June, 2019 Issue
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Glocester Town Hall, Room A
6:30-7:00 p.m. social time
7:00-9:00 p.m. business meeting
Greetings from the SDRA President
June is here — time for the Annual SDRA Meeting! This is one of the most important events you will attend this year. Sand Dam Reservoir Association is made of volunteers — and that means you!
Annual Meeting
As volunteers, we continue to work together to improve, protect, and preserve our beautiful lake. Our Annual Meeting on June 19, 2019 is the time we come together and share what has been accomplished in the preceding year — such as our successful Bella Wine Tasting and Dinner fundraising event. Working together and following “Best Practices“ is definitely the best way to support our lake. By doing what is right — not what you want — following the guidelines — not seeking forgiveness for doing it your way — will foster the health of our lake.
Our lakefront community needs your support. See you on the 19th. If all do something, many things will be accomplished.
This issue’s SDRA Spotlight is on…
This “spot” in the newsletter is usually where I recognize a lakefront community member for an extra accomplishment. Today, I want to spotlight the entire SDRA Board. Each Board member has contributed to the growth and improvement of the Association.
It is always great to work where everyone is willing to give and take ideas and concerns in a respectful manner. As I have said for five and a half years, it has been my honor and pleasure to be President of SDRA. Thank you, Carolyn, Mary, Marissa, Eric, Brian, and Steve Hopkins for all the time and effort you have put into the Association.
Sincerely,
Judy Colaluca
From the Board
My family and I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to be members of the SDRA. It’s an honor to work with such dedicated neighbors and friends. Our mission to preserve the beauty and health of our lake can only work with your help. Please make this season your time to get involved. From volunteering on litter clean-up days to working an afternoon on the suction harvester and everything in between, there are so many opportunities to get involved.
Thank you,
Eric LaRiviere
Annual Meeting Preview
By-Laws
Reading can be such fun! With by-laws, that may not be the case. However, we have a MAJOR review coming up at the Annual Meeting, and I ask you to look at the by-laws in advance of the meeting. This year we have had the advantage of formal attorney input, which has enriched the document. Although some changes are minor, others are of substance, and there are several new components as well. Coming to the meeting prepared will help all to review this important document which defines our mission, structure, methods of operation, and legal requirements. This is an action item and, following our questions and discussion, we will be voting on this item.
Many, many thanks to the SDRA Board and additional members who worked hard on this project: Steve Hanley, Elaine Theriault, and Ray Theriault. They provided feedback, suggested important items for consideration, and helped to write changes or new language. With this endeavor, as with so many of our SDRA activities, many hands help to make a heavy job lighter and always improve the end result.
Thanks,
Janice Baker
Nomination and Elections
With a group of officers and a director relinquishing their roles for the 2019-2020 year, we will be electing new leaders for our organization. Join us for the annual meeting to learn more about who will be part of our governing board moving forward.
Rico Colaluca and Steve Hanley
Looking Back to the Last Quarter
2019 Bella’s Fundraiser
The 2019 Bella’s Fundraiser was another great success! We were at full capacity, with the Black Tie Affair playing music to dance by, Kevin Kitson providing paired wines with the 6 delicious Bella’s dinner courses, the Silent Auction garnering much audience interest, the 50-50 auction a big hit, and a wonderful sense of community and conviviality to support SDRA throughout the evening.
Thank you to those who sent along a donation if you were not able to attend. You can still donate to this wonderful fundraiser, and feel free to designate your donation to the general fund, herbicide application, or Lakesmart RI project.
The Herbicides Committee Fundraising
The Herbicides Committee conducted a voluntary donation fundraiser this year that has resulted in $5650 being added to the previously amount which had been set aside, approximately $4000.
As we all know, herbicides is not the most desirable avenue for addressing milfoil, nor is it the cheapest, but we have gone to this method because of the serious invasive growth that greatly limited the use of our lake 2 years ago. Last year we did a treatment of 43 acres at a cost of $10,000, which included the DEM permit, a lake survey that identified targeted growth areas, and the treatment itself.
Currently, the process is underway to obtain the DEM permit that would enable 2019 treatment, if deemed as needed. Once the permit is obtained, Solitude will do a lake survey to identify areas of significant growth and, based on their findings, the Board will decide if we should spot treat this year.
Professional guidance and experience has taught us that periodic treatments, which are significantly less expensive, are the way to go. However, let us not lose sight of the fact that we, as landowners, must all do our part to heed the guidance to implement “Best Practices” for our own properties so that, over time, herbicide strategies will be needed less and less and less.
A special note of thanks to all who contributed to the fundraiser and to our committee.
Deb Silva & Cleo Monti
Save the Lakes
This year’s Save the Lakes (STL) annual meeting was a success! It was a fine opportunity to talk directly with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and learn ideas from other Rhode Island lakefront owners. Marissa did a great job delivering a presentation concerning the Lakesmart RI program — which is being piloted in Rhode Island here on Smith & Sayles Reservoir. 🙂
Thank you, Marissa! Everyone, watch for future STL events!
Judy Colaluca
Upcoming Activities for Summer, 2019
Lakesmart RI
LakeSmart RI is a new program that SDRA has embraced, alongside assistance from the Maine Lakes Society. Lakesmart RI offers FREE opportunities for homeowners to learn how to manage their homes and yards to protect the water quality of their lake. The goal of LakeSmart RI is to change the increasingly common suburban landscaping practices around lakes to more natural, lake-friendly environments.
Landscaping and managing your property in an environmentally friendly manner through LakeSmart is one way for you to help your lake and have a low-maintenance, great-looking property.
Want to learn more? Click here. Want to sign up to become a trainer or to have a Lakesmart RI property walk at your place? Contact c4tuna31@gmail.com. Able to make a donation to help our fledgling Lakesmart RI program? Send it to SDRA, PO Box 284, Chepachet, RI 02814 with the memo line “Lakesmart RI.”
Cheers,
Carolyn Fortuna
Suction Harvester
Just a reminder — the Association did purchase a suction harvester. Anyone who would like to use it is more than welcome. I would be glad to train anyone to use the machine, as that is what we purchased it for. It is available to all, even if members use it in front of their own properties.
The more we work at cleaning up the milfoil on a consistent basis, the better chance we have to keep it at bay. As of today, the pump is not on the machine. If there is a group of people who would like to come together, help me put the pump on, and check to see if there is anything else needed to fix, I am always a phone call away at 603-986-9185.
Once you are trained with the harvester, it does not have to stay at Rico and Judy’s. Those who are trained are welcome to keep it at their property while using it.
Best,
Aaron Colaluca
Final Thoughts
Have a great summer! Together, we love our beautiful lake and appreciate every day we get to experience it.
See you at the Annual Meeting!!
Judy
Sand Dam Reservoir Association 
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