Spring Newsletter

2012 Raps Road NEWSLETTER May 2012

Greetings and Happy Spring!!

Reminder - "rapsroad.blogspot.com" is our Raps Road communication tool. Please check it out for meeting schedules and minutes, event notices, photos, etc.

CHRISTMAS PARTY – Some 40 neighbors gathered at The Landing for a social hour and dinner. We enjoyed visiting over great food and were treated to a rousing gift exchange game. Pictures are posted on our blog.

2012 MEETING SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS

May 24 Judith and Bob Ulseth 8787 Raps Rd. 5:30 p.m.
June 21 (need volunteer) 6:00 p.m.
August 9 (need volunteer) 6:00 p.m.
September 6 (need volunteer) 6:00 p.m.

Note: Meeting schedule and format has changed for 2012 as decided during our September 2011 meeting. We also decided to try having these be social gatherings and include a light potluck meal before each 7:00 p.m. meeting . The May meeting will begin at 5:30 to allow time before supper to have a demonstration of the water pump.

DUES – Annual Dues were discussed several times last year and at the September 2011 meeting we decided that Dues would not be collected in 2012 because it was felt funds on hand are more than adequate at this time.

ROAD CLEAN-UP – Meet Tuesday, May 15, at 9:00 a.m. at the entrance sign, with "coffee ands" provided at the Metsa pit afterwards (assuming we have volunteer providers). Contact Don Kishel at 666-5096 with questions, etc.

ENTRANCE SIGN – Mowing/trimming volunteers are needed for May through September. A sign-up sheet will be available at meetings. Also, we decided last year to refurbish the sign and have a list of folks willing to help. Don Kishel has supplies and will schedule a work date at the May meeting.

BLM PROJECT – Island inspections are on hold pending further discussion with BLM representative Derek Strohl.

PICNIC – Date will be set at the May meeting ( July 7th and 14th are being considered…)Contact co-chairs Shawna Kishel (666-5096) and Judith Ulseth (666-2975) with your preference.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT/MAINTENANCE – In a letter dated April 12, Beatty Township has advised it has no plans at this time for any major improvements to any Beatty Township maintained roads. This letter was in response to our February request for continued road improvements outlined to the Township Board over the past 3 years. Contact Don Kishel, Twp Liaison, with questions or concerns @ 666-5096.

Township Road Supervisor, Earl Grano, did advise us that St. Louis County elevated the status of all Township roads to the same maintenance schedule as County roads effective January 1, 2012.

SPEED LIMIT – Please observe and remind visitors of the posted 30 mph speed limit on Raps Road for everyone’s safety.

PROJECT / EVENT IDEAS – Residents are encouraged to bring ideas for Raps Road sponsored activities of interest to our scheduled meetings for discussion and consideration.

Enjoy summer at the lake!

Larry Lange, Volunteer Coordinator
Raps Road
666-0183

2011 Raps Road Christmas Party

Forty-two Raps Road members attended this year's Christmas Party at the Landing

on December 3.  Food was delicious and visiting with everyone was great fun, but the  highlight of the evening was playing the dice game and exchanging the gifts.  We have some very competitive neighbors, but everyone seemed to enjoy the game and many went home with fun prizes.

Here are some pictures taken early in the evening.  If anyone who attended has some additional photos, please send them to me.   Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year. 

Raps Road Minutes - September 2011

Raps Road Meeting, Thursday, September 8, 2011
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Larry Lange, our Volunteer Coordinator, at the home of Rita and Jim Lakmann. There were 16 to 18 members attending. Minutes of the August 11th meeting were read by Judith Ulseth, pinch hitting for the Raps Road Recorder, Vickie Lange. The minutes were approved by members present.

The Financial report was given by Funds Administrator, Rita Lakmann. The total amount in the combined checking and savings account was $13,844.87. A printed report is filed with these minutes. A motion was made and seconded to approve the report.

OLD BUSINESS

THE U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT representative, Derrick will be visiting Vermilion in September and will inspect their public day use islands. Larry L. was informed that each volunteer must now sign a "Volunteer Services Agreement for Natural Resources Agencies." Bob Ulseth is the Coordinator for the BLM Day Use Island inspections--666-2975.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY is scheduled for December 3, 2011 at THE LANDING. Judith Ulseth will coordinate the event with help from others (666-2975 to volunteer). Jim and Rita Lakmann have agreed to be the official host and hostess during the party.

ATTENDING BEATTY TOWNSHIP MEETING in October has been changed to February which is the meeting when the board makes all their budget plans for the year. Look for a reminder on the Raps Road blog. The application of class 5 gravel to the gravel portion of Raps Rd. isn't scheduled until October.

THE PORTABLE PUMP FOR FIRE FIGHTING is located in the yard at Ulseths, 8787 Raps Rd. Training on use of this pump will probably be scheduled for May at the time of the May meeting which is scheduled to be at Ulseths. Look for notices on the blog.

MEETING DATES were discussed again and it was decided that the May meeting will be on the 25th. June will be pushed back to the 22nd and the next will be August 9th and September 6th. There was much discussion about whether to have the picnic on July 7th or the next Saturday, which would be the 15th. Please, everyone, give it some thought!

AGAIN YEARLY DUES were discussed and it was decided that NO DUES WILL BE COLLECTED THIS COMING YEAR.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by stand-in recorder, Judith Ulseth

Raps Road August 2011 Meeting

The August 11th meeting was held at the Shawna and Don Kishel home with 15 members present. Minutes of the June 9th meeting were approved as read. Rita Lakmann provided a current financial report with $13,827.44 total in the checking and savings accounts. The report was accepted as read. Rita also gave an overview of expenditures during the last three years. In addition to yearly expenditures for mailings, the July picnic, the Christmas party and the Raps Road resident sign: 2008 = Repainting the Raps Road sign at Co. Rd. 24; 2009 = Fire Brigade donation; 2010 = Trailer for portable water pump, tables and tent for picnic.

OLD BUSINESS

Leadership The current officers recommended that they serve through 2012 with informal titles: Volunteer Coordinator Larry Lange, Recorder Vickie Lange, and Funds Administrator Rita Lakmann with no need to have a vice president in our new informal group. A motion to accept the recommendation was approved.

Use of Funds A discussion was held regarding future expenditures but no decisions were made.

Road Concerns As suggested at the June meeting, members approved attending the October 11th Beatty Township Board meeting to re-emphasize the need for more class 5 surface mix, widen the road at Richie Bay and modify the Moline hill. Don Kishel will schedule our group on the agenda. A reminder notice will be placed on the Blog to inform and encourage as many to attend as possible.

Meeting Schedule A recommendation was made to eliminate two business meetings each summer and move the May meeting date to Thursday, May 25, 2012 and the September meeting date to Thursday, Sept. 8th to include more seasonal residents. After discussion, a motion was made to continue with four meetings per year but adjust the May and September dates as suggested. This was seconded and approved. Members also decided to increase the social opportunities by starting the 2012 meetings at 6:00 p.m. for a light pot luck meal. A request was made for a host for the 2011 September 8th meeting and Rita and Jim Lakmann volunteered. This meeting will remain scheduled at the usual 7:00 p.m. time.

Christmas Party Judith Ulseth will continue to assist with planning but no longer chair the committee nor be hostess at the event. Vickie Lange will also assist. Judith will contact The Landing to check dates and possibility of reserving the entire dining room. She will also contact possible candidates to chair the committee.

BLM Islands Larry contacted Derek Strohl regarding a non-official group continuing to monitor the islands The BLM accepts individual volunteers, but each volunteer will need to sign a formal agreement. Larry will have copies at the September meeting for members to look over.

Water Pump This is now stored at Ulseth's at 8787 Raps Road. Bob Ulseth and Jim Mueller will schedule a demonstration to allow members to observe and try using it. They are also writing directions that will be laminated for weather protection and will be attached to the pump.

Raps Road Membership Sign Don Kishel has green paint available. He will set a work date and Larry will contact the volunteers signed up to work on it.

Rita reported that Carol Durr continues to have serious health problems following three heart surgeries. Rita provided written information and Carol's Indiana address for those who wish to be in contact.

Respectfully submitted by Recorder, Vickie Lange.

Picnic Photos

Raps Road Picnic

The Raps Road Picnic was held on July 9 at P.K. and Dorothy Edwards. With rain in the morning and rain threatening all day, set up was postponed until noon, but thanks to Glen Weum, who cleared out his new garage so we could set up picnic tables in case it did rain, we were able to hold the picnic and everyone present seemed to have a wonderful time.

Though some may have missed having the silent auction, there seemed to be more time for socializing. The weather cleared and many were able to enjoy the breeze off the lake in Edwards yard. A few took advantage of the Weum garage to eat.

68 registered for the picnic. Brats were served from 3:00 on, thanks to Tom Biele who has volunteered to continue to be our brat chef.

Jim Lakmann had the only camera in sight and has shared some of his photos. I will be looking for an official picnic photographer, who is more reliable than I am, and remembers to bring a camera.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer. August meeting is at the Kishel's -- 8726 Metsa Road.

Raps Road Association Special Meeting -- June 9, 2011

This meeting, attended by 28 member residents, was called to review and act upon legal and insurance advice (sought by Special Meeting motion on May 12, 2011) regarding the form of organization deemed most appropriate for our neighborhood.


Rita Lakmann and Vickie Lange presented pros and cons for a Mn. Non-Profit Corporation vs. an informal neighborhood social group. After considerable discussion, a motion was made to rescind our May 12th resolution to reinstate Raps Road Association (the "Corporation") together with its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, to rescind all actions previously approved by the Corporation but not yet acted upon, and to dissolve said Corporation. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous vote which represented a quorum of members.


Rita Lakmann offered a list of possible names for a new neighborhood group and others were added. After discussion and by process of elimination the name "Raps Road" was chosen by unanimous vote.

Larry Lange suggested current Association officers could continue to lead the new "Raps Road" as:

• Volunteer Coordinator--Larry Lange


• Recorder -- Vickie Lange


• Blog Admin. -- Shawna Kishel


• Funds Administrator -- Rita Lakmann

Briefly discussed, no action taken regarding leadership roles, term of service, or frequency of meetings. We can revisit this topic at Aug. 11th meeting.

We considered options to reduce funds held but no action was taken. As there is no urgency to dispose of assets, discussion can continue.

A motion was made, seconded, and approved by unanimous vote to set household dues at $20, for 2011 and review future dues next year. (Noted: A suggestion was made by Mike Pouchnik that we continue to remove individual names from our directory sign after 3 years' non-payment of dues. No action was taken pending dues review.)

A motion was made, seconded, and approved by unanimous vote to authorize the picnic committee, at its discretion, to draw on existing Association funds for picnic expenses in lieu of usual silent auction proceeds if a silent auction is not held this year.

Dorothy Edwards announced she and P.K. will host the traditional picnic on July 9th. They are working on details with the picnic committee who will distribute an informational flyer later this month.

Although discussed, no other fund expenditures were authorized at this meeting (Noted: no expense for legal or insurance advice was incurred).

Larry listed key traditional activities of the Association which we may want to continue going forward. While most responsibilities are covered for this year, several activities need volunteers to continue:

• Picnic Committee - Shawna K., Judith U., Mary Jane H., Carol D., JoAnn A., and Pat M.


• Christmas Party Committee -


• Fire Safety - Jim Mueller (water pump), Don Kishel (Fire Brigade)


• Beatty Twp Liaison - Don Kishel


• Neighborhood Directory Sign - Don Kishel


• Spring clean-up of roadside -


• BLM Liaison - Bob Ulseth


• Weather trending -


• Historian -

Members are encouraged to bring ideas for "Raps Road" activities of interest to the next meeting for consideration.

Since Beatty TWP Board meetings are open to the public, Bob Ulseth feels we would be more effective in calling attention to road maintenance/improvement concerns if we attended as a group. While many agreed, no date to attend was set at this time. Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month and agenda access is on request. Don Price said TWP Road Supervisor has recently assisted him in making minor pothole repairs.

Refurbishing of our directory sign was discussed and a sign-up sheet was circulated. Don Kishel will set a date and Larry Lange will contact individuals who indicated a willingness to help with this project.

After discussion, a consensus was reached to notify dues paying residents that we will rely on our blog site (rapsroad.blogspot.com) for 'Raps Road" news and events beginning January 1, 2012. Vickie Lange and Rita Lakmann will send notice (via USPS) within the next 60 days.

On behalf of residents, Larry Lange thanked Steve Raps for his family's generosity in hosting the picnic for many years (since its inception in 1979). All present showed their appreciation with applause.

There being no further items raised for discussion, this special meeting was adjourned. The inaugural meeting of "Raps Road" will be on August 11th at 7:00 p.m. hosted by Shawna and Don Kishel.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Lange

Rita Lakmann

Vickie Lange on behalf of Raps Road