Seymour Lake Association Strategic Plan 2007-2010

This plan has been developed to help all that use and enjoy the beauty of Seymour Lake better understand the requirements to maintain it as we know it today.
The plan attempts to look forward three years in an effort to create a timely list of actions that will achieve our maintenance goals and effectively avoid the threats to our success

Increase our awareness, communications and general education within our group members
Work with Vermont and local scientists to create a scientific database, and probable sources for water quality impairment. Use this knowledge to build our action plans
Develop better relations with the State legislature and others interested in Vermont water quality management
Work with all owners and users to achieve our goals while maintaining our ability to enjoy this property as we do today
Create new sources of income to offset State and Local budget limitations and be prepared to fund communications, maintenance and management programs to assure our goals

Widely distribute our own newsletter
Create a SLA website for communications and links to State or National Information
Promote a sense of unity among our members and increase our membership from 40% of owners to 100%
Increase the number of people involved in our programs to improve our skills and a new broad based “Esprit of the Lake”
Create new communications methods to users and owners (Posters,Handouts & Telephone networks)

Create a State Supported Survey and Study of the Lake and Watershed Area.
Create more water sampling and overview of potential risk generators.
Create scientifically supported actions to improve our chemical and algae concentrations
Work with other non-profit experts to develop our plans and actions

Create an SLA team that communicates with the responsible people in Vermont and Washington to promote our efforts and knowledge of pending programs that might benefit our goals
Encourage key representatives attendance at our functions and keep them in public our communications.
Keep Local Government members as partners in our process and proactive in support of our goals

Create functions that bring us together in the “Season” to better know each other and to more frequently discuss our plans.
Develop more teams and volunteers that drive supportive issues like Lake Inspections, Water Sampling, Membership Drives and Communications management.
Solicit more participation in our newsletter and the history of the lake and our properties.

Being prepared is the only acceptable answer.
Create a Development Team to Coordinate our financial growth
With improved communications regarding our needs we can:
- Increase Our Membership Roster & Income
- Develop Social Fund Raising Engagements (Tag Sales, House Tours, Picnics & Outings and Logo Clothing)
- Improve our Membership Donations and Program Sponsorships
- Gain Support from the Community Vendors
Improve our State and Federal funding prospects

Keeping our Lake like it is today isn't radically “Green”, it is the right thing to do to maintain our lifestyle and property value.
It is not a super effort if many are involved and have the “Esprit Of the Lake” it's fun.
It will likely not cause the impairment of our use, it will just create the best practices for the use.
It will not cost a lot of money if we are prepared and we all participate beginning now!
Our Immediate goal is to double our reserve funds to a minimum of $16,000 by July 2008.
Note that Willoughby currently spends in excess of $40,000 annually to remove Eurasian Milfoil.
If you are not a SLA member, please join today.
If you are a new or renewing member, please donate additional funds to help us achieve our target by 2008.