Campaign Status Board

Happy New Year!

Here is the last Save the Lake Status Update for 2024.

Dear Garnet Lake Neighbors and Friends,

It’s getting to be that Holiday time of year! From all of us on the GLCA board and committees, we’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season, whatever holidays you celebrate! We are thankful for the people that serve GLCA and those that participate with us in our endeavors….like fundraising!
On that note, a friendly reminder that December 3rd is Giving Tuesday. And, if you have required minimum distributions (RMD’s), GLCA is always willing to accept your donations toward the Save the Lake Fund 🎁
The Matching Challenge has resulted in increased donations as reflected in the attached September and October fundraising status boards.

Again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! And may you and yours be well and safe!

Leading by example. Sandy & Greg Brushi have just initiated a new, 40,000-dollar matching challenge, for any donation, from now until October 31, 2024. So, we all have to get our checkbook out and make sure we take full advantage of the incredible generosity of Sandy and Greg. Thank you, Brushi family.

Campaign Status March 1, 2024

We are at a critical crossroads!

The fundraising committee has worked exceptionally hard over the last several years to help you and all the property owners on the lake understand that in order to save our unique and beautiful lake, we need everyone to take financial responsibility. We know we need to raise the funds to qualify for a grant, so that we have a good chance to be able to save this lake and all the treasures that it provides. What a tragedy it would be if we miss an opportunity!

Progress has been made, and we are most grateful for those of you who have recognized the urgency of contributing. There are 50 property owners that benefit from the beauty of Garnet Lake. 32 of those property owners have donated to the Save the Lake campaign; 10 have donated $20,000 or more. They value Garnet Lake and feel a responsibility to ensure its future as the beautiful, pristine lake it is. But we need much more ($265,462).

Most, if not all, of us would have preferred not to be facing a challenge that requires our financial resources to be spent in this way. To many, this was not anticipated when our properties were purchased and it has come as somewhat of a shock. However, what we share is a community of property owners surrounding a natural gem and if we want to continue to benefit and enjoy it, we have the responsibility to pay to have it sustained.

We currently expect that grant announcements will be made in the upcoming months. We need to be ready to file a timely proposal with qualifying funds.

Waiting with your commitment of funds may put us in a precarious position if we need to meet a grant application deadline when it is announced and we lack the matching funds to qualify.

With all of this said, we are asking you as stakeholders, responsible property owners and members of our lake community to do what is necessary to contribute your fair share.

Thank you in advance!

Garnet Lake Dam Fundraising Committee

Save the Dam campaign status MArch 1, 2024.pdf

Campaign Status January 5, 2024

Campaign Status November 19, 2023

2023-11 GLCA Save the Dam Campaign status.pdf

Campaign Status September 23, 2023

Fund-raising Opportunity

Dear GLCA members,

We are writing with a dam fund raising challenge -- and a continuation of our productive discussion at the annual meeting on July 29.

As described well by Kathryn Serra, principal engineer from CTMale, the good news is we are now in a fine position to push hard for a government grant. One important part of that is making sure we have the funds when such a moment arises -- as one important factor in awarding grants is that the nonprofit or other entity has the funds to fulfill their match responsibility. To that end as discussed, we have raised over $800k, and will probably need an additional $550k to qualify for a grant. It is important to understand that grants do not pay for anything directly; they reimburse us for expenses paid, with some necessary delay. That can create a cash flow problem, particularly with a large construction project, where the next bill may exceed our residual cash while we wait for reimbursement from the grant.

We will continue all efforts to generate contributions including any from visitors to the lake. We are also talking with lake residents who have not yet contributed and those who are not members of GLCA to make sure they understand the current status of the dam plans, our need to raise additional funds, possible consequences and liability issues if we do not replace the dam and our promising prospects for getting grant money.

The Fund Rasing Committee has decided to help jump start progress toward our goal of raising $550,000 by June, 2024. The committee will contribute up to $50,000 to match contributions made by October 31, 2023 that move the contributor from one fund raising category on the Save the Lake Campaign Status board to the next level up. For example, if you have contributed $2000 already, and you now donate $4,000, bringing your total contributions up to $6000, you will move from the Garnet to the One Sapphire category ($5,000 to $49,999). In this example, the Fund Raising Committee will contribute an additional $4,000, resulting in adding $8,000 to our fund. Or if you have donated $40,000 and now donate $11,000, the committee will contribute an additional $11,000 as you will move from the One Sapphire Level to Two Sapphires Level. Below is the most recent Campaign Status board, with contributions since June 30 noted.

So, help us unlock an additional $50,000 by October 31, 2023!

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Sincerely,

GLCA Fund Raising Committee

Paul Beer, Anne Bernat, Diane Burgess, Ed Jahn, Judy Thomson and Bob Wiltenburg

GLCA is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation and their donation could be tax deductible to the extent allowed by federal and state tax codes.

Status Board August 27, 2023

Happy New Year!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Sandy and Greg Bruschi for their recent significant donation to our Save the Lake Campaign!!

And another round of THANK YOU’s to all who have given and those that have given more than once! Our fund has now risen to over $800,000! An amazing feat because of the generosity of the people here at Garnet Lake. You all can not be thanked enough!

Attached is the latest donor grid for your viewing pleasure 🤩

Anne

September 23, 2022

July 15th, 2023

May 15th, 2022

Status board before the Update and Recognition meeting

GLCA Update and Donor Recognition

In Person 4PM at the home of Anne Bernat, GLCA President

159 Garnet Lake Road

Join Zoom meeting : March 20th 4:30 PM

RSVP AnneBernat@GarnetLake.org

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6100652061?pwd=Yis4QnJRa2pZdEN3RjFDTlRIMFArdz09

Garnet Lake Conservation Association Year End Report 2021

2021 has been a banner year for GLCA!

After spending the last several years readying GLCA for grant funding, 2021 can be considered the year of success. This past April, the New York State DEC published their request for grant applications for high hazard dam design work. This necessitated the GLCA Board of Directors to approve the expense of hiring C.T. Male to help GLCA submit our grant application for design recommendations. This was submitted on June 18. On November 2, GLCA received notice that we were awarded our entire ask of $80,000! Due to the foresight of past GLCA leaders along with the annual owner dam assessment payments from residents, our match for the grant of $43,600 is available.

We have been working collaboratively and cooperatively with the Town of Johnsburg Supervisor and Town Board throughout this year. We recently learned that the town plans to contribute $15,000 towards the dam/bridge/road design work. Also, on December 7, GLCA presented the “SAVE THE LAKE” campaign to the Town Board at their monthly meeting. This was met with a very positive response from the Board and attendees.

A GLCA Fundraising Committee was formed and started meeting in August after our annual meeting. Their efforts have exceeded expectations. The “SAVE THE LAKE” campaign went public the beginning of November. Since then there have been 46 donors with a grand total of $638768.33 donated! 100% of the GLCA Board of Directors have given or pledged a donation to the campaign. The Fundraising Committee continues to meet to plan further fundraising activities. Be on the lookout for a “Garnet Lake Garage Sale” and a “Dancing on the Dam” fun evening!

GLCA would like to thank Barbara Wolfe for her early and decisive Diamond Level contribution. This will allow us to qualify now for a possible 2022 construction grant if available.

Our own resident of Garnet Lake, Candace O’Conner, has written a history of Garnet Lake. The book is currently being designed and we hope it will be published in the first quarter of 2022. The GLCA Board of Directors has agreed to supply some financial aid to support this publishing effort.

We welcome you to join the effort to “SAVE THE LAKE”. 100% of your donation will go to the “SAVE THE LAKE” account. Visit our website at garnetlake.org for information, or send a donation to:

GLCA

P.O.Box 52

Johnsburg, NY 12843

Please consult your own tax consultant for your individual impact for 2021.

G.L.C.A. Must share some explosive news!

The NAME THE DAM CONTEST has begun!

We have received our first diamond level donation which qualifies towards the NAME THE DAM CONTEST!

We also want to announce that 100% of the Garnet Lake Association’s Board of Directors have either donated or pledged at this time.

If you have been following the monetary grid updates on NextDoor, Facebook or the campaign status board on the GarnetLake.org website, you will see that we have met another important milestone towards our “Save the Lake” campaign. If you have already donated, of course we thank you! If not, we encourage you to do so. If you have any questions please see the “SAVE THE LAKE” materials sent to you, visit the website, or contact Anne Bernat, G.L.C.A.Board President. Her email is: annebernat@garnetlake.org.