Why does BIPOA exist,
and what's in a name?

The Beaver Island Property Owners Association has been part of the fabric of Beaver Island life for many years. Not having been present at the creation, I don't know why or by whom it was founded. Some Beaver Islanders have assumed it exists primarily to protect and advocate for Island property owners' narrow interests as property owners, but that has never been more than a small part of its official corporate purposes.

They were described in the original Articles of Incorporation as follows:

1. Promote sound conservation,
2. save the natural resources of Beaver Island and promote sound environmental programs,
3. insure that local government is responsive to the wishes of property owners on the island,
4. work for intelligent land use,
5. foster and support sound economic growth consistent with the natural beauty of the island.

Those purposes were amended several years ago with the filing of an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and now read as follows: "The Beaver Island Property Owners Association is a nonprofit organization and acts as an information source. Areas include:

1. promoting sound conservation,
2. to save natural resources of Beaver Island and promote sound environmental programs,
3. work for intelligent land use,
4. enhance communication between local governments and property owners to ensure growth is consistent with the natural beauty of the island."

The organization's Mission Statement, prominently displayed on this and every issue of the BIPOA newsletter and part of our bylaws since 2002, is consistent with those purposes.

In 2003, BIPOA was granted tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, recognizing that its purposes and operations are consistent with purposes - primarily educational - described therein. That could not have happened if BIPOA's existence and operation served only the selfish interests of property owners. This is mostly old news, of course, but I think it is worth mentioning in this my first message to members as the Association's new president for the following reasons.

Four BIPOA board members retired from the Board of Directors this past summer: Jack Kelly, who served the last two years as president; Doris Larson, who served with great dedication and efficiency as secretary; and Dennis Cady and Krys Lyle. We thank them for their service and will miss them all. During discussions with prospective new board members, some of us met with resistance based on the misperception that BIPOA does exist primarily for such narrow, selfish purposes, so it is important to put that to rest.

Also, during the past two-plus years BIPOA has worked hard to inform the Beaver Island community about the threat of invasive phragmites to our shores and native habitat and to advocate for and help organize a treatment program to meet this threat. Those efforts came to fruition over the past summer and early fall with the very successful phragmites eradication program carried out by St. James and Peaine Townships and the DNR and described in Pam Grassmick's report.

This was a great example of good communication and collaboration between BIPOA and local governments - and of the unselfishness of Island property owners, who contributed thousands of dollars to the effort not just to eradicate phragmites from their own beaches, but to provide adequate resources to treat all affected areas on the many miles of publicly owned Beaver Island shoreline. To build on this collaboration, the BIPOA Board has designated some of its members to serve as continuing liaison with the Township Boards - not to be "watchdogs" or trouble-makers, but to keep the lines of communication open and facilitate further cooperation.

Some of you will recall conversation at the last two BIPOA annual meetings about a possible name-change for the organization. Nothing came of those discussions, but in its first meeting the newly constituted Board of Directors revisited the idea and a special committee was formed to review the matter and make a recommendation for action when the Board met again in September. That recommendation and the Board's action are reported by Peter Igoe.

The short version is that we have filed a Certificate of Assumed Name with the State to use the name, "The Beaver Island Association." We will operate under that name from now until next summer's annual meeting, when those present will be asked to approve a permanent name change. We believe the new name and the succinct mission-derived tag line that will accompany it on our letterhead and all other written materials much better describe and encompass our true official purposes and our members' expectations, and will enable the organization to grow and become even more effective in achieving those purposes. We hope you agree.

– Paul Glendon

A New Name

Annual Meeting Minutes

Questions for the COA

BICDC Senior Housing

Phragmites Update

Fighting Algae

Where has the Water Gone?

Beach Cleanup Success

Logging on State Land

Community Center

Saving the Family Cottage

Library Resources