LAKE SAWYER NEWS
February 2000

Lake Sawyer Community Club
P.O. Box 191
Black Diamond, WA 98010
www.lakesawyer.org 

Inside This Issue 

  • Here Comes Santa
  • Yard Decorations
  • Thanksgiving Dinners
  • Christmas Giving Tree
  • Adopt-A-Road Program
  • Annual Meeting/Agenda
  • Notes from the President
  • Lake Sawyer Community Club (LSCC) History


Here Comes Santa:

The Santa Boat made its annual rounds 12/19/99 in cold but clear weather. Santa and helpers Kevin Esping and Sarah Davis toured the lake in approximately 4 hours visiting between 250 and 300 children of all ages and many more adults (also of all ages). Approximately 40 stops for Santa present deliveries were included. Many thanks to Kathy Davis & Sue Fish for coordinating the gift deliveries.

Yard Decorations:

Many colorful and creative displays brought joy to everyone including Santa and his crew. The best of the best were:
  • Rick & Nanette Stock ? first
  • Lynn & Diane Ziegler ? second
Thanks to all who helped  make the lake glow  with Christmas spirit.

Thanksgiving Dinners:

Patty Cline coordinated this and saw to it that 3 families enjoyed Thanksgiving dinners. Thanks Patty.

Christmas Giving Tree:

Patty Cline coordinated this with great success. All the gift tags were filled. Thanks Patty. Additional thanks to the Lake Sawyer Store for letting us use them as the tag distribution point.

Adopt-A-Road Program:

A great big thanks to the following people who braved the elements during our scheduled fall pickup: Fred Weston, Al Hermann, Kathy Scott, Janie Edelman, Bob Edelman, Dick Veldhuis and Sharon Veldhuis. Al Hermann and Fred Weston got a good work out after lifting a whole set of free weights from a ditch to the roadside. Thanks for all your efforts everyone!
Also, I would like to thank Lynn Christie, Kathleen Mikos and Brian Franzi for coming out to help with our spring cleanup. They were accidentally left off the list in our last newsletter.
Our next planned litter pickup will be sometime in May. We always welcome new faces!

Kathy Davis

Annual Meeting

February 9, 2000   7:00PM
at the Lake Sawyer Community Club

Meeting Agenda:
  • Future of the Clubhouse
  • Update on King Co Park
  • Development in Black Diamond
  • Election of Officers:
  • Several positions are up for election this year, some to fill existing terms. They are as follows:

    • President (1 year), Vice President (1 year), Secretary (1 Year), Treasurer (1 year), Trustee #1 (1 year), Trustee #2 (2 years), Trustee #4 (2 years), Trustee #5 (1 year) .
Notes from the President:

     "It has been an eventful year on Lake Sawyer.  It has been the board’s primary goal this year to increase member involvement in our club.  We have made some steps in that direction, including new social events in the form of "Dockside Parties" and implementing a Welcome Wagon for new residents of the lake.  We feel that there is much more that can be done, however.  I would like to encourage everybody to come to the annual meeting so that we can discuss the future of our club. 
     Our club’s history indicates that at any given time (at least in recent years), only a few people are truly active, mostly those then on the board.  These people "put in their time" to subsequently be replaced by another small group of people.  We would like to see a broader involvement by the membership on an ongoing basis.  One way we would like to do this is through a few standing committees.  This way nobody has to do a burdensome amount of work, or face getting "burnt out" by being one of the few involved in everything.  We will have a sign-up sheet at the meeting for anybody interested in being on the Lake Restoration Committee, the Fourth of July Committee, or the Clubhouse Committee. 
     While discussing increasing social activities for the club this year, the issue was raised as to whether members were truly interested in having a clubhouse, since it hasn’t gotten much usage in recent years.  We have put that issue out to the membership through the newsletter soliciting input, particularly for suggestions on ways to use the facility to increase community involvement. Disappointingly, we did not receive many responses.  If you have an opinion on the subject, the February meeting is your opportunity to be heard.
The Annual Meeting will also feature an update on planning for the park at the south end of the lake and a report from the City of Black Diamond on the large proposed development off of the Auburn-Black Diamond Road.  BE THERE!!"

Dave Peters

Lake Sawyer Community Club (LSCC) History:
(We hope that this is of interest to all.)

The following is a summary of some of the significant events that brought the Lake Sawyer community together (As complied from previous Newsletters, board meeting minutes and other sources).
 

  • May 18 1948 Lake Sawyer Improvement Club granted tax exemption status. Club disbanded some years later.
  • August 5 1952 Superior Court decree orders Vern Cole Realty Company to begin construction of present dam and fish ladder at Lake Sawyer outlet.
  • January 7 1956 King County Boating Regulations (Resolution 16896) adopted to allow water skiing on Lake Sawyer with speeds up to 20 MPH between 2:00PM and 6:00PM Mon. ? Fri. and 11:00AM and 3:00PM Sat, Sun and holidays.
  • July 13 1961 First meeting of lake residents as a club ? the Lake Sawyer Control and Development Club. Early meetings held at the Black Diamond Eagles Hall.
  • July 23 1961 First Bylaws adopted. Memberships open to lake residents.
  • August 11 1961 Articles of Incorporation of the Lake Sawyer Control and Development Club Inc.  Club purpose to "bring together all persons in the Lake Sawyer area to consider and work on any and all problems confronting the area with the hope of welding together a fine community in which to live".
  • May 11 1962 First annual meeting of club takes place. A contest to rename the club was conducted with a $10.00 prize. Jack Hoy ? first President.
  • 1964 Rumors circulate of a garage dump being located at the south end of lake.
  • August 1964 By-laws changed to revise membership requirements to include many off Lake Residents. 
  • 1964/65/66 Red Cross swimming lessons offered on lake ? approx. 15 - 20 kids took part each year.
  • February 15 1965 Amended Articles of Incorporation to change name to Lake Sawyer Community Club (LSCC).
  • Labor Day 1965 LSCC wins 3rd place for float in Black Diamond Labor Day Parade; also had concession stand and Queen candidate.
  • May 1966 Failed petition attempt to change boating regulations to eliminate any speeds over 8 MPH (present water ski speeds at 20 MPH). Plans for new clubhouse presented at annual meeting. Building fund used raffles, dances, rummage sale, etc. as fundraisers.
  • May 18 1966 By-laws changed to revise membership requirements to Lake Property owners only and created associate membership for other interested persons.
  • July 4 1966 First fireworks display on Lake Sawyer (all set off by LSCC members, not an outside company).
  • August 30 1966 Deed for Clubhouse property recorded.
  • September 1966 Application made for Clubhouse building permit.
  • January 1967 Clubhouse construction begins.
  • February 1968 Clubhouse plumbing permit received, septic tank installed.
  • August 1968 Clubhouse electrical service approved.
  • October 1968 Water District #105 proposes locating wells at north end of lake (at present well site).
  • 1969 Clubhouse furnishings obtained: Rummage sale proceeds used to buy folding tables, folding chairs purchased by member donations. Dishes for clubhouse gotten by members through Richfield Service Stations offering of place settings to customers. Coffeemaker gotten by collecting MJB lids.
  • February 1970 Clubhouse receives final building inspection.
  • 1973 Newspaper drives used to raise LSCC funds.
  • July 4 1974 First Annual Fourth of July Celebration on Lake Sawyer.
  • 1974 Clubhouse activities included a Pizza & Suds night, dances (teens & adults).
  • July 4 1975 No fireworks display on the lake this year; dock flare lighting at 10:00PM.
  • 1975 Clubhouse activities included belly-dancing classes, exercise classes, rummage sale, several dances.
  • June 1976 Clubhouse building bonds paid off.
  • July 4 1976 No fireworks display due to lack of funds and lack of available pyrotechnic licensed person.
  • 1976 LSCC sponsored a Boy Scout Pack #146. New Years Eve dance sold out.
  • 1977 Water District 86 discussions for providing sewers for Lake Sawyer properties continue.
  • July 4 1977 Boat Parade moved from morning to afternoon.
  • February 1978 Clubhouse was broken into. Taken were most of the carpeting and colored floodlights.
  • February 1981 $6000 Clubhouse building mortgage paid off.
  • 1983 Black Diamond sewage treatment facility (lagoon) commences operation. Water quality of Lake Sawyer becomes a very big issue for the next several years. LSCC takes a very active role through letter writing campaigns concerning the failure of the Black Diamond sewer system. Clubhouse gets new refrigerator, sink & associated cabinets.
  • October 1983 Maple Valley School of Ballet first utilizes Clubhouse.
  • December 1985 Ice skating on Lake Sawyer becomes one of the most popular activities for several days.
  • 1986 John Henry No. 1 Coal Mine begins operation in Black Diamond.
  • 1987 Black Diamond sewage facility (lagoon) declared a failure by Department of Ecology & Environmental Protection Agency.
  • 1988 Merger talks between Water District 86 and 105 begin.
  • 1989 Lake Sawyer Fire Station construction completed (station fully operational in May 1990). Soundproofing (ceiling baffles) installed in Clubhouse.
  • 1990 Fencing installed on north side of Clubhouse property.
  • 1991 Pumping of water from Horseshoe Lake into Rock Creek (Lake Sawyer) becomes an issue. Silt coming into Lake Sawyer, possibly from the John Henry Mine becomes a concern. Boat ramp rebuilt by King County (later repaired at waterline due to erosion of ramp).
  • June 1991 Lake Sawyer volunteer marine patrol ended by King County Sheriff due to liability issues.
  • December 1991 New roof on Clubhouse ? cost approximately $4800.
  • November 1992 Black Diamond sewer finally connected to Metro (after 9 years).
  • April 1993 New sign & railroad tie planter boxes for Clubhouse.
  • March 1994 LSCC starts Adopt-a-Road effort along 216th Ave SE & SE 288th St.
  • July 1994 First Annual Run/Walk/Bike around Lake Sawyer.
  • 1995 Efforts to annex Lake Sawyer into the city of Black Diamond starts.
  • 1997 The oil furnace is replaced in the Clubhouse.
  • January 1998 Lake Sawyer becomes part of the city of Black Diamond.
  • 1998 LSCC donates money for the purchase of the new Black Diamond Police boat.
  • October 1999 King County completes purchase of 165 acres park at south end of lake.
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