NALMS Notes

Well, another fine NALMS symposium is history, and the baton of leadership has been passed. I received a gavel, a clock that runs backwards, and a blue feather boa at our latest gathering. I have been ruling my 14 year old daughter out of order most evenings, but it does not seem to have much effect. The backwards clock works well, but does not appear to cancel the march of time, at least not in the Eastern Time Zone. The blue feathered boa I will leave to your imagination. Yet while the NALMS crowd is known for its good humor, we plan to mark this next year with more than laughs. There is a lot of work to be done, and enthusiasm is high after a fine symposium and a torrent of email communication. If you have not seen the detailed list of committees and tasks, look for it on line soon and get involved. The basic initiatives are listed below in this newsletter.

While NALMS has always been dynamic, 2006 was more of a transitional year than usual. Philip Forsberg, our project manager, has been a real pillar during this period and deserves our thanks. We will have a new administrative assistant and webmaster in place in Wisconsin very soon, so look for improved service and a new look for our website within a couple of months. LakeLine and the Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management continue their excellence as our flagship publications, but we are seeking to get more free information on the web to educate the public, and will be creating an image library accessible to members. We have a long list of issues on which NALMS intends to speak out, after each is carefully researched first by our Science Advisory Committee. And our Development Committee will be hard at work on advancing the structure of NALMS to better meet our mission. With the many other tasks on the list, it will be a year of progress and excitement, but we need your help to make NALMS the best it can be. We have many talented members; join a committee, contribute to the effort, and while you are at it, recruit at least one new member.

You will be hearing from NALMS more often this year, and we hope to hear from you. Lake management is highly multidisciplinary, requiring expertise in scientific, economic, social, regulatory and political disciplines. NALMS' mission of forging partnerships for the betterment and protection of our lakes is as critical today as it was when NALMS was founded in 1980. While we have made great progress in many areas, we still have much to do. With your help, we can make measurable progress in 2007. Together we can make a difference!

Ken Wagner
NALMS President

NALMS Releases 2007 Initiatives

Working with the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, NALMS President Ken Wagner has developed a set of initiatives for 2007 that are intended to move NALMS forward as the premier source of information on environmentally sound lake management. Key items laid out during Ken's address to the 26th annual NALMS symposium include efforts to:

Expand our membership - Aggressively seek expanded membership by a campaign to get people involved. Focus is communication about our mission, our development plan, and our products and services to support those involved with lake protection and improvement.

Enhance our website - Improve user friendliness and populate it with useful, free materials, as well as conference information, membership opportunities and position statements on important issues. Make the open site an enticement to get more involved and provide even more desirable information and opportunities on the membership services portion of the website, accessible only to members.

Elevate our visibility on issues - We already have a short list of 8 major issues about which NALMS has something important to say. Look for NALMS to start popping up in the news late this winter.

Rejuvenate our committees - Volunteer committees have always been an important part of NALMS, and progress over this coming year will once again depend upon the commitment of our members. There are 13 primary committees, several with multiple subcommittees, all actively engaged in the business of NALMS. Check out the list elsewhere in this newsletter and offer your services!

Increase contact with partners - The mission of NALMS explicitly states importance of forging partnerships, and we are looking to both strengthen existing partnerships and develop new ones in the coming year.

Build capacity to make a difference - To really make a difference, NALMS needs to provide a structure that efficiently and effectively utilizes a combination of volunteers and staff to achieve our mission. NALMS is shifting to a governance board model, and we need to build into that model the capacity to address perennial issues as well as rising opportunities in lake management.

This is a tall order but one that we can meet if we pull together as a society. Every one of you can play a role in our progress. Join a committee and get involved. More specifically, there is a very real need to accumulate the best in public domain lake and watershed management documents for posting on the website. If you know of materials that can be posted on the NALMS site directly or as a link, we want to know about it (contact Amy Smagula or Frank Browne). We are evaluating positions with regard to toxic algae, invasive species impacts and controls, TMDLs, nutrient criteria, the economic value of lakes, and several other topics. If you have a substantiated opinion to offer, we want to hear from you (contact Bill Monagle). Perhaps most critically, go out and recruit one or more new members. Have them put your name at the bottom of their application, because all those recruiting new members will be eligible for a prize drawing, including registration to next year's symposium, Disney tickets, and more. Look for more details in upcoming newsletters and LakeLine.

Annual Symposium Wrap-Up

Algae workshop attendees checking out scum.

Enjoying the carousel at the Children's Museum, site of the annual awards banquet.

Enjoying one of the great lunches at Union Station.

Over 400 lake enthusiasts attended the 26th Annual NALMS International Symposium, held in Indianapolis, IN from November 6-10, 2006. Those who did not know that Indy is one of the top conference destinations in the USA were surprised and pleased with what they found. Nearly everything one might want to do was within a comfortable walk of the hotel, which was itself a most welcoming place. Union Station was an architectural masterpiece, made even more interesting through its conversion from working rail station to conference center. The exhibits area was spread out a bit more than we are used to, but the lap around the ornately tiled former track area was well worth it, as the exhibits provided very useful information and some eye-popping demonstrations. The Grand Hall, site of most meals and the Exhibitors' Reception, provided an impressive backdrop, with its large atrium and huge round windows at the ends.

Continuing a tradition of excellence, the presentations in four concurrent sessions provided updated information on a wide variety of topics, with a number of truly excellent talks that captivated audiences. We got another installment of Alex Horne's limnological music, were exposed to the cutting edge of carry capacity analysis, and got an update on harmful algal blooms, to name but a few of the exciting sessions. Workshops were also provided before the conference in a variety of subjects, including an advanced algae class and an EPA-sponsored remote sensing workshop.

The banquet was a truly memorable affair, held in the Indy Children's Museum. Some might ask "What kind of a venue is that for the NALMS crowd?" If you were not there, all we can suggest is that you envision the fun-loving folks that make up NALMS covering four floors of interactive exhibits with drinks in their hands. The merry-go-round alone made it a memorable event! At the awards ceremony, Ann St. Amand was honored with the Secchi Disk Award, and AW Research received the Outstanding Corporation Award, among other honorees. Check out the winter issue of LakeLine for more details, and don't miss next year's symposium, to be held on the Disney grounds in Orlando, Florida!

NALMS Membership Category Change Approved

At the annual membership/business meeting held on November 8, 2006 the membership voted to eliminate the Chapter membership category and to establish an Affiliate membership category, effective January 1, 2007. The Affiliate category was established for "state, provincial, territorial or regional lake and watershed management groups with purpose and objectives or mission statements consistent with those of the Society as contained in Articles II and III of the Constitution". The following provisions apply to the new membership category:

Affiliates shall demonstrate a willingness to partner with NALMS on activities that promote environmentally sound lake and reservoir management.

Affiliates shall make all NALMS communications available to their membership either directly or indirectly (can supply member contact info or agree to disseminate information).

Affiliates may be established by petition to the Board in accordance with rules, policies, and procedures adopted by the Board. However, existing Chapters would be considered eligible to become Affiliates without further review.

Annual cost of Affiliate membership is $250.

Specific benefits of the Affiliate category include one copy of Lakeline & Journal, E-Newsletter, membership on the Affiliate Council, message group, link to NALMS website, promotion of events, fixed discount booth at the Symposium, and access (where applicable) to D&O insurance.

May have multiple Affiliates within any given state, province or region.

So what does this all really mean? The working relationship between Chapters and NALMS has never been what either party wanted. Chapters were supposed to be extensions of NALMS in a smaller geographic area, and all Chapter members were supposed to be NALMS members. That is the literal definition of a Chapter in every organization that we evaluated. At the same time, NALMS has supported Chapters inconsistently over the years, and made requests that some Chapters found onerous or unrelated to their mission. In essence, the Chapters want their separate identity and NALMS wants to focus on increasing membership in NALMS and serving those members. The move to Affiliates from Chapters represents recognition of the needs and desires of both groups.

Now that the change in membership categories has been made, Chapters can choose to become Affiliates, Non-Profit members, or simply to maintain contact through individuals who are members of both organizations. NALMS would prefer to have the Chapters as Affiliates, as this is the most appropriate designation for a group with a mission like that of NALMS operating in a defined geographic area. Non-Profit members tend to be lake associations, most of which are too small to have the regional influence expected in an Affiliate (although some do!), but also include groups with an interest in NALMS but not a matching mission or a willingness to partner on events like our annual symposium or regional conferences. The cost for an Affiliate or Non-Profit are the same, but Affiliates will have first access to travel funds and related benefits when available. There can now be more than one Affiliate from a state, province or region, however, so Affiliates do not have exclusive rights within their geographic areas.

Individual members are certainly needed by NALMS and Affiliates and Non-Profits, and NALMS is anxious to create a cooperative atmosphere, not a competitive one. Some Chapters have maintained a cooperative relationship, while others have not. For a typical lake enthusiast, it seems most likely that they would join their local lake association and hopefully would also join the state, provincial or regional Affiliate. NALMS hopes that lake associations or leaders of those associations will join NALMS as well. In that regard, NALMS will solicit lake associations for either Non-Profit or Lake Leader memberships and promote membership by the association and all its members in any corresponding Affiliate. This should be a win-win situation for cooperating Affiliates.

Finances have long been an issue for Chapters and NALMS. Chapter dues have ranged from $100 to $400. The cost of a booth at the annual symposium for a Non-Profit group has been about $450, and included a registration worth about $360. The cost of supporting Chapter rep attendance at a conference has been on the order of $500 per Chapter, not including waiver of the registration fee, which is typically about $250. A subscription to LakeLine costs $25, which barely covers the cost, so when a Chapter asks for 15 copies for its directors and leaders, it is asking for $375. All of these options consume the entire dues fee before any cost for the maintenance of NALMS staff, facilities, website and committee work is covered. NALMS simply can't afford to support a lot of non-members that make up a Chapter (or Affiliate or Non-Profit).

On the other hand, NALMS wants information on sound lake management to reach everyone and is willing to provide it in an electronic format that Affiliates or Non-Profits can disseminate to their members. NALMS bears the printing costs for its members; Affiliates and Non-Profits can bear the cost of hard copies for their members if so desired. This is fair. If NALMS receives a grant that helps get useful materials into the hands of lake managers and leaders, the Affiliates will be among the first in line as recipients, as the Chapters have been. But Affiliates must be willing to partner with NALMS to make events happen; not all Chapters have been willing to do that.

The Affiliate Council will replace the Chapters Committee. The primary difference is that the Affiliate Council will have equal representation by all parties, including NALMS. NALMS does not run it, it simply participates in it. This group will be what the Affiliates make of it. If something is desired of NALMS, bring it up and it will be considered. If NALMS needs some action by the Affiliates, it will request it through this forum. If everyone is focused on their corner of the lake and not thinking more globally, perhaps nothing will happen; it will be as active as you make it!

In summary, the shift from Chapters to Affiliates will not look like much of a change to many Chapters but represents a new beginning for what NALMS hopes will be a mutually rewarding relationship. The core benefits are substantively the same, the options for support remain tied to available funds, and the chance to demonstrate cooperation in both directions will be maintained. Annual reporting and a scaled dues structure are eliminated, and an altered forum for sharing ideas and expressing needs will be established. NALMS and the former Chapters could be strengthened by these changes, if everyone pulls together.

Annual Symposium Feedback Sought

We sincerely hope that you enjoyed the 26th Annual NALMS International Symposium, held in Indianapolis, IN from November 6-10, 2006. But we also hope that you will share any suggestions for making our symposium better each year. Each venue has its advantages and challenges, and we do our best to make everything fit together for the benefit of all attendees. We also know that there are shortcomings as well as pleasant surprises. Knowing how critical those are to your conference experience is important to us, so we invite your comments on any of the following aspects of the symposium:

Hotel - rooms, facilities and general friendliness of the Crowne Plaza

Meeting rooms - adequacy of space, seating comfort, temperature, visibility of presentations

Exhibits area - general appearance, accessibility, content and flow of traffic

Breakfasts - quality of food and beverage, quantity of food, service

Lunches - quality of food and beverage, quantity of food, service

Breaks - convenience, food and beverage, facilitation of interaction

Exhibits reception - venue (Grand Hall of Union Station), food/drink, interactions

Banquet - venue (Indy Children's Museum), allocated time, reception, meal, program

Technical Program - number of sessions, time allocation per talk, quality of talks

Any other aspect of the symposium you would care to comment upon.

A survey for conference attendees has been posted on the NALMS website. It will take a few minutes to fill it our electronically, but this will help us make our conferences the best they can be.

NALMS 2007 Calendar is Now Available

Thanks to the generosity of a dozen sponsors and the hard work of Tom Conry, NALMS has its first calendar in a long time. There actually was one for the 10th anniversary, but not since then. And this one is something special. Using top entries from past photo competitions, the effect is striking, rivaling anything you might buy in a store, and its all about lakes! All those attending the Annual Symposium in Indianapolis got a free copy. Any other NALMS member can have one for the nominal cost of $5, to cover shipping and handling. Don't delay - it is a limited edition, and there won't likely be any around come 2007! It really is nice. One member bought 350 to give to volunteer monitors back home!

Check out the calendar images on our website, then call or visit the BookStore for yours today!

Cyano DVDs Available

The special symposium on harmful Cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, held as part of the 25th annual NALMS symposium in Madison last year, was taped and professionally rendered on a three DVD set. This complete coverage of the most up to date information available on blue-green algae problems is available, along with a CD containing all the Powerpoint presentations for the best possible clarity, from NALMS at a cost of $100 while they last. Other organizations often tape special symposia and sell the electronic versions for $250 to $500, but NALMS wants you to have this information at a reasonable cost as part of our mission to promote sound lake management. If you do not know what all the fuss over blue-green blooms is all about, you need to see this! If you know how serious the issue is becoming but were not at the symposium, you need to see this! For those of us who were there, it is great to be able to see it again, stopping and going over key parts that relate to our profession and passion for lakes.

Call the NALMS office at 608-233-2836 or visit the BookStore to order your copy today!

LakeLine Subscriptions Make Great Gifts

LakeLine is the quarterly magazine of NALMS, and has become a truly first rate source of information on lake management at a level suitable for almost anyone. Our members all receive it. Are you as impressed with LakeLine as most readers? Do you find the themes timely and the articles insightful? If so, consider giving a subscription to a friend or colleague. LakeLine can be obtained independently of a NALMS membership for $25 per year, and will be appreciated by anyone who loves lakes. If we're right, it may also entice them into becoming members of NALMS, which we certainly wouldn't mind! Contact the NALMS office at 608-233-2836 or visit the BookStore to order a subscription for someone you know that cares about lakes.

Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management

If you prepare papers from your work, or want to find an outlet for solid scientific information on lake management, consider the Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management, or simply JLRM. Expertly managed by NALMS member Jim LaBounty and organized by NALMS staffer Philip Forsberg, JLRM contains some of the most practical limnological research available today. NALMS members can receive JLRM as an option of membership, and libraries can get direct subscriptions to this journal. If you have not seen it, check it out. If you have material you think might be suitable, contact Jim LaBounty to discuss publishing with us. One key aspect of the JLRM is that publication has remained free to member authors, unlike many other scientific journals that charge for both publication and subscription. This is all part of the mission of NALMS, but it requires effort on our part to keep costs down. Do your part and support this worthy publication!

Committees Loading Up for Action

President Wagner has set an aggressive agenda for the coming year, and the list of committee chairs, tasks and taskmasters is taking shape rapidly. Visit our committees page to see the committees as they currently stand.

NALMS is still in need of an overall Publications Committee chair, and there is space on most committees for additional members. If you would like to work on a committee, contact the chair at the appropriate address above.

So What is a CLM or CLP?

A CLM is a Certified Lake Manager, while a CLP is a Certified Lake Professional. A CLM is a person who, by training and experience, has proven themselves competent to make lake management recommendations and is actively engaged in lake management. A CLP is similar, but may not be directly involved in making lake management recommendations. Rather, CLPs provide high quality data and support services upon which sound lake management decisions can be based. These might include lab analysis of water or biological samples or mapping services like GIS or aerial imaging. CLMs and CLPs are certified by a NALMS review committee based on specific criteria, and are obligated to complete five Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every three years. A CEU represents 10 hours of contact time in an educational, professional or service setting.

The value of having a CLM or CLP involved with a lake project is twofold: these professionals are known to have the appropriate qualifications, and they keep up with developments in the field through the continuing education program. Certainly there are qualified professionals who are not CLMs or CLPs, and we'd like them to gain that status, but using a CLM or CLP on a project represents an additional level of security toward having the job done correctly.

You may wish to view further information on CLM / CLP requirements.

Upcoming Conferences

Presentations Sought for Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL) Conference
The 30th Congress of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology will be held in North America for the first time in over 30 years. They meet only once every three years, but this international group of limnologists may be more similar to NALMS than any other aquatic resources organization. There is a definite interest in applied limnology and lake management, and a number of NALMS members belong to this group. Gertrud Nurnberg of NALMS is chairing a session on lake management advances, assisted by Ken Wagner. It will be held during the conference in Montreal, Canada, between August 12 and 18, 2007. We have gotten good response so far, but there is room for more great talks on practical advances. The presentations are not case histories, but rather concept talks on how problems have been solved or at least recognized, with examples as warranted. For more details check out the SIL website or contact Gertrud.

Invasive Species - New Invasions Documented

Zebra mussels.

The arrival of known invasive species was documented in Indiana and Massachusetts in 2006. Indiana had its first occurrence of Hydrilla, an invasive plant that has caused major ecological and economic problems in southern reservoirs. It has occurred in other northern states sporadically in recent years, and has proven extremely difficult to control. Zebra mussels showed up on a boat brought to Onota Lake in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts, where alkalinity may indeed support this invasive mussel species. Zebra mussels have drastically changed the ecology of many northeastern rivers and lakes, and caused major economic losses with regard to fishing and water supply. The presence of zebra mussels may have been detected in time in the Massachusetts case, underscoring the value of educating the public about invasive species and empowering local groups to be proactive. Maine has one of the strongest programs in that regard, one which Ship Bright has spoken about at several NALMS conferences, and has experienced considerably fewer invasions than most other states. The damage done by invasive species is very real, but since this is often not perceived until it is too late, proper emphasis on preventing invasions is still lacking in many states and provinces. NALMS is working to change this, and needs your support to make a difference!

Great Lakes Givers Club

Hit the lottery lately? Need an end of the year donation for tax purposes? Or do you just feel grateful for our lakes and what NALMS is trying to do to improve and protect them? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", please consider donating to NALMS through the Great Lakes Givers Club this month. Contributions are tax deductible and you will be acknowledged, unless you prefer anonymity.

Open Invitation to add to the Next E-newsletter

If you are having a conference, have a lake-related question, need advice, looking for similar lake problems, have an interesting story to share, are selling something, or just want to be heard throughout NALMS, please send your material to Steve Lundt.