August 19, 2005

Our website has received a lot of interest! During the past 10 days the site has received more than 4,500 hits and we have received very positive feedback from those visitors. In addition to the valuable information about Skeleton Lake and water stewardship, the website allows people to register their membership, volunteer, and submit comments to the SLSA Board online.

Many thanks to SLSA members who have volunteered to organize and assist with a Raffle and a Casino. These events will take some time to coordinate. In the meantime smaller fund-raising activities continue to take place around the lake and everyone is encouraged to take their bottles and cans to the Boyle Re-Cycling Depot where Mrs. Kipp has generously agreed to return all monies generated to SLSA.

At this time our priority is to gather scientific proof to show Alberta Environment that our plans for a pipeline to divert water to Skeleton Lake are not only feasible BUT they are also environmentally appropriate. This means we need to hire consultants to prepare engineering, environmental and biological reports and this will cost MONEY! We need approximately $40,000 to obtain these reports and there are other minor expenses for hall rentals, stationary and incorporation costs.

We have approximately 900 members now. If everyone donated $50.00, SLSA would have $45,000. Not everyone will donate and we know that different members will donate different amounts. WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT YOU CONTRIBUTE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD - $10.00 or $100.00 - EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!

We promise to take good care of your money. A Chartered Accountant is the SLSA Treasurer and two Board members must sign each cheque. We have a lawyer, 2 engineers and some very astute business owners and CEO's on "Board", and others who are passionately devoted to our cause. But, most importantly, WE'RE CHEAP, we work for free, and we won't fritter your hard-earned money away.

We've already taken all sorts of legal steps, incorporated our group, developed a professional website, held town hall meetings and countless other meetings and we haven't paid out a cent yet. There is $1,800 in the bank. Total costs so far - about 2000 volunteer hours.

There is a donation program developed on the website that explains how you can donate. Please click here to view it and donate online www.skeletonlake.com OR you may send a cheque payable to SLSA to:
SLSA
P.O. Box 156
9768 - 170 St.
Edmonton, AB T5T 5L4

Thank you and we'll keep you posted!