FUNDRAISING

CHAIR | Stephen Calkins

Anyone reading this newsletter surely loves Long, Mickey, and Ruth Lakes – and that is what our fund raising is all about. Thanks to the merger with the Foundation, the Association is officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and gifts are fully deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Association IS a charity, and donations to its general fund will protect water quality, fight invasive species, and educate the community. You can also target gifts to the boat wash fund, the invasive species fund, and the endowment fund.

Boat washing is a special priority for the Association, as we work toward the day when convenient washing stations will be available at Crescent Shores and Gilbert Park. Our lake has no better protection against invasive species than easily available boat washes.

How can you give? One easy way is to click on “donations” on the website and choose your amount and your preferred fund. Another easy way is as part of membership, by choosing to be a Centurian, a Guardian, a Patron, or a Benefactor. Either way we thank you! The Association also gratefully accepts checks.

Are you required to make Required Minimum Distributions from an IRA? Why not make a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” to the Association, which will dollar for dollar reduce your required minimum distribution, thus avoiding tax. And the Association gratefully accepts appreciated assets (like stocks), again offering tax benefits.

Regardless of the amount, thank you for whatever you can do. If you’ve questions, contact Gregg Armstrong or Steve Calkins (Steve is at calkins@wayne.edu or 248-946-9313.) And please consider leaving the Association something in your will or through an insurance policy or a trust. The future of Long Lake depends on us!

SUBSTANTIAL DONATION RECEIVED

Last year, the Long Lake Association Board set a fundraising target of $50,000 to fund a boat washing station at the Crescent Shore boat launch. The Board sought member donations during our in-person meetings, via our mailings, and through our website. Donations began to come in. Then, Long Lake residents, Matt and Donna Salon stepped up. They said that maintaining our lakes for future generations is very important to them. Further, they wanted to encourage other riparian residents to make meaningful contributions to protect our lakes now and in the future. To do this, they decided to lead by example and make a substantial contribution sufficient to ensure the boat washing station is completed in 2026. On behalf of the Long Lake Association and its Board, we express our appreciation to Matt and Donna Salon for their generosity, and we take note of their message that things that are important to us are worth supporting in a way that is impactful. Please take a moment to personally thank Matt and Donna when you see them.

Please note that the Long Lake Association is continuing to accept donations for its boat wash fund. These donations will be used to support boat cleaning activities including on-going maintenance of the Crescent Shores station, potentially providing part-time staffing of the station, and potentially supporting the future placement of a boat cleaning station at Gilbert Park launch. The membership will be informed, as always, as things progress.