Since 1961, Michigan Lake & Stream Associations has conducted 54 consecutive annual conferences each with a theme dedicated to learning more about becoming better stewards of our vast treasure of inland waters. On Friday and Saturday, May 1st and 2nd, 2015, we were again pleased to welcome over two hundred seventy folks who made the trek to Boyne Country to learn more about “Managing Aquatic Invasive Species in Inland Lakes”.
This year’s annual conference featured many outstanding presentations that ranged in topic from organizing a “Clean Boats, Clean Waters” event to creating a community-based “lake protection” group as well as exploring the importance of collaborative partnerships and the latest science and technology based strategies for the control and management of aquatic invasive plants and animals.
A heart-felt thank you is extended from ML&SA to each of our outstanding speakers and exhibitors who devoted considerable time and effort to the success of our annual conference – your support is greatly appreciated!
The Friday night annual banquet featured a colorful and informative presentation by Archibald Jones (as portrayed by Dr. Stacy Daniels of the Crystal Lake and Watershed Association). We greatly appreciate Stacy’s entertaining and informative contribution to our annual banquet – his enthusiasm and storytelling ability are unrivaled! Thank you Stacy for your unique contribution to the success of our 54th annual conference!
We were also proud to have conferred the ML&SA Master’s Jacket award to each of our long time pro-active volunteers Beth and Randy Cook of Morley, Michigan. Beth and Randy have selflessly contributed thousands of hours of their exceptional organizational skills and hard work to improving our organization and our ability to serve the needs of our statewide membership. Thank you Beth and Randy – your contributions to ML&SA are appreciated more than you will ever know!
ML&SA is pleased to announce that our 2015 “Riparian of the Year” commendation was awarded to Lon Nordeen, Vice-President of the Pleasant Lake Property Owners Association (Washtenaw County) at this year’s annual banquet. Lon’s dedication and hard work while successfully engaging and educating his lake community about the need to work together in assembling the critical social, scientific and technical resources required to preserve and protect Pleasant Lake in the face of an onslaught of aquatic invasive species have provides a model for other lake associations to emulate. Thank you Lon for your outstanding leadership!
We were also honored to have presented a very special “thank you award” and plaque to Jane Herbert of Michigan State University Extension in recognition of her many years of enthusiastically supporting Michigan Lake and Stream Associations programs and events. Jane will be concluding her time with MSU Extension in February 2016 following a highly successful career dedicated to pro-actively supporting the preservation of Michigan’s freshwater legacy. Thank you Jane for all you have done for our lakes and streams and for Michigan Lake and Stream Associations! Good luck and happy travels!
The entire ML&SA family would like to provide a hearty “thank you” to all who generously contributed to the success of our 54th Annual Conference!
Please “save the dates” of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 28th, 29th & 30th, 2016 to attend the 2nd Michigan Inland Lakes Convention to be held at Boyne Mountain Resort. More information regarding next year’s Lakes Convention will become available later this year, so stay “tuned” to www.mymlsa.org .
Michigan Lake & Stream Associations offers a heartfelt thank you to the following companies for their generous support of our 54th Annual Conference. Your participation contributed to making this conference one of our most successful ever!