Our Mission Statement
The purpose of this association is to work for the future well being of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake through environmental stewardship activities and community projects.
Our Constitution
- The name of the society is Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake.
- The purpose of the society is: To work for the future well-being of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake through environmental stewardship activities and community projects.
Since Lac des Roches and Birch Lake are, for the most part, summer recreational lakes in the South Cariboo Interlakes area, many of the land owners are seasonal and unaware of or unable to keep abreast of the local issues that may affect them or their properties. Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake initially formed to provide a method and united voice, particularly for absent landowners, to speak out on community matters that concerned them about our area - specifically land use plans.
Over time, the group has transformed into a proactive stewardship and community organization. Membership was - and still is - voluntary and open to anyone although property owners and leasers within the entire watershed are encouraged to join and steer the group in a desired path through communication and voting processes. The group is one of several community organizations in the Interlakes Area that now plays an important role of communication for the residents and users that enjoy the entire watershed in the most eastern part of the Area L South Cariboo region.
Stewardship activities currently include: BCLSS lake monitoring; Ministry of Environment Lake testing; several recognized bird counts; creel reporting for fish stocking analysis; land use planning input and government communication liaison. Other aspects of stewardship we are pursuing include: lake speed restrictions; land and water risk assessment; lake hazard identification; lake emergency response improvements; spawning channel growth; wildlife reserve watch and lakeshore development practices recognition. Stewardship activities involve: observation; research; data collection; map development; discussions; meetings; letter writing; as well as outdoor counting and on-lake testing from watercraft.
Community projects have been focused so far on uniting the individual residents through communication by: identifying property owners; establishing an information-sharing website; producing an annual newsletter and regular updates to a community column published in the local newspaper. As interest grows, we will look at expanding some of the area individuals' pursuits as community projects such as: roadside cleanup; group volunteering and husbandry; historical preservation and liaising with other community organizations and governing bodies in the Interlakes area. Our growth as a community organization is in response to demographic changes and encouragement by our Regional District Director.
Bylaws
The bylaws of the society are those set out in Schedule B of the BC Society Act, with the following variations, deletions and additions:
- Bylaw 25(2) of Part 5 - Directors and officers be revised to: The society must have at least 5 directors.
- 2. Bylaw 26(1) of Part 5 - Directors and officers be revised to: The first directors shall be the applicants for the incorporation of the society who shall hold office until the first Annual General Meeting at which time their term shall expire. At the first Annual General Meeting 3 directors shall be elected for two years and 2 directors for one year. At each Annual General Meeting thereafter, directors shall be elected for the terms falling vacant. Vacancies caused by retirement of directors shall be filled by the election of directors for the remainder of the retiring director's term.
Executive Officers
(Effective Date August 31, 2008)
| Position | Name | Terms End |
| Chairman | Barry Reid | August 2010 |
| Co - Chairman | Marie Wallewein | August 2009 |
| Secretary / Publicity Director | Sharron Woloshyn | August 2010 |
| Treasurer | Dave Woods | August 2010 |
| Media Relations Director | Bill Jollymore | August 2010 |
| Media Relations Co - Director | Lorraine Jollymore | August 2009 |
| Membership Director | Gordon Marshall | August 2010 |
| Wildlife & Stewardship Director | Wendy Marshall | August 2010 |
| Website Director | Al Wallewein | August 2009 |
| Directors at Large | Ralph Watson Heidi Ruegg Lois Motz Bev Woods |
August 2009 August 2009 August 2009 August 2010 |
Meeting Schedule
The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake will meet on the last Wednesday of every August for their AGM meeting at Bridge Lake Community School at 7 pm. There are 5 executive meetings scheduled throughout the year and additional meetings will be called as required.
Everyone is welcome at these meetings.
Member's Quarterly Updates
We create a quarterly newsletter from the discussions which take place at these meetings which is sent to all members and published on the website.
Our Address
Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake
General Delivery, Bridge Lake, BC V0K 1E0
E-mail us at: contactus@lacdesroches.org