Spring Meeting of Joe's Pond Association (Click on photos to enlarge them)

This is for all of you who didn't make the first meeting of the 2007 season. It was a beautiful morning, bright sunshine and brisk breeze - just a tad cool, but not uncomfortable in the pavilion. In the top picture, Dave Parker is listening intently to Andy Rudin. In the next picture, Homer Fitts and Don Walker wait for the meeting to begin. Homer and Don are both long-time members of JPA and each plays an important role in not only the annual Ice-Out contests, but also serve as historians and advisors.

The first meeting of the year is always interesting because many of our members are just back from their winter retreats - some arrived only yesterday - and it's a time of comparing notes, seeing friends, catching up on news and generally socializing. In the last photo, Bill and Diane Rossi are talking with an unidentified man as Ray Rouleau stands by, resting his recently broken limb on a chair. I can't say for sure what happened, as I didn't get a chance to speak with Ray this morning, but I heard he fell out of a tree. In any event, he's being a good sport and very brave - I'm sure it was uncomfortable for him sitting through the meeting - lesser men would have stayed at home, cursing their crutches. We had a very good attendance and as usual, there was no shortage of volunteers as requests for helpers were made for upcoming events.

To update you on some of the highlights of the meeting, we will have a new shelter for the boat inspection workers at the fishing access; Larry Rossi is finishing up all the improvements recommended last fall for the pavilion and kitchen; most signs are in place; buoys are being put in place; donations will be made to the Cabot and Danville Rescue Squads and to the W. Danville Community Club for the public beach; the loons have at least one egg in their nest which will hatch about June 21; there has been a reorder of the cookbook and it is for sale from any of the committee members (Pam Hebert, Evelyn Richer, Sue Bouchard); anyone interested in running for an office should contact the nominating committee, Pam Hebert or Jennifer Cowles, before June 30; and the fireworks are scheduled for July 3rd, rain date July 6th. Oh, yes, Ice-Out tickets will be available at the Annual Meeting on June 30. President Tom Dente kept the meeting moving right along and we adjourned shortly after 11 o'clock.

Next meeting is the Annual Meeting on June 30, 10 a.m., at the pavilion. We hope you'll be there.