Lake Gerry Association Lake Gerry News

Unofficial LGA Meeting Notes - August 2025

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:23:07 GMT

Lake Gerry Association

Meeting Minutes

August 2025

I guess you guys have missed me giving you meeting updates! I figured everyone was getting tired of Dogs, ATV’s and Lilypads, but I guess not. I'll start back up posting these if everyone gets the information they need, but do encourage everyone to attend the meetings.

Our meeting was held on August 24^th at the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion – 19 members were present.

Lake Steward Report – We applied two rounds of treatments for the lily pads and small pond weeds. We are currently working on determining the effectiveness of the treatments given the muck situation making them less effective.

Sign posts and signs were put up on the roads along New Virginia. They look great and should allow people to find addresses much easier. We will continue this work around the lake, likely next spring.

We need to have a serious look at mechanical removal of the weeds in the lake. There are several, much more affordable options available now. They include:

The Water Beetle: https://weedersdigest.com/waterbeetle-aquatic-weed-harvester-remote-controlled-lithium-battery-powered/

The Water Bug: https://weedersdigest.com/waterbug-aquatic-weed-harvester-remote-controlled-battery-powered/

The Water Shark: https://weedersdigest.com/watershark-remote-controlled-battery-powered-lake-weed-cutting-machine/

Association Business:

Apparently there has been a rumor going around that the Lake Gerry Association owns the land under the lake, but not that actual water in the lake and that New York State owns the water. This is not true. The Lake Gerry Association owns the land and the water of Lake Gerry. The Lake Gerry Association needs to abide by the rules and regulations of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

If you see someone on the lake that does not belong there, and they claim that we do not own the water, please call the police/sheriff and report them.

Our community picnic was a success, however, we did not have as many members as we were hoping for. Thank you to all who donated their time and auction items to help us raise money for the association!

We are happy to report that many of the derelict properties around the lake have been purchased and are being cleaned up this year. We hope the efforts continue!

Dogs - The beginning of the season we had several significant issues with dogs around the lake. Fortunately our new dog control officers have been doing their job! There have been 17 tickets issued since June for dog related problems.

Boat Washing - We have spent a whole lot of money and time trying to keep our lake clean and healthy. Other nearby lakes have significant invasive species problems. We want to prevent these problems from coming to Lake Gerry. We require all boats to be washed prior to entering the water. This will help us keep the lake clean. If you have guests who are bringing boats to the lake, please have them scrub them with soap and water before putting them in the lake. We all need to do our part. To help remind folks to wash their boats the DEC has given us several signs to put at various places around the lake.

Delinquent Memberships - Some members have been late or very late paying their Lake Association Dues. This causes several different problems throughout the year. Instead of raising the Lake Association dues this fall, we are considering a late fee for anyone who does not pay their dues by the end of May. (or whatever date we decide at our September meeting). The proposed change would be: Normal Rates: $275 up until May 31^st. Any dues paid on or after June 1^st will be $300. If you love or hate this idea, please attend our last meeting of the year and let us know what you think.

Lastly we discussed the need for man-power and volunteers to get projects done around the lake. In the good ole’ days, people gave up a few hours here and there to remove lily pads and to keep things clean and nice looking. As the community ages, we need to look for new volunteers and give them guidance and support at helping the community.

Our last meeting of the 2025 season will be September 14^th at 1:00pm at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion. Please attend.

Grass Carp

Thu, 01 May 2025 12:31:35 GMT

Due to some changing regulations in New York regarding grass carp and lake sizes, this will be the last year we can add grass carp to the lake.

We would like to try to add 50 grass carp this year. If possible, please make a donation to the Grass Carp or Fish Fund so we can maximize the weed control in the lake. If we are able to add 50 grass carp this year, that should help us provide weed control for the next 10 to 15 years.

Thanks!

GrassCarpPermit2025.pdf

Lake Gerry Association Meeting - August 2024 - Unofficial Notes

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:39:17 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Meeting

August 18, 2024

Unofficial Notes

This was a quick meeting due to some rain storms.

The new herbicide treatments were performed two weeks ago. This herbicide treats lily pads and some of the other weeds in the lake but does NOT appear to treat the ‘small pond weed’ that has become a problem by taking place of the lily pad growth. This will require an additional herbicide treatment that will be performed in the coming weeks. These new herbicides have some limitations on application frequency. They can be applied twice if used 2 weeks apart, or more frequently if used monthly. The idea here is to NOT kill all the lily pads/lake weed in one spot all at once, as this can harm the habitat for fish and can cause oxygen problems within the water. ** The next lily pad treatment will occur sometime this week -- we will send out an email when we know the details **

Over the past couple weeks there has been some additional damage to the storage cabinets at the pavilion and theft of a fire extinguisher. Video surveillance cameras are in place at the pavilion.

Sunday – August 25^th will be the Lake Gerry community picnic and auction. The association will be grilling burgers and hotdogs, and all members are invited and asked to bring a dish to pass. The picnic will start at 12:00 and will be followed by the annual Fund-Raising Auction/Raffles. We encourage you all to attend.

For anyone who has items they would like to donate to the auction, please contact the LGA Board (or email me). Items to be donated for the auction can be left along Charles Kelley Rd. and will be picked up starting at 9:00am on Sunday. Please do not donate: Baby items, Electronics, Books, Cat trees, or any junk.

Speaking of Junk, Sunday August 25^th is also the Oxford Dumpster Days – where you can dispose of unwanted stuff for free. Dumpster Days is from 9:00am – 3:00pm at 3 Water Street in Oxford.

https://allevents.in/oxford/dumpster-day-and-railway-clean-up/200026813288843

There will be some updates to the beach thanks to some generous donations and we will be looking into adding a picnic table to the beach area to make it more comfortable for families to enjoy.

Next month we will be voting on changes to the By-Laws. These proposed changes are supposed to be posted on the website.

Lake Gerry Association - July 2024 Meeting

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:06:01 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Meeting

July 21, 2024

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Treasurer’s Report – We made a little over $200 in donation/raffles during the Pancake Breakfast.

Lake Steward’s Report –

There will be a lily pad/aquatic herbicide treatment applied to the lake sometime in the coming week or two. There will be signs posted around the lake with the exact date of the application. This herbicide does require us to not swim in the lake for 24 hours and the water should not be consumed or used for irrigation for 72 hours following the application. It will take 7 to 10 days for the lily pads to start to die and up to 4 weeks for them to sink.

In addition to the new herbicide, we will be trying a new muck reducer pellet.

Our consultants recommended we apply the muck pellets a week or two after the herbicide for best results.

We will closely monitor how these new treatments work and will re-apply as necessary for the remainder of the year.

Two solar streetlights will be installed at the pavilion.

There was some damage to the grounds around the pavilion that was repaired.

Oxford will be hosting a Dumpster Day on August 25^th at 35 Water Street. For details see:

https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200026813288843

We have applied for a nuisance beaver permit from NYS to help deal with the problematic beavers in the lake.

We are looking at several plans to improve the spillway to help us manage the problems created by the beavers.

General Meeting:

Thank you to the arbitration board for helping us address several issues with people around the lake.

By-Laws:

This year the by-laws will be updated. Some of the areas that need to be address will be listed below:

Article 1, Section 10 – needs more concise language.

Article 3, Section 2 – There is no longer a fee for boat stickers, however all boats on Lake Gerry must have a current LGA sticker.

Article 3, Section 5 – All households are only granted one vote with membership. There will be no extra votes.

Article 5, Section 2 – We will follow New York State’s laws about firearms.

Article 5, Section 6 – We need to follow NYS, County, and Oxford building regulations and cannot dictate anything that is not to-code.

Article 5, Section 8 – Change to allow by-law changes if the need arises, for example: If a law changes and we need to be in compliance.

Article 5, Section 15 – Change verbiage about leash laws and dogs on leash.

Article 5, Section 17 – Anyone who owns more than one property is required to have a membership for each property, the residents of properties who are not members cannot be granted guest passes.

Article 5, Section 18 – We need to discuss residents/members with chickens.

Article 5, Section 19 – Need to enact rules for fencing – fencing cannot be on a property line.

Article 5, Section 21 – remove portion about additional vote for a household.

Fee Schedule – Needs to be updated to reflect current pricing.

In addition to the above changes, we need to do a little reorganization of the by-laws so they are easier to understand and find content.

This year is a board voting year. We are looking for volunteers to fill the board positions. Please reach out if you would like to volunteer.

There were some scheduling conflicts for the upcoming August meeting, so it will be changed to August 18^th, at 1:00pm at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion.

Annual Picnic will take place on August 25^th at the Charles Kelley Rd. pavilion. We will also plan on having the auction/raffles on this date as well.

The annual Boat Parade will take place on the evening of August 25^th.

We had some discussion about trailers and campers again, but no real resolve yet on the issue.

2024 Lake Gerry Fishing Derby Results

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 11:23:50 GMT

The Annual Lake Gerry Fishing Derby was held on July 6th this year.

We had 18 participants.

Adult Trophies:

Most fish caught: Val O. caught 33 fish

Largest Fish: Stacy B. caught an 18inch 2lb 4oz Large Mouth Bass

Youth Trophies:

Most fish caught: Ruby C. caught 6 fish

Largest Fish: Aaron who caught a 17-1/4 inch 1 lb 10oz Large Mouth Bass

Smallest Fish: Carter D. caught a 3-1/2 incher

A door prize was also awarded to participants, the winner was: Hans

Thank you everyone for participating and thank you Beckwith Family for hosting again this year.

Lake Gerry Association - June 2024 Meeting

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:57:48 GMT

Lake Gerry Association

June 2024 Meeting

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Treasurer’s Report - We spent some money on our insurance policy, safe deposit box, trophies for fish derby and boat parade. Cleaning up and maintaining the areas around the pavilions. We had a new sign made for the pavilion. We had a very generous donation to the fish fund that will be put toward adding more fat head minnows in the fall.

Lake Steward Report - The ruts around the Charles Kelley Rd pavilion have been filled. The port-a-potty was emptied, but not without some drama. The pavilions both had their fire-inspections. Marc will be picking up the grass carp for he lake on Tuesday from Hickling’s fish farm.

Past stocking:

2022 we added 600 Catfish to the lake. (Please let us know if you are catching any. We may need to build a few spawning tubes for them to start reproducing). 5000 fathead minnows and 100 perch.

2023 – we added 75 Large Mouth Bass. 10,000 fathead minnows. 20 grass carp

We will be deciding what to add in 2024 but will be aiming to beef up the feeder minnow population in the lake to help support the bass population.

President’s Report – Already this year there have been some individuals leaving things in the Lake Gerry access lanes causing other members to not be able to use the lake. Please see the Lake Gerry Association By-Laws and Code-of-Conduct for rules about rights-of-way. All boats without current LGA Member Boat Stickers may be removed. A reminder to be good to your neighbors and respectful of others.

Last year we changed the format of what used to be called Lake Days in the middle of August. We combined the pancake breakfast, ice cream social and fishing derby to occur on the same day. Last year this was a huge success, and we will continue this new tradition. Saturday July 6^th will start with a pancake breakfast from 9:00am – 11:00am at the Charles Kelley Road pavilion. The Fishing derby will be from 9:00am – 1:00pm, the Beckwith family has agreed to host the derby again this year at their dock. The Ice Cream Social will take place that evening between 6:00 – 8:00pm. If you’re a new member and have any questions, please send me an email and I’ll try to fill you in on these events as best I can.

2024 is a by-laws and election year. We want to try to have nominations for all officers and several trustee positions presented at the July 14^th meeting. If you are interested in volunteering to help keep the Lake Gerry community improving and thriving, please attend this meeting or email myself or contact any LGA board member. The elections will be at the September meeting. We will also begin discussing any potential changes to our by-laws at the July meeting.

We had a review of our insurance policy now that several major projects have been completed. We will need to mark hazardous Lake Gerry properties with caution tape and post that access is not permitted to these areas.

There was a spirited and confusing debate pertaining to property lines and surveys dating back a few decades. A reminder that moving, removing or damaging survey pins in any way is illegal and could result in fines and hefty fees to re-establish boundaries.

We have not met with Solitude Lake Management about the lily-pad and pond weed overgrowth or muck remediation yet. We have collected information to help them formulate a plan for us and we will be discussing solutions as we get them. In the meantime, feel free to cut path’s from your property to the lake if you need to.

We did discuss dogs and dog bites again at this meeting, but you can read the notes from any other meeting and see the recommendations.

Lastly, please remember that everyone here is a volunteer, and we are all trying to help each other and to make Lake Gerry a great place to live and visit. We will need volunteers for the board next year, in the future, and for projects around the lake.

Chainsaw Art

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:53:25 GMT

This year we would like to feature some of the amazing talents of our Lake Gerry residents.

These chainsaw sculptures are created by our very own Billy Hatton. Billy is a skilled woodworker and has been vital in many Lake Gerry Association projects around the lake.

Thank you Billy for all that you do and for letting us display some of your many talents.

Lake Gerry Association - May 2024 Meeting

Wed, 22 May 2024 15:17:17 GMT

Lake Gerry Association

May 2024 Meeting

Unofficial Meeting Notes

Lake Steward Report –

We will be planning on meeting with Solitude Lake Management to see what they recommend for further remediation of lily pads and muck in the lake. We will be looking at various brands of muck reduction pellets and encouraging a do-it-yourself approach to treating the muck. We would like to put together a team of volunteers to help with the removal of the floating muck islands around the lake.

Pine Road work has been completed. (I’m not sure if this means Pavilion work or something else)

6 Beavers were removed from the lake last year. So far this year, the beavers have been causing a lot of problems chewing on docks and plugging up the spillway which needs to be cleaned out several times a week now. Due to low demand for beaver pelts, the trapper who helps us remove the beavers in Lake Gerry would like to be paid to do so in the future.

There are several ruts around the Charles Kelley Road pavilion from repair work that was done in the fall. These will be filled.

The Charles Kelley Road pavilion repairs have been nearly completed. The structure was straightened, secured, and painted. We are looking at better options for the surface within the pavilion as the current drainage stone is difficult to walk and stand on.

Signposts around the lake need to be treated and placed.

The Pine Road dock needs to be raised out of the water and placed back, likely due to muck.

Treasurer’s Report –

As of 5/10 – We have raised $9750 in memberships; 1 income property membership; $412 Lake Preservation; $305 Fish Fund; $182 Grass Carp fund.

We spent: $1925.22 on fish stocking last year thanks to a generous donation.

NYSEG bills last year totaled $346.34

Tree removal and spillway work totaled: $1740

Pavilion Repairs totaled: $9019

President’s Report –

We have been working with Solitude Lake Management since 2020 which included three years of lily pad treatments and muck pellet application. We are still within the 5-year permitting window from the DEC for herbicide treatment of the lily pads. To date, we have spent $29,370 on lake restoration with Solitude.

Our DEC permits are for the treatment of Lily Pads, however, much of the nuisance vegetation left on the lake is called Pond Weed which requires a different DEC permitting process and different herbicide treatment. This means a lot more money to address these needs.

An option that we began exploring last year was the purchase of a machine called a Water Bug from Weeders Digest. The Water Bug is an electric, radio controlled, floating weed cutter/harvester. The cost of this machine is much less than what we have currently spent on lily pad spraying. We could purchase a Water Bug and utilize it around the lake with the help from association volunteers. We will begin fundraising for this if deemed an appropriate solution.

In addition to the Water Bug itself, we will need a storage shed and insurance policy to protect it. To learn more about the water bug you can click on: https://lakeweedharvester.com/waterbug/#:~:text=Waterbug%20is%20a%20one%20of,shores%2C%20channels%2C%20and%20more!

We also discussed the usage of fountains to aerate the lake. There is some confusion on aeration and what that achieves for muck remediation. Most aerators simply move muck around the lake, likely onto your neighbor’s waterfront. They also consume massive amounts of electricity to run. Many years ago the Lake Gerry Association attempted to run an aeration system which was a complete failure and ended with a fire and destroyed equipment. What our lake likely needs is what is called micro-oxygenation to help facilitate the decomposition of muck and vegetation. This is a different type of system than a fountain.

This year we would like to address the beach and make it more usable and sustainable. The current situation is that every year we put sand on the beach and every time it rains it gets washed into the lake. We have had many very generous donations of sand and repair work done on the beach over the years; however, we need a more permanent fix. We are currently speaking with a landscaping company who believe they have a solution for the beach. We will get back to you with more information on their proposal.

It is going to be a busy week for Pauline, the LGA president. She will be meeting with the Town Supervisor, then reviewing our policies with the Insurance Agent to determine how our new guest-pass system affects the association’s insurance policy.

ATV’s – the Lake Gerry Association does not own Charles Kelley Road, therefore we cannot, as an association, make rules about ATV’s on Charles Kelley Road. HOWEVER, riding ATV’s on public roads is illegal unless they are properly registered. If you see anyone on an ATV driving over the speed limit, or acting a fool, call the police and report them. Photos are also helpful. We are working on obtaining some signs notifying the residents that ATV usage on public roads is illegal. We have also had significant damage from ATV usage by non-members, on Lake Gerry Association properties. ATV usage on Lake Gerry Association properties, roads and rights-of-way is prohibited.

Boats on Right-of-Ways – Two boats are allowed per member on a right-of-way. Each boat must have a current Lake Gerry Association Boat Sticker applied to the hull.

Dogs – If loose, causing a nuisance and/or causing you to be afraid you need to call the Dog Warden 607-952-6025 . If you are bitten by a dog you must call the Sheriff. All dogs must be licensed and vaccinated.

Website - I manage, maintain, and write content for the Lake Gerry Association website. I do this, so everyone living on the lake can stay informed about things going on around the lake. I also do this, to try to make the LGA officer’s life easier and save the association time and money communicating with membership. By utilizing the website for membership renewals and communication we create an audit trail that helps protect the Lake Gerry Association and its members. The website also provides membership forums where we can discuss various things that are important to our members. These member forums are private so you must be logged-in to see and participate in the discussion. Your membership data and contact data is also private and is not shared with other members. Like everything in life, sometimes something might not work right, or an issue will arise. Please reach out to me at contact@lakegerry.com and I’ll investigate the problem and try to get it fixed for you as quickly as I can. Please note that I try, but do not always, check that email account daily. It may take a few days to get your answer. I forward all non-website oriented emails to the association board members for them to address.

By-Laws -- This year is a by-laws year, meaning that we will be reviewing the by-laws with our attorneys, insurance companies and members. We are currently looking at removing much of the language pertaining to building and codes because those are not appropriate to be in our by-laws. Once we have the suggested by-law changes laid out, they will be posted on the website for discussion and then voted on in September to be implemented for the 2025 season.

Board Voting – This year is also a Lake Gerry Association Board voting year. All positions are open for new participants, and we want to encourage everyone to volunteer to get involved.

Derelict properties -- Last year we sent a delegation from Lake Gerry to the town to seek help addressing some of the derelict properties around Lake Gerry. A petition was generated to seek county help on addressing these health and environmental hazards.

Our next Lake Gerry Association will be June 9^th.

A Note from Pauline - April 2024

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 18:58:26 GMT

Greetings Lake Gerry Association! Season 2024 is here. 2023 proved to be busy and productive. The Charles Kelley Pavilion received some much-needed attention. It is now straighter and more structurally sound. Once the weather cooperates some minor details will be attended to.

The beavers were prolific in 2023. Trapping and mitigating their damage were essential to the lake. This effort was no small feat. The spillway was cleaned up and cleaned out regularly as it was plugged repeatedly.

This season the beach will need some attention. Members have made several suggestions about the stone base at the pavilion, and they will be discussed and voted on at our meetings.

Solitude will be coming to meet with our board to discuss further efforts to improve our lake quality. When that meeting takes place, the proposals will be brought to the members.

This is an election year for LGA members please think about joining the board!!!

This is also a year to review and update the LGA bylaws. The procedure for this will be explained at the first meeting.

ALWAYS stay engaged! The LGA website is a wealth of information. If you are unable to make a meeting check for updates there.

Lastly, this year let’s celebrate the talents of our members. This community is home to painters, photographers, wood workers and quilters. Showcasing their talents will be an LGA goal this season!

Let’s Go LGA!!

Membership Renewals

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:03:10 GMT

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a good off-season. Over the next few days you should start receiving the renewal emails for the Lake Gerry Association.

Please fill out the application, review the by-laws and make your membership payments securely, online.

Also, if you are renewing your membership and you had made any donations last year, this website for some reason will automatically add those same donations to your membership screen. You are NOT obligated to make the same contributions and can change them before making payment. However, your generous donations are always welcome and appreciated.

Should you have any questions or problems registering/renewing please reach out to me at contact@lakegerry.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks and cheers to a fun and productive 2024 season.

- Tim -- (The website guy)

September LGA Meeting Moved

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 13:19:24 GMT

The September Lake Gerry Association meeting has been moved from Sept 10th to September 17th. Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion - 1:00pm to 2:00pm (or a little longer).

LGA Meeting - July 2023

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 11:58:17 GMT

Lake Gerry Association

July 2023 Meeting

Unofficial Meeting Notes

The meeting was held on Sunday July 9th, 2023. There were approximately 21 members in attendance. It rained some, but thankfully not the amount they were calling for.

Treasurers Report - Money has been spent on: Pancake Breakfast, Ice Cream Social, Items for raffling at Ice cream Social, Trophies, Port-a-Potty pumping, Paint for the pavilion, Safe Deposit Box, and fish stocking.

We had a very generous donation toward the Fish Fund.

Lake Steward Report -

Pavilions - We have purchased the paint for the pavilion and will begin painting it as soon as possible, ideally before this year's fire inspection. There was a bad GFI box noted in the pavilion and has been replaced. The work to straighten the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion is planned for September.
NYSEG - Will be out to remove a problematic tree over the power lines.

30 seems to be the number of the week!

Last week we held a pancake breakfast which had about 30 people attend.

We also held the Fishing Derby on July 1st. It was a huge success and we received many compliments about how much fun it was. A special thank you to the Beckwith Family and those who helped organize this great event. There were 30 participants.

The evening of July 1st we held the ice cream social. 30 people were able to join us to cool down in the evening before the rain started.

I wish I had taken some photos of them, but the amazingly talented Billy H. carved a set of beautiful logs that will be placed at the entrance to the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion. Be sure to check them out once they're installed.

Right of Ways - We continue to have problems with people abusing, moving, or trashing the right-of-ways. Ellis Lane this past week has been clogged up with boats, chairs and even a swing across the lane making it unusable for many Lake Association Members. Please remember that all Lake Gerry Association Members have access to these lanes and they must be kept clear.

Speeding - There has been a rise in speeding around the lake, and in particular, down Kent Road and other longer Lake Gerry Association Properties. The police have been notified and will increase patrols of the areas. If you are having a problem with someone speeding in an car, truck, or ATV, please contact the police.

A vote was held to set a speed limit of 5 MPH on all Lake Gerry Association roads. (Note: This does not include Charles Kelley Rd. which is a public road) This speed limit will pertain to all motor vehicles.
A vote was held to post signs at the beginning of each Lake Gerry Association road with the speed limit and any applicable restrictions.

Dogs - There were several more incidents involving some of the dogs around Lake Gerry. We continue to address this issue as best we can, however:

If you have a problem with a dog on your property or while on Charles Kelley Rd or any of the Lake Gerry Association roads, please call the Dog Control Officer: Roger Barrows at 607-952-6025, leave a message with the date and time and details if he doesn't answer.
If there is a dog on your property, or a public road way and it is menacing you, trying to attack you or causing you to be afraid, then you need to call 911 and give them the details of the incident.
If you are bit by a dog, you need to report the bite to the police by calling 911.

Our Lake Days Picnic and Auction will be held on August 5th. We will be changing the start time from 1:00pm to 12:00pm. Although the Phil's Chicken House picnic last year was a great success, many people liked grilling burgers, hot dogs and bringing a dish to pass, so we will be going that route again. The challenge is that it is difficult to plan for how many people will attend. Therefore, we are asking that everyone RSVP to the Picnic who plans on attending. You can do this through the website, by clicking on the event link in the calendar on the home screen. Hopefully I made that process easy enough for everyone to figure out.

Following lunch on the 5th - around 2pm, will be our annual Auction. This year we will be raffling gift cards, art work, and other ticketed items. We will also be collecting "gently used" items for the auction. Any items you wish to donate to the auction can be left on your curb by 9:00am on the morning of the 5th. Our volunteers will be around to pick them up. We will not be accepting: Books, Cat Trees, Baby Items, Electronics, or Junk. We encourage everyone to join us and help us raise money for the Lake Restoration and Preservation projects.

Boat Parade - The boat Parade will be held on August 5th at 6pm. Judging will be held on the beach. While I don't know all the official rules or how this works, I'd like to see everyone take a lap around the lake and everyone in the boats and on the shores cheering and having some fun with each other. There will be trophies awarded!

RV Lots and Snow Birds - We revisited this discussion some. See last meeting's notes or the website forum discussion if you have any questions, comments or concerns. We will plan on continuing these discussion but will need to make some decisions soon.

Fishing Derby Results

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:49:21 GMT

2023 Lake Gerry Fishing Derby Results!

Somehow the rain held out again for this year's fishing derby! I missed all the activity but it looked like there were quite a few people out enjoying the fishing at Lake Gerry!

The winners are:

Youth: Most Fish -- Aaron

Youth: Largest Fish -- Carter with a 15-3/4 Inch, 1lb 12 oz Large Mouth Bass

Youth: Smallest Fish: Ruby with a 4 inch whopper.

Adults: Most Fish - Valerie O. with a total of 16 fish.

Adults: Largest Fish -- Travis F. with a 18-1/2 inch, 2lb 11oz Large Mouth Bass

This year we had 30 participants which is the most ever recorded!!

A special thank you to the Beckwith's and for everyone else who helped make this day a fun!

We are all looking forward to next years derby!

LGA Meeting - June 2023

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:13:48 GMT

Lake Gerry Association –

June 2023 Meeting - Unofficial Meeting Summary

Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion

The meeting was well attended and there were several new faces joining the group!

The meeting was opened but we were unable to read last meeting’s minutes due to the secretary being unable to attend the meeting. They will be posted online shortly.

During every, single, meeting the same questions are asked by mostly different people. Constantly addressing these questions takes up a substantial amount of meeting time where members could be enjoying their time at the lake. To address this, we have created this website, and we will be posting these questions and the answers to them on the page so they can be easily located and we can focus our efforts on improving everyone’s lake life.

Lily Pad Cutting Machine – As of Sunday’s meeting we made it to the next round in the grant funding. We are crossing our fingers that we continue to progress as this machine will be a wonderful tool to use to improve Lake Gerry and will help us address Lily Pads. A decision will likely be made by June 15^th.

Much of the Association’s project planning for the year will take place after we hear about the Lily Pad Cutter grant. That will dictate how much money we have left in the budget.

Flag Pole – We had a very generous donation of a new flag pole and brick work at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion. Thank you Lance W. it looks great!

Last week the Sheriff was at the Lake due to a dog bite. Dogs continue to be a problem around Lake Gerry. Remember:

· All Dog’s must be vaccinated for Rabies.
· All Dogs must be licensed in the Town of Oxford.
· All Dogs MUST be leashed when not on your property.
· Pet Owners who are not in compliance with the town ordinances may be fined.

If a nuisance dog comes onto your property, you should photograph or video record it and contact the dog warden. If the dog is menacing or causing you to be nervous or afraid, then you need to call 911 to report the incident.

Website: We will be adding more content and details to the website to make sure everyone has access to up-to-date and accurate information about Lake Gerry. I’m trying like crazy to make this easy for everyone and keep you all as informed as I possibly can. So, if you notice any issues or if there is content you would like to see, send an email to contact@lakegerry.com . Information to be updated will also include a list of active board members and trustees. It was decided to NOT list the permanent trustees due to privacy concerns. We will not list contact information for any Board Members or members unless they give expressed permission to do so.

Lake Days – We are looking at changing Lake Days due to a lack of participation and interest. Instead of a weekend long series of events in the middle/end of August, we will be moving some of the events to July and the beginning of August. Our hopes are that we can get more members and families interested and participating in the various events.

Fishing Derby – Will be held on Saturday July 1^st. We are working to determine if we should have on the access lane near the Beckwith’s dock or bring it back to the Pine Road Pavilion. We will decide that shortly and post it on the website.

After some discussion, the plan for the next few events:

Pancake Breakfast (from Lake Days) - will be held on the morning of the Fishing Derby – July 1^st at the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion from 8 until 10.

Fishing Derby - will be held on July 1^st from 10 until 2. Location TBD.

Ice Cream Social (from Lake Days) - will be held in the evening of July 1^st, starting around 6pm at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion

BBQ/Picnic and Auction (from Lake Days) - will be held on August 5th at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion – Food Source TBD, Time: TBD

Boat Parade (from Lake Days) - will be held on August 5^th, following the picnic at 6pm.

The Saturday before the last LGA meeting in September will be Coffee at the Pavilion.

Other events may be added depending on planning and funding.

Over the past year there have been several smaller lots for sale around the lake. These lots are currently too small to build on, but are a good size for adding a seasonal RV usage. There was some discussion about this and we would like to further explore if this is a good idea or not. We would need to put guidelines and rules in place for these lots to assure they meet our community’s standards and needs.

Issues to think about: RV’s would need to be a certain year/age. All RV’s would need to be removed at the end of the season. There would need to be some sort of septic contract. They could provide a good revenue source for the association. Will they invest in the community?

Treasurer’s Report:

~60 memberships this year. 8 are pending.

2 memberships are for income properties

Grass Carp Fund: $275

Fish Fund: $627 – Will be purchasing Bass, Fat Head Minnows, Perch

Restoration Fund: $310

Lake Steward Report:

Beach - Chris M. worked on fixing up the beach a few weeks ago for use this year. Lance W. put the bouy line out to mark the swimming area.

Welcome Signs – The sign posts have been painted and look great!

Spillway is being maintained every other day. Stick and debris are cleared as needed.

Beaver Permit has been issued to trap the beaver who has been plugging up the spillway, among other things.

New metal cabinets have been placed at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion.

There is one more outhouse that needs to be removed over the next few weeks, as time allows.

Grass Carp seem to be doing there thing, we would like to assess their effectiveness on the vegetation of the lake. Email us if you see them and how big they are getting.

BOAT STICKERS -- All boats using Lake Gerry MUST have a current Boat Sticker attached to the side of your boat so that it is visible. If you see a boat without a yellow Lake Gerry Association Boat Sticker, they are trespassing and the police should be notified. If you have not picked up your boat stickers yet, they are free this year with your membership. Please contact the Lake Gerry Association Board member and they will get you the boat stickers.

Lastly, we will be discussing our By-Laws this year and are scheduled to review them and submit any changes for a vote in the Spring of 2024. The by-laws over the years have been a challenge and overly complicated. We would like to simplify them and make them more appropriate for the scope of our organization. If you would like a say in the governing of the organization, it is incredibly important that you attend these meetings and vote.

I will be creating a couple discussion groups on the website for members to discuss the potential of RV’s and By-Law issues/changes. To access these forums, you will need to sign-in to the website. Once signed-in, you will see a menu appear to view forums. (Among many other things that we are trying to keep private for members).

Membership Renewals

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:26:51 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Membership renewals for the 2023/24 Season will be sent out in the next few days. Please watch your email in-box for information on how to renew.

We made some pretty significant changes to memberships starting this season:

You will no longer need to purchase individual guest passes.
We have eliminated the Extra Vote option for members
We are no longer charging extra for Boat Stickers, though every boat on Lake Gerry MUST have a current Lake Gerry Association Boat Sticker.

We are streamlining the donation funds for the Lake Gerry Association also, please consider rounding-up your membership or making a contribution to help us maintain the association's properties throughout the year.

Our goal is to make the registration process fast and easy for members and the board. Should you have any problems please reach out to us via email at: contact@lakegerry.com

We look forward to seeing everyone at our first Lake Gerry Association meeting on May 21st.

** Please Note: Each Membership Renewal will default to adding any previous donations to your membership for the year. You are not obligated to donate again and can zero those out if you need to on the membership application. If you would like to donate, or add funds, it can be changed there as well.

Thanks and we look forward to a great year!

Spillway and Sign Work

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:31:32 GMT

Lake Maintenance -

Last week the Lake Gerry egress/spillway was cleaned out and a new cage was attached to help with flow from the lake.

We also completed the posts for the lake entrance signs.

Also, there are just a couple days left before the shotgun raffle! Be sure to buy your tickets from Mayhoods, a LGA Board Member or from our website by clicking on the Shop button.

Shotgun Raffle

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:54:49 GMT

Time is drawing closer to the drawing for our shotgun Raffle! The drawing will be held on November 1st. Win the Mossberg 500 - 12g shotgun, or a $600 Mayhoods Sporting Goods Gift Card!

To purchase tickets, click on the Shop button on the top of the website.

All proceeds from this raffle will go toward the restoration and preservation of Lake Gerry.

Lily Pads and Fish

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:58:28 GMT

Today we added 600 Catfish to Lake Gerry along with 5000 fathead minnows to help feed our game fish. We will be adding our Yellow Perch next month.

Last Thursday SOLitude Lake Management company was at the lake to apply our last herbicide treatment to take care of the lily pads. They brought the airboat and were able to easily navigate into some of the worst lily pad areas on the lake! Yay! Please remember we won't see the effectiveness of these treatments until the spring and summer.

Treasurer Position

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 18:09:18 GMT

Sadly we have just been informed that our Lake Gerry Association Treasurer - David M. will be stepping down from his position. We want to thank him for his years of service and help wo the Lake Gerry Association and wish him the best of luck.

Past Treasurer, Marc Speziali will be filling in for David as we look for his replacement. We will be continuing the audit process this fall with the board and trustees.

Dear Pauline,

As of September 3, 2022, I am resigning from my position as treasurer of the Lake Gerry Association. My health is impacted because of the responsibilities of the position. Due to many family issues that I must handle now until next year, I cannot maintain my services to the lake association.

Dave Moy

New Website

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 12:09:51 GMT

Welcome to the new Lake Gerry website. Over the past two years we have been working toward a web platform and member experience that will be helpful and easy to use. I have been designing and testing this new website for the past month and should have most of the bugs worked out.

Current Lake Gerry members will be able to sign-in to the members-only section of the website by using your email address. If it is your first time signing in to the new website, you will need to reset your password by pressing the 'Forgot Password' button. This will then email you a temporary password.

I am still waiting on finalizing the payment platform on this site. That will hopefully happen in the next few days. Once that is up and running you will be able to join/renew/donate and buy items to help support Lake Gerry.

This website will allow you to interact with each other and the board through member forums. Here we hope you will have some fun and help us discuss topics that are important to our community.

This website will also allow the Lake Gerry Association Board members to easily post their updates to the community via: Email Newsletters, News Blogs and in the Forums. This will cut down the amount of second or third hand sources and give us an accurate voice for the community.

I hope you all find our new Lake Gerry Association website easy to use, full of useful information and a valuable resource for the community and potential home buyers. Please feel free to reach out and let me know if there is anything else you would like to see or if you experience any issues.

- Tim

LGA Meeting - August 2022

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 21:01:38 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Meeting

Unofficial Summary – August 14, 2022

Lily Pad Treatments have been scheduled tentatively for the end of August, and hopefully before Labor Day. Please keep in mind that this schedule is highly variable and may not occur for several weeks. The lily pad treatments will be a focused effort in the dense areas in the corners of the lake. This will be the last planned lily pad treatment.

There will be several trees on Ellis Lane being cut down in the coming weeks. This same company will be cutting back trees around the pavilion that are 4 inches in diameter or less. This will help the pavilion get more sunlight and help dry out the surrounding area.

The Port-a-potty was cleaned this week.

The Lifetime Membership Plaque at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion has been updated.

We are investigating a product called the Neptune Rake to aid in the muck removal in the lake. We will be reaching out to fabricators to see if we could build something similar. Removal of the muck may require permission from waterfront property owners to give us a place to remove the muck.

There are openings for a Permanent Board Member and a Trustee position. Erich Kennedy was nominated and voted in as a permanent board member of the Lake Gerry Association. David Depew was nominated and voted into the Trustee position.

The Chicken BBQ will be held on Saturday September 20^th starting at 12:00pm. Previous correspondence said 1:00, however the new time is 12:00pm. There are about 55 dinners ordered. If you haven’t yet and would like to order a Chicken Dinner from Phil’s Chicken House the cost is $15 each and includes ½ a BBQ chicken, Salt Potatoes, Coleslaw and a Dinner roll. The Association will provide drinks and members are asked to bring a dessert to share.

During the Chicken BBQ, we will be having a fundraising raffle for several items including: Artwork, a tent, a canoe and other camping equipment. Items are coming in all the time so be sure to stop by and drop a ticket in for any items you would like.

The annual Lake Gerry Boat Parade will be held on Saturday August 20^th at 5:00pm. Trophies will be awarded. Participants are to decorate their boat (the more fun the better) and take a lap around the lake drumming up support. Judging will take place at the beach. The more that participate the more fun everyone will have.

The port-a-potty at the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion is aging and a bit small. We will be looking into finding an affordable replacement.

In the coming days or weeks we will be launching a newer version of our LakeGerry.com website. This website will reflect changes based on your usage of the site and what the community needs. It will also streamline the payment process and provide more effective newsletter emails to be delivered. It should eliminate many of the bugs we encountered in the old system and create better experiences for our members and the general public. The login credentials you use on the current website will no longer work on the new version. You will login with your email address and create a new password. This new site will also allow you to add other members of your household to the website so they can access member-only content as well. Check the website often for the latest information.

We have had some incidents on the lake involving members and non-members that violates our code of conduct. If you are involved in any incidents or see them occurring, please call 911. Threatening behavior toward anyone will not be tolerated, at any time.

There have been many reports of non-members using the lake and members who have not been purchasing guest passes for people visiting the lake. If you see this happening, please call 911 and report them for trespassing. All guests must always have a guest pass lanyard on them while using Lake Gerry. You can purchase additional guest passes on the website.

A vote was held by attending members that will eliminate the Extra Household Vote available with each membership. This will return our voting rolls to one vote per membership and will eliminate potentially unfair voting practices.

Our next Lake Gerry Association meeting was going to be held on Sunday September 11^th. Instead, out of respect for September 11^th remembrance we will hold the last Lake Gerry Association meeting on Sunday, September 18^th. During this meeting we will be holding several very important membership votes. There will be additional descriptions of the votes coming from Pauline in the next few days. I will post them once I receive them. These topics will include: Annual Membership Fees Evaluation, Elimination of the Early Bird Guest Membership, Changes to By-laws and the elimination of the guest pass system and changes to the Lake Gerry Association Membership structure.

It is very important that you read up on these efforts and attend the September meeting if you would like your voice counted.

Testing new platform

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 15:19:42 GMT

During the month of August, we will be testing a new membership and association administration platform. I will be redesigning the website to something that is easier to use and provides important information to members and potential home buyers on the lake.

My hope is that this will improve accessibility to all our members and allow the LGA board to communicate to its members more efficiently.

Lake Days Changes

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 12:11:33 GMT

We will be condensing our Lake Days activities into a single day this year. We will be hosting a Chicken BBQ catered by Phil's Chicken House on August 20th. BBQ Dinners must be pre-ordered by August 8th by mailing payment to PO Box 665 Oxford, NY 13830

There will also be our annual Lake Preservation fundraiser held at the chicken bbq. This year instead of the auction, we will be holding raffles for donated items.

If you have any special thing you make or would like to donate to help us raise funds, please contact Carol Birdsall (contact info will be coming).

Suggested items include: Gift Baskets/Cards, Homemade Items like: quilts, woodworking, art. Fishing/outdoor equipment/gear.

LGA Meeting - July 2022

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 15:57:55 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Meeting

July 10, 2022

Unofficial Summary

Treasurer's Report -- See Financial Summary in member section

Lake Steward Report -- Given by Pauline:

Pine Road Pavilion - being painted today and upgrades have been completed. It did run a bit over budget, but should be much improved. We encourage all Lake Gerry Association Members to use this facility with their families. Reminder: There is limited parking next to the pavilion. You may also exit Pine Road via the access lane that connects Pine Road with Kent Road. This road has not been traveled much, and is narrow. NOTE: This is NOT a foot path, but an actual road to be available to all Lake Gerry Members.
Fire Inspections - Required fire-extinguishers and first aid kits are now available at each pavilion. It is unlikely that we will get to completing the required renovations on the Charles Kelley Road Pavilion this year due to budget constraints. It will become a priority once funds are available.
Beach - The beach has become overrun with muck and aquatic vegetation. This will become a testing site for a new Muck treatment called Muck Doctor that was recommended by Weeders Digest. These muck "spikes" will be placed this week and evaluated for their effectiveness. There will also be a new donation of sand to the beach shortly.

A question was raised by a new member about plowing the roads during the winter. Note: The Lake Gerry Association does NOT maintain roads or lanes around Lake Gerry. Road/Lane Maintenance is to be performed by residents on these roads. A page on the website will be dedicated to community members who provide these services. If you offer these services or know of a reliable contact, please let us know by emailing: contact@lakegerry.com

Officer Nominations: We will need nominees for President, Vice President and Lake Steward. As of this meeting there were NO volunteers. We will be putting together a more comprehensive list of duties for each officer in hopes of attracting a competent leadership team.

We currently have a problem with guest passes not being used on the lake. There is a proposal to limit the liability of Lake Gerry Guests by including them in a resident's home-owners policy. Note: Non-Members and guests of members without guest passes are trespassing on Lake Gerry and will be subject to trespassing charges.

Financial Vote - During the September meeting, we will be voting on new Board leadership as well as having a financial vote to decide if we need to increase association dues and what to do about boat and guest passes. Please be sure to attend.

Lake Restoration/Preservation -- Our last scheduled muck treatment will occur this week by SOLitude Lake Management. They will be evaluating the floating islands of muck that are arising with the lily-pad die-offs. We anticipate the price of these services to be very high and will be reevaluating our options in the fall. Our last lily pad treatment is planned for August. We will be focusing these treatments on the real dense areas at the ends of the lake. After this year, we will be doing spot treatments as needed. We are also investigating the purchase of a mechanical cutter to help maintain the lake better from now-on.

Lake Days - The attendance over the past couple years has sucked and it has been costing the association a lot of money in wasted food and time. We are considering shrinking down the weekend events to just a single Lake Day for now, until it gains tractions again. We are looking into pre-ordered meals to be provided by a catering service (currently looking at Phil's Chicken House) - Each attendee will have to order their meals and can pick them up at a designated time. They can be enjoyed at the pavilion with other members, or can be taken home to eat. We are looking at getting rid of the Auction as lately it has been mostly junk and raised no money. Instead, we are looking at offering raffles for various items such as: Quilts, Wine, Gift Cards, Gift Baskets, etc. We will know more about this in the coming weeks.

Entrance/Sign Planters have become overgrown. We have hired a local gentleman to weed and maintain these gardens for us on a monthly basis.

Peg Philips has made a proposal to purchase an un-used access lane adjacent to her property. The access lane does not service any homes or properties.

Fish Derby - was a huge success this year. Thank you for all those involved and who donated time and prizes. There were 23 registered and everyone had a great time. We were even able to meet some new residents on the lake. We look forward to continuing this tradition next year.

Fishing Derby Results

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:10:21 GMT

The 2022 Lake Gerry Fishing Derby was held on Saturday July 2nd.

We had a total of 23 participants fishing the lake.

The Results:

Adult - Largest Fish: Brandon Shaw with a Large Mouth Bass measuring 15-3/4 inches and weighing in at 1.87 pounds!

Adult - Most Fish Caught: Chris Seminera caught 5 fish that morning.

Junior - Largest Fish: Aaron Murray caught a 25 inch, 2-1/2 pound pickerel!

Junior - Most Fish - Eleni Tumbelekis caught 5 fish.

Junior - Smallest Fish - Carter Davis with a whopping 4 inch fish.

A special thank you to Patrick Fucci for donating a fishing rod and lures at prizes and Scott and Debbie Meade for donating a $25 Mayhood's Gift Card!

Thank you for all of those who participated, we hope you had a great time!

2022 LGA Board Nominations Requested

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:06:13 GMT

2022 Lake Gerry Association Board Member Nominations

Nominations will be held for Lake Gerry Association Board Members at our July 10th, 2022 Meeting.

Board Member VOTING will take place at our September LGA Meeting

Please consider volunteering your time to help make our lake an amazing place to live and visit.

From our By-Laws - RE: Officer Positions -

Article 4

Duties of Officers

Section 1 –

President: It is the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, enforce By-Laws, appoint all committees, and perform such other duties, as necessary.

Section 2 -

Vice President: It is the duty of the Vice-President to assist the President in the discharge of their duties and in case of absence, death, resignation or removal of the President, the Vice President shall take their place and perform such duties as these laws provide and shall perform other duties as requested by the President.

Section 3 –

Secretary: It is the duty of the Secretary to address all correspondence, notify members of special meetings, keep correct record of minutes at each meeting and preserve the same and perform other duties as requested by the President.

Section 4 –

Treasurer: It is the duty of the Treasurer to receive all money paid into the Association for dues, fines, assessments, etc. and deposit said in the bank, as well as keeping a correct record of all monies received. It is also the responsibility of the Treasurer to pay all vouchers submitted by the financial secretary. Either the Treasurer or the President may sign checks for the Association (as per NBT Bank). The Treasurer shall perform all duties as requested by the President.

Section 5 –

Financial Secretary: It is the duty of the Financial Secretary to receive the bills and submit a voucher to the treasurer for all expenditures. The Financial Secretary will also perform all other duties as requested by the President.

Section 6 –

Trustees: Three (3) Trustees shall be elected and shall audit the books, accounts, and vouchers of the Treasurer before the September meeting and report at the September meeting. Also, it will be the responsibility of the Trustees to canvas unpaid residents of Lake Gerry for potential membership in the Association.

Section 7 –

Any Vacated position may be filled at the discretion of the President.

Any officer absents for more than three consecutive meetings without showing due cause shall be considered having vacated their office can be replaced at the discretion of the President.

Section 8 –

Lake Steward: It will be the responsibility of the lake steward to survey and report on all lake properties. At each meeting a report will be given on the conditional of all docks, lake access lanes, pavilions, etc. This position will also be responsible for fish stocking, water testing and assisting the ongoing activities around the lake improvement efforts.

Annual Charles Kelley Fishing Derby - 2022

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 12:04:24 GMT

The annual Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday July 2nd from 9am to 1pm. Registration will take place at the Lake Gerry Access point near 200 Charles Kelley Rd. All members and their guests are welcome.

Trophies will be awarded for both adult and youth fish caught.

If you need extra guest passes, please purchase them from the Lake Gerry Membership Shop.

LGA Meeting - June 2022

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 16:01:02 GMT

LGA Meeting – June 12^th, 2022

Un-Official Summary

A continuation from the May meeting which was cut short due to a storm hitting the area.

Lily Pad Removal – This year will be the last year spraying for Lily Pads as recommended by the DEC and SOLitude Lake Management. The DEC has offered us an open permit for the next 5 years which will allow us to seek treatments without having to go through the lengthy and expensive permitting process.

Muck Treatments – There are two more treatments on our SOLItude contract from last year. The digester treatment will take place tomorrow (June 13^th) around noon, and another one will be applied at the end of June.

Lake Restoration/Preservation – Lily Pad Treatments and Muck Digester treatments are by far, the largest expenditures the association has. Our expenditures over the past three years have been roughly $15,000 so far. We can expect these prices to increase significantly due to inflation and may not continue to use the solutions we have been and are looking at other possibilities.

One of these options is to save a few thousand dollars a year that we would spend on lake restoration and purchase a brand new machine from Weeder’s Digest called the Water Bug which will allow us to cut and remove the lily pads via portable, battery powered and remote controlled machine. Please see the videos posted on the website for more information. We will be discussing the feasibility and options to raise funds for this machine in the future.

We ask that this year, you limit the amount of lily pads you cut again, so that when the herbicide is applied later in the summer, it will be most effective. Lily pads that are cut, do not have any chance to absorb the herbicide which will kill the roots of the plant, and will regrow the following year.

The restoration and preservation of Lake Gerry must be a collective effort and can’t be supported by just a few members doing their own thing. We want to encourage all our members and residents of the Lake Gerry community to do their part in helping reduce chemicals and pollutants that enter the lake and promote the growth of algae, lily pads, and the formation of muck. We will be putting together a list of easy and affordable ways you can help.

Pine Road Pavilion – The pavilion itself has been reduced to half of the original size. This will make it easier and more affordable to maintain. Gravel has been placed in the pavilion to help with drainage and footing. Two picnic grills will be going in that can be used by association members. We will be adding a picnic table or two to the pavilion over the next couple weeks. We will be seeking volunteers to help paint the pavilion in the coming weeks. The Fire Inspector would like us to have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit at each pavilion. Those will be purchased and placed in the coming weeks. We ask that you all help take care of the pavilion and take pride in our community. If you see these facilities being abused, vandalized or any property being stolen please contact the police by calling 911.

By-Laws – The by-laws have been revised to include appropriate language that more accurately reflects the time. You can find a copy of the by-laws on the website.

Codes Enforcement – We are working with Codes Enforcement to address the blighted, empty and abandoned houses around the lake that are dangerous, ugly, lower our property values, and have ruined many property sales. Codes has identified many of the properties and are working toward notifying the property owners to encourage clean-up, demolition or sale of the blighted properties. This can be a lengthy process, but hopefully the ball is rolling now and we can clean up the neighborhood.

Beach Upgrades – After last month’s regrading of the beach, we were originally going to not do any more improvements to the beach. However, the floats were deteriorating and not effective, so we installed a new floating pool boundary. We also had a very generous donation of sand to be added to the beach this summer. We look forward to these improvements and hope everyone gets to enjoy the beach this year.

Lake Access Signs – Lake Access signs have been added to three private Lake Gerry Association lanes. Please remember to keep these lanes clear of personal items, boats, cars, and other stuff. Access lanes are only to be used by Lake Gerry Association members. If you see anyone trespassing or encroaching on these private properties, please let us know.

Speed Limit Signs -- A few years ago we sent around a petition to have the speed limit lowered on Charles Kelley Road. There has been little-to-no movement on this issue as it was approved by the town of Oxford, and is now in the County’s hands. We do not anticipate them to agree to lowering the speed limit on Charles Kelley Rd. It was suggested that we put out our own signs to warn of Kids and People Walking. There was some discussion about borrowing an automated speed sign from the town.

Fishing Derby – Will be held this year. We have not decided on a date yet. Traditionally it has been over the 4^th of July holiday, and other times during Lake Days. We will post information as soon as we have it.

Dogs -- There have been several incidents regarding dogs around the lake. These dogs have attacked other dogs being leash walked around the lake. If a dog is seen off-leash or is becoming a nuisance on your property or Lake Gerry properties, please contact the Oxford Dog Control Officer @ 607-952-6025. If you are attacked or bit by a dog around Lake Gerry please contact the police by calling 911.

Lake Access -- Only Lake Gerry Association members have access to Lake Gerry and Lake Gerry Association Properties. If someone has not joined or paid their Lake Gerry Association membership, they are not permitted to use the lake. If you have guests visiting the lake please make sure they are using your boats that are properly labeled with a current Lake Gerry Association Boat Sticker, in addition, make sure they have their Lake Gerry Guest Passes. If you know of someone trespassing on Lake Gerry, call 911 and report it.

Water Bug - Lily pad removal machine

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:01:51 GMT

Please follow the link below to information about the Weeder's Digest Water Bug - The Lily Pad removal system that we discussed at our June 2022 Lake Gerry Association Meeting.

https://lakeweedharvester.com/waterbug/

Video of Water Bug

Grill Raffle Winner

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 12:01:09 GMT

The winner of the Smoker/Grill Raffle is Ed Goodrich from Walton, NY.

Congratulations Ed and thank you for supporting the Lake Gerry Association and helping us restore Lake Gerry.

LGA Meeting - May 2022

Sun, 15 May 2022 16:03:04 GMT

LGA 2022 Agenda - May 2022

Unofficial Meeting Summary

Solitude recommends this year be the last to spray

To reduce the environmental impact of the lily pad removal and maintain a good healthy lake, it is recommended that this year (the 3^rd year in a row) we discontinue the broad application of herbicide. Each year there will be an evaluation performed to determine the best way to go forward on treating the lily pads.
If you live in an area where there are still dense lily pads, please let us know and we will direct this year’s treatment to those areas.
We are investigating alternative methods of lily pad treatments and will keep everyone posted on what we find.

Cleanup Wood around Pavilion –

We are in the process of cleaning up the trees that were cut down last fall around the Charles Kelley Road Pavilion.

Take down out-buildings behind pavilion –

Behind the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion there are several old out-houses that will be removed by Chris M. this year. This will help the aesthetics of the area and reduce risks of anyone getting injured in them.

Review and Plan play area at pavilion

We have heard from many families with kids and grand kids that it would be great to have a small play ground located at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion area to give children a place to play during events or during their stay at the lake. We will be investigating our options and will put some plans forward once we have them. If anyone would like to donate to this fund, please let us know. Every little bit helps.

Redo Beach Area –

Chris M. began re-grading the beach area on Charles Kelley Rd. This year the plan will be to see where all the sand settles and add some the following year or determine if we need to redo the whole area again. There have been several members who have helped with this project over the years and we are grateful for their help making the beach a cherished spot for many.

Plan out fundraising

As you all know, everything is getting more expensive. We are always looking for good and efficient ways to raise money for the multitude of projects in and around the lake. Muck Removal, Lily Pad treatments and repairing the pavilions are quite expensive projects and we will need to find additional ways to raise funds to keep these projects going.
Currently there is a Grill raffle that will end in a couple weeks. This raffle has not been very popular so far, so if you want a real good chance at winning a grill/smoker, buy tickets on the website or from a LGA board member ASAP.
There will also be a shotgun riffle through Mayhoods. This raffle will run from June to November. See the website for details.
We would like to have someone organize a food truck fundraiser in Oxford or Norwich this year. We would like to see Doug’s Fish Fry, Phil’s Chicken House, and/or Brooks BBQ (or any others that we can think of).

Plan out activities –

There has been some interest in social activities around the lake. We are always looking for ideas.

Review and plan out Lake Days

The 2021 Lake Days celebration was anything but successful. We barely broke even and need to re-evaluate the activities and funding for the Lake Days. Ideas that were floated: Discontinue Lake Days as we know it. Offer several events throughout the month instead of one weekend to encourage more people to attend at least one event. Establish a committee or person to lead the Lake Days efforts and include sign-ups for events.

Audit – Done at board meeting

An audit was performed this winter during a LGA Board member meeting at the Oxford Library.

Water Testing –

Water testing for the lake will be performed by Solitude again this year. We will hope to have results posted on the website.
We are investigating participating in the NYSFOLA – CSLAP testing. This is a lengthy process but helps us identify trouble areas and let us address them before they become an expensive problem to fix.

Fish Stocking –

We will be adding: 100 Large Mouth Bass, 600 Catfish, 5000 Fat Head Minnows and 40 Grass Carp to the lake this spring.
The large mouth bass will help supplement a quite healthy bass population and add some genetic diversity to the lake.
Catfish will be added in an effort to help maintain a healthy lake as they will eat much of the algae under the water. They are fun to catch and also taste really good. For the catfish population to be self-sustaining they need a place to spawn. Catfish spawn in hollow logs and abandoned muskrat holes around the shore. Lake Gerry does not have many of these, so we will be adding artificial spawning boxes over the next year or two in hopes that we will create a population that will thrive in the lake.
Fathead Minnows will provide an additional food source for primarily the Large Mouth Bass. Fathead minnows spawn under objects such as trees, docks, lily pads and floating debris. Our hopes is by adding decent amounts several times a year that we can grow a sustaining population to help us grow some large bass!
Grass Carp – will continue to be added to the lake in efforts to help keep our lake weeds in-check. Fundraising for the grass carp occurred throughout the year and we will be adding 40 new ones this year.

Fire Inspection –

Our yearly fire inspections confirmed the need to renovate the pavilions to maintain safety and compliance.

Put up second sets of posts by entry signs

Finish the design to specifications for the Lake Gerry entrance signs on either side of Charles Kelley Rd.

Schedule Port-a-Potty Cleaning

Self explanatory.

Clean up flower beds at entry ways

We need some volunteers to help maintain the flower beds and both entries to Lake Gerry by the signs. David Moy has volunteered.

Review Solitude Proposals –

We will be reviewing this year’s and future proposals for muck treatments and lily pad removal as part of the Lake Gerry restoration and Preservation fund. As with everything, the prices will be increasing and we will be monitoring and deciding on best courses of action.

Review Pavilion proposals and set a plan of action –

Due to impending fire inspections for both pavilions and our lack of progress on many repairs, we have started renovations of the Pine Road Pavilion this spring. Chris M. has been working on the repairs. If you are interested in seeing the designs for the pavilion please see the sketches on the website.
We will still need to make a plan and do some fundraising for repairs of the Charles Kelley Road pavilion. Much of our budget was used up last year to repair the electrical connection after it was struck by several large limbs during a storm.

Lake access signs to be added off Charles Kelley --

Additional right-of-ways will be labeled for Lake Gerry Association members to access the lake.

Paul Drop, Olga Hover, John Beebe passing -- John’s Celebration of life June 19^th – 1-3pm

Walter Talgo to fill vice president til end of season

Secretary position is open -- filled by Julie T.

September Officer voting

Officer voting will occur in the fall. We will be looking for new, enthusiastic, energetic and dedicated board members to carry on the good work of the LGA and protect the future of our properties.

By-laws update – Taxes and legal bills

The language in the By-laws was out-dated and needs to be updated. Our attorneys are working on these changes and will be available soon.
Our tax filing, or lack-thereof has made us out of compliance for non-profit status in both NY and federally. Our attorneys are sorting out the details and will advise us on the best course of action moving forward.

Give update about codes and abandoned houses

The codes officers have been made aware of several abandoned and blighted properties around Lake Gerry. They are working on contacting the owners of these properties and will work toward condemning them, removing them or repairing them.

Give updates about all new property ideas from Oxford

Camper Proposals

Pine Road Pavilion Upgrades

Sun, 15 May 2022 12:00:35 GMT

Here is a sketch of the planned Pine Road Pavilion updates.

LGA Meeting Agenda - May 2022

Sat, 14 May 2022 11:59:35 GMT

Below is the list of topics we would like to discuss at our May 2022 meeting which also includes many of our plans for the year. To see more details about these topics please login and see the summary of the meeting in the Members, Meeting Minutes section of the website.

LGA 2022 Agenda - May 2022

Solitude recommends this year be the last to spray
Cleanup Wood around Pavilion – Lake Steward Report
Take down out-buildings behind pavilion – Chris M.
Review and Plan play area at pavilion
Redo Beach Area – Chris M.
Plan out fundraising
Plan out activities
Review and plan out Lake Days
Audit – Done at board meeting
Water Testing – Solitude will do
Fish Stocking – Lake Steward Report
Fire Inspection – Lake Steward Report
Put up second sets of posts by entry signs
Schedule Port-a-Potty Cleaning
Clean up flower beds at entry ways – David Moy volunteered
Review Solitude Proposals
Review Pavilion proposals and set a plan of action – Pine Road begun, Picnic tables update
Lake access signs to be added off Charles Kelley
Paul Drop, Olga Hover, John Beebe passing -- John’s Celebration of life June 19th – 1-3pm
Walter Talgo to fill vice president til end of season
Secretary position is open -- filled by Julie T.
September Officer voting
By-laws update – Taxes and legal bills
Give update about codes and abandoned houses
Give updates about all new property ideas from Oxford
Camper Proposals

Membership Pick-ups

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:09:22 GMT

Meeting Dates: All meetings held at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion Starting at 1:00pm.

May 15th - A Welcome Back Picnic will be held starting at 11am.
June 12th -
July 10th -
August 14th -
September 11th -

All members are encouraged to attend.

Membership Packages: We will NOT be mailing membership packages including: Boat Stickers, Guest Passes, Memberships and By-Laws this year. Instead please pick them up at ANY Lake Gerry Association Meeting or at the the designated times below:

May 7th - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion
May 14th - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion
May 28th - 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion

If you cannot pick up your Membership Package at any of the dates or times listed above, please reach out to Lake Gerry Association Board Member to arrange a time/date/method to retrieve your items.

- Pauline

Lily Pad Update

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:41:10 GMT

The Lake Gerry Lily Pad cleanup efforts continued this year. While the lily pad treatment was later than we anticipated, we are seeing good results around the lake this winter.

Many large sections of lily pad roots/rhizomes are starting to float to the surface. The lily-pad removal in conjunction with the monthly muck treatments are going to improve the overall health of Lake Gerry. We will see an improvement in water quality, aquatic life and recreational capabilities as these treatments continue.

Lily pad rhizomes surfacing

Please remember that this process takes time, money and volunteers. If you can spare any of those things, please let us know or click the link below to donate to the Lake Gerry Preservation/Cleanup fund.

DEC - Uninvited

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 12:57:55 GMT

This year the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a new documentary called: Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species. This video can be viewed on youtube by clicking the link below.

Watch DEC's Unvited

For additional information about invasive species and how to help, click here.

Fish Stocking 2021

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:57:14 GMT

Lake Gerry Fish Stocking - Fall 2021

Hicklings Fish Farm in Edmeston delivered this fall's fish stock and added them to the lake this week. Through your very generous donations we added:

100 Perch; 100 Black Crappie; 5000 fathead minnows (the original plan was 1000, but a donor sponsored an additional 4000 to be added).

100 Largemouth Bass will be added in the Spring.

Certain species of fish are added to the lake during different times of the year that are best for their survivability. In the spring we will purchase more Grass Carp with our Adopt-a-Carp program. Any other fish species that are available in the spring will be added at that time.

To help us purchase more Grass Carp for Lake Gerry:

Amazon Tablet Raffle

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:56:11 GMT

Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet Raffle Winner:

Congratulations Carol B.

Thank you to all those who particpated! Please stay tuned for our next set of Gift Card Raffles to:

Gilligans of Sherburne, Mayhoods, Lowe's, Price Chopper and Pine Ridge Grocery

Coming Soon!

Enter to win a Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet and support the Lake Gerry Association's Lake Preservation and Cleanup Efforts.

Tickets are $5.00 each.

Drawing to be held December 15th.

All proceeds from the Lake Gerry Association's Raffles go toward the clean up and preservation of Lake Gerry.

To purchase your tickets online, click on the link below.

Muck Treatment - September 2021

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:55:13 GMT

One last muck treatment of 2021 will be performed on September 21st. SOLitude Lake Management will be out on the lake distributing muck digester pellets around the perimeter of the lake.

During the last evaluation, the technician from SOLitude feels that the water and air temperatures are ideal for one more treatment and that with the cooler temperatures there will be more dissolved oxygen in the water which should help with the effectiveness of the pellets.

Mayhoods Rifle Raffle

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:54:16 GMT

Congratulations to Travis A. for winning the 2021 Lake Gerry Preservation Rifle Raffle from Mayhood's Sporting Goods!

Thank you to all who participated in the raffle!

Stay-Tuned for the next Preservation Fund Raffle coming out in the next couple days!

Lake Preservation Rifle Raffle - 2021

Here is your chance to enter-to-win a hunting rifle from Mayhood's Sporting Goods in Norwich, NY and support the Lake Gerry Preservation fund.

You may purchase tickets online below:

Enter to win a Howa Model 1500 - 30-06 Rifle with Nikko Stirling Scope.

Rifles not your thing? Winner's can choose a $600 gift card to Mayhood's instead.

* Rifle Raffle Drawing will be held on November 1st, 2021.

* Must be 18 years or older to win rifle and pass all required background checks to obtain a firearm in New York State.

* Rifle must be picked-up in person and cannot be mailed to winner.

Pavilion Electrical Upgrades

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:52:51 GMT

Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion - Damage and Repair - 2021

In the days following our 2021 Lake Days events, a large rotten limb fell from the woods near the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion and landed on The Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion, pulling down the electrical service line, turnbuckle and conduit.

Repairs began the in September following the guidance of electricians and NYSEG where it was recommended that we bury the electrical supply line to help with stability and future pavilion repairs.

A very special thank you to all those who helped with the repairs.

LGA Meeting - September 2021

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 11:51:46 GMT

September 12th 2021 - Lake Gerry Association Meeting Summary

Unofficial Meeting Summary

Sunday was the final Lake Gerry Association meeting of the 2021 season.

Lake Steward:

The Lake Preservation projects are in progress. On August 31st, SOLitude Lake Management performed the 2nd muck digester treatment of the year. These treatments are water temperature dependent so this will likely be the least treatment of this season, and will resume next spring. An evaluation of their effectiveness will also be performed. On September 7th, SOLitude Lake Management performed the Lily pad treatment for the year. The treatment was placed around the perimeter of the lake and focused on some higher density areas. It takes about 2 weeks to see the die-back of the lily pads and it will take until next spring until we can fully evaluate the treatment success. Due to the severity of our lily pad overgrowth, it is likely we will need an additional treatment next year and spot-treatments after that. It is important that we have realistic expectations and goals with these treatments.

Many of you have noticed the floating islands of muck and lily pad roots that have appeared this year (and over several years). Seeing these is a good thing and indicates that we are getting decomposition and gas production in the muck layers as the lily pads die off and the muck treatments work. We are formulating a plan to remove these islands of muck and will be consulting with SOLitude Lake Management as to our best course of action. Don't be surprised if we ask for volunteers to help in this project in the near future or next spring.

Our Fish Stocking plans (Bass, Perch and Crappie) have hit an all-too-familiar Covid snag... We are unsure if we will be able to get the Perch and Crappie from the fish hatchery for the fall stocking. We will know more as we get closer to the release date in October as to the availability of those species.

The week after our Lake Days events, a large limb fell on the electrical supply line for the Charles Kelley Road pavilion knocking out the power and requiring it to be disconnected from the pavilion. We are working with NYSEG and CV Electric in formulating a plan involving burying the electric line to the pavilion.

The sand on the beach has eroded this summer due to the never-ending rain we received. We will be looking at re-working and adding sand to the beach - likely in the spring time.

New Business:

Per our Attorneys and Insurance Company - Lake Gerry Association roads and access lanes are not maintained by the Lake Gerry Association and must be maintained by the individuals who reside on them.

By-laws: There needs to be several adjustments and addendums to the current Lake Gerry Association By-Laws to reflect best and most legal practices. The changes will be to point any construction/property improvements to the Local and State codes/laws as they are the authorities on such matters.

Lake Preservation is a major financial undertaking for the Lake Gerry Association. It is therefore absolutely essential that we raise funds to offset these costs. A motion was made by several members to form a Fundraising committee to explore fundraising initiatives. Current LGA Members can see some of the fundraising ideas by signing onto the website and going to the members section, and looking at the Fundraising or Membership Poll pages. There you can vote-on or add your own ideas. It is also highly-suggested that we reach out into the greater community for fundraising efforts. Today the I Gave a Muck - Lake Gerry Association reusable grocery bags were for sale and seem to be a hit. Bags may be purchased for $5/each or 3 for $10.

We began discussions on offering a new form of Guest Passes called a Universal Guest Pass (or something like that), which we will sell for a set fee. That pass will allow your family and friends to enjoy the lake without the hassle of tracking down LGA Board members to get individual passes. Stay Tuned for more information on this.

We continue to hash-out the way we will be handling Short-Term Rental properties on the lake. I am putting together a series of polls for membership to vote on over the next week or two. These will give us the best idea on how to handle these. All current members are STRONGLY encouraged to offer their input on the matter. The voting and discussion will be found when you sign up for your membership on the website and under the Members menu and the Short Term Rental tab.

We are continuing to build and enhance our new LakeGerry.com website. For the whole system to work properly we need as many members as possible to sign-up on the website. This creates an account for you and your family to access the membership information/private portions of the website. Once you are established on the website we will be able to email you information and news around the lake and keep you up-to-date on any important happenings with Lake Gerry. In addition to this information, you will also be granted access to membership voting pages where you will be able to easily vote on any Lake Gerry Association topic regardless of if you can attend a meeting or not. The Online payment portion of the website is nearly complete which will allow you to pay your membership dues, make donations and order guest passes and boat stickers right from the website. I am currently working on an off-line portion of it for those who do not want to use their credit cards online.

We are discussing streamlining the membership, fundraising and passes systems to make them more beneficial to you, easier for our board members and more accurate for our current situation. Easily the majority of money spent by Lake Gerry Association goes toward the Lake Preservation. These payments will continue to be high for the next several years as we get the lake cleaned up and restored to it's former glory. We would like to eliminate the Pavilion fund since it rarely raises enough money to perform a single project required for the pavilion, instead: we would use the general fund to pay for pavilion expenses. We always have the option to reinstate these funds when needed but feel we need to focus on the Lake Preservation for the foreseeable future.

Starting in the 2022 season, all Lake Gerry Association guest passes and boat stickers will be picked up at the Lake Gerry Association Meetings. After you purchase these items online, you will be given a receipt that can be used as proof of purchase during the year and can be used to obtain the needed passes/stickers. This will help us eliminate issues members were having tracking down LGA Board Members to get these items.

Our overall goal is to streamline our financial and management operations for the Lake Gerry Association which will improve compliance and transparency among the Lake Gerry Association Members. These changes will also alleviate much of the strain on our volunteers and hopefully encourage others to help volunteer in the community and on the LGA Board.

Lake Steward Report - September 2021

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 17:08:09 GMT

Lake Steward Report

September 12, 2021

August 31st was the 2nd Muck Treatment application around the lake. This treatment will be the last of the season due to dropping water temperatures and will resume in the spring. We will be assessing the effectiveness of these treatments as they are performed.

September 7th was the Lily Pad Spraying. It will take approximately 2 weeks to see the die-off of the lily pads and we should see significant decrease in lily pads in the spring.

Muck Islands - If you have ventured into the corners of the lake this summer you will have seen some floating islands of muck and weeds. While annoying, they are evidence that the treatments are working and the debris and muck at the bottom of the lake are decomposing as expected with the muck treatments. We are working on a plan for the removal of these islands of muck and would gladly encourage any input or suggestions. We may need to form a work-party to help break them down and remove them from the lake.

Fish Stocking will be done the 3rd or 4th week in October depending on availability. Hickling's fish farm has limited stocks of Perch and Crappie so we are waiting to hear if they will be available. The Large Mouth Bass and Fat Head Minnows will be added.

After Lake Days, a large limb fell onto the electrical service wire to the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion. This pulled the wire and conduit off of the pavilion therefore the electric has been shut off until repairs can be made. At the recommendation of NYSEG and an electrician, the repairs will include running the new supply line under ground in a trench to the pavilion. This should help prevent the current lean in the pavilion and will prevent further tree damage. Estimated repair costs are around $2100. If you would like to help with this project or assist with financial support please make a donation to the Lake Gerry Association online or contact us at contact@lakegerry.com

All docks on the Lake Gerry Association lanes will be inspected in the spring and repair plans will be made after these assessments.

The sand for the beach will need to be reworked and another load brought in.

NYFOLA 2021 Western Regional

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 11:50:10 GMT

October NYSFOLA Regional Conference via Zoom for everyone to enjoy!

Register now for the 2021 Finger Lakes and Western Regional Conference which will be held via Zoom on Saturday October 23rd from 10am – noon. We think our members from other parts of the state will enjoy this as well.

Agenda:

Opening remarks
“Identifying and Addressing Critical Issues for New York’s Lakes” – Dr. Brian G. Rahm, Director, NYS Water Resources Institute, Cornell University. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact and discuss critical issues on their lakes, and Dr. Rahm will describe the role of the Water Resources Institute in addressing these issues.
“The Why, What, and How of Lake Aeration” – Join Dr. Steven Souza, Owner, Clean Waters Consulting, LLC as he discusses how stratification and sediment oxygen demand impact lake water quality; how aeration is used to improve conditions; as well as a synopsis of the types of aeration techniques, their uses, and case studies.
Wrap Up
Set the date for 2022.

Registration is $10 and must be received by October 18, 2021. Click here to REGISTER.

Pavilion Tree Cutting

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 11:49:26 GMT

Charles Kelley Road Pavilion - Tree Cut-back

The tree cut-back at the Charles Kelley Road Pavilion has begun. We will be cutting down several trees behind the pavilion in hopes that it will allow more sun to dry out the ground surrounding the pavilion. It will also help prevent future damage from falling trees/limbs.

Thank you to all those who volunteered time, equipment and expertise with the tree project. If you would like to help with future Lake Gerry Association projects, please contact us at contact@lakegerry.com and watch this website for future projects.

Muck and Lily Pad Treatments

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:47:21 GMT

Muck Treatments - August 2021

Our next Muck Treatment will take place on August 31st. Muck digester pellets will be placed around the perimeter of the lake to speed up the degradation of the muck in the lake.

September 7th is the date slated for Lily Pad treatments for the year. During the treatment process we ask that you stay out of the lake during the application and avoid drinking the water that day. Follow the same restrictions as last year.

Swimming/bathing = No Restrictions

Fishing = No Restrictions

Animal Consumption = No Restrictions

Drinking and Culinary or food processing = not a good idea I told testing levels are below 50 parts per billion

Irrigation = No Restrictions

The Lily Pad treatment has been highly anticipated this year. Both of these treatments are weather dependent.

Muck Application - August 2021

Lake Days - 2021

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 11:46:16 GMT

Lake Days!

A heartfelt thank you to all of you who came out and supported and volunteered at the Lake Gerry - Lake Days this year. The weather was pretty near perfect for all of our events.

We started Friday evening with an ice cream social. Lots of laughs and tasty treats for everyone. There was a little snafu with the bucket of chocolate ice cream (couldn't find any!) so we were stuck with Chocolate Peanut butter... The horror.

Saturday we held the Community Picnic where we grilled up some burgers, hot dogs and had plenty dishes for everyone to enjoy! (Someone even brought Chicken Wings!!) The Lake Gerry Preservation Fund Auction got off to a slow start, but by the end the cash was flowing well enough and many left with some fantastic finds.

We also held the first of several Gift-Card Raffles: A gas card, $50 Pine Ridge Grocery card and last meeting's winner of the $50 Price Chopper card donated it back to be raffled off again. The raffles seemed pretty popular so we will be exploring offering these more often and through-out the year. You'll be able to find them under the Member's area of the website and Raffles. (It'll still take a little while to get them up and running)

Saturday evening was a pretty abysmal Boat Parade. I think I saw 3 boats go across the lake. We'll try much harder next year to get better participation and enthusiasm. I know when my kids are a bit older (and we can paddle out past the lily pads easier) they'll have a blast with this. Thank you for those who kept the tradition alive!

Sunday's pancake breakfast was a relaxing treat to end the weekend. The Lake Gerry Association cooked up a morning feast including: Sausage, Eggs, Hash-browns, Regular and Blueberry Pancakes. The coffee was flowing fast and strong. I met some new faces in the community and heard some funny stories of Lake-Days past.

The evenings this past weekend were quite chilly for August, and it reminds us that our summer at Lake Gerry will be coming to an end soon. We still have a bunch of projects to finish up and encourage you to participate and donated as much as you can. We truly live in a fantastic little community and we want to keep improving it.

LGA Meeting - August 2021

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:45:01 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Meeting Summary - August 2021

Unofficial Meeting Summary

Several projects are under-way or have been completed this summer.

We have started our Muck Remediation program. SOLitude Lake Management was here last week and distributed 100 pounds of muck digester pellets around the perimeter of the lake, about 15 feet out. Over time, these pellets will increase the decomposition of the muck and improve the health of the lake. These applications will be done monthly and results assessed. To offset some of the costs associated with muck treatments, we will be holding several fund-raisers throughout the year including the sale of reusable grocery bags and gift card raffles.

Several new courtesy signs have been placed around the lake.

Upgrades to the Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion have been performed including: a new gravel walk-way to the pavilion, moving of the port-a-potty, new stone inside the pavilion, a new events sign and a metal storage cabinet. Plans are being drawn up and assessed for the repair of the pavilion structure.

We will be spending some money in the Fish Fund this year to add: 100 Large Mouth Bass, 100 Perch, 100 Crappie and 1000 Fat Head Minnows. These fish will be added in the fall when available.

The second Lily Pad treatment will be performed by SOLitude Lake Management within the next couple of weeks, depending on weather conditions. They will be bringing an air-boat this year to have better access and coverage of the treatment. It will take several weeks for the lily pad die-down to occur, and we will see the results next spring. It is likely we will need a 3rd application or at least a maintenance plan in place going forward to prevent future overgrowths.

New Website is being developed (If you're reading this, you know...) This website will be the go-to place for all things Lake Gerry. There will be a tiered access program on the website. A public area will be available for anyone looking for information on Lake Gerry. There will be a members section where current members will be able to access important Lake Gerry Association information such as: Treasurers Reports, Meeting Minutes, Member Voting, and discussions. The Lake Gerry Association Board will have administrative rights on the website which will allow them to add content at any time, from anywhere. The ultimate goal is to have a single point of reference for the community which will allow ALL members to see the workings of the association. Members will buy and renew their memberships including boat and guest passes right from the website.

Lifetime Membership will be given out this year, stay tuned for more details.

To avoid future membership dues issues and sticker shock, we will be assessing our dues and costs yearly. Any recommended fee increases will be voted on yearly.

There have been some safety concerns raised around the lake regarding fire/EMS access to homes around the lake. We have been in contact with the Oxford Fire Department and are working toward the placement of 3 dry-hydrants placed around the lake. These hydrants will allow the fire department to access a water source should they need to in the event of a fire.

Lake Days is Coming!

Starting Friday August 13th at 7pm will be the Ice Cream Social where you can make your own sundaes and enjoy visiting with your neighbors.

Saturday August 14th at 1pm will be the Community Picnic. We will be providing hotdogs and hamburgers, we ask that you bring a dish to pass. Following the Picnic will be the Lake Gerry Auction. Items to be donated for the Auction will be picked up Saturday morning around 9am. (Please do not donate: Electronics, Baby items, Books/Magazines or Cat Trees)

Saturday Night - 7pm will be the Lake Gerry Boat Parade - Judging will take place at the beach.

Saturday Night - Dark. Light up the Lake --

Sunday August 15th will be the pancake breakfast starting at 8:30.

Volunteers are needed for all of these events. Please reach out to the Lake Gerry Association Board if you would like to help out.

Lake Steward Report - August 2021

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 17:06:56 GMT

Lake Gerry - Lake Steward Report - August 2021

Muck Treatments have begun - Performed by SOLitude Lake Management

Monthly Treatments
100 Pounds of Muck Digester Pellets have been spread around the perimeter of the lake, 15 feet from shore.
Each treatment will vary depending on results

New Courtesy signs have been placed around the lake

Kids and Pets at Play
Dogs must be leashed

Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion Updates

Metal Cabinet has been installed for more secure storage
There is a new gravel walk-way to the pavilion
Porta-Potty has been pumped and moved to a new location.
Tree Removal around pavilion will be scheduled for the fall.

Fish Stocking and Vote:

Available Fish include: Large Mouth Bass, Walleye, Perch and Crappie.
We will be stocking 100 Bass; 100 Perch; 100 Crappie and 1000 Fathead Minnows
Fish will be added to the lake in the fall.

Lily Pad Treatments will be within the next 2 weeks depending on weather conditions. SOLitude Lake Management will be applying the treatment via an airboat this year to get better access and spray coverage.

Floating Log Removal - During the Lily Pad Treatments, SOLitude will attempt to remove the floating log.

Thank You from the President

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 11:44:04 GMT

To all Lake Gerry Association Members

I would like to express my gratitude to all members for their support through the last couple of months.

I am looking forward to the completion of all the projects we have started. It is my sincerest desire that all members feel they know and understand where we are at with lake cleanup and see the progress, we have made on bettering our environment.

I have heard from some members that they do not know how to reach Marc, our lake steward or myself as your president. We both can be reached via Facebook messenger on our personal accounts. I am working with Dr. Tim on providing a complete and accessible website for the association.

I have been told that it is not always easy to get someone for for buying boat stickers and guest passes. This is not a new problem, but it is one that we are working to solve. Please bear with us during this transition phase. It is heartening to know that members intentions are to do the right thing.

It has been and honor to serve the community. I am looking forward to the rest of, what looks to be a great season. Lets keep the momentum going!

Thank you all,

Pauline Speziali

New - New Website

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 11:42:45 GMT

The New - New website for the Lake Gerry Association

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for visiting our new Lake Gerry website. Over the year I have been collecting information and trying to put together a comprehensive website with everything you need to know about Lake Gerry, the community and all the things happening behind the scenes. The Lake Gerry Association Board and members are trying to promote the community by providing a transparent view of all the happenings with the organization in hopes that more members of the community will see a benefit to membership and offer to help us improve life in and around the lake for everyone.

As we began the creation of this website, if you have been following along, you will have noticed several changes in formatting, functioning and all of the things that make a website easy to use and engaging. This latest iteration of the lakegerry.com website should be the one we stick with as it will have the most and best functionality and affordability. We are looking forward to being able to modernize and digitize communications and documentation for the Lake Gerry Association which will allow all members to view and track items as they occur. We will be able to provide one single access point for all the information you need to engage with the community and improve your stay at the lake.

Over the next several months I will be adding more functionality to the website including: Private members-only documents/posts, Classified ads for the community, Fund-raising opportunities such as raffles and auction items, events calendars, and an online-membership store which will allow you to purchase your membership online via a credit card including boat passes, guest passes, etc. With anything, there may be a few hiccups along the way, so please bear with us as we try to make this website the best we can.

I'm just a volunteer who has some computer programming experience and donated my time and hosting for this website; More-over, I am also new-ish to Lake Gerry (Been here since 2019) so I am ALWAYS looking for more information from you all as to what you would like to see on this page and how it can best serve you and the community. I will keep asking for feedback and looking for documents and anything pertaining to the history of Lake Gerry, it's formation and the association. If something is way wrong, or difficult to read or see, please let me know. Also, feel free to contact me at contact@lakegerry.com with any information you are willing to share including photos, stories, old newsletters, etc. The more information we have, the better this site will be, and the more fun we can have with it. I also keep hearing murmurs of a long-lost Turtle Soup recipe...

Thanks for reading, and I hope you all are well and enjoying the lake (when its not raining)

Cheers!

- Tim S.

Muck Treatments - Round 1

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 11:41:54 GMT

SOlitude Lake Management will be performing Lake Gerry's first muck treatment on Friday July, 30th. This treatment will be part of our monthly lake preservation and remediation program to improve the health of Lake Gerry.

The muck treatment consists of a non-toxic pellet treatment that enhances and promotes the decomposition of decaying plant matter that makes up the muck in the lake. As these treatments progress, please remember that it will take time to eliminate several feet of muck that has accumulated of the years in Lake Gerry.

As we go forward, it will be important for us to take care of the lake in several ways. 1) Lily Pad Removal, 2) Grass Carp for weed management, and 3) Muck remediation.

Price Chopper Gift Card Raffle

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 11:40:45 GMT

Raffle – Price Chopper Gift Card

Current Fundraiser: $50 Price Chopper Gift Card

Tickets: $5 each or 3 for $10.

Drawing to be held at the August 8th Lake Gerry Association Meeting at the Charles Kelley Rd. Pavilion.

Proceeds go to the Lake Gerry Association – Lake Preservation Fund

If you would like to participate but cannot attend the next meeting please contact us at: contact@lakegerry.com

Charles Kelley Rd Pavilion Repairs

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:39:53 GMT

Repairs an maintenance of the Charles Kelley Road Pavilion will need to be performed this year.

We are looking to cut down several trees in the back of the pavilion to allow better airflow and drying of the roof and supports.

The ground in and around the Charley Kelley Road Pavilion is soggy which causes the tables to sink when sat on, and makes for a muddy mess during meetings and events held at the pavilion. Drainage stone will be brought in to raise the inner surface of the pavilion and allow for better drainage and more stability for the tables. In order to add stone to the pavilion, the picnic tables will need to be removed while the surface is upgraded and then replaced when complete.

Two derelict out-houses still stand in the woods behind the pavilion. These should be removed and filled in.

Events Sign - A new Events Sign will be installed on the road near the pavilion.

The old Lake Gerry signs will be placed on the front of the pavilion.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Remove and Replace Picnic Tables - We will set a date.
Spreading Stone - We will set a date.
Tree Removal - We will set a date for this.

Lake Muck

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:32:01 GMT

Muck

Venture out into the lake and you will quickly notice the layer of thick, gooey muck just above the bottom of the lake. This layer of decaying organic matter is called Muck. Muck is an accumulation of organic matter that forms in aging lakes that do not have good oxygenation or moving water. Muck is a common problem in lakes and when not addressed will interfere with the health of the lake ecosystem and ruin a lake’s recreation potential.

As you know, Lake Gerry has a huge lily pad problem. Over the years, as these lily pads and other aquatic plants die off, they sink to the bottom of the lake where they begin to decompose. As this material decomposes it is kills of good aerobic bacteria and gives of a noxious gas called Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide is what is also known as a sewer, sewage or swamp gas and smells like rotten eggs. In large quantities, Hydrogen Sulfide is toxic.

When left unaddressed, lake muck will eventually ruin the value of a lake by making it un-navigable, un-swimmable, and un-fishable. This natural process, without intervention, will ultimately turn the lake into a marsh then into a meadow then into a forest.

There are multiple ways to address and maintain the muck levels in ponds and lakes; unfortunately, none of them are easy, or cheap without proper lake management.

In the summer of 2019, the Lake Gerry Association began working with SOLitude Lake Management company to form a strategic plan to restore Lake Gerry to a robust and healthy lake. A multi-step plan was presented to the association’s board and several presentations were made to the Lake Gerry Association. During the summer of 2020, the Lake Gerry Association began the implementation of our lake restoration plan with the initial treatment of the lily pads on the surface of the lake. This topical herbicide treatment is designed to kill the root or rhizome of the lily pad. As many are you are aware, the rhizome of the Lily pad is that 3 to 8 inch thick, and 5 to 15 foot long root that the lily pads shoot off of. They’re miserable. – The herbicide applied to the lake, takes several weeks to reach the root system and kill the plant. If you ventured out onto the water a few weeks after the treatment, you would have noticed the lily pads turning yellow and brown then dying in large swaths. With this type of herbicide, it takes a season to see the complete results which we are starting to notice in the lake now. The down side of treating the lily pads in this manner, is when they die, they fall to the bottom of the lake and contribute to the Muck problem. Therefore it is of utmost importance that we begin addressing the Muck layer in the lake.

Over the years, there have been several different attempts at addressing the muck, without addressing the root cause of the muck. (the lily pads and plant matter) Each attempt, while valiant, did little to mitigate the muck in the lake.

During the summer of 2021, SOLitude Lake Management will be performing another lily pad treatment at a point when the herbicide will have peak efficacy. Unlike last year, when we learned exactly how severe and limiting our muck situation is, an airboat will be used, which will allow the herbicide to be applied in parts of the lake where the muck is several feet thick and the water is only a few inches deep. This second herbicide treatment should kill off another large portion of lily pads thus making it easier to navigate and swim in the lake. Please note, that not all the lily pads will be removed from the lake, and in the future we will likely need to manage them better than we have in the past.

After this second lily pad treatment, it will become even more important for us to address the muck problem.

As mentioned, there are several ways of addressing muck in the lake. The best, and consequently, the most expensive is a process called Hydro-raking. This is the gold-standard of muck removal and involves essentially a floating excavator that scoops up the muck and transports it to a container to be hauled away. Another highly effective and significantly expensive method to remove muck is called Dredging – which uses a large pump and vacuum hose to suck up the muck and move it to another location nearby (like a field). Each of these is a huge investment and to perform such, we would have to do some major fund raising.

More affordably, there are products available the utilize beneficial bacteria, enzymes and minerals that help speed up the decomposition of the muck. These pellets are often called Muck Digesters and are applied several times throughout the summer to the areas of muck. Over the weeks, they begin to break down inches of muck at a time. Again, this is a process, and not something that will have immediate results, but something that each season you will see improvement in our lake.

As with all things, muck digesters have limitations and depending on the recommendations from SOLitude Lake Management, we may need to add aeration devices to the lake to help remove and maintain low muck levels in the years to come. These aeration devices are exactly that: the cause bubbles and water movement that helps disrupted the layers of muck and introduce oxygen and beneficial bacteria to the muck layers. This will help facilitate and enhance the breakdown of the muck.

Lastly, we will need everyone to help do their part to clean up and improve Lake Gerry so it will continue to provide years of enjoyment for our families, friends and neighbors. Please consider donations or help with fund raising for the Lake Preservation Fund. No amount is too large or small and every dollar helps and bring us closer to a healthier lake. Can’t donate monetarily? Please help donate time or energy with other projects around the lake. Every little bit is appreciated.

July 2021 - Meeting Agenda

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 11:38:47 GMT

2021 – Lake Gerry Association – Agenda

The Lake Gerry Association has put together the following agenda of items that we would like to try to address this year. This is a wish list, and not all will be completed, and many may be declined by the association members. Never the less, here is the list:

Pavilion Upgrades and Repair

Charles Kelley Road Pavilion – Shore up supports, Drainage Issues, Clean up Area
Pine Road Pavilion – Replace Supports, Replace Roofing, Assess Size, Add Grills, Replace Dock, Address Lily Pads and Muck

Emergency/EMS Access

Address access areas for Emergency Personnel to reach residents in case of emergency.
Provide access to water supply in case of fire
Check in-to 911 Locations and Fire-ID’s for residents around the lake

Signage

Improve and Replace current road signs and safety signs around the Lake Gerry property

Website Development and Communication

Create and utilize the new Lake Gerry website to reduce paper, the amount of work, and increase efficiency for generating Memberships, Guest Passes and Boat Passes
Provide in-depth information to the Lake Gerry Association and community members to improve transparency and encourage volunteerism.
Allow for online payments and donations for the Lake Gerry Association.

Document Storage

Create a secure and rodent proof storage area for LGA documents and equipment
Explore digital document storage solutions for the Lake Gerry Association paperwork

Lake Gerry Preservation and Cleanup Efforts

Grass Carp – Adopt-a-Carp Fund
Lily Pad Remediation and Treatment – To be carried out end of July – August
Muck Remediation and Treatment – To be carried out ASAP and to establish a routine plan

Social Gatherings

Return of the Pot Luck, The Craft Fair and Bake Sale, Lake Days
The Charles Kelley Fishing Derby
Explore new fund raising opportunities that are fun and engaging for the community.
Off-Season Opportunities

We realize that these are ambitious goals, but with your help and support we can accomplish as many of them as possible. If you have an area of expertise or skill that you would like to help us with, please reach out to the Lake Gerry Association board.

2021 Charles Kelley Fishing Derby Results

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 11:37:58 GMT

It was a wet morning for the annual Charles Kelley Fishing Derby on Lake Gerry.

Thank you for all those that braved the weather to participate and the Beckwith family for donating their beautiful dock.

As always, Lake Gerry did not disappoint:

1st Place Adult: Eric Frank with a 17 inch Bass weighing in at 2.18 pounds

2nd Place Adult: Don Simmons with another 17 inch Bass weighing in at 1.98 pounds

Biggest Fish – Youth: Tyler Curtis

Most Fish – Youth: Ruby Curtis -12 fish

Smallest Fish – Youth: Carter Davis with a whopping 6 incher

The winner of the Fishing Derby Guessing Game: Carter Davis

A very special Thank You to Patrick Fucci for donating the prizes for this year’s Charles Kelley Fishing Derby.

If any of you have photos of your fishing derby adventures today that you would like to share with the community please send them to us at Contact@lakegerry.com

We hope you all have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

New Entrance Signs

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:31:02 GMT

In spite of a cold and rainy Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Gerry, our new entrance signs have been installed.

Many thanks to those who donated money and time to help purchase and install the new signs.

Annual Charles Kelley Fishing Derby

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 11:37:08 GMT

Come out and test your skills and luck landing the Big One this weekend (Saturday, July 3rd) at the annual Charles Kelley Fishing Derby.

Things are a little different this year, the Registration and Weighing/Counting will take place at the Beckwith’s Dock. (hopefully you all know where that is). The Derby will go from 9:00am until 12:00pm.

Trophies will be awarded for Youth: Largest Fish; Most Fish Caught; Adults: Largest Fish

We love to see photos of all the fun. If you would like us to share them, please feel free to email them to Contact@lakegerry.com

Have a safe and fun weekend everyone! Fish-On!

Charles Kelley Fishing derby Saturday July 3, 2021. 9am to 12pm. Registration at Beckwiths dock and fish weighing/counting at Beckwiths dock. Trophies in Adult and Youth categories.

Coffee Clutch Sunday

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:36:21 GMT

Sunday June 27th, join your friends and neighbors at the Chaz. Kelley Pavilion for our 2nd Coffee Clutch Sunday.

Short Term Rental proposal

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 11:35:15 GMT

Please click the button below to see a proposal for changes in the Lake Gerry By-Laws to address Short Term Rentals on properties owned by Lake Gerry Association members. Please keep in mind, these are just proposals and not binding. In the effort to maximize transparency among the LGA Board and LGA Members we encourage you to read this submission by LGA Member: Matt and should you have any questions or comments please direct them to our email address at: Contact@lakegerry.com

Thank you Matt for your contributions and providing us with some constructive ideas on the matter.

[-- link to file expired --]

Lily Pad Removal Permit

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 11:34:00 GMT

Click the link below to see the NY-DEC 2021 Lily Pad Treatment Plan Application for Lake Gerry 2021. Similar to the treatment performed in the Summer of 2020, SOLitude Lake Management will apply a topical herbicide to the lily pads on the lake. For this treatment to be most effective with the least amount of herbicide, it is important to perform the treatment during peak-lily pad levels. This typically occurs in July to August.

This year the treatment will be performed from an air-boat which will help maximize the herbicide coverage by allowing the application team to access areas of the lake that are difficult to navigate due to muck and other underwater debris.

While this herbicide is safe for use, we advise you to not swim in, or drink from the lake during application. As the date of application grows closer and is set, we will notify the lake community with signs around the lake and will post the date here on the website.

SOLitude Lake Management Visit

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 12:03:04 GMT

SOLitude Lake Management visited Lake Gerry on June 13th, 2022 to evaluate the success of our restoration efforts and to perform a Lake Muck Treatment.

We discussed the muck treatments, lily pad spraying and additional methods to improve the lake's ecosystem. We are also working on a proposal to remove the floating islands of muck and lily pads that are appearing.

Leadership Changes

Sun, 30 May 2021 11:29:52 GMT

Due to some unfortunate medical issues, Erich K. has officially stepped down as President of the Lake Gerry Association. To meet the Lake Gerry Association Board obligations, Pauline S. as vice-president, has assumed the role of acting President of the Lake Gerry Association.

We want to take a moment to thank Erich for his hard work and dedication to making Lake Gerry a better place. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him soon.

Adopt-A-Carp 2021

Thu, 06 May 2021 11:27:58 GMT

Adopt-a-GrassCarp

2021 - Adopt-a-Carp Program

Grass Carp are used in Lake Gerry to help us control the vegetation that grows in the lake. Our grass carp are specially bred and unable to reproduce in a lake such as Lake Gerry. Grass carp will consume up to 3 times their body weight in vegetation a day. The grass carp are being added to Lake Gerry based on our lake quality assessments and recommendations from our lake management service.

The average life-span of a grass carp is between 8 to 10 years with some living up to 20 in optimal conditions. It takes a year or so for a grass carp to reach its consumption potential. It is important that we stock Lake Gerry gradually with grass carp over the next few years and create a long-term management plan for them and weed control in the lake to help prevent it from becoming overgrown again.

Thank you for the very generous contributions made this year to our " adopt a grass carp " program. Marc was able to get a better price on the grass carp- allowing us to purchase six additional fish. A total of 47 grass carp will be introduced to Lake Gerry this year. Thank you Marc and all contributors.

LGA Board - Welcome

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:58:35 GMT

Greetings Lake Gerry Association!

It is with great anticipation that we greet our 2022 season. We had a productive and positive 2021 season! Thank you to all that gave and volunteered. We accomplished so many great things. 2022 is already shaping up to be another fruitful year.

Be sure to read all the new updates and information regarding Solitude. We are in such a good place with all we have done. We should be able to enjoy the ever-evolving quality of our lake. We will be addressing next steps at our meetings.

Please be sure to keep checking our website for all news and information. This last year our meeting attendance was remarkable. Many great ideas and opinions were expressed and helped to shape what turned out to be a most productive season.

It is with great sadness that we must acknowledge those who have left us this past year, Olga Hover, Leo Leonhard and John Beebe. On June 19th there will be a Celebration of Life for John Beebe from 1pm to 3pm at the Charles Kelley Pavilion. They will be greatly missed. In addition, Paul Dropp has left the fold. He now resides at the Oxford Vets Home. We wish him well and his presence will be missed.

We have many events planned for this season please stay tuned! Meetings, Raffles, Picnics will all be listed on the website and on our bulletin board at the pavilion! Let’s make this our best season ever! Go LGA!

- Pauline

Annual Membership - 2021

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:27:05 GMT

Newsletters and the Annual Membership packets have been mailed to all past-members. If you did not receive one, please find the new 2021 Membership form on this website, print, fill it out and return it. Return your membership application by April 30th and be entered to win a free-membership.

Along with your membership, please consider adding a little extra for the Lake Preservation Fund, Pavilion Fund, Fish Fund or the General fund to help with expenses this year and into the future. We have some great projects planned and we can only do them with your continued support.

Thank you!

Digital Membership Application

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 12:26:01 GMT

In order to save on postage and printing, the Lake Gerry Association is now offering digital/online versions of many of the membership documents including membership applications and newsletters.

The application can be found on our new Lake Gerry website

By-Laws Voting

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:25:05 GMT

Lake Gerry Association Members, watch your mailboxes over the next couple days as we present to you several updated or new by-laws to be added this year. Please read, vote and mail back as soon as possible.

This vote will include: Updating By-Laws to include: Mission statement, Code-of-Conduct for members, Fee-Schedule

It is very important you fill out and return the ballots as soon as possible to have your voices heard.

Membership Voting Results

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:23:59 GMT

The Lake Gerry Association Board is pleased to announce the results of our mail-in Vote.

The measure to increase the yearly Membership dues to $250.00/year was approved.

The Measure to insure the docks located on Lake Gerry Association access lanes was passed.

The measure to transfer ownership of Franklin, Gray and Scouten access lanes was passed.

New Entrance Signs

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:23:19 GMT

Through the coordination of the Lake Gerry Association, members, and generous donations from our members, we are happy to show you a preview of the new signs that will be placed at the entrances of the lake on Charles Kelley Road.

The above photo is a mock-up of what the new engraved signs will look like once they are installed when the winter weather breaks this spring.

Many thanks to those who are helping to improve our lake community!

Ice Fishing - 2020-2021

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:22:33 GMT

The Lake Gerry Association Members voted this fall to allow ice fishing on Lake Gerry for the 2020/2021 season. There are a few rules that apply:

An ice fishing pass is required for members and guests. This allows us to easily identify those who belong on the lake vs. those who do not. Passes may be picked up from a Lake Gerry Association Officer or by contacting the association.

Gas (petroleum, natural or other hydrocarbons) are prohibited on the lake. This includes powered augers, saws, drills and such. Use of hand augers is permitted.

No vehicles are permitted on the lake.

For your safety please assure ice is thick enough and make sure family or friends know where you are.

Please follow NYS fishing rules on limits and seasons.

Have Fun! Stay safe, stay warm and stay healthy this winter!

Digital By-Law Access

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 11:21:48 GMT

You can now access a digital copy of the Lake Gerry Association's By-Laws by either pressing the button below, or they will be available in the Membership section of this webpage. By having a digital copy of our By-Laws available online, they can be downloaded and/or printed at anytime for the member's use or reference.

New Website

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 11:21:09 GMT

September 2020

In an effort to improve communications between residents of Lake Gerry and the Lake Gerry Association a website has been created to provide a centralized source of information to keep you up-to-date with the happenings around the lake and among our community.

If there is anything you would like to see on our website please let us know by contacting us at: contact@lakegerry.com

Life jackets on the lake

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 11:20:25 GMT

A few members questioned "wearing life vests." here is a portion of New York State law pertaining to "life vests."

For the complete boating regulations and laws in New York State please visit parks/ny.gov. New York was the first state to require everyone aboard all small boats to wear life jackets during the coldest half of the year. As of November 1, kayakers, canoeists, and those aboard all other boats under 21 feet must wear Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices while on New York’s coastal waters, lakes, rivers, and other waterways. The jackets will be optional on such vessels beginning May 1. New York’s law is broader than those similar in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and affects all pleasure craft including small sailboats and motorboats (rowing shells used by crew teams are exempt).PFDs must be worn year-round by all children under 12 years of age on any boat less than 65 feet in length, unless within a fully enclosed cabin; by anyone towed, such as water-skiers or wake-boarders; and while on board a personal watercraft. Otherwise, a PFD must be available for every passenger on board every vessel, including no-motorized watercraft such as canoes, kayaks and rowboats.

What age must wear PFD: Under age 12.
Vessel Length: Whenever on any vessel 65 feet in length or under.
When PFD Must be Worn: Must be worn while vessel is underway.
Exceptions when PFD does not need to be worn: When in a fully enclosed cabin.
Approved PFD Styles: Type I, II, III, or V. Properly fitting and secured U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD.

Floating Docks

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 11:19:37 GMT

As the season ends, all floating docks must be pulled out of the lake by October 31 and stored on the home owner's property. Floating docks are not to remain in the lake over winter. Moreover, floating docks are not allowed to be stored on Lake Gerry access lanes. No access lanes may be blocked at any time. Thank you for your consideration and and cooperation. (Lake Gerry Association By-laws Section 13.6)

Lily Pad Treatment - Round 1

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 11:18:52 GMT

SOLitude Lake Management will be on the lake this week starting the Lily Pad Removal program.

Please note that the lily pad removal program will not yield immediate results, it will take several weeks to months for the treatment to reach the rhizomes (roots). During this time we ask that you please do NOT cut lily pads from the lake as it may inhibit the effectiveness of the treatment.

It is likely that we will not see the full results of the treatment until the following spring.

We anticipate at least one more treatment application next year.

Beach Upgrades

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 11:18:06 GMT

Thank you to some very generous Lake Gerry Association members for their donation of time, materials and expertise at reconstructing the Lake Gerry Beach.

The new upgrades include:

Regrading the beach, giving a much more gradual approach to the water making it safer for all.
New Sand

Lake Days 2020

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 11:17:13 GMT

Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic we will have a "Modified" Lake Days as voted upon at our last meeting in July.

There will be no Picnic or Auction this year.

See below Schedule for Lake Days Schedule for 2020 as follows:

Friday August 14, 7 pm: Ice Cream Social, we will have a variety of "prepackaged" ice cream sandwiches, cups and cones. We will supply bottled water. We ask everyone to use masks and social distance for the safety of all members.
Saturday August 15th: Annual Charles Kelley Fishing Derby. Registration begins at 8 am at the Pine Road Pavilion. Registration is free- you must register with your Lake Gerry Association membership/or guest card. The fishing Derby trophies will be handed out at the Pine Road Pavilion at 1 pm. Trophies awarded in adult and youth categories. We ask for everyone participating to "social distance" as best you can.
Saturday August 15, 7 pm: Lake Gerry Boat Parade. Decorate your boat, canoe, kayak. Dress in costumes.... Let's make this Boat Parade the best ever. Trophies awarded at the beach in both adult and youth categories. Make one complete lap around the lake for all to see.
Saturday August 15 at Dusk: Lights on the Lake.get your string lights, tiki torches in luminar bags ready. Luminary bags and votive candles will be available at our August 9th 1 pm meeting.
Sunday August 16, 9 am- 11 am: Lake Gerry Association Breakfast. Our Breakfast will be packaged in take-outcontainers. A complete breakfast will include: eggs, pancakes- plain/or blueberry, french toast, sausage, and home fries. Bottled water will be available. Individually packaged condiments and sealed plastic utensils. We ask you to bring any coffee or other beverages for your family. Please feel free to bring Lawn chairs or picnic blankets if you wish to "social distance" in a space you are more comfortable with. You may even take your meals to-go. Bags will be supplied as we are not allowed to handle your garbage or left-over food containers. Please take it with you.

We thank everyone for their participation and conforming to the new safety standards.

Member Voting

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:16:25 GMT

2020 ballots have been mailed out for Lake Gerry Association board members. Mailing was sent out on July 21. 2020. Please complete and return your ballot by August 5, 2020. We will announce the outcome at our Sunday Meeting- August 8, 1pm. If you are a member in good standing and have not received a ballot please contact us by private message. If you have paid for a second vote please include both names and signatures. Your vote is very important. Thank you.

Beach Closed - Temporarily

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:15:36 GMT

Please note: The Beach is is temporarily closed due to safety concerns. On Friday 6/19/20 a large tree branch fell into the swimming area. we contacted a licensed/insured arborist to assess our safety concerns. 3 trees require immediate removal. Removal will be done this week. If you wish to make a donation to offset this expense please private message us or contact: Erich Kennedy or Marc Speziali. Thank you

Officer Nominations Due

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 11:14:56 GMT

As a reminder, this Sunday, July 13th @ 1pm Chaz Kelley pavilion- we will be nominating board members for the next 2 year term. If you are a member in good standing and wish to rum for office, you must be in person at this meeting if you wish to be nominated.

New Lane Signs

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 11:14:10 GMT

This summer the Lake Gerry Association, the the sponsorship of its members, began updating many of the lake access signs. These new and aesthetically pleasing signs will help our members identify lake access lanes.

This is just one of many projects going on this summer at Lake Gerry to help improve the community.

Adopt-A-Carp 2020

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:13:24 GMT

Grass Carp are a recommended addition to the lake to help control the weeds of the lake. It is recommended that Lake Gerry house approximately 280 Grass Carp to help with the lake weeds. During the summer of 2020 we added 43 new carp to the lake bringing the total up to 68. These additions are made possible by very generous donations from the Lake Gerry Association Members. Each additional carp will help us maintain the quality of the lake and improve everyone's experience on and in Lake Gerry.

If you are interested in making a donation to adopt a carp (or several), please reach out to the association, or complete the Adopt-a-Carp form below.

Lily Pads

Tue, 26 May 2020 11:12:34 GMT

Lily pads have encroached upon every bank around the perimeter of Lake Gerry and have choked off access for many to the lake. Manual cutting and removal of the lily pads has proven to be an impossible task due to their rhyzome(root) structure. The Lake Gerry Association has been conducting several studies to address the lily pad issue and has contracted with a professional service to create a removal plan that will enhance the overall health of the lake, it's use and the health of the wildlife population.

Please watch the Lake Gerry Association news feed for more information as it becomes available.

May meeting cancelled

Sun, 17 May 2020 11:11:47 GMT

The Lake Gerry Association meeting on Sunday May 17th and Community Picnic on Sunday May 24th are hereby cancelled - In accordance to the New York State and local COVID 19 mandates. Hopefully, we will have better news in June. As more people return to the lake, please respect your neighbors rights and practice social distancing.

Thank you and stay safe and healthy.

Covid 19 Safety

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 11:11:00 GMT

The Lake Gerry Association will be in full compliance with New York State and the CDC's regulations for the COVID 19 Pandemic. Our scheduled meetings and events face cancellation and changes for this season. We ask all members to be patient and remember that your Lake Gerry Association Board is working tirelessly behind the scenes. Check out our Facebook page or signs posted on the Chaz Kelly Pavilion for changes and/or cancellations.

Throughout the 2020 Season -

Stay Connected to your state and local health department's social media pages and website for timely and accurate COVID-19 information and updates.
Questions? Call the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
If you decide to attend a public event, practice good health habits and social distancing.
Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and others at a meeting or event.
Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging and kissing.
Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs and handrails.