Membership
The Cedar Lake Conservancy’s only focus is preserving the quality of our lake. It is not a homeowners’ association and cannot in any way micro-manage your home/cabin/property with its own rules and regulations. Aitkin and Crow Wing Counties are quite happy to do that.
The Conservancy
- Fosters a sense of community with the same goal of protecting our valuable resource.
- Works with the sheriff’s office on water safety issues, placement/maintenance of buoys on the lake and no wake zones.
- Works with the DNR on yearly fish counts, beaver issues, etc.
- Through a strictly volunteer system of property owners monitors the public landing, water quality and aquatic invasive species.
- Educates lake residents and those in its watershed.
- Maximizes partnership opportunities with other conservation organizations, the state and county.
- Influences and participates in local government decisions affecting the lake or its watershed.
What does my annual, nonrefundable $25 cover?
- The costs of publishing/mailing a newsletter and any other pertinent information, as required, a few times a year to keep members informed on important issues
- Hosting an annual meeting which provides an opportunity to connect with other members
- Hearing from local experts on a variety of issues
- Minimal administrative costs including website server expenses
- Water quality testing and/or supplies, if needed
- Directors and officers liability insurance
What’s this directors and officers liability insurance about?
- Also known as D & O Insurance, it covers an organization’s officers and directors against claims related to employment (the Cedar Lake Conservancy has no employees), management of funds and other nonbodily issues. It’s really legal defense insurance.
What doesn’t the Conservancy do?
- Enforce local, state/federal law or ordinances.
Why join?
- Because you care about the environment, water quality, fish size, shoreline beauty and how the lake is used…not just for yourself but future generations, too.
- Lakefront property owners can accomplish more as a group than individually. It’s more efficient and less expensive to prevent lake issues rather than repair damage afterwards, i.e. water clarity, invasive aquatic species, etc. Clean water increases lakeshore property value (Bemidji State University study showed a direct link between the two). Once a lake reaches a certain point of degradation, it can never be brought back to where it once was.
Donations
Support the Cedar Lake Conservancy!
The Cedar Lake Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Your commitment to protect and preserve our natural wonder for this and future generations is critical. Your donation helps ensure Cedar Lake will remain as pristine as possible. As a lover of the lake, the CLC hopes it can count on you for additional support in addition to your annual dues.
Any donation designated for the Environmental Stewardship Fund (ESF) is accounted for separately in the financial statements.
Payments
All donation or membership dues checks should be made payable to Cedar Lake Conservancy and mailed to:
Cedar Lake Conservancy
P.O. Box 152
Aitkin, MN 56431
Join / Renew / Donate
Membership Levels
Basic – $25 Dues
Loon – $50 ($25 Dues plus $25 donation to ESF)
Heron – $75 ($25 Dues plus $50 donation to ESF)
Eagle – $100 ($25 Dues plus $75 donation to ESF)
Online payments are made through PayPal and include a small processing fee.
All donations are tax-deductible.