Purpose
The purpose of the Sybil Lake Association is to unite the lakeshore property owners on Sybil Lake to solve the problems, present and future, to help preserve our inheritance for the use of our lake, to prevent pollution of our lake, and to distribute information and promote education relative to such matters.
Sybil Lake Association is dedicated to the betterment of our lake. We are the voice and advocate for lakeshore owners. Our association is involved in walleye stocking, water quality monitoring, and coordination of a variety of activities including the adopt a highway spring cleanup, the 4th of July boat parade, and the annual Sybil Lake picnic.
How it all started
It all began with a phone call back in the spring of 1996. Ruth Zavoral, a former Sybil Lake resident called Jeanne Greenwood and Gary Cruff to see if they would attend an “Informational” water quality meeting sponsored by the Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA). When Gary and Jeanne attended the meeting, they discovered that it actually provided the equipment for taking water samples, but there would be a charge for the testing of the water samples at RMB Laboratories in Detroit Lakes. Gary and Jeanne decided it may be a good idea to organize an association for Sybil Lake to help finance the water quality project.
A meeting was arranged and residents of Sybil Lake were contacted. The first organizational meeting was held at the Sybil Lake Rod and Gun Club. Enough interest was shown that it was decided to form a lake association. Annual dues of $15.00 were collected at that meeting from those in attendance and enough money was collected to pay for the 5 months of water testing and to mail out a newsletter informing Sybil Lake residents of the establishment of the Sybil Lake Association. In August of 1996, the Sybil Lake Association members met and adopted a set of bylaws, and elected an official slate of board members. The bylaws state the purpose of the Sybil Lake Association as well as the rules that it and the association board abide by.
Board members represent different sections of the lake. An annual meeting for members is held on the second Saturday morning in June. Currently the annual dues are $20.00. These dues provide money for the association to send out an annual newsletter, participate in the water quality program, be a member of the Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Association and the Otter Tail County COLA. Both of these organizations provide valuable information and resources which help us maintain the quality of Sybil Lake. The Sybil Lake Association also is involved in a walleye stocking program of the lake with the Minnesota DNR. The association stocks fingerlings into the lake in off numbered years and the DNR stocks a combination of walleye fry and fingerlings in the even numbered years.
Mission Statement
“The Sybil Lake Association is a nonprofit organization that strives to protect the high quality of Sybil Lake for current and future generations, through encouraging respectful use of this resource for all. With an annual membership meeting, the association seeks to answer questions and address issues affecting the lakeshore community.”