Pawtuckaway Lake Association

At the recent Annual Meeting it was announced that Donna Danis has taken the position of Co-President of the PLIA. In this article Donna tells us a little about herself and why she has chosen this time to "step up" to the commitment. 

My husband Eric and I have lived on Tuckaway Shores end of Pawtuckaway Lake since 1990. Our daughter Elisabeth is in 2nd grade here in Nottingham.

If you don’t know who we are, we’re the ones who sponsor the Pawtuckaway Charity Ice Golf Tournament held annually on the first Saturday in February. Each year, we are extremely grateful for all of the lake residents who come out to join us—rain, snow, and all too infrequently, shine—in supporting Families in Transition.

We love living on this lake. We love fishing on Friday nights. We love the boat parade. We love ice-skating in the winter. That’s why I decided it was to time to step up and join Tom Duffy as Co-President of the organization.

For too long, too few have been carrying the burden. And yet they’ve accomplished some amazing things. The $30,000 DES grant, the Lake Host Program, and the new website and newsletter are just some of the recent and noteworthy efforts. Imagine what we can do if just a few more people step up and volunteer to do one small thing, whether it’s focused on the environment or strengthening the lake community.

Another reason that I decided it was time for me personally to step up is that, as parents, I believe we have a responsibility to set the right example for our kids and to teach them the importance of giving back to our community. Even as adults with grown kids or no kids, we share in this responsibility. The PLIA gives us a great opportunity to think globally and act locally.

We’ve learned through the Ice Golf tournament that the best community programs are those that combine fun and service. That’s why as co-president one of my goals is to incorporate lake conservation education with fun activities throughout the year. I believe this will help us draw more people into the active PLIA community. So, I will be working closely with Lauren Chaurette on the Pawtuckaway Kids program.

Over the coming months, you will be receiving information on different volunteer opportunities. To everyone who attended the annual meeting and signed up as a volunteer—thanks very much. To everyone else, I hope you will find at least one activity that captures your interest. Water testing is a big need right now, so if you are interested in helping out, but aren’t sure what you want to do, this might be a good place to start.

Have a great summer and hope to see you out on the lake!

Donna Danis