dfdf Bad Medicine Lake A NEWSLETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA Summer 2013 Thomas Lorentzsen, President

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1 A N O T H dfdf E R G O O D D O S E O F Bad Medicine Lake A NEWSLETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE BAD MEDICINE LAKE AREA Summer 2013 ANNUAL MEETING June 22, :00-11:00 AM Inside this Issue * North Country Trail Report Pg. 3 * Water Quality Report Pg. 2 * AIS Update - Pg. 3 * Membership Update Pg. 7 * Forest Township News Pg. 4 * Bad Medicine Special Interest - Pg. 5 * Much, much more! Have a wonderful Summer! From the President Dear Bad Medicine Lake Residents and Friends,! Greetings from your Bad Medicine Lake Area Association! For the last year your BMLAA board has been representing you at COLA (Coalition of Lake Associations), DNR training for AIS, the NCT (North Country Trail), Minnesota Rivers and Lakes, and with AIS volunteers at the public landing, DNR representatives, and a published newsletter. Your lake association needs your volunteer willingness to be successful; there will always be various areas of concern. We are training AIS volunteers, completing septic system compliance, working on a long term lake study, and educating our members with a new website. We can't afford to be uninformed or ignorant about lake issues, and we want you to be connected. How can we help you? Being a member is an important first step, communicating with the board is the second, being a volunteer is the third, and finally, engaging others socially and politically about your lake. We live at Bad Medicine because of its beauty; our goal is to preserve and protect this legacy. I encourage you to attend our annual meeting on the 22nd of June. Thank you for being a member! Thomas Lorentzsen, President Important Dates for Summer 2013 June 22 - Annual Meeting June 29th - Guided Wildflower and Lady Slipper Hike (details on page 3) Chapel of the Good Creation Worship Services 11:00 A.M.) July 5th - Vernon's July 9th - 6:30 P.M. Forest Township Board Meeting, Town Hall July 13th - 5 P.M. - Pontoon Social July 20th - Guided Raspberry Hike (details on page 3) August 13th - 6:30 P.M. Forest Township Board Meeting, Town Hall August 24th - Amnesty Days / Hiking State Park (details on page 3) The mission of the newsletter is to provide lake area residents with information to build community. The newsletter is intended to present current lake issues in a non-controversial and positive format. 1

2 Water Quality Report Jim Eisele Water quality testing through RMB Labs in Detroit Lakes was begun on May 19 of this year. Water samples will be taken each month through September. This is the first time that water sampling has been done since From this sample, chlorophyll was measured at 2 ug/l and phosphorous was measured at 9 ug/ L. Both readings are consistent with samples taken from 2000 through 2008 and don't indicate any trend. Chlorophyll-a is tested in lakes to determine how much algae is in the lake. Phosphorus has a direct effect on plant and algae growth in lakes the more phosphorus is available, the more plants and algae there are in the lake. Phosphorus originates from a variety of sources including human and animal wastes, soil erosion, detergents, septic systems and runoff from farmland or fertilized lawns. Historical graphs of these measurements are shown to the right. A Secchi disc reading was taken on May 27. The reading was 27 feet. Maintaining the high quality and clarity of our water is what gives our lake its unique value. Numbers of people have commented on what seems to be more algae growing on the rocks and algae showing up on jigs and fish line while trolling. An attempt was made earlier this year to get state funding for a multiyear, in-depth water study to determine the causes of these changes. The study was to be performed by Bemidji State University. Unfortunately, funding was not available. Another attempt to obtain funding will be made next year. Bad Medicine Lake Area Foundation News Ray Vlasak The foundation is currently working to purchase two parcels for Aquatic Management Areas. Both have options to purchase in place and are expected to be concluded this summer or fall. The Gigstead parcel will be purchased with a Conservation Partners Legacy grant requiring a 15% local match. The Nyquist/ Swanson parcel will be purchased with a Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) grant requiring a 50% local match. Both parcels will protect critical habitat areas on the lake. By protecting these areas, multiple benefits such as fishing, wildlife, aesthetic quality, and water quality accrue for property owners and the public. For more information, contact a board member: John Backes Chuck Church Tim Holzkamm Jim Luttrell Roger Olsen Ray Vlasak Dave Wiest R E P O R T S / U P D A T E S 2

3 N Aquatic Invasive Species Update Steve Lindow & Paul Lundquist A variety of invasive species continue to threaten our lakes and streams. We need to be vigilant at inspecting our boats and trailers to make sure these invasive species don t hitch a ride into Bad Medicine. Inspection includes private and public launch sites. If you have your own private launch area into the lake, thoroughly check your boat and trailer for attached plants. Trailer wires, rollers, and carpeting are all places where invasive plants and animals can hide. Drain all water from live wells by removing the plug from the transom and leave it out while transporting the boat (law). Also, drop your motor down to drain water out of the lower unit. If you have been in an infested water (zebra muscle larva are invisible), decontaminate your boat and trailer before putting it into another lake by spraying or washing them inside and out with water at 140 degrees or with a mild disinfectant. Live well and E W S / U P D A T E both Bad Medicine and Bass Lake accesses and Saturday mornings at resorts if requested. In addition, the county has hired two part time deputies to assist educators and patrol other county lakes. This action by the county is significant in heading off infestation of county lakes. Once infested, lake property values have decreased 10% - 30%. Educators monitoring accesses aren t a guarantee infestation will not happen, but they are the front line in preventing infestation. North Country Trail Report Ray Vlasak On June 1 the North Country Trail Association, Laurentian Lakes Chapter celebrated National Trails Day with the official grand opening of a new 21 mile segment of the trail. This was the culmination of combined effort by chapter volunteers and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota in The chapter obtained Parks and Trails Legacy grants sponsored by Becker County to hire the CCM and purchase construction materials. The celebration was a combined event that also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Tamarac. The 21 miles include 14.7 miles in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. The trail is now complete to the south boundary of Tamarac. The trail in Tamarac has diverse and unique natural features. It brings hikers to areas previously only available to bushwhackers. One special area has a 966 foot long boardwalk through a Tamarac/spruce bog. The trail in Tamarac is the result of years of The tamarac/spruce bog boardwalk in Tamarac NWR. negotiation and planning with the bilge pump systems need extra effort. Any boat or Federal Fish and Wildlife Service and several pontoon aircraft sitting in infested waters for more Minnesota state agencies. than a day is enough time for mussels to attach. The late spring and wet weather resulted Pilots, please check the pontoons thoroughly in two guided hikes being canceled, but more are before taking off to land in Bad Medicine. scheduled. Fisherman, special rules apply to you once you June 29 Guided Wildflower and Lady launch into a lake with minnows or leeches. When Slipper Hike leaving that lake, the law requires you to drain all July 20 Guided Raspberry Hike water from your minnow and leech containers and Aug 24 Hiking Fest at Itasca Park take the dead bait with you. It is o.k. to bring cold Sept 21 Fall Color Hike tap water from home to replace the lake water in Oct 5 Autumn Hike your bait containers. Be sure to leave the tap water For hike details go to in your towing vehicle so you have clear evidence or call Karen Stenberg at (218) you are not using lake water. Volunteer workdays are held on most Mondays This year, the Bad Medicine Lake Association and Wednesdays and more trail adopters are ($2500) and Forest Township ($5000) will be needed. Contact Ray Vlasak at for contributing funds to Becker County to hire Access details. Educators. Educators have taken the DNR Invasive Training so they carry out the same functions as volunteers did last year. Depending on availability, educators will monitor weekends on S Fishing Report Steve Lindow The big news this year was our still frozen lakes on fishing opener. The ice finally went out on May 14 followed by a little warm weather and a lot more cool weather. If you are a fish, that is not gonna make you hungry. The result is slow walleye fishing here on Bad Medicine. WALLEYES Last summer, the DNR did their net survey and found the number of walleyes per net fell from 21 in 2006 to just under 4. Very few small walleyes were netted suggesting poor fishing in the near future. Perch numbers also remained low. With fewer adult walleyes present, you would expect perch numbers to increase sharply but they have not. Walleye stocking numbers have been high throughout this time period, so the question is, what is happening to the young fingerlings? What has changed are the number of smallmouth bass in the lake. Research suggests high numbers of smallmouth bass reduces the success of walleye stocking efforts. Bass fishing culture encourages that when we catch a bass, we should release it to grow and reproduce. Maybe in Bad Medicine, we should start eating bass. They do taste very good. I would still release the larger bass but start keeping the mid to smaller sizes. Last fall the DNR stocked about 18,000 walleye fingerlings that should reach 13 inches at age 3. Hopefully, they will make it. TROUT The DNR stocked 17,000 trout on May 28th averaging 2.25 fish per pound. Trout are usually stocked in late April or early May but not this year. Needless to say, trout fishing improved greatly. Long line trolling with a small rapala or spoon works well in the cold water. As the water warms, switch to slip bobbers and night crawlers in feet over feet of water. Down rigging works throughout the summer. SMALLMOUTH BASS Smallmouth bass fishing should pick up as the water warms and they come off their spawning beds. Early morning or late afternoon works best, but we have caught them in the middle of the day too. Smallmouths are partial to live bait fished on a jig or under slip bobbers. Go ahead, eat some! NORTHERN PIKE Northerns are present in small numbers usually in deeper water. Once they get big enough to eat trout, they become harder to catch. Try using larger minnows on a jig. SUNFISH Sunfish numbers historically were high when the lake had lots of vegetation along the shoreline. It appears high water and exploding crayfish populations wiped out the vegetation. Crayfish eat plants and probably eggs of spawning fish. Sunfish need plants to hide from predators and to reproduce in. The result of less vegetation is few sunfish in Bad Medicine. We are seeing the return of more plants along our shorelines. Please, make an effort to maintain these plants and maybe we will have more sunfish too! One advantage to higher smallmouth bass numbers is the dramatic decrease in crayfish numbers. 3

4 PONTOON SOCIAL The fifth annual pontoon "floaters party" will be held Saturday, July 13th. " Weather permitting, we ll plan to meet and tie together in a flotilla of boats somewhere on relatively calm water at the north end of the lake at 5 p.m. Exactly where will depend on the wind and its direction. Bring your own beverages and hors d'oeuvres to share - last year's offerings were delicious! Also, please bring boat fenders and an anchor. " On July 13th call Dennis & Ruby Anderson at or Don & Rose Andersen at between 11 a.m. to 1p.m. for an update on where we will meet. GET INVOLVED! NEW BMLAA Website The BMLAA has a new website. It can be reached at The website has information about BMLAA activities, fishing reports, water quality reports, invasive species activities, ice on and off reports going back to 1973, and links to other lake related sites. Check it out and send any suggestions for additional content to Jim Eisele at jfe@arvig.net. Check us out on Facebook! The Bad Medicine Lake Area Association has its own Facebook page! Become a follower by visiting it at... You can reconnect and keep in touch with all of your friends and family on the lake, learn how to become involved in the BMLAA, and view and post pictures of scenery and activity on the lake! Chapel of the Good Creation Everyone is invited to attend the Chapel of the Good Creation for summer nondenominational worship services at 11 AM on Sundays throughout the summer. Those who gather at Bad Medicine Resort will participate in fellowship and Christian worship led by a N E W S / U P D A T E S group of volunteers. There is no membership requirement, all are welcome. Services are held Memorial Day through Labor Day. Contact Don or Helen at Bad Medicine Resort: phone or Dtschudi@eot.com if you have questions The Chapel is also available for other events. BOOK CLUB The Bad Medicine Lake Book Club met at Ed and Bonnie Strohmeier's Tuesday, June 11th. David Hagen led the discussion on Shadow of the Crown by Patricia Bracewell. We were pleased to have Harvey and Marlys Johnson come back to join us. They have moved to Moorhead so only visit on occasion. We will not meet in July - it's our month off for the summer. But we will meet in August at David and Alice Hagen's on the 20th at 1:30. Bonnie Strohmeier will lead the discussion on the book Me Before You by J. J. Moyes. In September, we meet at Bill & Sue Sanger's. Lynn Lindow will be the discussion leader - book to be named later. In October we meet at Lynn Lindow's. Roger Geddes will lead - book to be determined. In November we meet at Roger Geddes' in Park Rapids. Sue Sanger will lead the discussion on the book Frozen in Time by Michael Zuckoff. December we do not meet. That's it for the year! As always, we welcome new members and/or visitors. Please notify Sue Sanger by e- mail - sang@arvig.net or call (218) for more information or to let us know you'd like to join us. Forest Township News Lynn Lindow The town board continues to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. The meeting time is 6:30 p.m. at the town hall. Meetings typically address road maintenance, planning and zoning, and the dump. The supervisors met on May 19th for a road tour of the maintained roads in Forest Township. The township maintains just under 14 miles of gravel road at this time. Because of the amount of snow that fell from March thorough April, there was some difficulty removing snow off the narrow roads and still have space for the snowplow to turn around on the low maintenance roads. We know that to maintain these roads some changes need to occur. Over the summer we will be reviewing possible options as well of the costs of each option. Currently the township is working to reclaim gravel from the road ditches on East Bad Medicine Lake Road and Sunset Drive. Because of this, you will find sod mixed in with the gravel. This will eventually be worked back into the road surface, improving the conditions of the roads and the ability for rain to run off the roadway. The first Amnesty Days occurred this past weekend, June 1. The second Amnesty Days will be held on August 24. During this time demolition material, construction materials, furniture, and appliances can be disposed of at the dump. At all other times, these types of material need to be taken to the transfer station in Osage or Detroit Lakes. We need all residents to comply with this policy. The dump area continues to be an issue for the township. We need assistance from all residents to help keep the area clean and protected from critters. Please only dispose of household waste in the bins. Make sure the bins are chained shut to keep bears and other critters from spreading garbage on the ground. Also, place all recyclable materials in the recycle bins provided. This will preserve space in the garbage bins for household waste. The township intends to purchase additional bins for the summer months so that there will be enough space to accommodate summer residents. All residents need to do their part so we can keep this area safe and clean. The town board reviews all permit applications that go through the county zoning office. All building that takes place beyond 267 feet from the shore falls under the township conservation district and will need township approval. Applications for building in this area can be found on the Forest Township website, During the annual meeting, the residents voted to dedicate money for lake monitoring at the public accesses on Bad Medicine and Bass Lake, as well as resorts for invasive species. The request was to pay volunteers to be trained and hired as AIS educators. These educators will be monitoring these public accesses throughout the summer. The hope is that we can increase the monitoring time of volunteers at the accesses and better protect the lakes in our township. The supervisors for Forest Township hope that you all have a wonderful summer season at the lake. If you have any questions or issues, please feel free to contact any one of the supervisors. Contact information can be found on the Forest Township website. 4

5 Ryan Sederquist My family s voices were raised as we sat around the breakfast table on the first Saturday of the summer. With the yearly day of work cleaning and opening the cabin before us, we sat discussing whether or not we had any family traditions that had brought us closer together over the years. As I drove home at the conclusion of that weekend, I started to think about all of the wonderful lake traditions that my family does indeed share. Many of them are probably ones that you enjoy as well. Others, you may not enjoy as much. With the ice waiting until May 14th this year to finally dissipate, the annual tradition of putting in the docks was probably one that was not particularly pleasurable! Not all of our traditions are always enjoyable, but they do always seem to bring us closer to one another. Ultimately, that is the main reason we come to the lake and do those things - we get closer to family, friends, nature, and God. One of the first traditions that I remember growing up with on the lake was the huge breakfasts that our family had every Saturday morning. My grandparents, Louis and Dorothy Remark, would wake up early and quietly talk, drink their coffee and enjoy the sun as it came up and through the massive peak windows into the living room, letting us - the visiting grandchildren - sleep in for a few extra hours. When the first one (usually my starving brother Daniel), poked his way down the spiral staircase, my loving and caring grandmother would always immediately jump to action to prepare our breakfast. On Saturday, it was always the same: pancakes and bacon. Blueberry for my brothers and mom and dad, and regular pancakes and a fried egg for grandpa and me, who always sat at the end of the table, looking into the sun. I suppose his lake tradition would be having to wear a baseball hat at every meal to block the sun out of his eyes. My grandmother always made us two pancakes for every one fried egg - our request - and I covered it with her homemade syrup. Aside from the great time spent with my grandparents at these breakfasts, which happened for the first years of my life, I remember and cherish the many lake specific things that made up those mornings: the griddle, which was a wedding gift to Louis and Dorothy (who have been married for 65 years B A D M E D I C I N E L A K E Lake Traditions What unique things bring you back to the cabin every summer? on June 17th) and seemed to make pancakes better than any of the four or five griddles that have come and gone through our family in that time (I guess they don t make things like they used to!). There was the hot chocolate I would drink out of cups that my grandma had made a long time ago - known fondly as simply lake cups. Sunday s breakfast was another weekly tradition: homemade carmel rolls and oatmeal, with milk poured from a nice pitcher, so as to fancy up the table setting. That pitcher always made me spill, and Grandpa always complained about it. It was the habit - it was the tradition. After breakfast, a deck of cards was always brought out and fanned across the table, face down. Everyone drew a card and nervously waited for the others to be revealed. The highest three were the unlucky ones who would have to wash, rinse, and dry dishes. I ve heard that this exciting tradition lives on with even greater suspense in our cousins cabin down the lake, where each person gets three cards to draw from. The other great lake traditions I cherish would have to be the family runs down the winding gravel roads, playing trumpet on the dock on July 4th, painting rocks in the sun, roasting hot dogs over the fire for lunch, and taking late night swims while looking at the stars. There are so many things that are great and unique about a trip to the lake. Many of us have enjoyed them for decades, and it breaks our hearts to think that someday, things might be different because a family member will be gone, the lake will change, or someone will have to move away. That s not just at the lake, it is in life. Humans don t like change, and yet, everyday we are called to embrace something new. Even though people grow up and move out or pass away from us, and even though life changes can cause our traditions and comfortable way of doing things to be altered, the important thing is that we realize how special, unique, and enjoyable life is - everyday - no matter what. Have a blessed summer and remember to enjoy all of the moments that come your way, from freezing while you put in your docks to sitting down for a nice meal. They are all gifts. Below are excerpts from other residents on the lake and the wonderful traditions they have enjoyed on Bad Medicine Lake: Kim Slette One of our fun lake things is hiking to the big tree. My husband Mike and I did it on snowshoes this winter which was really cool. We went to Bass Lake and snowshoed to the end and then wound in through the woods across a couple of small ponds. It was really cool. We saw another tree a little ways away and it looked as tall as the big tree but in hiking close to it, it wasn't. We were going to try and go back a different way(through the woods) but I started to get nervous when it started to get kind of dusky and we really didn't know for sure where we were. We ended up going back the way we had come. There are some really gorgeous cabins on Bass Lake that I didn't know were there. Another tradition is jumping in the lake after a run and trying to see how early in the spring and how late in the fall we can stand it! One year our son Greg decided he would try and water ski really late into the fall. I think his latest ski was November. BRRR! I love mornings at the cabin, sitting on the deck with a cup of tea and hearing the loons. We also play this weird game called the name game. Everyone chooses a name, writes it on a piece of paper, and hands it in to a designated reader. After the names are read off twice, everyone goes around trying to guess who everyone is - the object is to be the last person who gets guessed. It used to be the names we picked were well known historical figures, famous authors, athletes, etc., but then one game I put in Don Tschudi's name and the game has never been the same. Now people from the lake show up periodically. I love being able to go to church at the lake. We always have such interesting services and often amazing music. I also got engaged at the lake in front of Grandma and Grandpa's fireplace. Mike was thinking of proposing in the canoe but was afraid I would swamp it!. We also spent our wedding night at the cabin! Sorry I kept going on and on; there are so many good times!...and some bad (the mosquito invasion in our camper!) 5

6 B A D M E D I C I N E L A K E Erik Slette rips up the wake over Memorial Day Weekend, less than two weeks after the ice came off. Naomi & Don Rice Our grandchildren enjoy making "Patriotic Jell-O" at the time of the 4th of July celebration. It is made in a deep glass bowl (so the layers can be seen). Alternate layers of blueberry Jell-O, with blueberries, Cool Whip, strawberry Jell-O, with strawberries, Cool Whip and then more strawberries on top. It's like a flag of colored food!! Mardeth Dovre Our family and the Anderson family next door have celebrated in July (around the 4th) a number of times with a Hawaiian luau. Yes, we have had leis arriving fresh by Fed Ex and serve appropriate Hawaiian beverages and appetizers. Then, dinner is usually pulled pork, pineapple of course in various forms, salads, fruits and bread/rolls. Gaudy and colorful decorations are arranged in the house and on occasion a grass skirt or some attempt at such have surfaced. Music from the Island has been included and sometimes fireworks that are noisy and colorful but no serious threat to the awesome show that we all enjoy at Veronens on the 4th. Well, you get the idea of one type of celebration. We also have gathered at Christmas with a meal together and gifts exchanged for about $5 spent on each gift. Truly we are big spenders! BIRD WATCHING ON BAD MEDICINE LAKE Tom Lorentzsen In a short period of time you experience a memory that lasts a lifetime. Let's call it a nano second in your lifetime but it leaves an indelible memory. Last week was the opening ceremony for the NCT thru the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. There are 14.2 miles of trail thru the refuge and I walked on three. There are moments that we can imprint visual images and almost stop time, because these moments last for weeks or more. Let me give you three; trout jumping a raging torrent of rushing water as they worked their way over a dam. Terns catching minnows at that same confluence. A manmade walk way over 900 feet long thru a Tamarac bog full of bog lilies, tannic water, and wooded silence on a windy day. It was amazing! Thank you wood engineers for that esthetic curve - it was man made, but it mimicked nature s wonder. Enjoy nature as you walk aided by the volunteers of the North Country Trail. Bird watching at the lake has become a passion of mine, just another moment, another time, and another memory. Bird watching while sitting on the deck, going on a walk, or attending the feeder, bring to us moments of joy because birds are varied, gorgeous, and worthy of our attention. Try naming the warblers that flit through trees in the spring. Can you see them, hear their song, and identify their habits? Remember that nano moment when you finally recognized it was the Chestnut sided warbler, heard its song, and captured its distinct features? Lets talk if you re nuts about about birds! Bad Medicine Lake Recipe for the Summer Auntie Deb s Spinach and Strawberry Salad 1 bag fresh spinach 4 cups sliced strawberries 1/2 small bag almonds Dressing: 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup vinegar 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon poppy seeds Special tip: I usually caramelize the almonds in 2 tablespoons of sugar. I m sure they would be good toasted or plain as well. 6

7 M E M B E R S H I P BMLAA ANNUAL DUES & MEMBERSHIP FORM-CALENDAR YEAR 2013 (Jan.1 - Dec. 31) Member Names Lake Address Home Address Lake Phone Home Phone Address Dues Enclosed ($15 per person). Send Membership Dues to BMLAA Horseshoe Rd, Ponsford, MN Please circle preferred mailing address. My Additional Donation for Invasive Species Monitoring is enclosed for $ BMLAA ANNUAL DUES & MEMBERSHIP FORM-CALENDAR YEAR 2013 (Jan.1 - Dec. 31) Member Names Lake Address Home Address Lake Phone Home Phone Address Dues Enclosed ($15 per person). Send Membership Dues to BMLAA Horseshoe Rd, Ponsford, MN Please circle preferred mailing address. My Additional Donation for Invasive Species Monitoring is enclosed for $ Bad Medicine Lake Area Association Members, The school year was once again a busy, yet successful one. In May we ended yet another school year with the graduation of the class of The class of 2013 will be missed and has left a lasting impression on the staff, their peers and their community. The summer of 2013 will once again be a busy one for the school district. This summer the school district will be constructing an Early Childhood Family Education addition in Ogema. The result of this addition will be three additional classrooms to expand our ECFE program to better serve the students and families in our district, a community bathroom, and an enclosed play area. Construction should be completed in just under a year. The district will also be entering into an energy performance contract with a company called Energy Supply Group. ESG will be tasked with making both our buildings more energy efficient. The repairs and upgrades will total 1.6 million dollars. The funding for this project will be made through the energy savings that the district is guaranteed from ESG and its general fund. If the district does not see the savings, then ESG will write the school district a check to cover the difference. The school year was also a legislative year which resulted in positive changes for education funding. The 2013 legislative session resulted in new revenue of 1.6% in fiscal year 2014 and 7.1% in fiscal year 2015 for the school district. The most interesting change is allowing school districts like Waubun-Ogema-White Earth starting in fiscal year 2015 to convert up to $ per adjusted pupil unit of referendum authority from voter approved to board approved by board vote. This $ per student will be covered by the state (76%) and by the local tax payer (24%). More research is needed to be done on this as the Minnesota Department of Education is just now starting to get the information out to school districts. If you have any questions, please contact me at Sincerely, Brandon Lunak, Superintendent at Waubun-Omega-White Earth Public School 7

8 Board Members Officers Phone Term Tom Lorentzsen President /10-6/13 Steve Lindow Vice President /11-6/14 Mary Follett Secretary /12-6/15 Jim Luttrell Treasurer /10-6/13 Dennis Anderson /10-6/13 James Eisele /12-6/15 Andy Skatvold /12-6/15 Paul Lundquist /11-6/14 John Sanger /11-6/14 Ryan Sederquist /11-6/14 Why should I become a member of the BMLAA? The answer is simple: to be involved and have a voice in matters concerning Bad Medicine Lake and the surrounding area. Here are a few other reasons as well: to pay your share of what you receive such as the newsletter, the directory, invasive species matching grants, water testing and monitoring, COLA membership and newsletter, the North Country Trail, the website, periodic mailings concerning lake information and responsibilities, etc. Please become a member and become active in our Bad Medicine Lake Area Association. Bad Medicine Lake Area Association Jim Luttrell, Horseshoe Road Ponsford, MN