May 31, 2011

Dear West Ponders,

We have lots to talk about at the Annual Business Meeting this year. The meeting will be held Saturday July 2nd at 10:00A.M. This year we meet again at the West End House Boys Camp.

Again, the most pressing matter facing us this year is the current infestation of our pond with "Curley Leaf Pond Weed"; see our website for details and pictures of the plant. We are the only pond in Maine identified with this infestation. We need to be diligent about not spreading this to other ponds. All boats coming into and out of our water need to be inspected for weeds. We also need people to be aware of floating fragments of the weed and collect them if possible. We have been using nets similar to swimming pool cleaning nets, but fishing nets work as well for long strands. Take the fragments onshore and throw them into the woods. Please try to keep track of your time. Every bit counts toward our Cost Grant Share Application. We applied for and were awarded a grant of $6,000.00 meant to be spent on harvesting the Curley Leaf Pondweed. We don't know how long this funding will continue. We have a new Governor who is doing a lot of Budget Cutting.

Call Dennis Spinney at (207) 625-4743 if you can help with this. We will harvest on good weather days starting Saturday May 21st until the water gets too cold in October. A typical Harvest session lasts two-three hours and is not strenuous at all.

We will have some fund-raising products at this meeting again, see attached order form. We had aerial shots of West Pond taken. We turned them into Note Cards, Puzzles, Coffee Mugs, Refrigerator Magnets, Tile Trivets and Matted Photos. These will be on display at our meeting. The Annual Boat Parade will be on Monday July 4th at 11:00 A.M., as usual we meet in Lily Bay.

Sue Futterer has finished collecting recipes for our cookbook. We will attempt to have the cookbook ready for July's meeting.

We will be looking for people interested in the Education Committee, Membership Committee, Fund Raising Committee and Nominating Committee. Please consider helping.

Please plan on attending the Annual Meeting, bring your ideas and opinions. We need every camp owner to help keep West Pond beautiful for years to come.

Sincerely,

Joe Howes

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