The Long Lake Area Association carries out its work through several volunteer committees that support lake stewardship, community engagement, and association operations.
Most committees are open to member volunteers who want to contribute their time and skills to protecting Long Lake and strengthening our community.
Interested in getting involved?
LLAA committees rely on volunteers from across the Long Lake community. If you would like to serve on a committee or learn more about current projects, please contact us!
Click a committee to learn what it does and how to get involved.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee educates and connects our community around protecting Long Lake. We build awareness of LLAA’s mission and impact, encourage membership and renewal, and help people who live on, use, or care about Long Lake understand how to keep it healthy and usable for everyone.
- Manages LLAA’s primary communication channels: the website, Facebook, newsletter and lake access kiosks
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Develops a communications calendar to coordinate timing, topics, and content—especially around key events like the annual flotilla
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Writes and edits content in collaboration with topic experts and board members
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Designs graphics, updates website content, and supports newsletter authors (editing, proofreading, coaching)
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Produces printed materials when needed for members without digital access
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Most work can be done remotely and is flexible, with basic computer skills helpful
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Tasks are divided into small teams based on volunteers’ interests and skills
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Newsletters are published monthly, with additional content shared on the website, Facebook, and via email
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The busiest periods are typically April–July, aligning with major events like the annual meeting and flotilla
This committee is a great fit for people who enjoy writing, photography, social media, design, or community storytelling.
Community Committee
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Strengthen connections among LLAA members and foster a shared sense of community around Long Lake
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Identify what brings people together and what matters most to members’ enjoyment of the lake
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Plan inclusive activities that bring the lake community together
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Collaborate with other committees to use events as opportunities to educate the community about lake health and responsible lake use
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Plans the Summer Social Annual Meeting, July 4th Flotilla, and Highway 20 roadside cleanups
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Expands community-focused efforts tied to lake health and quality of life
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Collaborates with other committees to support education and stewardship goals
- Current activities are supported by work done from May to October. As the committee’s portfolio expands the timeline will change.
- Meetings and independent work of the committee members can be done remotely.
- Time commitments vary by event, and volunteers can participate at a level that fits their availability.
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People who enjoy planning or helping with community events
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Members who like bringing people together and building relationships
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Volunteers who want to contribute in visible, social ways
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Anyone who cares about strengthening community engagement around Long Lake
No prior experience is required—just an interest in community and participation.
Environmental Stewardship Committee
The Environmental Stewardship Committee safeguards the health and future of Long Lake through monitoring, research, and long-range planning. The committee’s work is carried out through three focused subcommittees, each addressing a critical aspect of lake stewardship.
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Members interested in protecting the long-term health of Long Lake
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Volunteers who enjoy data collection, observation, or research
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People who like working outdoors or supporting science-based decision making
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Those interested in environmental issues, planning, or collaboration with local agencies
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Monitoring Subcommittee
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Monitor near-shore aquatic vegetation to detect Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) as early as possible
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Support rapid response and informed management decisions through consistent data collection
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Conduct near-shore aquatic vegetation monitoring using visual observation and sampling
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Use standardized sampling tools and methods based on water depth and clarity
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Collect and document aquatic vegetation data to track changes over time
- Hands-on training and tools are provided for all volunteers
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- Volunteers perform near-shore aquatic vegetation monitoring during two separate periods in the summer; late-June to mid-July and then again mid-August to the 1st week in September
- Estimated time commitment for the Chair and Volunteers is four to six hours per summer
Water Quality Monitoring Subcommittee
- Monitor key physical and chemical characteristics of Long Lake, including oxygen levels, clarity, and pH
- Use data to assess overall lake health and fish habitat conditions
- Identify trends that help guide stewardship and management decision
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Monitor water quality through the county’s Lakes Monitoring Program in partnership with HCCOLA and RMB Environmental Laboratories
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Collect and submit water samples for professional laboratory analysis
- Long Lake’s deepest area is sampled May through September on specific Sundays
- HCCOLA water samples are provided to RMB Labs in Detroit Lakes for analysis
- Dissolved oxygen monitoring with the county’s hydrolab toolset is used at a deep water site on the lake
- Analysis trips generally occur in May or June through Sept, depending on weather and schedules.
Planning Subcommittee
- Maintain awareness of potential opportunities in the northern lakes area and Hubbard County that touch on the nine focus areas in our “living” Lake Management Plan for Long Lake initially developed in 2010.
- Update Lake Management Plan for Long Lake.
This subcommittee focuses on long-range planning and coordination across environmental priorities, including:
- Lake Management Plan for Long Lakeinclude: to identify opportunities for our community , specially pertaining to:
- water quality
- fisheries management plans
- aquatic vegetation
- wildlife
- exotic (invasive) species
- land use and zoning
- managing water surface use conflicts
- public water access
- organizational development and communication
- Examples of opportunities include but are not limited to:
- Collaboration with Northern Waters Land Trust to attend hybrid meetings on Conservation for Lake Associations
- Working through the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to help LLAA update or develop lake management plans
- Attending information meetings such as the Crow Wing River 1 Watershed 1 Plan forum
- Ongoing, year-round gathering of information regarding AIS and water quality so as to inform the LLAA Board for planning purposes and with the with the LLAA Treasurer regarding needed expenditures
- Updating all Environmental Stewardship Committee and Fisheries Committee volunteers about planning opportunities that may influence their work.
- Disseminating information in consultation with the Communications Committee to keep the LLAA members informed
- Review news items for opportunities that could support Long Lake.
- Review vaious State of MN updates and publications and County meetings agendas for information that could impact Long Lake
Fisheries Committee
- Monitor and support the long-term health of Long Lake’s fishery
- Serve as a liaison between the LLAA, its members, and the Minnesota DNR
- Advocate for fair and appropriate fisheries management for Long Lake
- Identify opportunities to improve fish habitat and stocking outcomes
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Maintains an active working relationship with the MN DNR fisheries office
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Reviews DNR lake management plans, stocking plans, surveys, and historical data for Long Lake
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Tracks fish stocking activity using the MN DNR LakeFinder app and on-the-water observation
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Meets with DNR representatives as needed and summarizes findings for the LLAA Board
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Partners with the Communications Committee to share fisheries information with members
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Evaluates whether additional stocking or management actions are appropriate and, if needed, applies for permits on behalf of the LLAA
- Helps coordinate private fisheries vendors when stocking is approved
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Fish stocking typically occurs in even-numbered years and requires additional coordination during those periods
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Standard DNR lake surveys occur approximately every five years and involve review and preparation during survey years
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Background research (LakeFinder data, DNR reports, LLAA website materials) can be done independently and on a flexible schedule
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Fishing on Long Lake and informal conversations with anglers provide valuable observational input for committee discussions
- Anglers and people interested in fish populations and habitat
- Members who enjoy learning about fisheries management and DNR practices
- Volunteers who like research, observation, and advocacy
- Anyone who wants to support a healthy, balanced fishery on Long Lake
Membership and Elections Committee
The Membership and Elections Committee engages in important work for the LLAA and its members as it focuses on member recruitment, retention, and volunteer engagement as well as recruiting members as volunteers on committees and the Board of Directors. There are two subcommittees that share this work:
Membership Subcommittee
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Grow and sustain LLAA membership across the Long Lake community
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Encourage member engagement through volunteering and participation
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Manage membership records, dues, and outreach to current and new members
- Establishes and manages a LLAA regular membership roster
- Establishes and manages a list of eligible LLAA members
- Encourages LLAA membership for each residence on Long Lake.
- Creates email lists and messages for the LLAA Foundation annual appeal
- Creates alternate distributions of information to those who do not have email addresses
- Creates email lists for email coordinator
- Collaborates with the Treasurer to track membership dues
- Identifies lake home turnover through the Hubbard County GIS System so an invitation to join the LLAA can be provided to the new owner.
- Manages the membership roster and engages with the GIS system year-round
- Works collaboratively with the Secretary and Treasurer regarding membership data and dues collection
- Engages year-round with the Communications Committee to deliver key information to the membership through the website, Facebook, and email.
Elections Subcommittee
- Notify the LLAA membership of all Board of Director openings and to receive nominations for these positions
- Report a slate of nominees from Committee to the LLAA Board
- Conduct online elections for the LLAA Board members and shares the outcome of those elections to the LLAA membership
- Collaborates with the LLAA Communications Committee to recruit nominees for Board openings through the LLAA newsletters
- Notifies all LLAA voting members of open positions and calls for nominations
- Receives and records nominations of qualified nominees for the various neighborhoods and At-Large Director position
- Submits its report to the LLAA Board
- Crafts and shares ballots in coordination with the Secretary and reviews the official tally of votes
- Reports the results of the election to the Board which is shared with all members
- Recruitment begins with engaging and informing the membership of open positions on the Board in spring of each year
- Election-focused tasks occur during spring through the election period in early summer, as described in the Bylaws
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People who enjoy organization, communication, and coordination
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Members interested in supporting the governance of the LLAA
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Volunteers who like behind-the-scenes work that keeps the Association running
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Anyone looking for a meaningful way to support member engagement