(Enter from north door)
It's hard to believe it has been a year since the current Board was elected, but it is true! The DLWPF has worked hard to keep the momentum for the cleanup moving forward. Sometimes it seemed we took a step back, but there was always at least two steps forward, thanks to the forward-looking strategy of the community.
Due to the level of lake activities, the Board is asking the DLWPF Membership to ratify two changes to the Bylaws. One change affects the fiscal year, the other change expands the Board.
Due to a recommendation from the Finance Committee, the DLWPF fiscal year change will allow the FY to coincide with Board year. Currently, the DLWPF fiscal year runs from January to December. The Board election year runs from May to April. This requires an audit, according to the Bylaws, in the middle of the election year. The change in the fiscal year will allow Board business to run more smoothly.
The second recommendation increases the Board by three people. The duties of the all volunteer Board have increased. A second Vice-President and two additional Community-at-large representatives are suggested to provide better organization and representation.
The DLWPF Board discussed these changes at length in the April Board meeting and asks the DLWPF Membership to accept the recommendations to the Bylaw changes. If you would like to speak to these issues prior to the vote, please call Dianna Smith at 261-0496.
If the Bylaw changes are ratified, the entire slate of officers will be elected. If the Bylaw changes do not take effect, a runoff election will be required for Vice Chair and Community-at-large.
DLWPF Sample Ballot
Chair: Sal Jansson
Vice Chair: Kent England
Earl Jackson
Treasurer: Richard Parks
Secretary: Kathy Moran
Business rep: Steve Goodrich (UPS)
Education rep: Tim Brown
Environmental rep: Penny Ciak
Community-at-large rep: Fred Fife
Joan Palmer
Bob Scott
Robyn Call
The majority of the nominees are already known to DLWPF participants. We are excited at the prospect of having new folks join the Board. Steve Goodrich, employed by UPS, promises to be a strong Business representative. Robyn Call, Health Commissioner for the Utah State PTA, is interested in the project from a health standpoint. Joan Palmer is on the Public Relations staff of Granite School District and has been a long time supporter of the DLWPF project.
Thank you one and all for your willing-ness to help out!
This month's Accolade goes to another of those behind-the-scenes volunteers who is vital to the success of DLWPF.
Debbie Stufflebeam is the Office Manager at the Decker Lake Youth Facility. For the first critical months of DLWPF's existence, Debbie served as Treasurer. Debbie's job makes it difficult for her to attend the DLWPF meetings, but she continues to give strong support to the project. Debbie volunteers to do the DLWPF books, working closely with the Treasurer. Keeping accurate records is critical to any organization. It takes time and know-how. Because of Debbie, one of the hardest jobs to fill on any volunteer Board, that of Treasurer, is made a bit easier. With Debbie on the Finance team, DLWPF remains on consistent, solid, financial ground.
Thank you, Debbie, for the work you do.
On Saturday, April 19th, 6:30 pm, be at Kingsbury Hall for a delightful evening of traversing the planet through the eyes of National Geographic photo-grapher, Lincoln Allen during his Earth Future event. Roger Tory Peterson, famed artist & naturalist, has called Lincoln Allen "One of the most talented wildlife photographers of our time." Allen will guide you through rainforests and arctics, and even out to Decker Lake! YES!! Decker Lake!
Mr Allen heard about the Decker Lake project, attended our last Member Meeting, and loved the emphasis on kids and education. Decker Lake's premier as a part of the nationally recognized Earth Future presentation is at Kingsbury Hall this Saturday, April 19th, at 6:30 pm. Decker Lake just became a national model of urban restoration!
The Earth Future Event is part of the Utah Museum of Natural History Earth Fest. Be sure to arrive early so you can visit the booths and exhibits. Decker Lake will be sharing a booth with Audubon, so be sure to drop by and visit.
And ...on April 19th: Celebrate the Earth Day is sponsored by the Utah Society for Environmental Education to help us learn how to reduce our personal impact on the environment. Come by the Decker Lake booth at Gardner Village and enjoy the fun! Booths and exhibits will be displayed between 10:00 am & 4:00 pm.
Both events are free to the public.
Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) and Kennecott joined together to organize and fund W.I.D.E. (Wildlife-Interdisciplinary-Dance-Exploration). WIDE is an interdisciplinary workshop for teachers integrating dance and environmental education. The Kennecott funding specifically targets schools in the Decker Lake area.
RDT and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will present a summer workshop for teachers focussing on ways to implement Utah's curriculum standards and goals. Participants will experience ways to use movement as a tool to explore ecological concepts, appreciate wildlife, and deepen their understanding of the relation-ship between life and art.
Kennecott Corporation funded a mini-residency workshop for schools in the Decker Lake area (Redwood, Stansbury, Granger, Westlake, Granite Park, Valley Jr, Hunter, Granger, & Granite High). School performances will serve the entire school. Teachers interested in participating should call DLWPF at 977-4999.
DLWPF thanks Kennecott Corporation for making the RDT workshop possible for the Decker Lake schools. Thanks also to Linda Smith, Executive Director of RDT, for her vision and support with this project.
The Valley Junior High School Bird Blind Contest provided some great plans for the bird blind planned at the lake. Those attending the March Member meeting were treated to the excitement of seeing the plans and meeting the originators.
Prizes went to: Jonathan Jones - First Place Grant Mason - Second Place Kamron Jensen - Most Creative Also recognized were: Matt Zawahlen, Jason Tran, Jason Tyler, and Steve Harmon.
The Bird Blind Contest was the idea of the VJH Eco Club who approached DLWPF with the idea. Supporting motivated and creative ideas like the bird blind project are the goal of DLWPF. DLWPF thanks GSL Audubon and Jim Bach & Associates for their support with this project.
Now onto the next Eco Club suggestion -- trash cans at the lake. One of the students asked how we can expect people to properly dispose of their trash without any place to do so. Good point!
Remember --
April 26th, Saturday, 9:00 - noon. (Utah Airboaters will be there to help so bring your waders).
May 28th, Wednesday., 5:30 pm.
Well, the Canada Geese have arrived on the scene. Has anyone seen any Pelicans yet? Some of you have emailed us when you see specific birds (our address is deckerlk@burgoyne.com). We encourage you to do so.
Unfortunately, birds are not the only spring arrivals. The Decker Lake scene is once again littered with debris and trash. (Is that blue thing out in the middle of the lake somone's ice chest?) The water level is down, so bring your boots, rakes, gloves, trash bags and join in the clean up.
Please post in your school, business, lunchroom, wherever it will be seen.
Adopt-a-Plot
April is Earth Day and May is Wetlands Month. What better time to help preserve a bit of our planet? Send in your check and help reserve another section of shoreline dedicated to our environment. Keep in mind, the wetlands are not just for the birds. Wetlands vegetation plays a major role in improving water quality.
Adoptions were received from:
Karen Sudmeier-Rieux
Decker Lake Wetlands Preserve Foundation