslmc.edu or 847/895-1149 with any information or questions. Or stop me on the lake. My boat... oops...our boat is called "The Trox". Named after my grandfather.