CLA & CLWA Merge

The Lake has never faced as many threats as it does today: development challenges, climate change, invasive species, the need for more public access. Tough economic times threaten essential funding for sewers, water testing, and staffing municipal institutions that keep our waters pure. There’s fierce competition for the time and attention people can contribute to a cause. And we must bring in a younger generation of caretakers and tap their talents.

In view of such pressing issues, the Boards of Directors of Canandaigua Lake Association, Inc. and Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance, Inc. felt strongly that we needed to merge the two organizations to form a larger, more unified citizen's group with a consistent, clear voice that will resonate more effectively when expressing concerns and advocating for lake-preserving measures.

We needed, and easily got, two-thirds of our respective memberships to vote in favor of the merger.   

In a joint statement below, CLA President Bob Brancato and DeVinney spelled out the case for combining the two organizations:

We believe that by joining forces with Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance, the new organization will be stronger than the sum of its parts.  “Our combined voices and muscle can better protect our watershed in the long run,” said CLWA Chair Marty DeVinney. “

During 2009 the boards of the Canandaigua Lake Association, Inc. (CLA) and Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance (CLWA) discussed how best to protect the Watershed during a time of accelerated assault on the Lake’s water and hillsides and increasingly limited resources to respond. From these discussions emerged a recurring theme:  it seemed both natural and responsible for the two organizations to combine for good reasons.

First, our overall goals are the same - we want to ensure the economic and environmental vitality of the Lake and its Watershed. In fact, CLA and CLWA have already successfully partnered on several initiatives.

Second, our membership overlaps. In times of tight budgets, it makes little sense to ask people to support two organizations with the same goals.

Third, our sessions revealed a shared commitment to working together in ways that will make a difference.

Forming powerful partnerships to protect the Lake has strong precedents.  In 2000, the Canandaigua Lake Pure Waters Association and the Canandaigua Lake Task Force officially merged to form the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance.  Similarly, the East Shore Association of Canandaigua Lake, Inc., originally formed as the East Shore Cottagers Association in 1955, expanded its membership in 2007 to all folks interested in protecting the Lake. Since then, that organization has been known as the Canandaigua Lake Association, Inc.

The boards of CLA and CLWA are confident that becoming one organization will be good for the members of both groups and, most important, be good for the Watershed.

In challenging economic times, responsible leaders examine all assumptions that govern their organizations.To remain separate poses long-term threats to each organization: the similar names are confusing as we compete for members and large donors.  Territoriality only results in wasted time and loss of focus on the greater goals of each organization.

By joining forces, CLA and CLWA can be stronger than the sum of our parts. By amplifying our voices and leveraging our joint resources, we can make great strides in ensuring that the Canandaigua Lake Watershed . . .

• remains a source of highest quality drinking water for over 60,000 area   residents
• continues to be the economic engine that drives the area’s growth   
• benefits from a balanced “best practices” approach to development   
• has knowledgeable municipal leadership that considers the Lake as an environmental whole, not a series of townships bordering its waters
• remains a place that residents and tourists alike use to “recreate” and restore the mind and body.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 21, 2010

We will conduct our first annual meeting of the new Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association on Saturday, August 21, 2010.

We invite your questions and comments.  Send to: mergercomments@canandaigualakeassoc.org. 

There is power in numbers, and with your support we will greatly increase our effectiveness on behalf of the Lake. The times demand no less.

Bob Brancato                                      Marty DeVinney,
President                                             Chairman
Canandaigua Lake Association, Inc.    Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance

rbrancato@canandaigualakeassoc.org               canandaigualakewatershed@frontiernet.net    
 

Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association will:

• Support and implement research to ensure the long-term health of the Watershed.
• Promote “best practices” training for municipal agencies (ZBAs, Planning     Boards, Town Boards) as it concerns land and water use around the Lake
• Supply knowledgeable members to serve on local municipal boards to encourage change from within.
• Promote cooperation, working with the Watershed Council, FLCC, and Finger Lakes Institute, Land Trust, Soil and Water and other key groups.
• Involve young people in stewardship by expanding our successful education program at area schools, camps, and youth camps.
• Create rapid-response mobilization of members to share important information concerning threats to the Lake and suggest appropriate actions.
•  Work with local media concerning issues affecting the Watershed to promote protection, preservation, education, and balanced development. 
• Grow the Legacy Fund, whose purpose is to raise monies to ensure that resources are available for defense of the Lake in the courts.