The Oneida Lake Bulletin Spring 2020 www.oneidalakeassociation.org OLA Celebrates Our 75 Year Anniversary! by John Harmon, OLA Vice-President Our Beginning On April 25, 1946, slightly less than a to this day. However, none of the prizes the early officers of the organization year after German forces surrendered to was more symbolic than their promise to remained committed to taking action end World War II, the Post-Standard of give away “a dozen pair of nylon stock- based on facts and research. One of their Syracuse announced the very first public ings.” Initially, this prize might appear first resolutions was to “Take such steps meeting of the newly formed Oneida as a ploy to attract women members. as a survey would disclose as necessary Lake Association (hereafter OLA). The The Association, however, had an even to improve fishing, boating and bathing.” meeting was scheduled to take place in deeper message. The readers of 1946 After Onondaga County quickly endorsed Lincoln Auditorium of the old Central recognized that nylon stockings were this resolution, the OLA pressed for High School in Syracuse. The organizers indeed a rare and coveted item during the similar considerations from Madison and expected over two-thousand attendees months immediately following the war. Oswego Counties (2/19/1946). from throughout Central New York. At The organizers used this prize to plainly this meeting, Benjamin Sauer, elected announce that “the Association is able to One of the next—and most enduring— President at the foundational meeting get what it goes after.” achievements of the OLA was their suc- of December 1945, planned to outline cess “in cutting down pollution of the lake the vision of the OLA, including “Plans The Oneida Lake Association recorded and its tributary streams” (4/19/1946). for developing the lake into the state’s an astonishing record of achievements This goal remains at the forefront of best fishing and hunting area.” Looking in its very first six months. A review of OLA’s activities to this day. back through the past 75 years, there is several articles archived in the Syracuse As spring—and the fishing seasons— little doubt about that this original vision Post Standard reveals the scope and approached, the Board of Directors of has been achieved. Although game fish breadth of the organization’s ability to 1946 turned their attention to the dif- populations have changed, Oneida Lake get things done. For example, OLA spon- ficult issue of continued fish piracy on continues to boast one of the finest fish- sored a bill in the state legislature that the lake. They strongly urged the state eries in all of the U.S. Folks from every gave free hunting and fishing to all vets “to put a complete stop to illegal netting state of the union come to test its waters, of the recently concluded World War II. of pike, now running up the streams to in every season of the year. Although we The organization also exacted a promise spawn.” The Directors would not cease thank Mother Nature for providing us from the legislature to develop a commit- their pressure until they effected a “com- with this wonderful resource, we can also tee to “investigate conditions of the lake plete stop to the Illegal netting of pike” thank the OLA for its unswerving stew- thoroly” (1/3/1946). The OLA officers (4/19/1946). In one of the very many ardship of Oneida Lake and its watershed. also prompted a study of water level con- trol for the lake, resulting in “support of a articles in the Post-Standard devoted to The annual meetings of the OLA project to have the state build a new dam the early months of the OLA, we read that have continued uninterrupted for the last at Caughdenoy to give better control of “Although organized only a few months 75 years. It has long been a tradition to water levels” (4/19/1946). Each of those ago, the Association has been successful give away door prizes at these annual initiatives have paid off with programs in cutting down pollution of the lake and meetings. In fact, in the newspaper an- that continue to benefit Oneida Lake to its tributary streams and has received nouncement of that inaugural meeting in this day. a promise from the State Conservation 1946, the Association boasted that they Department that it will make a thorough would give away “a number of door In just a few months, the OLA was survey of lake needs and conditions this prizes,” a tradition that has continued 1,000 members strong. To their credit, year. The Association is working to stop (Continued on page 3) Oneida Lake Bulletin – Your Environmental Voice for Seventy-five Years 1 President’s Message The Oneida Lake Association, Inc. To the OLA Membership, Founded in 1945 Did you ever stop and think just how lucky you really are to have the opportunities to enjoy our beautiful Oneida Lake? There are many different types of quality leisure The Bulletin is published by the Oneida Lake Association, Inc., activities for people of all ages. Although there have been numerous challenges and so that its members may be in- changes over the years, Oneida Lake has remained a treasure. Thanks to the collabora- formed regarding the activities of the tion of many groups of people and agencies working together over the years, Oneida association. The Oneida Lake Lake continues to be recognized as one of the best walleye and smallmouth bass fisheries Association, Inc., was organized in New York State, and even in the United States. Because of this treasure, we need to in 1945 to restore and preserve the be grateful for our founders of the Oneida Lake Association for their dedication and natural resources of Oneida Lake foresight, planning for the care of our lake for future generations. Over our rich 75 and its environs. year history there have been many individuals who have put in their passion and time into our OLA mission statement by tapping into their own strengths. Over all those Officers years, we have had many dedicated members serve on the OLA Board of Directors, President .............................William Girvan and a number of them were our officers--Treasurers, Secretaries, Vice Presidents, and Vice President ......................Warren Darby Vice President .......................John Harmon Presidents, along with numerous committee chairs. Also we have had a great and proud Vice President ....................................Open membership that has always been the heart and soul of the OLA. We have a great logo Treasurer ..................................Lance Vella too! Secretary .................................Ryan Asmus In order to address all of the different issues and concerns over the years, the OLA has had a lot of help and guidance. Working together to solve the problems on Oneida Board of Directors Lake there have been a number of truly dedicated and very intelligent professionals. For example, we have had support and guidance from the Cornell University Field Terms Expiring April 30, 2020 Bruce Schantz Ryan Asmus Station at Shackleton Point, the New York State DEC, Region 6 & 7 Fisheries, numer- Mike Barretta Dr. Edward Mills ous law enforcement agencies, the Oneida Lake Fish Hatchery staff, as well as village Gina Duggleby George Reck fire departments, all focusing on safety and quality of life on Oneida Lake. We are also thankful for the many outdoor writers, politicians, and business owners all around Terms Expiring April 30, 2021 Anthony Buffa Bill Girvan Oneida Lake. Richard Colesante Robert Cote Your OLA publishes two very informative Bulletins each year and our monthly E Carl Ford Matt Kazmierski – Newsletter, which has a lot of the latest information about Oneida Lake. This digital Greg Keener Bob Walczyk publication was the brainchild of OLA Director and Past-President Scott Shupe. We are pleased that the OLA Board has evolved from an all-male group to one that now Terms Expiring April 30, 2022 Patricia Cerro-Reehil Kurt Snyder enjoys the leadership of women directors. Currently we have had a couple of very Warren Darby Matt Snyder dedicated female directors who have really helped our OLA Board cover new and Tom Guifre Lance Vella important areas as we continue to move into the future. John Harmon Besides fisheries concerns, we working on increased control of cormorants, reduction of sediment, cleaner water, weed pulls, road clean ups, safety concerns, and increased access around the lake and a whole lot more. Unfortunately, due to virus concerns, we had to postpone our Annual Meeting sched- “Like Us” uled for this spring. We hope to re-schedule as soon as health concerns permit. At this future meeting we will honor the legendary Dr. John Forney as our 75th Anniversary on Facebook OLA Conservationist of the Year. Please monitor our website for details. www.facebook.com/ OneidaLakeAssociation Bill Girvan, President OLA To submit questions or comments www.OneidaLakeAssociation.org [email protected] about The Bulletin, contact editor John Harmon at [email protected] 2 Oneida Lake Bulletin – Your Environmental Voice for Seventy-five Years OLA's 75-Year Anniversary the quantity and quality of their sport, the The damage to the lake’s fishery and (Continued from page 1) public began to rally behind the goal of surrounding economy was clear. A study eliminating piracy. That’s how the Oneida by the U.S. Wildlife Research Center illegal netting of fish and will assist with Lake Association was born. One of their illustrated how cormorants cost the four a program to provide food to attract ducks first goals was to tackle the problem of counties around Oneida Lake some 1,400 to the lake in the fall and winter months” illegal netting and the resultant sale of jobs and more than $40 million in fishing- (4/19/1946).