SLSA Newsletter Update - SLSA Financial Status Report - October 27, 2007

We want to give you an update on SLSA's financial status, explain what SLSA would like to do next and solicit your help to achieve our goals.

FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT

SLSA had sufficient funds from our 2005/06 fundraising campaign to meet our financial needs in 2007 but as 2008 looms we have to raise another $125,000 to achieve our goals. Our 2005/06 donations were over $100,000 and together with our 2007 donations of approximately $10,000 those funds have carried us through to this point. We have used up most of the money we have received on the consultants who have helped us thus far. The information in those consultants reports was necessary to convince Alberta Environment to take the steps they have recently taken. We need to do further scientific investigations in order to carry on what we have started and so it is necessary to do further fundraising at this time. Our annual overhead (eg. postage, legal, accounting, hall rentals, etc.) is only about $4,000 per year however we have spent nearly $90,000 on consultants so far. We are well on the way to having the qualified scientific evidence we require to complete the Watershed Management Plan. We again need your generous financial help to finish the job.

Every day we get closer to achieving our goals but we need our members help now for this next stage.

Generally, we are in need of financial support towards the completion of our Watershed Management Plan. Specifically, we are requesting your support in the way of a donation to assist us to accomplish the following tasks:

• Payment for the consulting services of a Land Use Planner to develop a model Skeleton Lake land use bylaw to properly deal with development pressures around the lake so as to ensure future development is appropriate, low impact, sustainable development (estimated cost $35,000).
• Payment for a Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist to conduct a fish habitat and population assessment so that we can learn what we can do to regain the healthy fish population that was once enjoyed at Skeleton Lake (estimated cost $30,000).

• Payment for a consultant to conduct a drained wetland inventory to identify critical wetland areas around the lake that need to be restored or protected in order to preserve the hydrology, spawning grounds, fish and wildlife habitat and water levels in the lake and to help us establish a water conservation objective (estimated cost $25,000).

• Payment for a professional hydrogeologist to measure all groundwater inflow and outflow volumes through the use of heavy oxygen isotopes so we can better understand what is happening with underground water flow and how that impacts on the lake (estimated cost $20,000).

• Construction of a dedicated meteorological station right at the lake and a dedicated computer to run 24/7 to collect and issue accurate local weather information at the lake. We need at least one year of accurate, specific Skeleton Lake weather data to assist our experts in their scientific inquiries. Added benefit will be access by our members of real time weather info at the lake via our website (estimated cost $10,000).
• Our website is currently hosted on a member's server free of charge. We wish to move to a commercial server so this member does not have to maintain our website (monthly and annual hosting charges).

THE SKELETON LAKE STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP.

THERE IS LOTS OF WORK LEFT TO DO.

Please help out by donating to this worthwhile cause.

Remember that every donation is tax deductible and you will receive a charitable donation receipt

SLSA has a PayPal account if you wish to donate via credit card or if you wish to make regular monthly donations. Alternatively, you can donate a lump sum by cheque or credit card directly to the SLSA. You can donate to the SLSA by clicking on this link:

http://www.skeletonlake.com/help/donate.html

Your Board of Directors is working very hard on your behalf but we can't do it alone - we need your help. Please provide us with your financial support if you are able.

Did you know that you can also donate to the SLSA through the United Way?

The 2007 United Way Campaign is underway. At the same time the SLSA is also commencing their fundraising campaign so that we can carry on our efforts to preserve Skeleton Lake.

SLSA is a registered charity eligible for United Way donations. You can donate directly to the SLSA or you can make use of the United Way's payroll deduction program. This allows you to contribute to your company's United Way Campaign with monthly payroll deductions while directing that your donation go to help preserve Skeleton Lake. Two birds with one stone!

United Way also has a matching program called "Leader Of The Way" for gifts over $1,000 whereby an anonymous donor has agreed to match any donation over $1,000 with an equal donation to the United Way. So for example your $1,000 donation to SLSA through the United Way would result in an equal donation going to the united way.

If you wish to contribute to the SLSA through the United Way campaign we ask that you please list on your United Way pledge form the full name and address of SLSA as follows:

Skeleton Lake Stewardship Association
PO Box 156, 9768-170 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5T 5L4

Thanks For Considering a Donation To the SLSA - Every dollar helps.

Your SLSA Board of Directors