President’s Message 2008 ~ 2009
What a year it has been. So many changes in our world. A controversial Canadian election, with parties joining together to oppose another. A very exciting election in the U.S., that had the world watching and now there is a new dynamic President in the White House and he has his work cut out for him.
The global economic crisis has brought difficult times to everyone. Times are changing and so is our H.L.C.A.
Gone are the days when Mom could spend the summer at the cottage with the children while Dad joined them on weekends. Most families are working full time, some with two or three jobs. Leisure time is precious and desired to be spent with family and friends. Some of our cottagers are having to rent their cottages for the first time to help with expenditures.
The H.L.C.A. is fortunate to be in a comfortable financial position, but we are in a volunteer depression. It is no secret that the last few years have been difficult for the H.L.C.A., perhaps starting with the proposal of a Lake Development.
The cottagers and residents are passionate about their lake ~ Haliburton Lake, and suddenly their lake had the possibility of changing in a big way. There were many different opinions on what should happen on ‘their’ lake and it was not always agreeable.
The few Directors that remain on the H.L.C.A. Board have worked very hard to keep things moving forward. We are most appreciative of all the people who have jumped in to help with different projects and events, some at last minute. They wouldn’t have happened without you! There has been a good response to the volunteer appeal in the last Membership mailing for helping out with Regatta. Thank you! We had several volunteers come forward with web-site experience to help re-establish our web-site. Hopefully it will be up and running again in June. Thank you to those volunteers as well.
What the H.L.C.A. needs now are people to become a Director to help with the day to day running of the H.L.C.A. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes and it is good to have different ideas and opinions to keep the Cottage Association fresh, and moving forward. No question, things are going to change and we hope they will change for the better, but in these complex times it will not go back to the way it was.
Our AGM and Meet Your Neighbour event will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the H.L.C.A. Church/Hall. The AGM begins at 7:00 with the Meet Your Neighbour following. We hope to see you there, so you the Membership can give us, the H.L.C.A. Board, your ideas on how things should move forward.
The Newsletter will be available for pick up at the AGM or Meet Your Neighbour at the Hall on Saturday, May 16. This is also a change from how it has been done in the past. Any newsletter packages not picked up will be mailed the following week. We hope you enjoy the Newsletter, and it provides you with information on what is happening on your lake. We had a great response from Haliburton area businesses and services and we hope you support them.
They value your business.
There are a couple of articles on changes in the community and at our local dumps. We hope you find the information helpful. Numbers are included that you may contact the source if you still have questions or concerns.
Please watch the sign at the Marina for notices on activities that happen around the lake. This is our ‘Notice Board’ with the lake community. Thank you to Maria and Brad who are most helpful and understanding. They keep a ‘post office’ box at the Marina where cottagers and residents can exchange memberships or documents for the H.L.C.A.
Wishing you all a safe, enjoyable summer at the lake and beyond. If you get the chance, come out to any of the events and say hi!
Looking forward to seeing you at the lake this summer!
Christine Collins
H.L.C.A. Acting President