In early 2005, in response to a request from a new property owner, I put together an informal set of “rules” in an attempt to describe the things that are important to the Manitook Lake Association.  Here is that document (updated to August, 2009).

You will become, as you know, members of the Manitook Lake Association upon closing on your new house.  Dues are $185/year, payable in August.  The bills go out (usually) in late June/early July.

There are by-laws of the Manitook Lake Association.  An electronic copy is available on our web site www.manitooklake.org.

The truth of the matter, however, is that the by-laws don't shed much light on things.  They define the structure of the Association's Board of Directors (currently a President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Road Committee Chair, Beach Committee Chair, and Lake Committee Chair), their terms of office (one year -- from Annual Meeting to Annual Meeting), and the timing of the Annual Meeting (during June).

I was brought up in a lake-front homeowners' association in Michigan which had by-laws and rules that specified everything, down to who had to give you permission to cut down a tree on your own lot.  To put it mildly, things are looser here.

The Manitook Lake Association (and its Board of Directors) is responsible for maintaining the road (including arranging for snow plowing and sanding in the winter), maintaining the beach, keeping a liability insurance policy current on the roads and beach, keeping an eye out for the lake and its health and well-being, and communicating with the members when the need arises.

"The rules", as best as I can state them go something like this:

· Speed Limit on the roads is 10MPH

· No motors on the lake over 7HP on Saturdays (This is a Town of Granby ordinance)

· Use of the beach and boat launch is limited to members in good standing (dues paid up) and their guests.

· Boat storage at the beach is limited to members in good standing (dues paid up).

· Don't do anything to harm the lake.

· Try not to annoy your neighbors (or other lake residents).

The current board is:

  President:  Dick Sonderegger, 38 Lakeside

  Vice-president:  Mark Wilson, 10 West Lakeview

  Secretary:  Karen Suponski, 32 Lakeside

  Treasurer:  Sue Nilsen, 52 Lakeside

  Beach Committee:  Elaine Stuart-Thoms, 25 West Lakeview

  Road Committee:  Gene Suponski, 32 Lakeside

  Lake Quality:  Linda Knorr, 2 West Lakeview