It has been my great pleasure to serve as your BLHA president this year. I feel that it has been a most joyous year, as well as one filled with progress. This is my fourth year serving on the Board and I will not be returning next year in accordance with our by-laws, however, it is not with a heavy heart that I step down. To the contrary, I am very happy that there are so many Board members returning next year and I know that the current momentum will only be accelerated. Next year will be busy and one to surely set the bar for the following years. Thank you all for the honor of serving as your president.

As you may know, the membership was down this year. Because we are an all- volunteer organization we rely entirely on membership dues to finance the many efforts throughout the year, and more importantly, only current members can vote. The new Board has stated that there will be a series of votes required within the first quarter of 2007 in order to improve the conditions at the Beach and the Picnic Grounds, and it is imperative that the voter membership be represented accurately.

The dues for 2007 will again be set at $200 and are due January 1, 2007. Invoices will be mailed to your home in December. Dues will be considered delinquent if unpaid by March 31st. A delinquency charge of $50 will be applied to any member not paying their dues before the March 31st deadline. The delinquency charges collected will go to the Siltation Legal and Technical (SLAT) fund.

BLHA dues are what enable us to keep our most precious asset – the Lake – safe for all to enjoy and is a key driver of maintaining and improving the value of our property. We are planning a membership drive in January and it would behoove all of us to join before or at the Annual Member's meeting on January 12th. I look forward to seeing you there.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jennifer Lombardi for her support of the BLHA. As you know Jennifer has been the Editor of Reflections for the past 5 years and has chosen to step down this year. I am sure you will all agree that the work Jennifer has done along with Delicia Reynolds, who will stay on as Layout Editor, has greatly improved our Newsletter. Thanks, Jennifer.

Once again, thank you all for a most enjoyable and rewarding year.