LOBA Winter Town Hall Meeting Report
On January 27, over 70 LOBA members and directors, representatives from other lake associations, and elected local officials met at the LOBA Town Hall meeting at Bethune United Church in Baysville.
After greetings and updates from District Chair Jeff Lehman, Town of Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock and Township of Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover, LOBA President Wendy Gibson welcomed everyone and presented LOBA's recently completed 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. Over the next five years LOBA's financial and human resources will be focused on the following core priorities: Environment; Development and Land use Planning; Government Relations; Community Engagement; and Corporate Sustainability and Effectiveness. Our updated mandate to EDUCATE, ADVOCATE and ENGAGE has been incorporated into the actions we have identified to reach our goals. You can read the Strategic Plan on the LOBA website. After reading the plan, if there is anything you are interested in or feel you can help with, please contact us at [email protected]. Our members are our greatest resource to ensure LOBA continues to be proactive and relevant.
Finally, Muskoka Watershed Council director, Kevin Trimble presented our keynote address, Integrated Watershed Management – What is it and why do we need it? It was an enlightening call to action for a change in how we understand, manage, and protect the 5,100 square kilometres, 6,800 kilometres of shoreline and 2,000 lakes that comprise the Muskoka Watershed. Everyone who cares about Muskoka needs to learn more about the critical turning point our watershed faces today and what we need to do to reverse the current trend of declining watershed health. You can review Kevin's presentation slides and speaking notes here, along with other reports about Integrated Watershed Management.
Discussions continued over a delicious lunch prepared by Bethune's United Church Women group.
Thanks to all who attended!
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