Organizational Meeting Invitation
You, and any other interested persons, are invited to two video teleconferences, probably using Zoom.
- Sunday afternoon May 10, 2020: An informal meeting for information/discussion/QA
- Sunday afternoon May 24, 2020: A formal meeting to establish a Lake Association for Pike Lake.
Details on how to connect and participate will be posted here and emailed when they become available.
The following letter has been sent by US Postal mail to all Pike Lake lakeshore and nearby rivershore property owners, and to others on our contact list.
Announcement
April 16, 2020
Pike Lake Mercer WI Association.
Dear Neighbors,
A committee of Pike Lake shoreland owners has been meeting to plan the establishment of a Lake Association to help meet the threat of invasive Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP), which has already overrun Rice Lake upstream, and is now beginning to be established in Pike Lake. If we don’t get this under control, there will be serious degradation of lake quality and property values. There is information about this at https://pikelakemercerwi.org/. Some pages are protected by password “PikeLake”.
Why a Lake Association?
We intend to form a Wisconsin Incorporated, Qualified Lake Association, which is explained in the People of the Lakes document on https://pikelakemercerwi.org/lake-associations/
- To enable communication between lakeshore residents and with the Town, County, the DNR, and other organizations.
- To limit liability. Incorporation creates a “separate entity” and drastically reduces the exposure to liability for members, directors, officers and volunteers. In the event of a lawsuit, typically only the assets of the corporation are at risk.
- To be able to raise and spend money, and to hire, for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) control.
- To organize the efforts of volunteers, especially to monitor and pull Curly Leaf Pondweed.
- To be Qualified for state matching grants.
- Membership in a Lake Association is entirely voluntary.
- A Lake Association has no regulatory or enforcement power.
Other lakes in the area, including Rice Lake, Lake of the Falls, the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, have active associations. Because Pike Lake has no association, Rice Lake’s association has sponsored the first DNR grant for a 3-year project, with professionals and so far over 40 volunteers largely organized from the other associations, to help pull CLP this year on Pike Lake, the river, and Rice Lake.
Meeting Announcement
We had hoped to hold a large open organizational meeting this spring to form the association, to adopt bylaws, and to elect officers. With the new reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for social distancing and travel restrictions, an in-person meeting is not feasible this year. So, we have decided to organize through an entirely virtual video and telephone conference.
The meeting will be held the afternoon of Sunday, May 24 2020, from 2:15 p.m. to approximately 5:00 pm. Information about how to participate will be emailed to all contacts on our list, and posted on https://pikelakemercerwi.org/, where we will post the call-in number, website address, and instructions.
There will be a video and audio feed of the presenter(s) which you will be able to view if using an internet-connected computer or smartphone app. If you use a telephone, you will be able to hear, but not see, the presentation. All participants will be able to hear and speak for discussion and voting.
Two weeks before the formal organization meeting, on Sunday May 10, we will hold an informal informational teleconference to discuss the lake association and to answer questions. We are also happy to discuss this on email members@pikelakemercerwi.org or telephone.
Agenda
We expect to proceed according to Robert’s Rules of order, with voice voting, in the following steps:
- Introduction, register attendees, call to order.
- Steering Committee report, status and plans for CLP control.
- Adoption of a Constitution to form the Lake Association.
- Adjourn to enroll members, Reconvene as the Lake Association.
- Discussion of, and possible amendment of Bylaws articles, by motion and vote of members.
- Adoption of the Bylaws, by vote of members.
- Nomination and Election of Officers and Directors, by members.
- Other motions, establish date and place of next annual meeting.
This agenda and its details may be adjusted, and information will be posted to our email list members@pikelakemercerwi.org and to our website at https://pikelakemercerwi.org/
Bylaws
The current proposed draft of the bylaws is at https://pikelakemercerwi.org/members/bylaws/. If you want a paper copy of the bylaws mailed to you, contact Duane Silkworth at 651-341-4392.
The proposed bylaws specify that membership will be open to anyone who subscribes to the purposes of the Association, and that dues are $50 annually per person.
You are encouraged to read the bylaws and suggest changes on our email list at members@pikelakemercerwi.org well before the meeting. If the bylaws are amended by the steering committee before the meeting, changes will be summarized by posts to the website and the members email list. Also, any member may move to amend the bylaws at the meeting. Please be prepared to state a resolution with specific and exact language changes.
Board Nominations
The steering committee has identified the following persons who are qualified and willing to serve as officers and at-large directors. You are encouraged to volunteer additional nominations to the steering committee before the meeting, and nominations will also be taken from the floor at the meeting.
- President: Steve Kubacki
- Vice President: Rita Erspamer
- Secretary: Duane Silkworth
- Treasurer: Sarah Bourne
- Director: Steve Anderson
- Director: Charles Schuler
- Director: (open)
Contact List
We would like to have current contact information for everyone on the lake and river, even if you do not wish to become a member of the lake association, so that we can keep you informed of activities and status by email. You can also opt-in to have your contact information published in a password-protected Directory on our website, accessible to all other members. If you are not already getting emails, please use https://pikelakemercerwi.org/members/contact-update-form/, or email your name, postal address, lakeshore address, telephone number and email address to duanesilkworth@comcast.net
Profiles of Nominated Officers and Directors:
Steve Kubacki (willing to be President)
920-609-5492
My parents Stan and Elaine, and Cheryl and I, purchased the former 3 season Sekelsky cottage in 1992. We demolished it in 2016 and built our log cabin in 2017. Our children, Kyle, Allison and Nick grew up enjoying the lake and time spent with the grandparents. It is my hope they and their children will enjoy the cabin, lake and great northwoods over the future years. I retired in 2019 after 40+ years in municipal government now working part time as a municipal consultant in Wisconsin. I enjoy most outdoor sports as does my family. I plan on spending more time at the lake and hope to help minimize the effects of invasive species on Pike Lake and adjacent waterways. I am a graduate of UWSP with a degree in Environmental Studies and recently worked for the DNR as an LTE fisheries technician and previously for the US Forest Service.
Rita Erspamer (willing to be Vice President)
(262) 366-6583
My grandfather, Herman Erspamer acquired our property back in 1934 & built the existing cottage. He owned a grocery store in Hurley which my dad & uncle inherited & that was my 1st job… actually many jobs there. I also worked for AT&T for 33 year in various departments in the Milwaukee/Waukesha area. I retired & built the house on the original property then moved back here in 2014.
Duane Silkworth (willing to be Secretary)
(651) 341-4392
My grandfather G.A. Ahonen built our cabin on Pike Lake in the mid 60’s, and Cyndy and I rebuilt it in 2010. I grew up in Kimball and in Bessemer Mi., graduated from Michigan State University, and spent most of my career as a software development engineer with Control Data Corporation and Siemens PLM Software in the Twin Cities. Since I retired a couple of years ago, we are able to spend more time at the lake in the summer boating, fishing, and entertaining our three Labradors on the dock.
Sarah Bourne (willing to be Treasurer)
917-375-2709
I have been coming to Pike Lake since I was a baby and feel most at home there. I plan on being a Pike Lake resident for the rest of my life and will pass it down to my children as well. I currently live in Milwaukee. I am the Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Children’s Tumor Foundation, where I have worked for the last 11 years. I am married and have two children: Jaxon, 4 and Kaelyn, 3. I also have 2 dogs. I have a Bachelors in Accounting and am currently working on getting a Masters in Organizational Leadership.
Steve Anderson (willing to be Director)
(715) 776-8020
My educational background: a BA from North Park College in Chicago, MAT from National Louis University and MDiv from The Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Being a Lutheran Pastor (ELCA), we have lived in New York City, Aurora IL, Ormond Beach FL and Milwaukee. My wife, Kathy, and I bought a small cabin (with no plumbing) on the east shore of Pike Lake in 1988 and for the past 32 years we’ve always felt that our real home has been on the shore of Pike Lake. We tore the old cabin down in 2012 and started construction of our present house. Upon retiring in 2016 we moved to Pike Lake full time. We have a son Sean, a daughter (Sarah Bourne, nominated for treasurer) and two grandchildren, Jaxon and Kailyn who all live in Milwaukee.
Charles Schuler (willing to be Director)
608-249-8918
I live in Madison with my wife Sharon. We purchased our Pike Lake property which is located on FF just east of the Tip Top in 1991. I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Manitowoc county and graduated from UW Oshkosh with a degree in Biology. I was employed by the DNR in Madison and spent my career working in Water Quality and Wastewater Management before retiring in 2011. I am interested in maintaining the water quality of Pike Lake and improving the fishery.
Hello I’m interested in becoming a member.
I do have a home on the river upstream from pike lake.
We have three additional nominations for the Board of Directors, and we plan to adjust the bylaws to be able to elect up to 5 at-large directors.
Sam Krebsbach
I am a student of water resources at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and I will be living on Pike Lake this coming summer. I will also be working as a Lake Technician in Iron County for the duration of the summer.
Maynard G. Beil (Mick)
My wife Jane and I moved on Pike Lake in 1996. I was chairman of the Black Otter Lake District in Hortonville, Wi. before moving to Mercer in 1993. While in the USMC, I performed hydrographic surveys in Okinawa, Japan with 3rd Recon 3rd mar div. My interest in the association is the fishery and all aspects of it.
Amanda grew up spending her summers on Pike Lake at the family cabin next door to the Johnson’s cabin (Amanda’s aunt and uncle). She is a CPA by background and helps companies address the measurement, reporting and disclosure of climate change. She developed and authored Pike Lake’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) early detection grant, which was approved in April with the help of the steering committee. She lives with her husband and son in Madison, WI and enjoys spending time at the three-season cabin.