The Craft & Art of Saving Lake Michigan
Annual Conference & Meeting
October 14-15, 2016

We will enjoy terrific speakers, crisp fall weather, stimulating workshops, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and great friends from four states!  See below for the schedule.

The Spring House Inn

Info for Delegates to the
2016 Annual Meeting
Saturday, October 15, 8:30 am

Each member League that is current in its dues payment may designate a voting delegate to the Annual Meeting. Among other business matters, the delegates will consider:

• adoption of Bylaws Changes proposed by the Bylaws Committee,
• the election of officers, with a slate of candidates forwarded by the Nominating Committee, and
• adoption of a budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 proposed by the Budget Committee.

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Location

Spring House Inn
303 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN
(219)929-4600

Rooms at the Inn are sold out.
We are happy to have generated so much interest! See list of alternatives below thanks to the host committee from the LWV La Porte County.

Consider staying at these hotels close to our annual meeting.  All have refrigerator and microwave and serve breakfast. You may call or go on-line to reserve a room, but LWV has not reserved any blocks of rooms.  Please research these hotels, and use Priceline, Trip Advisor, etc. to help you make your choice.

1.  Comfort Inn and Suites, 1800 West US Highway 20, Porter, IN; phone 319-787-1400; according to TripAdvisor.com, $125/night.  This property has the advantage of being closest.

2.  Waterbird Lakeside Inn: 556 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton, $99.99/night, phone 219-928-1501.  
A bit more rustic; try to get a pond view!

3.  Best Western Indian Oak: 558 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton, 219-926-2200, from $124/night.

4.  Hampton Inn, 6353 Melton Road, Portage, IN, 219-764-1919, from $129/night.
Nice location, but fridges only available in whirlpool suites.  

5.  Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Portage, IN, averages $129, but special offers may be available.  
This appears to have the best amenities, pool, etc.

6.  Or check TripAdvisor.com for hotels in Michigan City which is a 15-20 minute drive away. Most hotels are close to Hwy. 20, the easiest way to get to the Conference.

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Conference Schedule and Speakers

Friday, October 14

Saturday, October 15

Noon-4 pm   Meet in parking lot of Spring House Inn
Choice of Field Trips

1. Trail Creek Watershed Tour , Michigan City
   • Creek Ridge County Park with Jeremy Sobecki (La Porte County Parks)--New LAKE grant, shoreline stabilization, TC Access, boardwalk, fish habitat
     
   • Winding Creek Cove:  Shannon Eason (Michigan City Parks)--Phase 3 of project – shore stabilization, new techniques
     
   • Sea Lamprey Barrier/Steelheaders Area, Mike Ryan and Rich Hedgepeth (NWI Steelheaders)--Control of Invasive sea lamprey, fisherman contribution to clean Trail Creek
     
   • Sanitary District, Michael Kuss (MC Sanitary District)--Tour of plant, Cheney Run Update. This is a result of the Alliance for the Great Lakes partnership project – follow-up from last year’s conference!
     
   • Hansen Park Kayak Launch, Joe Exl (NIRPC)--ADA kayak launch, Hoosier Riverwatch:  Citizen Water Quality Monitoring
     
   • Washington Park Beach/Port Authority, Tim Frame (Harbormaster MC Port Authority)--Keeping the marina clean, harbor water management
     
2. Arts in the Park at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (additional fee to enter park)
   
3. Jeanette Neagu will present LWVLMR Programs at the Spring House Inn
   

5 pm
Social Hour and Art Sale

6pm
Banquet Dinner
Natalie Johnson, Urban Waters Coordinator, Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Federal Partnership will speak on: Threats to Lake Michigan – Optimistic Outlooks – What Can YOU Do?

8pm
Amy Lucas and Mary Catterlin will present "Lake Michigan in a Dugout," a movie that describes how these two Michigan City women circumnavigated Lake Michigan. DVDs and books will be available. Following the movie, they will answer questions and be available for a signing session.

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Note that we are unable to refund registration fees for cancellations after October 1, 2016. There will be a $5 fee for processing refunds prior to Oct. 1.

8:30-10 am
49th LWVLMR Annual Meeting

10:00 am
Noel Pavlovic, Ecologist with the USGS at the Lake MI Ecological Research Station, National Park Service HQ will speak on: Invasive Species and Beach Communities, Landscapes and Beachscapes
 
11:00-12:00
Resources Fair & Art Sale
Open Lands, Calumet Heritage Corridor, Save the Dunes, Green Drinks, Audubon Society, Shirley Heinz Foundation Rain Gardens, Hoosier Environmental Council and LWVLMR Presenters.  Local Artists and Artworks available as well.
 
Noon
Salad Buffet Luncheon 
Cathy Martin from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Save the Dunes will present Developing Partnerships Between Nonprofits and Parks,
including “How-To’s” for any of our watersheds parks.
                           
2:00 pm
Choice of Field Trips

• Guided Walk through the Miller Woods Restoration
• Michigan City Art Tour
• Arts in the Park at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (additional fee to enter park)