Leadership Updates • Fire Safety Tips • Community

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Our annual meeting was held on July 25, 2026. Here are the key takeaways, emergency safety guidelines, and event prize winners from this year's gathering. (See full meeting minutes.)

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Fire Safety & Prevention Guidelines

Guest speaker Blair Mileski, Chief of the Emily Fire Department, provided crucial guidelines to help protect lake community properties:

• Emergency Dispatch: Specify proximity to structures when reporting grass or brush fires to ensure proper resources are sent immediately.

• Visibility & Access: Ensure house and cabin numbers are clearly posted from the driveway for emergency vehicles and keep driveways clear.

• Property Maintenance: Clear dry, dead vegetation surrounding your home, and trim lower tree branches to stop fire spreading.

• Campfire Rules: Keep bonfires within a 3'x3' ring, always have a hose ready, and extinguish completely with water over ashes.

• Restrictions: Check the DNR website for daily burning restrictions before starting any fires.

Prize & Raffle Winners

Congratulations to all our 2026 raffle, game, and door prize winners!

• Custom Cribbage Board Raffle*: Judy B, (raised $222 for IMLPOA)

• Guessing Games / Sawdust Treasures: Karen G., Jeff P., Anniston F.

• Door Prize Winners:

  • $25 Emily Meats: Tony L.

  • $25 Emily Ace Hardware: Donna H., Mark M.

  • $50 Emily Meats: Amy O.

  • $50 Emily Ace Hardware: Tammy A.

  • $75 Emily Meats: Linda F.

  • $75 Emily Ace Hardware: Mike P.

  • Fire Starters: Leo O.

Community & Leadership News

• Board Leadership Transition: Chuck Pettipiece was honored for 10 years of service as President. Morgan Buetow-Staples has been elected as the new President, with Tom Stremski serving as Vice President.​ New Directors elected are Mike Pearson, Alan Offerman, Lora Strey, and Mark Matzke. Existing roles are JoAn Miller, Director, Jerry Finnerty, Treasurer, and Kim Swatosch, Secretary/Communications.

• Financials & Membership: Dues-paying membership sits at 98 of 118 properties. See full meeting minutes for the treasury report.

• Pontoon Trailer Update: 30 members utilized the trailer this season. Tom Stremski is stepping in to oversee trailer maintenance this Fall. A new digital reservation system will roll out for late summer/2027.

• Environmental Check: An Invasive Species (AIS) baseline survey is scheduled for late July/early August to provide a baseline on Island and Mud Lakes.

• Community Projects: An annual $100 donation in memory of deceased IMLPOA members was established. This year’s donation will go to Lakes Area Heroes. IMLPOA also matched picnic cash donations to provide the Emily Food Shelf $400.

• Calendar & Website Photos: Submissions are open for the 2027–2028 calendar drive. High-res, landscape-oriented photos can be emailed to imlpoawebmaster@gmail.com.

*Raffle proceeds go to the IMLPOA, a 501(c) non-profit organization.