Forest Lake Online

What a great way for all of us to pull together for another Canada Day. So Family and friends can all get together have a few laughs and celebrate another year at the lake. I will be picking up about 3 packages of hot dogs and bringing a salad or two salads and veggie platter. Can't wait to see everyone. My heart is smiling:)
Thank you to everyone that we could pull this off no matter what. Oh i will stop in Lacute or Big Chief and pick up some fire works as well, but could someone set them off for me as that stuff kinda freeks my out.
To everyone,
Let's Get the Party Started!!!!
Karen Sams

Hey Karen,

I would never have thought you had any ill intentions with your post, it just seemed like someone had told you something that wasn't quite "on the money" pardon the pun. :-)

Unfortunately there are still some that are trying to upset the apple cart and try to prevent good things from happening. They make attacks on others who try to help, and it's just upsetting that's all.

I know you, and have known you for some time. We all know you didn't mean anything by it, however I'm not so sure about the intentions of John and Judy in this regard. I know they'll be upset about me saying it, but sometimes they seem to be trying to the exact opposite of helping. That is pointing out problems, rather than trying to fix problems.

Sorry for ranting as well. Thanks for the sentiments, they are truly appreciated.

And it looks like something will be happening after all, even if it's informal and ramshackle, it will probably wind up being the most fun we've had in a long while. Simply because it will be, people getting together with people. :-)

Ray/
Ray Dube

Karen,

You're right...it's amazing that you can make it down at all, so I commend you for that. We all would love to help out, but sometimes things come up. I don't think I've ever missed a Canada Day at the Lake, but I have to be in Montreal this year on Friday and most of Saturday, so I could not step up to organize. I assume others, who do a lot for Forest Lake, also have plans. It happens.
My brothers and I have decided to organize Field Day events, as well as help Ed Parr with the cooking food & distributio of prizes the best we can.

As for Larry, I really do not know him personally all that well, and if he has been great for you and your family, that's terrific. The point Cameron was making had more to do with his behaviour on the political front. You haven't been to any meetings, as far as I know, but one would have to be blind not to see that Larry has done nothing but cause trouble on the political front. I stand by that statement as I have heard & seen with my own ears & eyes. Even my Dad, who you know, and who once respected Larry, now questions his actions and behaviour, so I encourage you to keep a strong personal relationship with everyone who helps and cares for you, just keep in mind that people can be very nice, but still act in a very questionable manner in other circumstances.

Paul Dube

Hi Karen,

Speaking for myself, I wasn’t offended by your post, but I was upset that you were under the impression that Canada Day Festivities was being cancelled because the board would not give any money. As you have said, you are out in Vancouver, so what is even more upsetting to me is that I must assume that you wrote your post because someone told you that the board was withholding money, which is completely untrue.

I am even more offended by the spirit in which this thread was started, which I believe was nothing less tan an effort to create discord and ill-will directed towards a select few.

I deeply apologize to you if the words I directed at Larry hurt you in any way. I appreciate the fact that he is a great friend to your family and I respect that very much. I am sure that he has many admirable qualities: Good friend, husband, father and grandfather.

However, I’m afraid that my family has seemed to fall outside of his circle of good will. Although you know Larry for all his good traits I have seen another side of Larry which has attacked my family and loved ones by manipulation and insinuation. I myself fell under attack from him at an AGM a few years ago regarding a piece of property I bought at a sheriff’s sale.

I know that my flying off the handle at his roads remark may seem uncalled for, but what you see as an innocent, “by-the-way” comment, I see a direct attack at a very certain member of the board who has stated time and time again that the primary mandate of the association is to upkeep the roads. With people talking about Canada Day being cancelled due to lack of funds, his bringing up road conditions is a sneaky and underhanded way to direct peoples’ resentment at a very specific person.

I respect the friendship you and your family share with Larry and Frieda and understand your desire to stand up for him. Again, I apologize if my words have hurt you.

I also hope you can understand my frustration and my desire to protect my family and loved ones from incessant personal attacks from Larry. I do not know exactly where his grudge comes from, but I know that he thoughtlessly and needlessly attacks my family and provokes others to do so as well. Whatever his motives, he attacks people who have volunteered massive amounts of time and effort to properly fulfill a thankless (and thoroughly scrutinized) job to the benefit of the entire lake.

Cameron

Hi Marc,

I apologize if I seemed to imply in any way that you based your decision due to monetary reasons: I thought I was implicit in mentioning that you had personal reasons for not being able to organize Canada Day this year. I was merely trying to correct what I perceived as a dangerous rumour that was starting to spread before it grew into what people would think is a truth.

You have done a fantastic job these past few years and I deeply appreciate your efforts. I’m sorry if my analysis of the money spent last year was inaccurate: I brought it up ONLY because I believed that it may have been the reason people believed that Canada Day was paid for out of the pockets of the volounteers, without any support of the Board.

Canada Day, Kids Day, and Labour Day are all very important aspects of “The Forest Lake Experience”. They help create fond memories as well as bring the community together. I can understand the desire to want to make the events bigger and better, but unfortunately we must keep them on pretty tight budgets. Looking back on my childhood, we had all the hot-dogs we could eat (They were the cheapest thing to buy, and they were boiled…) and all the soda we could drink (Usually brands like Castle or Cott – the cheapest that could be had). I understand that $400 may not seem to go far, but with careful planning, it could feed a small army.

Wood was collected from early spring for a bonfire, and any fireworks were donated by whoever brought them.

Thing is, we can’t afford much more for these events without donations or raising assessments, which requires the approval of the entire association and not just the board. Not everyone can afford or desire higher assessments.

All this means, though, that any entertainment or activities above and beyond having a modest feast, we have to provide for ourselves. And in the end, the memories we all cherish come from the community coming together and making the best of the small things, not the caliber of fireworks or entertainment.

Cameron