Staying strong through member support
Posted on | June 15, 2010 |
As we end our fiscal year, we have nearly 290 paid members. Our recent membership drive has already added 18 new members to the MWA family for the 2010-2011 fiscal year that began on May 1.
On behalf of the board of directors, I thank all of you for joining , or in some cases rejoining, MWA . As in our past newsletters we have said that we to strive for a membership of 300 or more. Can this be the year that we make our goal? You will find a blue 2010-2011 membership card included with this newsletter. Please support MWA with your paid membership.
Membership dues and contributions are what sustain the Megunticook Watershed Association. Without everyone’s continued support , we would be unable to do all the work that we do. Our fiscal year, which just ended on April 30, shows a small deficit of $2,700. Our budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year again shows a deficit between our income and expenses.
The board of directors will continue to be conservative with our available funds, but must continue with our most important programs aimed at protecting and preserving our waters. We need everyone’s continued financial support through membership dues and contributions for this current fiscal year in order to help us meet our operating expenses.
Invasive plants continue to be on everyone’s minds, especially with the infestation discovered last fall on Damariscotta Lake – just miles from our watershed. We need to be able to continue with our summer intern program. At the time this report is being written, we have not received word on our grant money for this watercraft inspection program. More than 1,000 watercraft were inspected last summer.
Water quality monitoring has become a large expense - more than $3,000 last year - especially with the high bacteria counts experienced in Norton Pond last summer. Testing has already begun this year in several locations, so it is expected that this year’s expenses will be higher than last year, but we must continue to look for the source or sources of the pollution.. We encourage anyone who may be so inclined to contribute to this dedicated fund.
We have been extremely lucky to have Ken Bailey as our full time executive director. Many thanks to all who contributed to his Holiday Bonus.
So it goes without saying: we all must remain highly vigilant and do all we can to protect our entire Watershed.
Jill Glover, Treasurer
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