Gardner Lake Association
Minutes to Monthly Board Meeting
12/8/25
Meeting Called to Order by Mike Rankin at 4:00 PM on Zoom
Present: Mike Rankin, Amy Heaven, Leslie Hind, Ryan Mueller, Sandy Adams, Mike Stappert, Blair Honeyman
Absent: Blake Larson
Agenda
- Approved as submitted.
Secretary Report
- The board opted to skip formal review of the November minutes during the meeting. Minutes will be posted by Ryan Mueller following the meeting.
Treasury Report
- Submitted following the meeting by Leslie Hind. Current balances: $4,355.00 in Venmo and $25,345.22 in checking.
- Expenses of $163.74 were paid out to Greta and Amy Heaven for envelopes and gift cards related to the Holiday Light Contest.
- Two calendar advertisers have paid to date. Mike Rankin noted that billing for the calendar year will go out the following week, and that additional early payments had been received. Sandy Adams confirmed that Complete Home Solutions has paid in cash.
Old Business
2026 Calendar
- The 2026 GLA calendar is at the printer and expected to be ready around December 15. Sandy Adams noted the printer may run behind schedule.
- 300 calendars were ordered this year (up from 250 last year, which ran short). Extra copies will be set aside for new residents and may be sold for $5 each; Lake Road Reps were asked to communicate this to residents.
- The board voted to increase the calendar advertising rate from $100 to $150 per year for 2026, noting the rate has never previously been raised and print costs have increased.
- Sandy Adams has 6 new advertisers lined up this year. Mike Rankin will send billing to all advertisers the following week.
- A calendar stuffing party will be organized once calendars are in hand. Supplies are being coordinated: Mike Rankin has plastic door hanger bags, Blair Honeyman has blank label sheets, Amy Heaven has the mailing label template, and Leslie Hind will procure envelopes. All materials will be brought to Sandy Adams’ home for assembly.
- Amy Heaven will update the calendar cover letter from last year for inclusion in the bags. Mike Rankin will send Blair Honeyman Google Docs links to the welcome and directory letters for new residents.
New Resident Welcome Program
- Blair Honeyman is taking over new resident bag assembly from Greta. Each bag will include a calendar, the GLA welcome letter, the directory request letter, and one of Amy Heaven’s Gardner Lake history books. Blair Honeyman confirmed she is down to the last copy of the book and will coordinate with Amy Heaven for additional copies.
- The board discussed compensating Amy Heaven for the cost of books donated to the GLA for new resident bags. Amy Heaven estimated her cost at approximately $12 per paperback copy. The board agreed the book is a valuable part of the welcome program and tabled the topic to determine exact costs and an appropriate reimbursement.
- Leslie Hind noted that approximately 270–280 households are on the lake. 10–15 bags are estimated to be needed for new residents annually.
Board Membership
- Mike Rankin reported that Natalie Hill, who led the Chili Cook-Off, has expressed interest in joining the board as a special events coordinator. The board was unanimously supportive. Mike Rankin will contact Natalie Hill to extend a formal invitation.
- Greta has officially retired from her board role after the current season. The board expressed appreciation for her years of service and her agreement to lead the Holiday Light Contest one final time.
Member Recognition
- The board discussed creating a formal recognition program for departing long-term board members.
New Business
Holiday Light Contest
- The Holiday Light Contest will proceed this year. Greta has volunteered to lead it one final time, coordinating prizes and judging.
- Mike Rankin will send a letter to residents soliciting photo submissions, with a goal of posting entries for community voting by around December 15. Voting is expected to close around December 22–23, with winners announced and prizes delivered before Christmas.
- The board discussed simplifying the prize format going forward, with poinsettias (purchased locally) as a favored option for winners. Leslie Hind will follow up with Greta on the prize plan for this year. The board noted the local flower farm as a potential source and mentioned exploring a possible GLA calendar advertising arrangement with them.
- Ryan Mueller noted that self-submission contests tend to yield very few entries, and that in the past someone has driven around to photograph decorated homes.
Adjournment
The meeting was moved to adjourn by Amy Heaven and seconded by Sandy Adams.