March 2015

March 2015

To: All SSCA Members, Associate Members and Families

Welcome to the summer of 2015. I was reminded again today how blessed we are to have a slice of heaven in the Sans Souci area of Georgian Bay. It is a place where we can feel the cares of the world float away on the boat ride from the mainland. We can unplug and enjoy family, friends and neighbors or just sit and gaze upon the wonders of Mother Nature as another sea gull effortlessly floats by our window.

The SSCA community has been active for over one hundred years. Our vision has consistently been about protecting and preserving this slice of heaven for today and generations to come. We are aided in this endeavor by being part of a larger Georgian Bay community, the Georgian Bay Association (GBA). The GBA through the power of larger numbers much larger than the SSCA can meet with organizations to help protect and preserve Georgian Bay. A portion of our annual dues goes to the GBA to aid in that effort.

Ice is covering most of the great lakes this year reducing evaporation to nil. There is also snow in abundance. Both of these factors are forecasted to break the decade-long low water trend and put us well above the all-time lake average. But, we cannot be complacent. We need to continue to support the GBA and other organizations in their efforts to influence governments on both sides of the border to implement a long term water level management strategy for the middle Great Lakes, Huron and Michigan.

Your SSCA Directors continue to do a fabulous job supporting our community. Here are a few highlights of just some of their efforts.

The Environment Committee is joining up with the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR) again this year and will be hosting another Environment Day. The Environment Committee is also actively working with other organizations to help fight the latest invasion species, Phragmites. Stay tuned for more information.

The Programs Committee is bringing back favorites like Day Camp, the Regatta and Pot Luck dinners. Volunteers make these events run well. Extra hands are always welcome if you would like to pitch in. You can see all of the events and updates on our website www.ssca.info in the calendar section.

The Membership Committee has implemented a new membership category called an Associate Member. This membership category is designed to aid younger generations of Bay lovers to stay informed and involved. It is the perfect gift to give to your children or grandchildren who share your passion for Georgian Bay.

The Property Committee is making great strides toward the Community Centre that was green- lighted at last year’s Annual General meeting. They have supervised the removal of the old McNamara house. As I write this note, they have achieved twenty percent towards the fundraising goal to support the construction and ongoing maintenance of a new Community Centre.

The response to the Members’ Lunch after the Annual General Meeting last year was outstanding. We will continue the tradition and have a Members’ Lunch again this year right after the Annual General Meeting. It’s a great chance to meet the Directors and your neighbors. I look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks to all of you who support our wonderful community. If you are interested in getting involved, feel free to drop me a note or give me a call. On behalf of the Board, we wish you a wonderful summer in 2015.

Sincerely,

Bert Liverance

President, SSCA