What's New

Spider Chain of Lakes Association

2018 Calendar of Events

- Preliminary –

Sat, May 26  - Annual Association Meeting,  8:30-10:30 am, Town of Spider Lake Town Hall

Tues, July 3 -  Log ‘Roleo’ hosted by KeyLog,  3:00-5:00 pm,  Little Spider Lake

Wed, July 4 -  Annual Boat Parade – NEW FORMAT!! -  3:00 pm Boat Parade in from the Lakes,  followed by 4:00 pm Festivities  at the Wiener/Berkowitz Boathouse, Little Spider

Fri, July 6 -  SLEEK Educational Program, 10:00 am,  Location TBD      

Sun, Sept 2 -  Association Picnic, 4:00-7:00 pm,  North Star Camp for Boys

Dates TBD for My Shoreline Week, Wine & Wisdom Program, and Spider Lake Celebration(s).  We will keep you posted as we gain clarity.

The SCLA Board of Directors is proud to announce that Spider Chain of Lakes Association has earned the "PLATINUM Seal of Transparency" from Guidestar, the world's largest source of nonprofit information.  By sharing metrics that highlight progress that SCLA is making toward its mission, we are helping donors move beyond simplistic ways to evaluate charities.  Congratulations to all volunteers for your work.  We could not have achieved this (highest) level of recognition without you!  THIS is a GOOD NEWS TUESDAY!

And we finally got several inches of snow last night.  Spider Lake is a Winter Wonderland Once Again.

We are honored and grateful to share our first ever "Family Legacy Film" with all SCLA members.  Click here for the link to this film, which was created as a gift from a longtime Spider Lake resident to the Spider Chain of Lakes Association.  You must first log-in (with your membership I.D. and password) to view the film that spans five generations on Spider Lake.   Perhaps you recognize some of the folks in this film?

If you have forgotten your password, click here to reset it.

Act prior to January 1, 2018 to DOUBLE your gift under the $80,000 Matching Gift Challenge that was announced on October 10, 2017.  A Spider Lake family (who requested anonymity) announced a $50,000 "Matching Gift Challenge."  This prompted two families to add $30,000 to create a total MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE of $80,000.  These families will match every dollar contributed to SCLA through December 31, 2017 up to a maximum of $80,000.

Spider Lake friends and neighbors are encouraged to spread the word among our lake community of this generous match, and to contact any member of the SCLA leadership team for details on ways to donate, including gifts of appreciated securities.  Click here for the link to further details on how to donate to SCLA, a 501(c)3 corporation.

As of October 10, 2017, members had funded roughly ONE THIRD of original $1.2 Million goal to create a financially sustainable association.  The goal includes creating two funds: (i) an $800,000 Endowment Fund, and (ii) a $400,000 Operating Reserve Fund.  The Endowment Fund, with its 3% Spending Policy, is designed to generate roughly half of the SCLA expected annual budget.  The Operating Reserve Fund is designed as a liquid fund to use if/when invasive species must be mitigated (ie: harvested or eradicated with chemicals).  Although SCLA is able to apply for and receive certain grants, grants are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, hence, members fund the majority of mission activities to protect our lakes and watershed.

We are grateful for the 70+ families who have contributed financially to our mission.  We hope you join us in helping to preserve and protect this wonderful natural resource!

Sunrise over Little Spider

A new brochure that tells our story was mailed out last week.  Included in the recipients were 50 neighbors who have not yet joined SCLA.  These folks were invited to join SCLA to support the place that they love.  

 SCLA members were also sent a brochure, in the hopes of raising awareness of our quest to become financially sustainable.  Did you receive yours?  If you have a new neighbor, would you please invite them to join us?  

During this season of giving, your lake association leaders and volunteers hope that you will include SCLA in your charitable giving.   To learn more about how you can contribute, including using gifts of appreciated securities, click here.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

This photo was from early December 2016; we have no snow today (but the lake is frozen and appears that mr. or ms. zamboni have visited).

Are you missing Spider Lake?  Follow our Instagram ("Spider Lake Social") photos (and encourage your family and friends to join you) for the new Winter Wonderland that arrived this week.   Some locations around the lakes reported over 11 inches of fresh white stuff --- the nearby Birkie Trail is being groomed as we type.  Snowmobiling will not be far behind.  YAY!

And the next time you come up, post some of your photos!

70 lake neighbors gathered with hosts, the Weinert and O'Sullivan families, for the first "Spider Lake Celebration in the Twin Cities" at the Edina Country Club.  After socializing, and meeting many new folks, Spider Lakers were treated to a special short film that captured the essence of life on Spider Lake of one family, beginning in 1910.  Sights, sounds, smells and heartfelt stories filled the room as 3rd generation Spider, Marnie Mamminga shared stories from her grandparents' era through the 1970s in a film created by 2nd generation Spider, John Wood.  

Presentations on the mission, activity, threats, and financial needs of of SCLA were delivered by President Steve Smith, AIS Chair Ray Langer, and hosts Jim Weinert and Michael O'Sullivan.  The evening closed with an announcement of an $80,000 MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE from three anonymous benefactor families who will match every dollar contributed to SCLA through December 31, 2017 up to $80,000.    

One donor family initiated the match with a $50,000 match challenge and two other families were inspired to add an additional $30,000 to the match, resulting in an aggregate $80,000 match available to all benefactors. 

THANK YOU ALL!  Let's continue our momentum to reach our target of $800,000 endowment and $400,000 operating reserve fund!

Over 170 lake friends and neighbors enjoyed each other, delicious food, and the beautiful North Star Camp for the 2017 Annual Picnic.   Marnie O. Mamminga, 3rd generation Big Spider resident and author of "Return to Wake Robin, One Cabin in the Heyday of Northwoods Resorts" read from her new book  "On a Clear Night, Essays from the Heartland" which reflected on the charm of life on Spider Lake.  Thank you to all volunteers, especially Gina Blyaney and Lynn Okuno, for a delightful afternoon.

SCLA HEALTH ALERT

SCLA sent an email to all members this week to remind you of the danger of blue-green algae on Fawn Lake.  Below is the text of the email.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE PERSISTS ON FAWN LAKE 

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that are harmful to both humans and animals. Gina LaLiberte, a Water Resources Management Specialist, at Wisconsin DNR advises residents:

• DO NOT swim in areas of water that contains blue-green algae
  
• DO NOT let children play with scum layers, even from shore.   
  
• DO NOT allow dogs in these area as they are likely to ingest the algae if swimming or drinking water at the shore
• DO NOT boat or water ski over water that looks like “pea soup," green or blue blobs, or if a scum layer or puffy blob is floating on the surface
  

Additional information on the DNR’s website and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website:

http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/bluegreenalgae/

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/water/bg-algae/index.htm

CONSERVATION EASEMENT WILL PRESERVE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND HELP PROTECT WATER QUALITY OF SPIDER LAKE FOREVER

In the Fall of 2016 Michael and Margaret O'Sullivan donated a conservation easement to protect their property against further development.  The easement is designed to preserve their land as wildlife habitat and to help protect the water quality of Spider Lake and surrounding waters.  The O'Sullivans worked with Bayfield Regional Conservancy, a land trust that works with property owners to protect habitat in four counties of Northwest Wisconsin.  In May 2017 the O'Sullivan family announced their donation to their neighbors and to SCLA members at the Annual Meeting.  The family hopes that their gift will inspire other property owners on the Spider Chain of Lakes to consider the benefits of conservation easements for their own property.  Thank you, O'Sullivan family, for your inspirational leadership!

For more details on this story (the original article from Bayfield Regional Conservancy), click here.