Members
The BLPS team is dedicated to creating a professional, modern, relevant organization to best serve our member's interests.
The most important component of our team is the membership. The management of the BLPS is simply there to respond to the interests and concerns posted on Facebook and sent to our email address (blacklakepreservationsociety@gmail.com). Our members and Founding Families offer financial support that enables our programs, and they are the source of volunteered time and skills that are essential to our mission.
The most important component of our team is the membership. The management of the BLPS is simply there to respond to the interests and concerns posted on Facebook and sent to our email address (blacklakepreservationsociety@gmail.com). Our members and Founding Families offer financial support that enables our programs, and they are the source of volunteered time and skills that are essential to our mission.
Officers
President
Rusty Gowland has served on three non-profit boards, including his homeowner association, The Severn River Association, and Chesapeake Commons (an environmental data journalism startup). He lives near Annapolis, Maryland and has spent summers at Black Lake since 1983 along with his wife, Liz (4th generation) and their now adult children, Brad and Katherine. His favorite Black Lake activities are fly fishing local streams, kiteboarding, sailing, sunset pontoon boat cruises, and hiking.
Vice President
Steven D. Wild is active in many professional organizations, has served on executive boards of local, regional, national and international trade organizations and private companies. Steve currently serves on the board of his homeowner’s association in Ann Arbor. Professionally, Steve is a veteran of the media arts industry with over 45 years of experience in all aspects of the business, acquiring and operating more than fifteen companies. Along with his wife, Terri Lobdell Wild, Steve has been a Black Lake property owner since 1985, raising two children in its summer serenity. He is dedicated to preserving and protecting our unique and natural lake.
Secretary
Linda Woods was president of a women's group for 5 years. She has been working as a volunteer at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center; 6 years at the gift shop, 5 years as a financial secretary, and 5 years as a volunteer at the Infusion Center. Linda is also President of the Women's Aux of the American Legion Post in Midland, MI. Professionally, she managed a small business for 10 years and worked at a bank as a CSR for 10 years. Linda serves as the Secretary of the BLPS and she oversees our partnerships with other conservation oriented organizations in Michigan.
Treasurer
Jim Cordes is our Treasurere as well as advisor on topics involving information technology. Jim owns an information systems consulting business and recently served as founder and chairman of a non-profit community aviation discovery venture in Midland, Michigan. His family first came to Onaway in the 1920’s and his two children (Beth and Rob) are sixth-generation Black Lakers. Jim remembers skiing at Black Mountain as a child and today he enjoys windsurfing, golf, hockey and bicycling. Jim is also a pilot so you may occasionally see him flying over the lake giving scenic tours to friends.
Membership Development Director
Nicole Henley is our Membership Director. She works in sales in the Pharmaceutical Industry and brings a personal approach to communicating with members and prospective members about issues that concern them about the lake.
Invasive Species Program Director
Linda Sandvik is the Director overseeing our Invasive Species Program. In this role, she monitors all boat launch locations around the lake, provides educational material for boater, trains community members to identify locations of invasive weeds, and initiates remediation activities (including volunteer removal, biological solutions (eg. beetles), and contractor services).
Communications Director
Terri Wild is our Communications Director. Terri believes that the ultimate goal is to promote a constructive dialog around the lake. She believes that establishing relationships with other preservation oriented organizations and leveraging their outreach tools is the ultimate goal of the BLPS
Committees
Nominating Committee (Open Position)
This committee will conduct searches for willing and capable nominees for nomination to fill open board and committee positions.
Partner Organizations
The BLPS will rely on expertise, guidance, collaboration, and in some cases funding from our partners and peer organizations for execution of these Programs and accuracy of communications on Topics of Interest. Strategic Partnerships are desired with the following organizations:
- Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council (http://www.watershedcouncil.org/)
- Michigan Lake Stewardship Associations (https://www.mymlsa.org/)
- Huron Pines (https://huronpines.org/)
- Michigan Shoreland Stewardship
- Sturgeon For Tomorrow
- Michigan State University Extension
- Michigan Swimmers Itch Partnership
- Michigan Clean Boats Clean Waters
- Michigan Inland Lakes Partnership (http://michiganlakes.msue.msu.edu/)
- Mullet Lake Area Preservation Society (BLPS) (http://www.mullettlake-maps.org/)
- Burt Lake Preservation Association (BLPA) (http://www.blpa.org/)
- Little Traverse Conservancy (http://www.landtrust.org/wordpress/)
- Presque Isle Conservation District – (http://www.piconservation.org/)
- The "Friends of" Onaway State Park