ACTIVITIES

Since our founding in 2002, the Lakes Council: 

• Filed for formal incorporation and received 501c3 status, drafted Vision and Mission statements, established a dues system, established a Standing Committee structure and launched website.

• Held elections for Board of Directors in August 2003,  August 2004 and August 2005.

• Met with the consultants from McBride, Dale and Clarion providing input concerning the Lakes for the County Comprehensive Plan during 2002-2004.

• Attended county zoning appeal meetings that involve our lakes.

• Organized a letter-writing campaign to state and county elected officials opposing a sewer rate adjustment for LaGrange County campground owners. Thanks in part to our efforts, LaGrange County Sewer Board refused to grant the 2004 rate adjustment.

• Hosted an annual general membership meeting in April 2004 and August 2005.

• Hosted an Educational Seminar, “Lake-Friendly Living” in June 2004 and August 2005. See our article on lake friendly lawn care. 

• Received a grant from Indiana Lakes Management Society for the purchase of a computer and audio-visual equipment. 

• Joined the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce.

• Established formal contact with the Steuben County Lakes Council and have begun cooperative ventures. A joint boating study was conducted on lakes in the two counties during the summer of 2005; the report Full to Overflowing was published May 2006.  

• Launched a business membership drive inviting business and corporate members to recognize the value of lakes in LaGrange County.

• Moved Board meetings  to the LaGrange County Office Building to encourage and accommodate public attendance.

• Partnered with the Steuben County Lakes Council and SCLC Land Trust to host 2nd annual pancake breakfast at Greenfield Mills in August 2007.

• Published our first, full-color, magazine style newsletter and mailed to more than 4,000 LaGrange County lake enthusiasts.

• Held a spring 2008 educational seminar featuring IDNR, IDEM and Corps of Engineers representatives at Pine Knob County Park near Howe.

• Joined with Indiana Lakes Management Society and Steuben County Lakes Council to put on a Fall Forum featuring professional speakers and DNR biologists.

• Published a spring newsletter and mailed to more than 4,000 lake enthusiasts.

• Held a spring 2009 educational program, free of charge to the public.

• Began Water Quality Testing Program in the Fall of 2010, intended to take annual samples for longitudinal comparisons.

• Participated in partnership with Steuben County Lakes Council to present Fall Forum, 2010

• Sponsored Spring educational Forum on June 4, 2011 at Pine Knob Park