Social Media for the Cottage Associations Part 4

I have been cottaging pretty much since I was born, at our family cottage on Georgian Bay. I have great memories of events organized by the Clearwater Beach Ratepayers Association when I was growing up. Since about 2000, I have had the pleasure of serving my cottage association. First as a volunteer for a number of years at our Fun Day/BBQ, then joining the board in a number of capacities, first as Secretary, then Vice President, and now President. Part of the job of the board of a Cottage Association is keeping your members informed. Social Media can give you a great tool kit for both getting information and sharing it to your members.

This is the fourth of several posts on using Social Media for a cottage association. This post is just an overview. I will be going in to more detail in future posts.

The idea behind this series is that it is not so much a "this is what and how to do it' manual, but more a "here are a bunch of ideas/tools you can pick and chose from". You need to figure out what works for you and your association. I will be using the sources that I use for my association as examples, you should be able to find similar sources in your area.

This will not be a static post, I will update it as errors are found or when someone sends me information that fits in. If I have missed a tool or source that you use, please let me know. I am always looking for ways to better serve our association.

Sources

There are a number of great sources for information. Plug in to as many sources as you can, but watch out for information overload,

Your members are a great source of information.

Government at the  Local, Regional, Provincial, and Federal levels
     Web Sites
     Twitter Accounts
     FaceBook Pages

Shows/Expositions 
     There are a number of cottage shows/expositions, 2 of ones that I love to go to are the Cottage Life shows (they have a Spring and a Fall show) and Ottawa Cottage and Backyard show

Associations
     Cottage related associations like FOCA
     Local business associations

Police
     Many local police forces have a web site, Facebook page, twitter stream. The OPP is a great source of info in Ontario.

Magazines
     Magazines have great information, in the magazine, on their web site, Facebook page, Twiter stream

Newspaper
    Local newspapers have great information, in the paper, on their web site, Facebook page, Twitter stream...

TV
    Local TV stations have great information, in the news cast, on their web site, Facebook page, Twitter steam.... 

Web Sites
     There are a lot of great websites on cottaging. 

Blogs    
     There are number of great blogs focusing on cottaging and cottage related things.

Books
     There are a lot of great books out there on cottaging. 

Facebook
     There are a number of Facebook pages that are cottage related or cover the area your association is in.

Twitter
     There are a number of Twitter feeds  that are cottage related or cover the area your association is in.

Google Plus
     There are a number of Google Plus feeds  that are cottage related or cover the area your association is in.

Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay's water levels may do something only achieved 4 times in last 154 years

Michigan's Great Lakes water levels may do something only achieved 4 times in last 154 years

http://bit.ly/1o3NG0Y mlive

The story focus's on Lake Michigan but all 3 have the same level. This could be great news for all of us on these 3 bodies of water.

Dorval Island

The fall Cottage Life issue has a great article on cottaging on Dorval Island. Well worth the read. It sounds and looks like a great place and so close to the city.

For those who look at my morning photo's on Facebook or G+ you can see the east end of the island in the Dorval shots from my balcony. The dock for the ferry to island is about 200 Meters from the front door of my building. Cottaging 5 min from my front door has a certain appeal. I could cottage every night during the summer. It would be much faster than the trip from Dorval to Clearwater Beach on Georgian Bay....

But would it be as much fun?

Would it have the memories?

What about the friends I have know for all my life?


Memories and Friends win... Clearwater Beach for the win, but it is an interesting idea


http://bit.ly/1sch40L Cottage Life

Skinny Dipping Spots near the cottage

Top Ten Skinny Dipping Spots in Georgian Bay
What’s better than a cool dip in Georgian Bay on a hot summer day? Not much. But the experience can be added to by subtracting one thing – a swimsuit. The ultimate in risqué behaviour, humans have enjoyed swimming in the buff since time immemorial. Sure, it’s arguably illegal, but let’s face it, that’s half the fun.

Read the whole article at the link below

http://bit.ly/1jPrtLd Mountain Life

A surprising number of these are within about 1 hr by boat...

Water levels reach record lows in Ontario cottage country

Water levels reach record lows in Ontario cottage country

Part of Liquid State, an occasional series on our relationship with water.

The bigger boats no longer show up at the marinas. Where people once were able to scoop pails of lake water, there is now just wild grass and pebbles. Gentle waves used to lap on cottage docks, but they have been replaced by decaying weeds that wash up on the receding shore.

http://bit.ly/18KwHoU Globe and Mail

Stop the Drop campaign designed to attract attention

Stop the Drop campaign designed to attract attention

Online community focused on issue of falling water levels

http://bit.ly/1aMpipH Midland Mirror

Art on the Bay - Exploring Artistic Inspiration Around Georgian Bay

Art on the Bay - Exploring Artistic Inspiration Around Georgian Bay

Across the country the wilderness, spectacular scenery and animals of Canada’s National Parks have served as inspiration for artists for over a century. Georgian Bay Islands National Park is rekindling the traditional link between the park and the arts with their Artist in the Park program which has successfully run for more than five years at several other national parks.

http://bit.ly/13Dr1OQ Canadian Yachting

Looks like a lot of interesting art and other things to see and do.

Restore Our Water International will be in our area to provide an update for North Simcoe communities

From this weeks Mayor’s Weekly Update
To be added to Mayor Marshall’s email distribution list please email Stacey Cooper at scooper@penetanguishene.ca

Saturday July 6th

Restore Our Water International will be in our area to provide an update for North Simcoe communities regarding what can be done about the severely low water levels in Lakes Michigan/Huron/Georgian Bay. Restore Our Water International (ROWI) has grown to more than 15,000 shoreline owners and business interests. Their keynote speaker is Roger Gauthier, Chair of ROWI. Roger is a retired Senior Hydrologist who spent 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Also presenting is Dr. Pat-Chow-Fraser from McMaster University in Hamilton and of course Mary Muter. There are two sessions for you early birds you can catch the meeting at the Tiny Rec Centre at 10 a.m. or if the afternoon is better for you can attend the 3 p.m. meeting in Port McNicoll at their Community Centre.

http://bit.ly/12mPRfy

Low Water Levels on the Great Lakes

Low Water Levels on the Great Lakes

http://www.charts.gc.ca/notice-avis/2013/2013-05-02-eng.asp


Double Check Your Charts Before You Head Out on the Great Lakes this Summer

Action needed on water level crisis - not more study

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Action needed on water level crisis - not more study


It would seem trivial to understand that what is required is to restore outflows to what they were before extensive dredging, and to shut down the waste water channel. The Mississippi is flooding and doesn't need any more water.


http://bit.ly/17Tt27v Midland Free Press

What you should know about Georgian Bay water levels

What you should know about Georgian Bay water levels

Lake Huron’s water level hit a record low this past February, an inch below the previous record set in 1965—and it’s still dropping. This is the 13th year in a row that water levels for Huron, as well as Lake Michigan, have been below average. In Ontario’s Georgian Bay, the drop is especially damaging, closing marinas, cutting off water access to cottages and disrupting the entire ecosystem—including the sportfishery

http://bit.ly/10yMaRB Outdoor Canada

Sunrise on Georgian Bay

A view like this, is why I like to get up early at the cottage. 

The sun is coming up over Beausoleil Island

Fix water levels in Huron, Michigan: IJC

Fix water levels in Huron, Michigan: IJC

http://bit.ly/Z9HFhs Midland Free Press

The international agency tasked with monitoring the quantity and quality of water in the Great Lakes is recommending governments need to address record low water levels in lakes Michigan and Huron.

However, at least one group advocating for action questions whether the recommendations will adequately address the long-term issues facing the Great Lakes — especially Huron and Michigan.
=============

It is a start

Group demanding governments address low levels in Great Lakes

Group demanding governments address low levels in Great Lakes 

The international agency tasked with controlling water levels on the Great Lakes is recommending that governments need to address record low water levels in lakes Michigan and Huron.

However, at least one group advocating for action questions whether the recommendations will adequately address the long-term issues facing the Great Lakes — especially Huron and Michigan.

http://bit.ly/ZU40P1 Barrie Examiner 

Dunlop asks Wynne to weigh in on water levels

Dunlop asks Wynne to weigh in on water levels

Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop has called on Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne to meet with business leaders and politicians concerned about the low water levels of Georgian Bay.

http://bit.ly/14QvFt3 Midland Free Press 

Update on the Municipal Efforts Addressing the Low Water Levels in Georgian Bay

Update on the Municipal Efforts Addressing the Low Water Levels in Georgian Bay 


WHEN: Saturday April 13, 2013  10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m.
WHERE:  Penetanguishene Memorial Community Centre - Brian Orser Hall
                   61 Maria Street, Penetanguishene

The impact of declining water levels on the Great Lakes has been studied by many groups over the past decade. These studies have assembled significant amounts of scientific fact, proposed a number of underlying causes and considered possible solutions.

For More Information click on the link

http://bit.ly/16vwXXw Town of Penetanguishene

Water-level concerns to be discussed March 26 in Midland

Water-level concerns to be discussed March 26

We have observed drastic changes with lower water levels in the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

We will discuss these changes, and how they affect both indigenous and non-indigenous people, at a Couchiching Conversation gathering March 26 at the Midland library beginning at 7 p.m.

http://bit.ly/Yum05Q Midland Free Press

Any one able to go?

Tall Ships Challenge® Great Lakes 2013

Tall Ships Challenge® Great Lakes 2013

Commemorating the military events of the War of 1812 across the Great Lakes for both the United States and Canada, the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2013 series will be an event of numbers - two countries, five Great Lakes, over 25 participating tall ships, 22 port appearances, five races, and millions of visitors.

Collingwood, Wasaga Beach/Nancy Island, Owen Sound: August 16 - 18
Penetanguishene, Midland, Discovery Harbour: August 24 - 25

http://www.sailtraining.org/tallships/2013greatlakes/index.php    

Very Cool, going to have to look at changing my vacation 

New Page on the Blog Low Water Levels

I have added a page to the Clearwater Beach Ontario blog on the low water levels. 
We will be posting links to various articles, web sites and information on the Low Water Levels of the Great Lakes.

If you have anything you think should be on there let me know.

http://bit.ly/VYcZn3 Clearwater Beach Ontario 


I am thinking of adding a page for actions that can be taken/are being taken by our association and others.

Integrity commissioner tops Mayor Millar's wish list

Integrity commissioner tops Mayor Millar's wish list

3 of the highlights from the Midland Freepress article

While the 2013 budget has yet to be finalized, homeowners will get a break on taxes. The expected increase in the municipal tax rate on a home valued at $250,000 will be $12.78. The increase does not include county and education taxes.

“We have made significant gains in broadband Internet service.  There are areas with less than adequate coverage,” he said, “but we will do the best we can to ensure problem areas receive high speed.”

Like other mayors across Huronia, he is concerned about the low water levels of Georgian Bay. The four Huronia mayors have written to 40 shoreline municipalities with a view to forming a coalition to approach the provincial and federal levels of government.  

To read the rest of the article click on the link
http://bit.ly/WdJRFI Midland Freepress