The Faces of FOCA FOCA is a not-for-profit organization representing 511 volunteer lake associations and 50,000 waterfront property owning families across Ontario. We are your provincial voice. In 2017, FOCA welcomed five new Board members, bringing the team to 14. Read about their personal cottage stories, and the breadth of skills of our dedicated volunteers and staff, here: https://foca. on.ca/about/team/. FOCA operates under a governance Board that directs strategic priorities through Board Committees. Get more information, here: https://foca.on.ca/about/ our-work/. Operations are undertaken by FOCA staff, which grew to 5 this year, including the Assistant Lake Stewardship Coordinator who works at the Dorset Environmental Science Centre. FOCA BOARD FEATURE My Cottage Story “My husband and I spent our first weekend together on the lake in the mid 1970s. Since 1995, we have spent the first week of every August there. The smell of pine trees, calm water at sunrise, family and friends make the lake one of my favourite places. Once I retired, I was able to spend more time there. When our lake association President asked me to become involved as the Lake Steward, I was keen to accept. Because good water quality and natural landscpaes bring me such joy, I was keen to become involved with FOCA. FOCA helps cottagers throughout the province to enhance water quality, boating safety, fair taxation and sustainable waterfronts. All of this makes me proud to be one of the many FOCA volunteers.” Dr. Lynda Corkum FOCA Secretary, member of Big Gull Lake East End Cottage Association FOCA staff met at the waterfront on Stoney Lake Governance and Best Practices Throughout the year, FOCA kept member associations informed about governance issues and best practices. On July 1, 2017, Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) went into full effect, requiring consent to send Commercial Email Messages. FOCA has been educating members since 2014 about CASL implications for lake associations that send email messages. Members can access all the information here: https://foca.on.ca/anti-spam-law-report-from-foca-members-only/.