Growing up on Crystal Lake in Dry Mills, Gray, ME has led me to where I am today. As a child I did not realize the privilege it was to get up early in the morning to put my feet in the water to catch tiny pickerel with a pale. I assisted teaching swimming lessons at Willkie’s Beach beginning the age of 11 and ended up teaching over 100 children each July morning with their shivering yet smiling faces for the next 17 years. Moving away from Gray for college and experience life in general soon gave that appreciation.
The love water led me to Little Sebago Lake renting a place in 1972 and later buying our now home in 1980. For 10 years my husband, Dan, and I owned a company which allowed me to stay home while our daughter, Megan, was growing and going to school. During this time I became involved with the Town of Gray Planning Board, Conservation Committee, Recreation Committee, Comprehensive Plan, Town Council, American Legion Auxiliary, Congregational Church Sunday School supervisor and Girl Scout leader. In the early nineties I started working outside the home and presently am general manager of a medical device company in Gray.
In 1992 I became involved with the Little Sebago Lake Association. My reason for involvement was to become more knowledgeable about my surroundings and become part of a caring team. In 1994 I became president for three years. I stayed involved until 2001 when I decided not to juggle the Town committees and the LSLA. After a few years of town governance I had a change of heart and returned to the association where I felt most comfortable with the environment roots. This was the very time that variable milfoil was being reported. Since then I have spent the past 15 years fighting the battle with the help of the committee and volunteers. It is with great pride that due to these efforts the lake is as usable as it was years ago. Without the efforts our lake would be choked with invasive vegetation like our bordering states. Over the past 10 years of record-keeping we have removed over 101 tons of milfoil. Because we cannot let our guard down for fear of regrowth I will continue to fight the battle of the invasive variable milfoil with our Milfoil Militia. This has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my life.
In 2009 I became President again and have kept that role to date. Because of the diligence and professionalism of the 15 member board and committee members this has been a rewarding position and they have made it easy to stay. I have served on the CCSWCD watershed committee, Maine Milfoil Consortium Initiative and helped with Lake Fun Day and the Pirate Parade Day. LSLA has become a non-profit business which has all the logistics of a business run by volunteers. We are blessed so many people are dedicating their time. Thanks to all of you.
The lake should be enjoyed by all types of recreation and should be respected by all; whether you are human or a microorganism, a balance needs to be taken to make sure each thing that is important to the living cycle of the lake continues to exist. We have such a valuable resource that we need to be good stewards to protect the lake for generations to come.