Lake Martin HOBOs is actively conducting a membership drive.  If you live near the lake or on the lake and have concerns about the lake, please consider joining our association.  If you own a boat and recreate on Lake Martin, please consider joining our association.  Membership is just $ 15.00 a year for individuals.  $ 25.00 a year for Families.  This includes a terrific meeting and breakfast every year.

Please become active and involved. 

Lake Martin HOBOs Annual Meeting

June 10, 2023

Harry DeNegre began the meeting with a blessing and then a Pledge of Allegiance.  He thanked everyone for attending.  Harry introduced the current board members:  Wallace Jones, Jesse Cunningham, Jim Robinson, Judy Heinzen, Betsy Keown, Mitzy Hidding, William Haynes, Jerry Purcell, Brad Copeland, Ann Campbell, Chris Searcy.  Dave Heinzen was unable to attend.

Minutes of 2022 Annual Meeting - Judy Heinzen informed everyone that the minutes have been approved by the HOBO board and posted on the website.  By unanimous vote, the minutes were approved.  Harry DeNegre presented Judy Heinzen with a bouquet of flowers for the many years of service to the HOBOs. 

Harry DeNegre thanked the Business Sponsors for their participation in the HOBOs.  The sponsors are:

Standard Business Forest Hills Garage Full Pool Swimming Pool Expert WLD Solutions Will Ponder	Patron Business Rhonda Gaskins Century 21
Supporting Business StillWaters Yacht Club Forbus Custom Pools Hilyer & Associates CPA Lakeside Marina Holman Floors Insurance Solutions Group	Platinum Business Zazu's Verandah Mortgage Pro DI Design Jen Patton

Financial Report - Jim Robinson reviewed the financial report for the period ending May 31, 2023 as well as the forecast for the period ending May 31, 2024.  A discussion regarding the value of being a HOBO member ensued

• All volunteer advocate for the Lake Martin community, especially those who do not have homeowner covenants and restrictions 
• Big Boat legislation 
• Martin Dam Relicensing 
• Boating Safety classes
• Boating Inspections 
• Neighborhood Watch programs
• Legislation to support boat owners and homeowners 
• Monitor graphite plant and mining impact in the region and its effect on Lake Martin

Election of the 2023 - 2024 Board

There were no nominations from the floor.  Election by acclamation were Wallace Jones - President, Harry DeNegre - 1st Vice President, Jesse Cunningham - 2nd Vice President, Jim Robinson - Treasurer, and Board Members:  Dave Heinzen, Mitzy Hidding and Betsy Keown.

HOBO Membership Committees - Wallace Jones invited the membership to participate in HOBO Board Committees:  Annual Breakfast Meeting Committee, Membership & Business Committee, Yearly Activities Committee, Merchandise Committee, and Board Member Nomination Committee.  A description of the committee responsibilities and a signup sheet are available at each table.

Wallace Jones asked members to recruit neighbors and new people to the community and invited all to attend any of the upcoming board meetings.  The dates are posted in the Events on the website.  The next board meeting will be held on July 10, 2023 at Zazu’s Verandah, 4:00 pm.

Upcoming activities are:  June 15 - HOBOs sponsor the Campbell Brothers at Zazu’s Verandah, June 24 - Boating Inspections at Sandy Creek, the HOBO booth at the Dadeville Fall festival in October and Pennington Park Christmas display in November and December.\

SPEAKERS

Sheriff Jimmy Abbett 

Sheriff Abbett has been in law enforcement for 50 years. A small county like Tallapoosa has a challenge to maintain a workforce to support the many manpower needs of the county.  There are 20 court days per month, patrol units, civil process servers, the investigative division, drug task force, 14 HOBO neighborhood watch programs, officers at 3 Tallapoosa County schools to support the kids as well as provide security for the facility, Project Life Save transponders on people with dementia, jail staff including nurses/doctors/dentists.  The 911 services are being supported with a new app for people who get lost on the lake or out hiking.  The app is What3Words.  It can be found in the App Store for your device.

Sheriff Abbett commented on the recent shooting in Dadeville and the coordination of support provided by various state and federal agencies.  The First Baptist Church in Dadeville provided an event center for police during the Dadeville shooting investigation.  There were approximately 60 law enforcement personnel working on the investigation and we provided 120 meals a day for those working on the investigation. Senator Katie Britt came to our operation center to offer her support and to ensure we had all the necessary resources available for our needs.  Each defendant will be tried separately and it will  likely be several years before the trials will be held.

Ed Oliver - Alabama State Representative District #81

All the bills in the legislature are available online at https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search 

Recent bills passed addressed lodging tax and the Tourism Board.

A sewage proposal from Alabama Department of Environmental Management to the Cities of Camp Hill and Dadeville. (PROPOSAL)

A trial EMS service providing emergency rapid response and routine health care. The coverage area will include  the Paces Point, Stillwaters, Union,and Reeltown Fire Districts. An EMT and Paramedic will work from the Stillwaters VFD in a specially equipped truck. The start date is not yet determined but the funding has been appropriated. 

Commercial fishing on Lake Martin is not new 

A new boating bill will be proposed, please let Ed know your input

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Heinzen
Secretary, Lake Martin HOBOs