2010 Membership Survey
Summary of the 2010 Survey of the MWA Membership
The Planning and Development Committee was gratified to hear from 118, or more than one third our membership, by the April 19 survey deadline. Since then, thanks to the work of the Membership Committee, the Megunticook Watershed Association (MWA) has added 18 new members. Wow. That is really an impressive return. It will help us make MWA as useful an organization as we can be to you. Thank you!
Collectively, you are assisting us in guiding the organization into the future. We appreciate very much your participation and demonstration of caring.
Of the 118 people who responded, 82 percent considered themselves a lakefront, pond front or riverfront resident. More than half of these residents inhabit their camps for six months or less; another 20 percent live year round on the waterfront. Eighty percent of you do not rent your property.
It came as no surprise to us that virtually all of you said our Executive Director’s
E-mails are by far the most popular way for members to keep up with the Megunticook Watershed Association. This recognition was repeatedly reinforced throughout the survey though your comments and kudos for Ken both as Executive Director and Lake Warden. The semi-annual newsletter and the annual meetings are also important to you as members.
Current Services: The two most popular services provided by MWA are things that we are already doing: the water quality monitoring in the pond, lake and river, and Ken’s communications informing you of watershed happenings all year long. Ninety-two percent of you found these two services important. More than 85 percent thought important the invasive plant watercraft inspections at boat launch ramps and the patrols to enforce Maine’s boating and environmental laws. More than half of you listed the year-round property checks, the water safety inspections, and the semi-annual news letters as important services. Less important but still of interest were the cooperative agreements between municipalities and land trusts and the information imparted at the annual meeting and at public presentations.
Suggestions for other services in rank order of importance: Most of the top responses all focus on the request for more education. In order of importance, you are requesting:
1) More education about environmental risks and ways to minimize them.
2) More education about the environmentally-responsible maintenance of camp roads.
3) More education about water safety.
4) Holding classes for children on good boating practices, water safety and environmental issues.
5) Participating in the education of our children in the local schools.
You also suggested more updates on and more publicity about our services, more updates on legislative issues, and more communications from the Executive Director. Less than half of you thought we should offer more social gatherings. Write-in suggestions included comments about focusing on water quality issues (run-off, septic systems, lead sinkers, Canada goose population control and environmentally responsible lawn care). Awareness of threats by invasive plants was mentioned specifically.
Regarding the financial health of the organization: Lest anyone worry, the MWA has weathered the past two years’ financial challenges and remains in good financial health. However, we did ask you to identify activities which might ensure this continued fiscal strength. No single activity stood out above the others. Eighty-two of you were in favor of seeking grants for environmental research; 77 of you suggests having an annual fund raiser such as a photography contest; 75 suggested increasing dues; and 71, implementing a planned giving program. A number of you gave us ideas such as:
Building an endowment.
Focusing on specific essential needs for the well being of the watershed when fundraising (as we did in order to replace the culvert and bridge between Norton Pond and Lake Megunticook).
Soliciting day users of the lake for support of lake upkeep.
Holding down our costs and staying small.
Ways to maintain or enhance the value of your real estate: Your responses to our suggestions for protecting the value of your property were almost equally divided among:
1) Monitoring and enhancing the water quality.
2) Minimizing the likelihood of invasive species.
3) Educating home owners about problems caused by run off from the use of phosphorus-based fertilizers and other interventions.
Thirty three of you offered specific suggestions. “Continue boating safety monitoring…;” , “Continue to reduce the goose populations in the lower river;” “Strongly encourage home owners to modernize their septic systems to further insure water quality;’ “Keep water traffic to the least polluting (including noise) vessels possible…;” “Limit the size of boats and H.P. on the lake;” “Publish ‘emergency’ numbers;” “Keep ban on jet skis;” “Join the Maine DEP’s Lake Smart program;”; lower the lake to low levels once every five years….;” and “Ken can send a general e-mail about the most common violations he sees—educate us about what we shouldn’t be doing.” The complete list of suggestions is available to you upon request.
Suggestions for enhancing the vibrancy and attractiveness of the communities in the watershed area: Twenty-eight of you have given us your ideas, some of which appear as responses to other questions as well. Water quality concerns appear frequently. Other combined ideas in no particular order include:
Upkeep and Maintenance of residence and properties: Keep the shoreline of the properties free of debris, either manmade or natural. Increase vigilance about shoreline setbacks. Hold seminars on landscaping our properties.
Have a spring trash pick up day along the roads around the lakes and ponds.
Ken and others have many photos. Maybe put together a book or booklet to sell.
Promote wildlife such as loons and eagles.
Establish a biking trail around Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond which avoids Routes 52/105/235.
Control development.
Government: Have all towns in the watershed on the same page.
Community building: Consider having a picnic supper before the annual meeting.
Suggested topics and/or ideas for the Annual Meeting: General subject areas mentioned by two or more respondents included:
Lake history
Lake geology
Wildlife in the watershed
Climate change and its potential impact in the watershed area
Water quality—status and issues.
There were a number of diverse suggestions for improving the annual meeting, all of which the board will take into consideration in its planning.
Finally, we received cautionary notes from a few of our members encouraging us to hold down our expenses and remain targeted in our efforts. We want to assure you that we hear you and take seriously the fiduciary responsibility of the Board.
Thank you again for taking the time to complete this survey and to help plan the future of MWA.
The Planning and Development Committee
Didi Manns, Chair
edithkmanns@gmail.com