White Oak Lake Association Newsletter Spring 2018

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Stephen Warren
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1 White Oak Lake Association Newsletter Spring 2018 Reminder for all of us that our WOLA Website consolidates documents, lists, news updates and more. No more mailings via US Postal Service for WOLA! In 2016 we launched a new OFFICIAL WOLA website where all WOLA updates,communications, lists, member documents and much more will be housed going forward. You are reading this on our web so this is no news to you, BUT you might have a new neighbor who we ve missed with this site address and information. Tell them about this site, please! This website is meant to reduce costs, improve timeliness of announcements, and safely consolidate all the important documents that each WOLA member might need access to at a moment s notice. No more trying to find a current copy of the WOLA Rules or Covenants documents in that old folder (where did I put that???). No more trying to remember who or when to call about that landscaping or architectural project you wanted to begin. Where do you get your boat and car stickers? When is the Annual Meeting this year? Where are the minutes from last year s meeting? It s all here. Check into for all of it. Bookmark the site but remember to refresh it each visit. Check it out and send us feedback at our new WOLA communication address (see next article, below). This website is an ongoing project and will be updated regularly. We don t plan on mailing out any more notices via snail mail. We need every member to go here often to read timely announcements as often as every day or at least every week. This is our NEW source for communication at White Oak Lake.

Email for Communications for WOLA Members WOLA Members have a clear communications channel to reach the elected leadership of our association and beyond. Email us with any concerns, suggestions, etc.

2 for Communications for WOLA Members WOLA Members have a clear communications channel to reach the elected leadership of our association and beyond. us with any concerns, suggestions, etc. regarding our beautiful lake community and we will attempt to respond within 48 hours. That address is: wolacommunications@gmail.com Of course, any member can call a member of the WOLA Board of Directors at any time (numbers on the website also), but we thought this would be yet another avenue to spur communications. Make a note of it! Find us on FACEBOOK! WOLA members have ONE official new Facebook page for our WOLA members to enjoy and post related activities. Go to White Oak Lake Subdivision for all your FUTURE posts, please! Like Us and post often. Beach Project Update Our beach project (Phase I Replace the Retaining Wall and improve Member usage areas) is completed. A beautiful patio and ramp are now poured for observation of the beach area, including wooden steps near the water for easy access. A new grassy area for blankets and chairs is also available on the first tier. Lastly, our beach sign has been updated and beautified. Head down to the beach to see our new area!

This job pays $11/hour and a new job description is available from Stacy Orwig, Board Member.

3 Beach Monitor Positions are filling fast Interviews are taking place already to fill available Beach Monitor Positions. This job pays $11/hour and a new job description is available from Stacy Orwig, Board Member. Contact her quickly if you know of someone interested. It s a great job, close to home for most member s young adult children, so no gas is required to get to work!

4 2018 WOLA Board bi-monthly meetings and WOLA Annual Meeting In order to continue open communications with all members of the White Oak Lake Association, the Board is inviting any members with questions or concerns to participate in our bi-monthly meetings. The dates for upcoming meetings are all posted on our website and are here, below: Tuesday, June 6 Tuesday, August 1 Tuesday, October 3 **Annual Meeting, Thursday, October 24 location TBA Tuesday, December 5 Please call Jon McKee at if you d like to attend the member portion of an upcoming monthly meeting. The locations for the meetings are rotated so please call to confirm. All members are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting in October for voting purposes on major association decisions. Lake Treatments for 2018 The following is the treatment schedule for 2018, with all treatment dates falling on a Monday. Rain Dates are used if weather on scheduled dates does not allow treatment. Please do NOT water your yard from the lake Monday through Thursday of each treatment week. There are, however, no swimming or fishing restrictions during these periods. If you live on the lake, please cut and place the schedule (below) on your fridge or make a note of 2018 treatment dates (poster also available on the website). Check here before watering for posted changes. This schedule is also on a special section of this website. Lake Treatments for White Oak Lake for 2018* Treatment Date Rain Date May 7 May 8 May 21 May 22 June 11 June 12 June 25 June 26 July 9 July 10 July 23 July 24 August 6 August 7 August 20 August 21 * Any questions about our lake treatment, please call Mark Melody at

The entire area INSIDE these buoys is OFF LIMITS to any fishing, including casting from outside the marked area to inside the marked area.

5 NO FISHING IN THE MARKED SWIMMING AREA AT THE BEACH! WOLA has placed three large floating CAUTION buoys on the outside borders of the WOLA beach designated swimming area (in place during swimming season). The entire area INSIDE these buoys is OFF LIMITS to any fishing, including casting from outside the marked area to inside the marked area. The risk for WOLA is that swimmers can get hooks that have been broken off in this area imbedded in their feet, arms, etc. which can be very hazardous to those individuals. Members or guests found fishing inside this well-marked area will be subject to discipline, including being asked to leave the lake or having privileges suspended. Members: If you see anyone with fishing lines in this area, please ask them to remove them immediately! These buoys should also remind boat operators that swimmers inside that designated area have the Rightof-Way in that area so they must use extreme caution while boating in that area. PLEASE help us enforce this notice. Thank you! 2017/2018 Boat Stickers are still available WOLA boat stickers need to be RED please check yours! If you own and operate a boat on White Oak Lake you must have two, current WOLA stickers for each boat one displayed on each side. If you have a new boat this year, please contact Mark Melody at , to register your boat and obtain stickers. Stickers must be on your boats, float boats (even inflatable boats) and swim docks BEFORE you place them in the lake. Stickers are good for two seasons as indicated on each sticker. The 2017/2018 stickers are RED and must be on all watercraft. They were delivered to each WOLA household by lake volunteers during March and April, These are good only through this season (2018). Call Mark if you have misplaced yours.

6 To all WOLA Members: We all take pride in our association lake resources and want to assure that members and their accompanied guests have a good experience when using their member resources. Consequently, we are very strict with asking members to register their owned personal watercrafts, swim platforms and vehicles used at the lake. Our lake volunteer monitors and paid beach monitors will be helping to check to make sure that all members are in compliance with these association rules. Thank you in advance for helping us protect and monitor the usage of our WOLA properties. Also, only WOLA member s owned boats/floats with WOLA stickers are permitted on the lake visitors are not permitted to use their own boats or kayaks. This policy allows us to control unauthorized use of our lake and has helped in the return of lost/untethered crafts. Ultimately, this helps protect our lake, limits your liability exposure, and protects our resources for our current association members. As a reminder: Boats may not exceed 18 feet in length. Gasoline motors are never allowed on the lake, even if they are disconnected or unused. Car Stickers In addition, if you park a vehicle at the beach to go swimming, boating or even to enjoy the view, your vehicle must have a WOLA sticker. These are also available from Mark Melody at These stickers are for the protection of our members to distinguish who has rights to use our property. As mentioned, we monitor both the parking area and the lake closely to protect the integrity of our association. The new car stickers are cling stickers that go inside your car on the windshield, much like an oil change reminder sticker. You are welcome to sway them out for your old ones, as well. Nice for nice cars! Guest Rules reminders Members are reminded of a few simple rules that will allow all members to enjoy our lake. 1. Each member household is limited to eight guests at one time at the beach/dam 2. Guests must be accompanied at all times by a member. WOLA members cannot grant permission for guests to use the lake/dam in their absence. 3. No guest boats or watercraft (including kayaks, long boards, belly boats, etc.) may be used on the lake every boat/craft must display current WOLA stickers on both sides. 4. There is a sign on the dam that states NO rock throwing and NO fishing from that point on towards the swimming area. Rocks are for the dam not to toss in the lake. Fishing in the swimming area (not just the buoy-marked area) causes risk to swimmers when hooks and lures are snapped off or lost in that area. Please help us enforce these posted restrictions. No exceptions, please. These rules protect our association in many ways. Members violating these rules are subject to fines and restrictions from using the lake as WOLA Covenants allow.

7 Monster Big Bass of 2017 WOLA Member Jim Eckhart with his 10-lb.+ bass caught on a wacky worm on the North side of the lake under a dock in Summer, Big Bass Fishing Tournaments

2018 Big Bass Tournaments (Member/Guest) Arlen Bailey, multi-year winner of WOLA Monthly Big Bass Tourneys, with his 1.7 lb. Big Bass from June, 2017 (left) and Chris Boetcher with his 5 lb.

Once again this year our four Big Bass Tourneys (May, June, July and August) are being run in a member/guest (or 2-person) format.

8 2018 Big Bass Tournaments (Member/Guest) Arlen Bailey, multi-year winner of WOLA Monthly Big Bass Tourneys, with his 1.7 lb. Big Bass from June, 2017 (left) and Chris Boetcher with his 5 lb. plus lunker winning plaque from the August contest. All ages welcome. No registration required. Once again this year our four Big Bass Tourneys (May, June, July and August) are being run in a member/guest (or 2-person) format. Each participating WOLA member may fish by themselves, with another WOLA member or with a guest in this format. The participant weighing in the biggest bass for the event takes home the WOLA plaque. Participants can begin fishing any time after the start of the event. Each participant can weigh only ONE big bass that he or she caught at the end of the event time at the dam. Fish must be alive. Anglers must be at dam at official time/horn blast at end of event to qualify. Also: Participants may not fish the day of the event prior to the start of the event. Cast and retrieve only no trolling. No live bait or multi-rigs. Call Ronnie Pollitt, 2018 Tournament Director, at for information. MAY Big Bass Tournament (Member/Guest) Wednesday, May 16, 5:30 8:30 p.m. (See above tournament description for more information) JUNE Big Bass Tournament (Member/Guest) Wednesday, June 20, 5:30 8:30 p.m. (See above tournament description for more information) JULY Big Bass Tournament (Member/Guest) Wednesday, July 18, 5:30 8:30 p.m. (See above tournament description for more information) AUGUST Big Bass Tournament (Member/Guest) Wednesday, August 15, 5:30 8:30 p.m. (See above tournament description for more information)

Fish Stocking The Fish and Lake Committee just restocked channel catfish, including a few albino catfish, for this summer s restocking effort. We will stock shiner minnows in the fall.

9 Fish Stocking The Fish and Lake Committee just restocked channel catfish, including a few albino catfish, for this summer s restocking effort. We will stock shiner minnows in the fall. We have also stocked 500 lbs. of shiner minnows in 2016 and 2017 to help maintain a small fish population to feed larger species. We ve already noticed more minnows in the waters at WOLA this sustains this population for years to come. We have noticed bigger fish as a result. Fishing regulations and lake catch limits are posted on our website. Please observe these limits, especially as we restore our Largemouth Bass and bluegill, crappie and walleye populations to a trophy lake representation. Any questions? Want to help with the Fish and Lake Committee? Give Mark Melody a call at Structures The Fish and Lake Committee has already placed about 35 submerged fish structures along the dam and in other deeper areas of the lake in feet of water to attract baitfish and other fish, and to provide a safe get-away from bigger fish. This management technique will allow our investments of other fish this year and recently in the past couple of years to pay off with bigger size and more plentiful species. More are planned for 2018 and are being placed in areas that would not affect swimming or diving safety. A reminder that WOLA Rules state that members may place NO structures or objects into the lake at any time. Contact the Fish and Lake Chairperson for questions.

Floating Docks members request low-wattage solar lights on them at night If you have an anchored swimming raft not attached to the shore, we are requesting that you place a solarpowered low-wattage

Remember, off-shore rafts/floats must be within 50 feet of your shore, by Rules of WOLA.

10 Floating Docks members request low-wattage solar lights on them at night If you have an anchored swimming raft not attached to the shore, we are requesting that you place a solarpowered low-wattage light on top (visible from all sides) for nighttime safety for boaters. Menards has lowcost, waterproof dock lights that can be taped or mounted on your off-shore floats. Remember, off-shore rafts/floats must be within 50 feet of your shore, by Rules of WOLA. Goose and varmint patrol update With Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) permits, we help control the goose population on White Oak Lake. The IDNR recommends that residential development lake communities closely monitor and control their geese population, because of the potential for their feces to create unhealthy environments. Please do not feed geese or encourage them to make our lake their home. We have about 16 resident geese right that live here most of the year -- every year -- and we want to keep that limit, or reduce it. Muskrats are still a concern. The Fish and Lake Committee removes these varmints. Please do not set traps on your property if you observe them, rather, call Mark Melody at and the Fish and Lake Committee will direct the removal. We have not observed any beaver living in the lake but here s a tip to prevent damage from them: If you have trees or bushes near the lake and want to protect them from damage, simply wrap chicken wire fence around the base of the plant or tree, up to about 30 inches from the ground. It is barely visible and definitely works. Celebrate the 4 th of July on WOLA! Join us on Wednesday, July 4 th, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. for the annual WOLA Independence Day Boat Parade and Breakfast! Boaters of all type are welcome. Decorate your boat and join us at the dam for the parade procession of patriotic water lovers! We ll make at least one complete pass throughout the lake, guiding in one long line of decorated boats past lake judges, and for all to see at the dam. Fabulous prizes awarded to the best decorated boats. Creativity is always a plus.

Then, we ll head over to the beach pavilion for a shared brunch. Everyone, please bring a dish to share. If you don't have a boat, plan to watch the festivities from the dam and join us for breakfast.

11 Then, we ll head over to the beach pavilion for a shared brunch. Everyone, please bring a dish to share. If you don't have a boat, plan to watch the festivities from the dam and join us for breakfast. Plates, napkins, silverware and juices/sodas will be provided by WOLA. Fireworks Update for 2018 NO FIREWORKS on WOLA DAM A reminder that it is illegal to use most fireworks that report or bang in Illinois. Under no circumstance can fireworks be lit from the WOLA Dam. Many of our off lake members like to sit on the dam on those evenings so safety is of concern. Our WOLA rules call for no fireworks to be lit over the lake we have always looked the other way on the 4 th but a reminder that your personal activities on your own property are your own responsibility. Thank you for your caution and understanding, Don t mow grass into the street. Deposit your yard clippings properly Please pick up or aim your grass clipping into your yard, NOT into the street and NEVER into the lake. These are unsightly, clog our WOLA drains causing flooding, and also make their way into our lake and upset the Ph balance of the lake, encouraging weed and algae growth. That costs each of us more for treatments. Remind your neighbor if you observe them doing this. Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep your lake and neighborhood beautiful and healthy.

12 The end (for now). Check back often for updates!

Timely Announcements Date Message. 11/2 Lake and Beach Project Update 9/7 IMPORTANT NOTICES! LAKE LOWERING DATES

Timely Announcements Date Message. 11/2 Lake and Beach Project Update 9/7 IMPORTANT NOTICES! LAKE LOWERING DATES Timely Announcements 2017 Date Message 11/2 Lake and Beach Project Update Our lake has been lowered approximately 28 over these past three weeks and we will be stopping the controlled drainage at about