2023 ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION
The Annual Meeting of the Horsehead Lake Association is August 12, 2023 and will be at the Martiny Township Pavilion. Two important pieces of business will be conducted at this meeting. The first is the election of five board members to three year terms expiring in 2026. The current incumbents are:
Karen Bakewell
Kathy Battle
Dan Carpenter
Frank Masotta
Tracey Thelen
Frank Masotta has indicated that he will be stepping down, and Paul Mercieca has indicated that he will be running.
If you are interested in placing a name in nomination to one of the board seats, please let us know.
Once the election of board members is complete, officers for the Horsehead Lake Association will be elected to a one year term from the 15 member board.
Current officers are:
President – Mike Munsell
Vice President – Dom Theodore
Secretary – Dan Carpenter
Treasurer – Karen Bakewell
The remaining board members and their terms are:
Terry Bakewell – 2024
Bruce Costen – 2025
Jerry Devenbaugh – 2024
Charlie Foster – 2025
Dave Haywood – 2025
Fred Kuebler – 2024
Mike Munsell – 2024
Donna Rutter – 2025
Dom Theodore – 2024
Jade Wilson – 2025
To learn more about the various roles, please click on the by-laws at the bottom of this page. We look forward to your participation.
The Horsehead Lake Association
WHAT IS THE HORSEHEAD LAKE ASSOCIATION?
The Horsehead Lake Association is a voluntary organization incorporated under Michigan laws as a private, non-profit corporation.
WHEN DID THE ASSOCIATION GET STARTED?
It was formed in 1981, with the first Board of Directors elected that summer, and has been in continuous existence since.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IT?
The Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation state: “The purposes of the corporation are to preserve and enhance the environmental and recreational quality and safety of the Horsehead Lake, Big John Brown Lake, and Little John Brown Lake areas and Lakes themselves by enlisting the efforts of owners of property surrounding the three lakes to promote, organize, manage, and support endeavors toward those ends and to engage in any activity consistent with the foregoing purposes for which a Michigan non-profit corporation may be formed.”
WHO CAN BE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION?
The Bylaws state that: “Membership is voluntary and is open to any individual who supports the objectives of the Association, subject to approval by the Board of Directors.”
WHO RUNS THE ASSOCIATION?
It is governed by a 15 member voluntary Board of Directors to which five persons are elected by the membership each year for three-year terms.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR DIRECTORS?
Members who are interested in what the Association stands for and who are willing to attend meetings and to work are potential Directors. Our efforts have been aided by a variety of skills and abilities brought to the Board over the years.
HOW OFTEN DOES THE BOARD MEET?
The Board usually meets the second Saturday of each month, except January, February, and December. The annual membership meeting is held in August, at which election of Directors and Officers of HLA is held.
WHAT DOES THE ASSOCIATION DO?
The Association:
works with the Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Lake and Stream Association, and the Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP) on the ongoing monitoring of our lakes’ quality;
has worked with the DNR continuously on planting fish in the lakes;
purchased and installed, with DNR approval, a number of boating markers on and near the lakes;
works with county and township officials as lake needs or concerns dictate;
commissioned a limnological survey of Horsehead Lake by the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in 1989 which provided “a basis for future development and management of the lake” and has cooperated in other studies, such as, one done more recently by some students at Ferris State University, which all provide helpful information about the status and potential problems of our lakes;
issues a periodic newsletter with news and items of information of interest to Association members;
works closely with the Mecosta County Drain Commissioner in monitoring and maintaining proper lake levels;
conducted a petition drive to have the lake level legally changed when it was determined that the summer level was being maintained at a level higher and more desirable than the legal level and took the necessary steps to bring the case to the Circuit Court where the level was finally changed in December, 1995;
encourages an annual boat parade in July headed by volunteers;
works closely with Martiny Township to manage Eurasian Watermilfoil treatments;
sponsored an annual picnic until recently when interest waned;
conducts fish surveys periodically and has developed an ongoing fish management plan;
contributes resources, when called upon, in support of the surrounding community;
and attempts to keep up with news and developments that may affect the three lakes.
HOW DOES SOMEONE HAVE INPUT TO THE BOARD?
Attend Board meetings the second Saturday of the month at the Martiny Township Hall; attend the annual meeting in August; write to the HLA at P. O. Box 344, Mecosta 49332; or email Information @ HorseheadLake.org.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE A MEMBER OF THE HLA?
The dues are $25.00 per year which can include two members (e.g. a husband and wife).