CLCS President’s Letter of Appeal for Your Support

Preserving Copake Lake & the Watershed Requires Action from All of Us

June 2020

Dear Copake Lake Community:

Happy Summer! I’m writing today asking for your urgent support of the Copake Lake Conservation Society. Since 1973, CLCS has been a volunteer organization that works hard year-round to create and maintain the beauty of Copake Lake, preserving all of our enjoyment of the lake as well as our property values.

Did you know that in pre-COVID-19 times, of the 600+ households within the Copake Lake watershed, an average of just 30% of households have been paying annual membership dues to CLCS?

The waters of Copake Lake know nothing of COVID-19. The weeds and algae continue to grow, and the work of CLCS caring for the lake and watershed must continue in 2020. With many of our fundraising activities such as t-shirt sales and the Summer Bash curtailed, we need your support more than ever.

To give you a sense of the importance of our volunteer work:

• Our Annual Shoreline Cleanup initiative removes an average 1.5 tons of waste and debris from the lake and shoreline.

• Our Lake Management Committee manages the annual treatments required to keep our waters clear, swimmable, and free of invasive weeds that tangle propellers. Without their vital dedication and our limnologist’s monitoring of our lake’s natural evolution, our pristine waters would resemble a swamp, consumed by invasive weeds and algae.

• Our Communications and Education Committees work to ensure that all lake residents (owners, renters AND guests) are kept informed of boating and swimming safety regulations, CDC guidelines for COVID-19 as they relate to lake life, and other time-sensitive community notifications.

While we welcome monetary donations of any size, annual membership is $150.00 and entitles you to a vote at our Annual Meeting on July 11, 2020. Your donations aid in covering the operational expenses incurred in the preservation of our beautiful lake and watershed. If you are unable to donate money but have other skills and resource to support our work, we would love that as well! Donations can be made online at copakelakecs.org/donate or by mail to Copake Lake Conservation Society, PO Box 37, Craryville, NY 12521

Please also join our email list on our website, follow us on Instagram @copakelakecs, and Like us on Facebook! We are here for any and all questions at info@copakelakecs.org.

Thank you,

Debra Ruggieri

President, Copake Lake Conservation Society