Photo by Mike Schlitt

Wow!

You heard our appeal and you responded with unbelievable generosity.

The background: Your LCA board had agreed to take the lead on stamping out the invasive phragmites plant on Lake Charlevoix. Our committee was told that we would get $15,000 through the state to pay a private contractor to start a three-year herbicide spraying program. But the appropriation got tangled in a House committee and the funds we needed weren't going to be here in time to pay for the spraying this fall. We were looking at having to wait a full year or else effectively draining the LCA bank account to get the job done.

Then our committee - Sue Costa, Mike Dow and Dan Mishler -- took action. First they won commitments from three anonymous donors for a challenge grant to match dollar-for-dollar any other contributions that came in, up to $15,000. Then they mailed LCA members a postcard explaining the situation and asking for donations.

That's when you came forward. In less than a month 158 of you contributed more than $16,000 in amounts that range from $10.00 to $1,000. Interestingly, 43 donors are not currently members of LCA. The total will be matched by the challenge donors, making sure we'll have the wherewithal to pay our contractor for the work they have done this fall. The balance will be in the bank for all our phragmites efforts over the coming years. We'll need it to cover spraying costs as well as education and other activities.

We thank the challenge grant donors. We are grateful to Young State Park and East Jordan Iron Works for their generous help. And we thank you for showing how committed all of us are to preserving and protecting our wonderful lake.