June 26, 2026

• Warmest Summer Greetings to All…

  Please plan on joining friends, family, and neighbors on Saturday, July 4 for a full day of Semiquincentennial celebration in Maple Springs.  Events are scheduled as follows:

  9:00 am         MSCA Community Meeting at the Fire Hall. (Details below)

  11:00 am       Bike Decorating for Parade @ The Circle

  12:00 Noon   Parade, followed by 250^th America Celebration Sing-A-Long @ The Circle

  12:30 pm       Sign-ups for games @ Kauffman’s porch (4808 Lakeside Promenade)

  6:00 pm         Annual Cocktail Party and Awards (BYOB & App) – MSYC Clubhouse (Lakeview Ave.)

                          (Please bring any awards to Kauffman’s by 7/4.)

  We look forward to seeing you and celebrating!

  Maple Springs Community Meeting 

  Saturday, July 4, 2026, 9am at the Fire Hall

  Agenda

  1.      Welcome - Darin Bartram

  2.      Pledge of allegiance - Darin Bartram

  3.      Approval of previous meeting minutes

  4.      Recognition of community members who have passed away since the end of last season.

  5.      Recognition of new members to the community. 

  6.      Reminder of Website/Directory: www.maplespringsny.com

  7    MSCA Finances and Budget - Bob Wooler

• ·      Review and Renewal of Landscaping Contract

8.      MSIC Update - Doug Conroe

9.      Knotweed Update – John Michael

10. Beach/Lakefront - Rob Trenkamp

11. Hospitality Committee Update - Elise Torre

12. Nominating Committee for 2027 Board - Darin Bartram, Rob Trenkamp, John Michael, and Valerie Benjamin are eligible, but nominations for additional candidates will be entertained.

13. Comments from the floor on matters not previously discussed.

Next Meeting Date & Location? Propose September 5, 2026 at 10am.

Minutes of the MSCA Meeting  August 30, 2025 10 AM, Maple Springs Fire Hall

President Darin Bartram called the meeting to order at 10:01 am with the pledge of allegiance.  The minutes were approved with corrections following a motion from Shar Trenkamp with Eileen Leary seconding.  Esther Lee was changed to Jan Esterly with thanks to John Michael.

Bob Wooler then gave an update on MSCA finances. We will likely end up with approximately 2k surplus (barring unforeseen incidents) in 2025.  Our 2026 budget indicates our dues structure will remain the same (240/100).  Bob thanked citizens who have contributed extra which helps our fund position.  We are on track for a $4,400 surplus, off revenues of 31k.  Dick Davenport made a request to add a line item to the beach for maintenance, and he will donate.  This would be to rehab the beach and replace all the sand.  Bob mentioned this is built into the landscaping budget.  Marie Berner asked what is specifically covered in the landscaping contract, which is mowing, beach maintenance etc – special projects are billed extra at a pre-determined hourly rate.  Bob mentioned we have budgeted $8,500 total, which is more than last year and is intended to provide funding for special projects.  Board member Sarah Tranum commented that beach maintenance needs to be a separate line item for reasons of transparency.  Darin said the board would take the suggestion and thanked Dick for his generosity.  Marie Berner also said there should be a garbage can on the beach.  John Michael said the board would discuss all of the suggestions and potentially include as part of the landscape bid.

Joe Torre asked if we could have a line item specifically for the beach.  Bob said we would add a line item and move $2500 from the total and denote “beach maintenance”.  With those changes, a motion to approve the budget was made by Doug Conroe and seconded Dick Davenport.  The motion passed and the budget was approved.

Rob Trenkamp then provided an update on beach maintenance – noting that Dave Ward is thanked for contributing toward public dock beautification and maintenance.

Doug Conroe provided an update on the MSIC and reported there was no business that came before the board this year.

Sarah Tranum provided an update on the hospitality committee, This summer, they have organized two Happy Hours and a Chautauqua Belle Cruise.  Sarah thanked Marie Berner for her contributions to the committee.  Marie in turn thanked Bob for making a chalkboard and asked for volunteers for beach furniture and equipment winter storage.  Sarah thanked Marie a second time for putting up signs and communicating and encouraged people to check the website.  Darin also thanked the hospitality committee in general.

Darin then presented nominations for board membership.  Binnie Pappas, Elise Torre, and Bob Wooler.  Motion to approve was made by Jane Conroe and seconded by Joe Torre.  The nominated board members were approved.

Sarah Tranum then made a request for Marla to provide an update on Midway State Park.  Marla was asked if there is anything new and she said no, but mentioned the park has had good attendance this year.  She received no questions from the floor.

Last agenda items were new business and items from the floor.  Jerry Lesinski asked about the no fishing sign and Rob reiterated that this has been done.

Marie Berner asked for the board to comment on the rumble strips that have been placed on some roads by private citizens.  Darin informed the citizenry that we have talked to the Sherriff and that rumble strips are not allowed on Chautauqua County roads – much like golf carts.  Darin is not sure what the enforcement priority is, but the responsibility for that lies with the County.

Sarah Tranum then read a prepared speech which is appended at the conclusion of these minutes about her board experience, with ideas on how the community can improve.  

Jerry Lesinski asked when prompted if Sarah’s comments could be made available to everyone in the community.  The board will consider the request.  Marie Berner made a request that we have a zoom option for board meetings.  The board will consider the request.   Marie Berner then spoke from the floor about how challenging her two years of experience on the board was and asked for more members to consider joining the hospitality committee.  Darin thanked Marie for her perspective and reiterated the board’s commitment to treat everyone with the respect they are entitled to.

Bob Wooler thanked everyone involved for watering flowers on the bridge, and the beach cleanup. 

Darin then adjourned the meeting at 10:47.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Valerie Carson Benjamin, Recording Secretary, MSCA

______________________________________________

Toward a Stronger, More Inclusive Maple Springs

Sarah Tranum - MSCA Annual Meeting - Aug 2025

Hi everyone,

As I step down from the MSCA Board, I want to take a few minutes to share some

insights—not to stir controversy, but to encourage positive, thoughtful change.

I hope you’ll bear with me as I read from what I’ve written—I want to make sure I stay

focused and clearly express everything I feel is important to share.

I’m a growth-minded educator, and I have a really hard time stepping away from

anything without offering some feedback—feedback that I hope inspires reflection,

learning, and ultimately, progress. What I’m about to share comes not just from my time

on the Board, but also from my heart—as a community member who deeply loves MSP!

So while I’m speaking today with some perspective as a Board member, I’m also

speaking as a neighbor, a year-round resident, and someone who wants Maple Springs

to thrive for everyone, no matter what side of the street or bridge you live on!

To be clear, this isn’t about blame or finger-pointing. It’s about noticing what could be

better and naming it with the hope that it opens the door to honest conversation and

meaningful improvement.

A Little Background

I joined the MSCA Board because I love this community. I’ve served on many boards

over the years and felt I had something valuable to offer—professional experience,

collaborative energy, and a deep sense of purpose. At the heart of everything I do is a

desire to make a positive impact on the world around me—and inspire others to do the

same.

When I joined the MSCA, I saw opportunities to:

● Help rebuild trust, which I felt had been compromised by a lack of transparency

● Encourage positive, reasonable change, rather than clinging to the status quo

● And foster a stronger sense of community and belonging

Now, I fully recognize that people experience Maple Springs in different ways. Some are

here to relax, enjoy the lake, and not worry about governance—and that’s perfectly fine.

But as a year-round resident, I feel a deeper investment in this place. And I’ve spoken

with enough neighbors—seasonal and permanent—to know that I’m not alone in

wanting a more connected and inclusive community. Look at the success of the

hospitality committee's efforts!

That said, I made a conscious decision not to continue serving on the Board, even

though I’m eligible for two more terms. This has been, frankly, one of the most

frustrating board experiences I’ve had—not solely because of individual

personalities, but because of the underlying culture.

There’s a strong sentiment that myself and others who have served have

encountered time and again—spoken and unspoken—that “the way things have

always been done is good enough.” And when that mindset dominates, it

becomes incredibly difficult to suggest anything new or to even ask questions

without it being perceived as disruptive.

I want to be clear: my intention has not been to change Maple Springs for the sake

of change. My goal was to bring a spirit of inclusion, reflection, and

progress—to invite more people into the conversation and ensure that all

members of our community feel they have a place at the table.

But when any suggestion is met with the assumption that nothing needs

improvement—when tradition is treated as untouchable—it can push voices to the

sidelines and shut down important conversations before they begin.

Observations on the MSIC

I also want to take a moment to speak about the MSIC because they are part of the

Maple springs equation. The MSIC makes decisions about the use of common property,

while we fund the common property.

While there’s a FAQ on the website and regular updates are shared at meetings, many

community members still don’t fully understand what the MSIC does, how decisions are

made, or why it exists as a separate entity from the MSCA.

To many of us, the MSIC feels like a private, self-selecting group with a narrow focus:

preserving Maple Springs exactly as it is, with limited openness to change. While

community members do serve on the board, it often appears that individuals are chosen

based on alignment with a singular leadership perspective—a perspective that’s

remained largely unchanged for over 30 years. That long-standing structure—combined

with a lack of broader community input—has understandably created trust issues for

many.

I don’t say this to be divisive. I say it because it’s a widespread perception—and one I

share. The MSIC may serve an important purpose. But if most community members

don’t understand or trust that purpose, something needs to shift.

At the very least, we should be asking:

● Do we really need two boards?

● And if so, are they functioning collaboratively or separately?

● Are both listening to the broad range of voices in this community—or only to a

select few?

Recommendations for the MSCA and MSIC Boards

If we want to move forward in a healthier, more unified direction, I believe we need to, at

minimum, address the following areas:

1. Power Dynamics Between the MSCA and MSIC

● How do we rebalance influence between the two boards? For example, how is it

that a member of the MSIC was able to instigate a lawsuit that the community

had to pay for, without the community vote?

● How do we ensure collaboration instead of control? At the end of the day, do we -

the members of the MSCA - have the power to make and/or really influence

decisions that the MSIC makes?

○ Why doesn’t the MSIC have open elections? At minimum the MSCA

should be allowed to have a representative on the MSIC that has been

selected by the membership - not just the Board president.

○ Why do MSIC processes/policies seem to apply to some and not to

others?

○ The MOU was a step in the right direction for collaboration, but has it been

followed?

● And how do we help the community clearly understand what each board is

responsible for?

2. Reclaiming the Purpose of the MSCA Board

● What is the role of the MSCA—really?

○ How do we regularly assess if the MSCA is meeting the intended purpose

of the organization?

○ NOTE: Membership at meetings has been significantly down for the past

few years. We should try to find out why that is.

“... the general purpose of the Association is to enhance, advocate and secure the

safety, economic, social and community conditions in Maple Springs by working with

residents, businesses, agencies and organizations affecting our community. In addition,

the Association may support the Maple Springs Improvement Committee (MSIC)

through raising and administering funds for maintenance, taxes and insurance on

common land of the Whiteside Allotment.”

● Are we living up to that role in ways that reflect today’s needs and community

dynamics?

● How do we make space for broader participation, newer voices, and evolving

priorities?

3. Common-Sense Governance and Policy Development

I know some people worry that creating policies will overcomplicate things. But in my

experience, clear, well-communicated policies actually simplify decision-making. They

build trust, set expectations, and help prevent confusion—especially as Board

membership changes over time.

In fact, any well-run organization—whether small or large, private or nonprofit—has

basic governance documents that are regularly reviewed and updated.

That’s why we formed a Governance & Policy Committee last year—to take on that

important work. We had started down that path, but this current Board chose not to

continue it, some voices indicating that governance is the job of the Board.

That’s a fair position—if the work actually gets done. But so far, it hasn’t. And at some

point, someone needs to be accountable for ensuring that this essential work moves

forward.

These are the specific items the governance committee recommended for

consideration:

● A Conflict of Interest Policy that considers internal conflicts such as MSIC board

family members simultaneously serving on the MSCA (Since the MSCA “funds”

the MSIC)

● Guidelines for use of the legal fund

● A capital expense policy

● A consideration for an absentee voting policy

● Meeting agenda protocols (including advance notice, attachments, and clearly

marking vote items)

● A process for regularly reviewing and updating bylaws

● A routine review of the MOU between the MSCA and MSIC

These tools don’t create bureaucracy—they create clarity and continuity.

Closing Thoughts

I want to acknowledge that I’ve seen some positive steps recently. I understand some

members of the Board are reaching out more and that a community-wide survey is

being developed. If you receive it, I urge you to complete it. Your voice matters.

But, again, to be clear: a survey alone will not fix these issues.

We need intentional action.

We need to name what isn’t working.

And we need to do better—together by welcoming and listening to differing

perspectives and making informed decisions based upon those insights.

So while I’ll be stepping away from formal Board service, I’m not stepping away from

this community. I’ll continue to support efforts that bring people together, invite diverse

voices, and push us toward a more open, inclusive, and sustainable Maple Springs.

That said, until I see meaningful change with some of these items, which starts at the

leadership level, our household will not be paying dues. Because membership is not just

about dollars—it’s about trust. And right now, that trust needs to be rebuilt.

Thank you,

Sarah Tranum

5639 Rivulet Ave, MSP

SarahTranum@sunyjcc.edu

______________________________________

April 2, 2026

Dear Maple Springs,

I hope this letter finds you well and that 2026 is off to a great start. I’m sending this letter as the (recently re-elected) Maple Springs Citizens Association’s board president. 

I would like to thank our outgoing board member Sarah Tranum for her service to the community. Her efforts to increase community events and governance transparency and accountability are most appreciated. 

Please join me in welcoming our newest board member, BJ Kurtzner Pappas. The Board of Directors for 2026 is:

Darin Bartram, President                    BJ Kurtzner Pappas, Member

Elise Torre, Vice President                 Rob Trenkamp, Member

Bob Wooler, Treasurer                       John Michael, Member

Valerie Benjamin, Secretary

Below are a few items to be aware of as we start 2026.

●      Be on the lookout for membership dues notices.  They will go out later this month.

●      Keep track of community updates on our website, www.maplespringsny.org/, as well as on the sandwich boards around the community.  Content suggestions would be appreciated. We anticipate a community garage sale and happy hours this summer. 

●      We are developing an online community survey to make sure we address the priorities of our local residents. Please be sure to fill it out when you receive it.

●      Waterfront clean up – As summer approaches and docks are installed, please be mindful to remove items and keep the lakefront tidy. If you didn’t use it last year, please consider getting rid of it this year.

●      We are working to address some maintenance items, including the entrance sign on Summit Avenue and knotweed eradication along the creek. Please let us know if there are other areas that could use sprucing up, if the immediate neighbors cannot take the lead. 

●      First General Meeting – Mark your calendars for Saturday July 4th for the first general meeting, 9am.

●      Finally, in case you “missed the boat” last year, please note that all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, will need to have a boater safety license. (For more information: https://parks.ny.gov/boating/education.aspx) New York recognizes through reciprocity a wide range of certificates from other states, so be sure to look for the most convenient option for you. I have found the courses through Boat/US to be convenient and free. (www.boatus.org/free)

Best wishes to everyone in 2026 and I look forward to seeing you later in the spring!

Darin Bartram

President, Maple Springs Citizens Association

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August 16, 2025

I know it's hard to believe but summer is racing to its end and our Labor Day weekend community meeting is just around the corner.  The agenda for the August 30 meeting follows below along with the draft minutes from our July 5 MSCA meeting.  Enjoy these fleeting weeks of summer and we'll see you at the meeting.

Maple Springs Community Meeting 

August 30, 2025 10:00AM at the Fire Hall

Agenda

1. Welcome - Darin Bartram
2. Pledge of allegiance - Darin Bartram
3. Approval of previous meeting minutes
4. Budget Review - Bob Wooler
5. MSIC Update - Doug Conroe
6. Beach/Lakefront - Rob Trenkamp
7. Hospitality Committee Update - Sarah Tranum
8. Presentation of Slate for Election for 2026 Board - Following below is the slate for nomination

For a second two-year term:  Elise Torre

For a third two-year term: Bob Wooler

9. Comments from the floor on matters not previously discussed

Next Meeting Date & Location?

4th of July is on a Saturday.  Propose: Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 9:00am

• Maple Springs Citizens Association Meeting - DRAFT minutes

  July 5th, 2025 

  President Darrin Bartram called the meeting to order at 9:05 am.  Participants recited the pledge of allegiance.  

  A motion to approve previous meeting minutes was made by by Shar Trenkamp – and seconded by Jane Conroe. Minutes were approved as submitted.

  Gayle McNeil, and Mary Sadlack, who passed since the Fall 2024 meeting were remembered, with a moment of silence.   No new members of the community were present to be acknowledged.

  Darrin gave participants a reminder on how to access the MSP website, and referenced that Bob Wooler also had information sheets printed for the group at the front of the room. 

  Bob Wooler provided the financial review for membership.  The group reviewed the budget vs. actuals from years 2024 and 2025.  We are doing well in terms of pledges.  On the expense side, everything is in line with what was budgeted, and we have a surplus to carry us through the year.  

  Questions from members on MSCA finances were solicited and were not forthcoming.  Bob also provided explanations of the current balances of our funds.  The capital fund was used for paving and will start to grow again.  We will continue to build our capital reserve;  general reserve is one year’s budget which has been locked in.  

  The legal defense fund has grown to close to 15k.  The citizenry was asked to opine on a maximum level.  A member suggested pausing further funding at 20k, and another suggested we drop the annual amount placed in the fund to 1k per year, down from 2k.  After general discussion, membership voted from the floor, and both changes were approved.

  A member mentioned that our insurance costs are going up and should we shop for better pricing?  Bob reported that this effort was undertaken, and the current plan costs are lower than the competitive bids that were solicited.

  The MSIC was reported on by Shar Trenkamp.  No issues.  Any questions, please contact a MSIC board member.  As a reminder, names of all board members are posted on the website.

  Rob Trenkamp gave a report on the sand at the public beach, which is an improvement over previous years.  There have also been improvements made to the public dock, and there seems to be a reduction of old dock sections and other detritus on public land.

  A question was asked concerning whether we should put up a sign that says “no fishing”  in addition to “no docking” on the public dock.  Rob Trenkamp will take this item on.  Sarah Tranum suggested posting information on where people can fish on the website.

  Kathy Strickland asked about the cadence of weed removal at the public beach.  The issues of bees on the beach were shared.  After general discussion, no motions were put forward.

  Hospitality update:  Board member Sarah Tranum introduced the members of the committee and thanked them for their work.  Items of note:

• ·       Flower boxes on the bridge have been installed  
• ·       Last year there were doughnuts and coffee at the member meeting
• ·       We purchased 5 new Adirondack chairs and a glider. Sarah provided a reminder to move things back when you use them.  
• ·       Garage sale yielded over 900 dollars and was a success.  The committee is not sure about next year due to the amount of work needed for the amount raised.  
• ·       Committee also provides welcome gift package to new members.  
• ·       Next happy hour on common property July 19th.  Bring a beverage and a dish to share.  
• ·       August 16th is the Chautauqua Belle evening cruise, leaving from the bed and breakfast.  Sarah is working on an Event Brite registration system with more information.  Spaces are limited to 100.  

There was a discussion about how we might want to move the glider closer to the rain garden.  Patrick said he would help.   The committee was also asked to consider options for storing the things we have bought.

Annual elections:  Darrin informed the membership we need a nominating committee for upcoming board positions.  Darrin asked people who are interested in being on the committee to come see him directly.

Open Floor/Other Business:

Park Place resident Esther Lee thanked the citizenry for the great paving on park place, which has increased foot traffic and provided a greater sense of neighborliness.  Thanks from Shar to Elise and Joe for watering the common garden plantings.

Motion to adjourn from the floor not being forthcoming, Darrin closed the meeting at 9:40 AM.

Respectfully submitted, 

Valerie C. Benjamin

Secretary, MSCA

 ------------------------------------------

June 21, 2025

Summer Greetings to All….

As we approach the July 4 weekend in Maple Springs, I would like to remind everyone that our early summer MSCA General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 5 from 9:00 to 10:00 am at the Fire Hall.  The agenda for the meeting and minutes from our August, 2024 meeting follow below.  On behalf of the board, I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Here is a little information about scheduled events to help you with your holiday weekend planning:

Friday, July 4              10:00 pm        Mayville and Bemus Point Fireworks displays

Saturday, July 5           9:00 am        MSCA General Meeting – Fire Hall

                                    10:00 am        Bike Decorating at The Circle

                                    11:00 am        Parade at The Circle

                                    11:30 am        Games sign-up @ Kauffman’s

                                      1:00 pm        Games at the Promenade

                                      6:00 pm        Cocktail Party

Saturday, July 12       10:15 pm        Fireworks at Midway State Park

For all of you who are celebrating with your own fireworks, please be safe and considerate.

Thanks,

Darin

Agenda – MSCA Meeting -July 5, 2025 9:00AM Fire Hall

1.      Welcome - Darin Bartram

2.      Pledge of allegiance - Darin

3.      Approve previous meeting minutes - Darin

4.      Recognition of those who have passed away since last summer 

5.                  Welcome to new community members 

6.                  Website & Directory Reminder  www.maplespringsny.com

7.                  Financial Review - Bob Wooler

8.                  MSIC - Doug Conroe

9.                  Beach - Rob Trenkamp

10.              Hospitality Committee Update - Sarah Tranum

11.              Elections—formation of nominating committee.

12.              Community Announcements and Other Business

13.              Next Meeting Date & Location; propose Aug 30, 2025, at Fire Hall

DRAFT MSCA Meeting Minutes - August 31, 2024

10 - 11:30am

Maple Springs Fire Hall

Agenda item	Discussion	Action
Welcome (10:03am) and Pledge of Allegiance - Darin Bartram
Minutes from June 29, 2024	No changes from the floor	Motion to approve: Valerie Benjamin Second: Binnie Kurtzner Minutes approved
Safety Address by Chautauqua County Sheriff: Mark Bagglia	Reviewed items related to safety and relevant to MSP.
Website update	●     Reminder of the address so everyone can find it: www.maplespringsny.com or .org.	MSCA Board will continue to update the FAQ section.
Budget Review	Bob Wooler provided an overview of the financial . Items to note: ●     Bob posed the option of raising the membership dues by $10 to cover the paving gap.	●     Motion to approve the budget without the dues increase: Valerie Benjamin ●     Second: Sharon Bartram ●     Motion approved
Budget Review:  Park Place Paving	Discussion over Park Place paving.	●     Motion to approve the $8000 difference to cover the paving cost for Park Place: Jim Barnett ●     Second: Valerie Benjamin  ●     Aya 29, Nay 7, Abstaintions weren’t requested. ●     Motion approved
Budget Review: Insurance Coverage	Marie Berner presented an overview of our coverage.	MSCA Board will use legal defense funds to seek legal counsel on the best way to proceed with liability coverage.
Budget Review: Capital Expenditure Guideline update	The Board intends to make decisions on capital expenses over $2500 that are not part of the regular budget at membership meetings because it is more inclusive and democratic.  We may formalize the steps in making recommendations into policy however.	The MSCA Board will consider formalizing a policy.
MSIC Update	Doug Conroe indicated there is nothing to report on.	The Board is working on more communication and transparency regarding the MSIC and MSCA Boards on the website. This will include an FAQ section.
Beach/Lakefront update	Rob provided an update on the state of the beach and the community dock.	Dick Davenport offered to provide some funding for new, white sand.  REMINDER to all to clean up the trash at the beach (and any common land area where people gather).  Board will look into adding goose poop and weed cleanup to our common land maintenance contract with Bill. Suggested that we assess if the work we expect to get done is actually getting done. Consider putting out another bid.
Hospitality Committee update	Marie provided a summary of all of the tasks this committee has accomplished over the past year.	The Hospitality Committee will review feedback from the survey to plan for 2025.
Election for 2025 Board	Valerie Benjamin and John Michael were nominated from the floor. Darin Bartram and Rob Trenkamp agreed to serve another term. This slate was presented for a vote.	●     Motion to approve the slate: BJ Kurtzner ●     Second: Shar Trenkamp ●     Motion passed
Comments/Announcements from the Floor	Question: Who determines how to spend the legal defense fund?  The MSCA Board has the sole discretion to determine how those funds are spent.  Tree Services Fundraiser: Suggested that we sell coasters with the MSP logo on them, spearheaded by Binny. Nothing was finalized.  Suggestion that we create a committee to discuss tree care and draft a policy regarding the care of trees on common property.	MSCA Board should consider drafting policies for: ●     Spending of legal funds. ●     Tree care (perhaps this is part of the Enhancement Committee charge).
Adjourn		Motion to adjourn: Valerie Second: Binnie Kurtzner Meeting adjourned at 11:34pm.

___________________________________________________________________________________

April 8, 2025

Dear Maple Springs,

I hope you are well and that 2025 is off to a great start for each of you. I’m sending this letter as the Maple Springs Citizens Association’s board president.

As is traditional, I would like to thank our outgoing board members Marie Berner and Kathy O’Brien for their service to the community. Their efforts to increase community events and the legwork to find a contractor to pave Park Place are most appreciated, as is their generosity in increasing seating along the lakefront and hospitality events.

Please join me in welcoming our newest (and veteran) board members: John Michael and Valerie Benjamin. The Board of Directors for 2025 is:

Darin Bartram, President                    Sarah Tranum, Member

Elise Torre, Vice President                 Rob Trenkamp, Member

Bob Wooler, Treasurer                       John Michael, Member

Valerie Benjamin, Secretary

Below are a few items to be aware of as we start 2025.

●      Be on the lookout for membership dues notices.  They will go out later this month.

●      Park Place PAVED! 

●      Keep track of community updates on our website, www.maplespringsny.org/.  Content suggestions would be appreciated. We anticipate a community garage sale and happy hours this summer. 

●      Waterfront clean up – As spring approaches and docks are installed, please be mindful to remove items and keep the lakefront tidy. If you didn’t use it last year, please consider getting rid of it this year.

●      First General Meeting – Mark your calendars for Saturday July 5th for the first general meeting, 10am.

●      Finally, very importantly, please note that effective January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, will need to have a boater safety license. (For more information: https://parks.ny.gov/boating/education.aspx) New York recognizes through reciprocity a wide range of certificates from other states, so be sure to look for the most convenient option for you. I have found the courses through Boat/US to be convenient and free. (www.boatus.org/free)

Best wishes to everyone in 2025 and I look forward to seeing you later in the spring!

Darin Bartram

President, Maple Springs Citizens Association