MAY 2025

Outreach and Communications:
Chair John Harmon
Ryan Asmus, Mike Barretta, Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Bill Girvan, Amy Hetherington, Bruce Schantz, Matt Snyder, and Lance Vella

The mission of the committee is to effectively communicate the events, biology, and history within the Oneida Lake watershed, and provide timely and accurate information about recreation within that region. In addition to advancing the Annual Meeting, this committee also organizes our presence at various sports shows and functions to promote OLA’s Charter. The committee will perform maintenance and upkeep of the nine OLA signs and their surrounding immediate area based upon an ongoing assessment of their contemporary message(s), appearance and condition, as a means of promoting OLA awareness, providing advertising for local businesses and thereby generating income for the OLA, and conveying membership relevancy. Outreach includes the OLA Bulletin, enews, Facebook, and OLA webpage.

Natural Resources:
Co-Chairs Ed Mills and Patricia Cerro-Reehil
Rip Colesante, Amy Hetherington, Rowly Hrywnak, Kurt Snyder, Matt Snyder, and George Reck

The committee’s purpose includes the engagement, review, analysis, and preparation of preliminary position statements about issues and events related to Oneida Lake water levels, lake inflows, and watershed conditions potentially influencing the lake’s water quality, recreational use, and the general lake environment.

Fisheries:
Co-Chairs Rip Colesante and Bill Girvan
Bill Alexander, Mike Barretta, Warren Darby, George Reck, Kurt Snyder, and Matt Snyder

The focus of this committee includes identification and assessment of fisheries issues as they relate to Oneida Lake. The committee’s work entails preparation of defensible position statements that represent the OLA and its membership, and interaction with the NYSDEC and elected officials to advance these OLA positions. Fisheries issues can include, but are not limited to, angling activities and regulations, fish culture, fisheries research, fishing access, and general lake management.

Financial:
Chair Bob Walczyk
Ryan Asmus, Bob Cote, Bruce Schantz, Kurt Snyder, and Lance Vella

The committee maintains business banking accounts for cash receipts from all sources. Its chairperson reports account balances to the board of directors at monthly meetings, as well as summarizes cash balances to members at the association’s annual meeting. The committee’s responsibilities include the annual Federal and New York State non-profit income tax preparations. Committee chairs advise officers of available funds for annual expenses and special needs, and coordinate with membership functions to maximize the use of funds to increase rolls.

Government Affairs:
Chair Matt Snyder
Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Bob Cote, Warren Darby, Bill Girvan, Amy Hetherington, Ed Mills, Kurt Snyder, Mike Scanlon, and Bob Walczyk

The mission of the government affairs committee is to advance the best interests of Oneida Lake as determined by the OLA’s executive committee or other committees as designated by the President as follows:

1) Fostering positive relationships with elected and appointed government officials and their delegates who are involved with legislation, policy, budget, or other government actions relating to Oneida Lake;

2) Educating elected and appointed officials about Oneida Lake’s history and its importance to the surrounding area;

3) Advocating before elected officials and appointed government representatives regarding legislative and regulatory issues that may affect the welfare of Oneida Lake;

4) Influencing the political process by promoting government policies and programs that positively affect Oneida Lake; and

5) Monitoring the political environment, from both a legislative and regulatory standpoint, to ensure that any pending government action takes into account positions of importance to the OLA.

Membership:
Chair Bruce Schantz
Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Rip Colesante, Greg Keener, George Reck, and Lance Vella

The mission of the membership committee entails increasing the number and diversity of OLA members by keeping our organizational appeal as wide as possible by focusing on recruitment of new members, retention and engagement of current members, and providing valued services to our membership.

Scholarship:
Chair John Harmon
Patricia Cerro-Reehil, Warren Darby, and Greg Keener

The Mission of the scholarship committee is to select qualified students for the award of the OLA High School Scholarship ($500), the OLA College Scholarship ($500), and the OLA Scholarship in Memory of Eugene Kadlubowski ($1000).