MANITOUWABING LAKE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 2005 July 9, 2005 at 10 a.m.
McKellar Community Centre


WATER TESTING FOR E-COLI, 2004

In 2004 we sampled various areas of Lake Manitouwabing, Middle River and Robinson Lake. The July samples covered 25 out of the 51 sites that had been sampled in past years. 5 of the sites showed high coliform counts, i.e., 100 or over. These results are the level at which Ministry of Health guidelines recommend closing an area for swimming.

The hot spots were:

The August samples covered 12 out of the 51 sites that had been sampled in past years and concentrated on the areas that had indicated higher readings in the July sampling.

The hot spots were:

Most of the area around Tait’s Island always tended to have lower readings over the years and few samples were subsequently taken. The Manitouwabing (North Seguin) River between Maplewood and Smith Pines tends to have higher readings. The Robinson Lake area shows lower counts, but Middle River from the bridge to where it enters Lake Manitouwabing near the Inn always shows higher count.

In general, all August results were lower than the July observations. This could have been due to weather or lower temperatures.

None of the sample sites, except one, indicated that they were pollution free. The one site that indicated zero seems problematic since the July sample showed it to be one of the hot spots.

The bottom line is for everyone to ensure that they treat their lake water prior to consumption, and monitor the efficiency of their septic system, to reduce health risks.

Our thanks to Peter Haidle for this report.
Thanks also to all those who collected water samples.
They are: David Patterson, Heather Patterson, David Dietrich, Roger Godbeer, Doreen Godbeer, Patty Haley-Martin, John Martin, Tory Miller, Jerry Kuszowski, Sheila Summerhays, and Krista Novak.


OUR WEBSITE:  www.mlca.ca

The website is up and running and received excellent traffic over the summer.
Monthly visits ranged from 600 to 700.  Pages viewed per month averaged 2400, or about 3 pages per visit.  We encourage you to visit the site regularly – for weather reports, the latest water test results, information about local merchants, other news, and links to areas of interest such as McKellar Township news and Stockey Centre events.


2003-04 MLCA FINANCIAL SUMMARY (JULY 1, 2003 – JUNE 30, 2004)

In the year ended June 30, 2004, receipts exceeded expenses by $413.00 This surplus was added to deposits already invested with Kawartha Credit Union in Parry Sound to total $7,149.00.  A full report was handed out at the AGM and can be viewed at www.mlca.ca (this site).

Major expenses included water testing, newsletters and website development.  An annual expense for director’s insurance was not paid by June 30.  It would have added $1,500.00 to expenses.  Such insurance has increased by 50% since 2003, caused by a scarcity of companies willing to write this kind of insurance, and due to perceived risk.

Membership in MLCA declined about 20% in 2004.  If each member spoke to one neighbour who is not a member, perhaps we could double our membership next year.

Our thanks to Peter Good, our treasurer, for these reports.


AN UPDATE ON THE “BEETLE WAR”

At the AGM in June, our guest speaker from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency introduced us to 2 beetles which are threatening southern Ontario forests, namely the Asian longhorned beetle and the emerald ash borer. According to an article in the Toronto Star, November 13, 2004, after millions of dollars spent in the northern U.S and Ontario, and thousands of trees destroyed, in part to create a barrier, the emerald ash borer is still advancing. The Asian longhorned beetle was identified in the Greater Toronto Area in September, 2003, and another barrier (created by cutting down trees) has been put in place to try to check the spread. Beetles can also spread to unaffected areas if campers, hunters, cottagers and contractors transport infected wood from one area to another.


WHITE PINES

Perhaps you noticed that some white pine around McKellar were dying over the summer. This was caused by white pine blister rust, according to Joe Johnston at the MNR in Parry Sound. For more information, check the following website:
http://www.glfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/treedisease/white_pine_blister_rust_e.html

The article points out that this rust needs two separate hosts to complete its life cycle, one being the white pine, and the others domestic or wild currant and gooseberry bushes.


HOSPITAL FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Those of you with access to the Internet have already received this update thanks to Tina & Bill Greig (Century 21 Granite).  The generosity of MLCA members and the community of McKellar has helped push the fund over its goal of $6 million.  Dawn Cooper, the hospital Foundation Development Director said in her update that everything donated over this amount will be directed to the purchase of “a very modern, very high-tech 64 slice CT Scan and the Picture Archiving Communications system required to store the images and work with other digital radiography equipment. This CT Scan is an emerging technology, and will be the first of its kind in Canada.”

We are invited to visit the hospital next year and check out the donor wall, with its waterfall and Georgian Bay scene.


SUMMER 2005 ACTIVITIES

We always hope that there will be volunteers to run one or two social events for members during the summer. In the past, corn roasts and fun golf tournaments have been well attended and enjoyed by all. Are you interested in meeting more of your neighbours and hosting an event next summer? A regatta would be fun, or a fishing derby or a walking group on some of the trails in the area. If you are interested please let me know at summone@enoreo.on.ca and it will be publicized in the spring newsletter.


David Chalk, owner of Deer Run Golf Course, is offering a special on golf for members of MLCA and presumably their guests. The offer is $10.00 off an individual round, or 2 for 1 if there are 2 golfers. As you may know Deer Run is now an 18 hole golf course, but 9 hole players are also welcome.

Dave will be able to offer coupons in the spring issue of this newsletter.


The Ridge at Manitou is now a beautiful 18 hole golf course.  MLCA members are invited to organize a group to play 9 holes on a weekend next summer, learn about a membership, and nosh on some appetizers. The cost would be $75.00. If you are interested in organizing such an event for MLCA contact The Ridge at Manitou; website is www.ridgeatmanitou.com


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS,
THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS!