Hello, Team LMOA!

Just a friendly reminder that our LMOA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting is scheduled for next week, Thursday, August 21. If you haven’t had a chance to meet our Board Members yet, or if you’re wondering how to watch the meeting, you’ll find more details below. We’re also excited to share a new season of Newcomers and Old Friends is on the horizon, we’re looking for a few more enthusiastic fireworks volunteers and a Maintenance Technician. Please continue reading for all the official updates. Thank you so much!

August Board Meeting: The next meeting is on August 21, 2025, at 7 PM in the Fairway Clubhouse (51 Bunker Blvd.). 

• How to Watch: If you can’t make it in person, no worries! Our volunteer-run Broadcast Group records open sessions so you can still join in. You can watch it live on Comcast Channel 977 or on YouTube. We also keep the recordings available on lmoa.org for two months, so you’ll have plenty of time to tune in later. These recordings are posted within a day or two of the meeting on the member side of the website under Board Meeting Details.

• More About YouTube: If you head over to our YouTube channel to watch the board meeting, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a fantastic production made by our Broadcast Group volunteers!  They capture every LMOA event and even have a Lake cooking show - go check it out!

• Sign up to Speak: If you’re interested in sharing your feedback with BOD, this can only be done by attending in person. Please fill out the sign-up form HERE. If you have comments after the meeting, you can reach out to the board by logging into lmoa.org and clicking on the link CONTACT THE BOARD in the brown toolbar. 

• How to Prepare for a Board Meeting: You can find the Board Meeting Agenda and Packet by logging into lmoa.org and selecting Board Meeting Details under the GOVERNANCE tab.

Who Are Our Board Members? Our homeowners elect our Board Members to govern the Lake Monticello Owners’ Association. They maintain and establish our policies, which should align with State and Federal laws. Annually, LMOA Staff facilitates a Board Orientation to ensure members understand their responsibilities and the legal framework guiding their roles. Having diverse representation on the Board is valuable as it allows us to make decisions and set rules from different perspectives, which enriches our community. We are fortunate to have dedicated Board Members who come from various backgrounds. Our Board is supported by volunteer committee members, mainly in advisory roles, along with paid staff who manage daily operations and provide continuity when Board Members rotate. Here are the current Board of Directors:

• President Larry Henson: Leads board meetings, acts as the main spokesperson for LMOA, and works closely with the General Manager to ensure the Board's decisions are implemented. 

• Vice President Gary Sellick: Supports the President, taking over their duties when needed, and functions as the Communications Liaison with staff. 

• Secretary Jennifer Richardson: Handles documentation and meeting minutes.

• Treasurer Scott Murdoch: Works closely with the Finance & Audit Committee and LMOA’s General Manager and Finance Director (staff) to oversee finances, including budgeting, collections, and disbursements. 

• Directors Mike Kelly, Kate Schoenster, and Nicolas Canada: Support in decision-making.

Next year, we will have four openings on the Board. If you are interested in learning more about duties and time commitment, we are happy to get you connected with the right resources. The next election cycle will start in February 2026. Please feel free to reach out to Member Services, and they will point you in the right direction.
 
Fireworks: One of the decisions BOD had to make in 2024 was not to enter into a contract for fireworks in 2025. At the time the contract needed to be secured, there were serious concerns surrounding safety, as the event had grown too large to be facilitated on the Main Beach. The Board, supported by a workgroup and staff, spent the next several months researching ways to mitigate risk so that we could continue a beloved tradition. Their findings led to a new location - the golf course. Since next July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, we anticipate a large crowd and have decided to hold a practice round on August 28 to help ensure a smooth event next year, which we hope to hold on July 3, 2026 (contract is in negotiations). It will be held on a Thursday to minimize loss of revenue at the golf course. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this decision and hope you will come out and enjoy the show! Get the event info HERE.

August Fireworks Volunteers & Feedback: Your feedback after the event is important, and we will provide a platform to collect your input. What was it like to watch from the golf course? Were you able to see the fireworks from your backyard? What would you do differently? You’ll get to tell us in September! Meanwhile, if you are available, please sign up to volunteer for the August 28 practice run by filling out THIS FORM. Thank you!

Newcomers & Old Friends: The Newcomers and Old Friends Club is hosting an early sign-up event for the upcoming year on Tuesday, August 19, from 5-7 PM at Bunker Bistro. Join them to sign up for a fun year ahead! Membership costs $10 per person annually and grants access to 40 activity groups. They will also be collecting school supplies for local schools. By signing up and/or donating, you’ll receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing at the first meeting on September 21. The club board will be present with activity sign-up sheets, allowing you to enroll and easily explore different small groups. This is an ideal opportunity for new neighbors to meet new friends!

Job Opportunities: LMOA is a great place to work where the work-life balance is valued! We are often looking for qualified people, and you can keep an eye on our career opportunities at lmoa.org and on Indeed. Currently, we have an opening for a Maintenance Technician, and we always have room for a retired law enforcement officer with a passion for community policing. We look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in either position! 
 

WATER SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK
brought to you by the Volunteer Water Safety Team

Did you know...

There are special safety considerations for swimming from an anchored boat at Lake Monticello? They include: 

• Swimming is only allowed in Adams Cove, Monroe Cove, Jackson Cove, and the area west of the no-wake buoy and east of Beach 5 in the Van Buren Cove area. This map will help you find those coves. 

• Only swim from sunrise to sunset.

• An orange flag should be flown while any swimmers are in the water.

• The boat engine(s) shall be off while swimmers are in the water or boarding.

• Motorboats must be anchored, and a safety observer must be on board who is a qualified motorboat operator.

• The anchored boat should be away from the central channel of the cove or near buoys marking swimming areas, turn points, shallow water, etc., so as not to obstruct the view of other boaters.

• Swimmers should be within 50 feet of the boat.

• Have a throwable flotation device onboard and have it readily available to the safety observer.

• There should be an easy way for swimmers to get back on board unaided. 

• If a multi-person float is used, it should be secured to the anchored boat's broadside.

• It is unsafe to swim in the Main Lake more than 50 feet from shore; under the boat or between boats that are tied together; to shore from a boat, or from shore to a boat, or from a swimming area to a boat.     

For boating safety videos, subscribe to the Volunteer Water Safety YouTube Channel.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind Regards,

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager