Hey Six Mile Lake Cottagers!
We couldn’t have asked for a better summer season. The weather has been perfect with just enough rain to keep the fire rating in check and more than ample sun and heat to make our summer fun experience awesome. With summer almost over we would like to remind you to keep your distance from the loons and other wildlife. Be safe and courteous so that we all can continue to have a memorable summer.
Regatta Follow Up
On Saturday July 30th we held our Regatta to rave reviews after a two-year hiatus. The weather was perfect and attendance seemed much higher than previous years. So many new volunteers showed up we were a bit challenged to get everyone plugged in, but when all was said and done, we had a very successful day and the kids had fun. Our photographer, Rick Kowalczykowski has posted some interesting drone shots of the races on YouTube.
The new swim dock (generously supported by SML cottager donations) performed very well, accommodating more kids and reducing the number of heats required. Unfortunately, the old ramp shattered due to the stress. Therefore, we must continue to raise funds to buy a new dock ramp for next year. Please see the link: https://sixmilelake.net/
We also discovered that one of the outhouses is on its last legs and will need to be replaced. We are looking into whether the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will replace it. If not, we will have to build another one.
SMLCA 50/50 Draw
At the Regatta, we ran a 50/50 draw and have raised $750, which means the current prize is $375. We have decided to keep the draw open and to draw the winning ticket at our AGM. If you would still like to buy tickets, contact us at payment@sixmilelake.net or ask one of our directors.
Fireworks Show Follow Up
On July 30, Pyro Mario was once again able to provide Six Mile Lake with an incredible fireworks event. The weather was perfect, and the show was amazing. What a great way to cap off our first regatta day since 2019! Our show is funded 100% by donations from the lake community. However, the cost of the fireworks continues to rise, and prices have gone up 28% over the past two years. If you enjoy the fireworks, but have not yet donated to them, we ask you to make a donation which will go towards next year’s show. If you have already donated, your contributions are greatly appreciated, but please consider increasing your donation next year to help keep pace with the increasing costs, and to help keep this event as the best in Muskoka!
The SMLCA Golf Tournament
We had a great time at our golf tournament on August 2nd. 64 golfers joined us and we ended up with three teams with the lowest score of 64. Those are: Team 3A-Lynn, Jack, Patrick and James Mc Grade, Team 5B-Jeffrey Braun, Bob Clarke, Doug Reid and Rob Allen and Team 7A-Dave Edwards, Steve Fisher, Mike Kelly and Mark Major.
The Six Mile Lake Artists Tour
On the weekend of August 6th, the sixth annual artist tour took place on the lake. Seventeen artists exhibited their work and many had a good turnout. The weather on Saturday was exemplary, however on Sunday afternoon, artists packed up a bit early due to the threat of rain. Jon Rennie will be assuming management of this event next year and he will be looking at ways to improve traffic for the artists. We wish to honour and thank Mary Boddy for having the foresight, initiative and passion to create and run this event for six years. Well done!
The B.I.C.
The Broadband Initiative Committee are about to release their final report, with some very exciting news for the SML community. Within the next few days, the report will be released on the SML Facebook groups, as well as posted on the Six Mile Lake Cottagers Association website. Stay tuned for an exciting announcement in the near future!
FOCA Membership
One of the benefits of being a member of the SMLCA is that you get to take advantage of the resources and information offered through the Federation of Cottagers Associations (FOCA). The board has decided to once again renew our membership with FOCA at a cost of $1,800. In our board meetings we have discussed the cost of this investment and concluded that the value of belonging to FOCA far outweighs the price. Here is a link to the FOCA website.
Six Mile Lake Environmental Surveys
During this past summer and extending into the fall months, three post-secondary students have been working on three separate environmental surveys on our lake. Although weed growth was quite modest this past summer, Eurasian Milfoil growths were surveyed at several locations and they will be compared to previous surveys that mapped the location and density of this invasive plant. Twice a week, over a period of four months, water samples have been taken and the algae content will be analyzed to determine the type and concentration of algae in our water. The third survey is a follow-up and comparison of two previous shoreline surveys done in 2002 and 2012. The project involves mapping shoreline development as it pertains to the littoral zone or “ribbon of life” which is that all important buffer along the shorelines of our lake. All this data will add to our understanding of how changes to shoreline development correlate to water quality and the health of our lake. See here for some good reading on how to protect your shoreline.
Pickleball
Did you know we have a tennis court at the north eastern end of our lake? Councillor Wiancko informs us that toward the end of August, the township will be painting pickleball lines on the Tennis Court that is located just off the beginning of Berwick Road.
The Municipal Election
This year is an election year at Georgian Bay Township. Voting will close on Monday October 24th. You can see who is running for various positions here. Those that pertain to Six Mile Lake are District Councillor Wards 1 and 3, and Local Councillor Ward 3. We will be compiling and publishing questions for the candidates so that you can see their positions on various issues relevant to the lake. Please submit questions to info@sixmilelake.net. We are also considering having a candidate’s meeting on Zoom. Stay tuned for more info.
The SMLCA AGM
We will be holding our Virtual AGM on Wednesday October 26th, on Zoom at 6:30 p.m. We are starting to accept nominations for positions on the board, as well as motions from the membership. If you have any nominations or motions to put forward, please contact us at info@sixmilelake.net. The best way to contribute to our lake community is to get involved in the association. It is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Renewing Your Membership
Your annual membership dues enable all of the good things we do for Six Mile Lake. We still have a shortfall of about 130 cottager renewals. We feel this shortfall is due to the fact that we have stopped mailing invoices to remind individual cottagers to renew their membership. This is very important, because without that revenue from membership renewals, we will have to re-evaluate how much we do for events that cost us money such as the Regatta and the Echoes newsletter. Dues can be paid through our website at https://sixmilelake.net/
2022 Lake Directories
Directories are available to current members for pick-up. If you see the membership/directory banner hanging at her dock, Sarah is onsite and available to greet you. And yes, it is possible to pay your membership dues and grab your directory at the same time! Sarah can be found at W006 (Mitchell) in the directory.
2019 CWS Authorization.pdf