The annual meeting of the Beaver Lake Improvement Association (BLIA) will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 10 at 24 Coles Grove Road. BLIA is a private, non-profit organization that promotes education and awareness of ecological and environmental issues that concern Beaver Lake and its watershed.
BLIA President Paula Frank said the annual meeting “is a great opportunity to gain information about Beaver Lake and to familiarize yourself with the workings of the BLIA and get to meet the Board and fellow members.”
The “state of the lake” report will be presented by Tim Pellegrino, who will also discuss VLAP – the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program.
Sara Steiner, VLAP coordinator with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, will discuss Cyanobacteria – what it is, what to watch for and what to do if it is found in the lake, and Rob Tompkins will discuss the Lake Host program.
Keynote speaker will be Robbie Parsons, program director for the New Hampshire Lakes Association.
A question and answer session is planned, along with board elections. Those attending the meeting are encouraged to stay for a barbecue lunch that will follow the formal meeting, and will feature hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, sausage, salads, soda, water, coffee and tea.
“The barbecue is an opportunity to visit with neighbors, and to talk to board members and to our guest speakers,” Tompkins said. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair, walk or carpool if possible, and bring membership dues, which start at $25. The meeting is the kickoff to the annual membership drive.
“Aug. 1 is the start of our fiscal year,” Frank said. “We ask those that live around the lake, as well as those that use the lake regularly, to become members of the Beaver Lake Improvement Association. Your dues monies are used first and foremost to protect Beaver Lake, preserving this natural resource. We manage two programs to keep invasive plants out of Beaver Lake and two programs to test water quality in the lake and in the streams coming into the lake.”
Online dues payments can be made at www.beaver-lake.org. Board members will also be visiting neighbors to collect dues on Saturday, Aug. 17.