Recent News
A Message from the Chairman
As I sit here watching the leaves fall and the rare ray of sun shining on golden, red, and auburn trees across the lake, I reflect on this year and the possibilities going forward. It began as any other year-great plans for accomplishment and mirth, goals to be achieved and good times to be had w ith friends and neighbors while sharing our extraordinary resource, The Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes.
While the soft blanket of snow was still heavy on the ground, COVID-19 was becoming an unseen menace and changing the plans of even the most organized among us. By early spring the mantra became “Stay Safe”, while our local, state, and national leaders struggled with the growing Pandemic. Restrictions on indoor dining, businesses forced to close, and re-strictions of gatherings of more than 50 changed to no more than just 10 people!
It was becoming clear that the early social events and our spring Board Meeting may need to be curtailed. The Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes Association (SECOLA) Board began to cancel early events. The Men’s and Women’s Breakfasts, SECOLA dinners, and Ladies of the Lake became victims and we all learned the new meaning of Zoom! Soon most of our planned social events fell prey to the scourge.
But the business of SECOLA continued: the Stewardship of the Lakes, promotion of social interactions, celebrations of our shared heritage. Many of our activities involved “social distancing” as a necessary component. The Fourth of July Boat Parade and the Fireworks display the night before, in our tradition, were already “compliant” as we participated from our shores, docks, and boats. Monitoring of the lakes for invasive plants, with the diligence of White Water Associates and our own Jay Weber and Carl Sundberg, continues to hold the worst of the invaders at bay, harvesting just over 70 pound of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) from North and Middle lakes. A far cry from the 376 lbs. of EWM in 2013! But, the good fight needed to continue and our funding, along with grants through the state of Wisconsin, provided over 250 hours of inspections and cleaning of boats entering our lakes including 92 boats on the 3rd of July alone! However, our continued success is only as good as our ability to fund the resources needed to fight these invaders! Thanks to all who gave so generously to our Invasive Species and General Fund in order to have the ability to continue to keep invasive species at bay. However, unlike COVID-19, which will, eventually run it’s course, invasive species will continue to challenge our lakes for years to come. Even one year with a lack of diligence can negatively impact our lakes for decades. Thanks to our dedicated members and volunteers to “keep on” with the fight through donations of time and treasure.
With the new year, we would like to thank several volunteers who, after many years making SECOLA work so efficiently, are taking a well deserved break from their duties. Joan Weber has served as Secretary for the past six years. Her happy countenance and concise notes will be missed at our Board meetings. Jennifer Kellstrom, our venerable Membership Chair for the past 10 years, will be stepping aside as well. She has managed the beast of the Membership Committee that includes members with multiple addresses, family members as additional members, changing communications from snail-mail to email, checks that are paid in person, through the mail, by credit card, and, now via PayPal, all while assisting keeping the records of our members up to date and giving good clean reports to the Board on where we stand. Joan and Jennifer, we stand in debt to your service. Thanks also to longtime board members and volunteers, Grant Erickson, Marion Peat-Anderson and Catherine Curran. Your service and continued dedication to SECOLA has made us better in many ways.
Finally, I can’t begin to thank Gary Weber, our immediate Past Chairman, enough for all he has done during the last two years. Supported by a cadre of dedicated volunteers, Gary has continued to respond to the tasks at hand with an even hand and hard work. Thanks for your guidance as I move in behind you, as I know you had that same help from others who have served.
For those year-round residents, enjoy the gorgeous Fall, the quiet solitude of Winter, and keep the home fires burning until the rest of us return in the spring…and Stay Safe!!
Scott Reynolds
SECOLA Chairman
P.S. Thank you for your on-going participation in SECOLA. Please be sure your membership dues are up to date; you can go to our website www.SpreadEagleChain.org and use PayPal or send a check to SECOLA, P.O. Box 413, Florence, Wisconsin 54121with your membership form, which can be downloaded from our website.
As I sit here watching the leaves fall and the rare ray of sun shining on golden, red, and auburn trees across the lake, I reflect on this year and the possibilities going forward. It began as any other year-great plans for accomplishment and mirth, goals to be achieved and good times to be had w ith friends and neighbors while sharing our extraordinary resource, The Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes.
While the soft blanket of snow was still heavy on the ground, COVID-19 was becoming an unseen menace and changing the plans of even the most organized among us. By early spring the mantra became “Stay Safe”, while our local, state, and national leaders struggled with the growing Pandemic. Restrictions on indoor dining, businesses forced to close, and re-strictions of gatherings of more than 50 changed to no more than just 10 people!
It was becoming clear that the early social events and our spring Board Meeting may need to be curtailed. The Spread Eagle Chain of Lakes Association (SECOLA) Board began to cancel early events. The Men’s and Women’s Breakfasts, SECOLA dinners, and Ladies of the Lake became victims and we all learned the new meaning of Zoom! Soon most of our planned social events fell prey to the scourge.
But the business of SECOLA continued: the Stewardship of the Lakes, promotion of social interactions, celebrations of our shared heritage. Many of our activities involved “social distancing” as a necessary component. The Fourth of July Boat Parade and the Fireworks display the night before, in our tradition, were already “compliant” as we participated from our shores, docks, and boats. Monitoring of the lakes for invasive plants, with the diligence of White Water Associates and our own Jay Weber and Carl Sundberg, continues to hold the worst of the invaders at bay, harvesting just over 70 pound of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) from North and Middle lakes. A far cry from the 376 lbs. of EWM in 2013! But, the good fight needed to continue and our funding, along with grants through the state of Wisconsin, provided over 250 hours of inspections and cleaning of boats entering our lakes including 92 boats on the 3rd of July alone! However, our continued success is only as good as our ability to fund the resources needed to fight these invaders! Thanks to all who gave so generously to our Invasive Species and General Fund in order to have the ability to continue to keep invasive species at bay. However, unlike COVID-19, which will, eventually run it’s course, invasive species will continue to challenge our lakes for years to come. Even one year with a lack of diligence can negatively impact our lakes for decades. Thanks to our dedicated members and volunteers to “keep on” with the fight through donations of time and treasure.
With the new year, we would like to thank several volunteers who, after many years making SECOLA work so efficiently, are taking a well deserved break from their duties. Joan Weber has served as Secretary for the past six years. Her happy countenance and concise notes will be missed at our Board meetings. Jennifer Kellstrom, our venerable Membership Chair for the past 10 years, will be stepping aside as well. She has managed the beast of the Membership Committee that includes members with multiple addresses, family members as additional members, changing communications from snail-mail to email, checks that are paid in person, through the mail, by credit card, and, now via PayPal, all while assisting keeping the records of our members up to date and giving good clean reports to the Board on where we stand. Joan and Jennifer, we stand in debt to your service. Thanks also to longtime board members and volunteers, Grant Erickson, Marion Peat-Anderson and Catherine Curran. Your service and continued dedication to SECOLA has made us better in many ways.
Finally, I can’t begin to thank Gary Weber, our immediate Past Chairman, enough for all he has done during the last two years. Supported by a cadre of dedicated volunteers, Gary has continued to respond to the tasks at hand with an even hand and hard work. Thanks for your guidance as I move in behind you, as I know you had that same help from others who have served.
For those year-round residents, enjoy the gorgeous Fall, the quiet solitude of Winter, and keep the home fires burning until the rest of us return in the spring…and Stay Safe!!
Scott Reynolds
SECOLA Chairman
P.S. Thank you for your on-going participation in SECOLA. Please be sure your membership dues are up to date; you can go to our website www.SpreadEagleChain.org and use PayPal or send a check to SECOLA, P.O. Box 413, Florence, Wisconsin 54121with your membership form, which can be downloaded from our website.
