All funds collected by the Friends of Norris Lake are maintained by us. And should not be confused with your homeowners assessments.

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  Community Events

FONL FUN NIGHTS OUT

An old saying states that “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.”  We can substitute “Jackie” and “girl” in the sentence and claim the same effect, particularly as it applies to FONL members who have devoted a decade of thousands of collective community service hours to make a noticeable difference in our Norris Lake landscape. Even so, it took 9 years to figure out we needed to take a step back and inject a little fun into the process and further cement the solid personal relationships formed under the duress of clean-up work parties, sponsoring festivals, stocking the lake, fecal coliform sampling, dedicating and improving park facilities and grounds, etc. 

SPRINGFEST 2008

May 3, 2008

After Action Report

A day that started out touch-and-go with predicted menacing weather turned out rather nicely after all.  As co-chairs of the event, my wife and I made the go/no go call at 1pm before band arrival at 4:30pm.  That call was based on an atmospheric humidity reading of 37 the day before the event and we were betting that would suck all the moisture out of the impending front.  It happened and we all had a great time and for that the community owes a debt of gratitude to the FONL people who stepped up to pull it off.  Out of the chute, it was Mark Yenney whose classy signs notified you of event details.

Next came the Bass Fishing Tournament which pressed into early morning action with 19 boats launching under the purview of Rick Cartwright, Ken Cowan, Rob McNulty and Diane Swann.  No “big ones” were hauled in but Wallace Clark took the single fish prize at 2lbs, 6ozs.  He and Louie Dokins also collected top prize for heaviest string of 5 fish at 7lbs, 12 ozs.  In keeping with a new FONL initiative, all 24 of the weighed-in bass were tagged so that their weight, length and catch location can be monitored after future catches.  The specifics of the tagging will be placed on the Friends of Norris Lake website (friendsofnorrislake.org, under PROJECTS).  Please report the details (length, weight, tag # and approximate catch location) of any future catch of a tagged bass to the FONL members indicated thereon as contact points.  A grid map of NL is being prepared so that we can study bass habitat patterns.

Roy Fair coordinated band arrangements with Jeff Robinson’s Blues Cats Band; resident electrician, Scott Spence, effected the necessary circuit tie-ins to the power pole before they arrived.  It should be noted that Roy and Jeff negotiated a no cost agreement if inclement weather forced postponement before the 1pm go/no go decision.  Most bands would expect payment for scheduled gigs cancelled in less than 24 hours.  Jeff’s agreement is a tribute to the special feeling he and wife Wendy have for the many friendships made at Norris Lake during the several years they lived here.  Rob McNulty arranged delivery of the King Kan porta-potty.  The band and potty cost FONL $785.

All things food and drinks were under the purview of Gene and Jeri McFadden augmented by side items (beans, slaw, drinks, cakes) donated by various members the 1030 Club.  Rick Hendrick Chevrolet donated 10 cases of water.  Dennis and Ruth Williams provided their grill for use by cooks Rob McNulty, Chuck Eckstein and Chris Swann.  Claudette Howard served as cashier; the sales staff consisted of Angie Rojas, Patsy Illick and Dianne Swann.

Logistics, consisting of moving clubhouse tables, chairs and extra trash cans to and from the Park, were completed by Dennis Williams, Mark Yenney and Mike Holmes.  Cal Reily did his usual magnificent job of preparing the Park grounds for our community party.  The kids’ games were planned and executed by Sherry Abts and Pam Prince.  A couple of clowns (Ruth Williams and Lovey ??) strolled into the Park and mesmerized the kids with their balloon antics and face paintings.  Richard Keith relieved folks of their money with his half and half scheme.

The FONL table was manned by Roy and Libby Fair.  The plant sale by Linda McNulty and Sandy Eckstein was cancelled because, when they arrived at Growers Outlet in Loganville after the 1pm go decision, they found elevated prices (Pike Nurseries closure??) and the place picked over and properly decided that a plant sale would be a losing venture.  Rachel Harrison, the community “Jewelry Girl” who donates all her sales proceeds to FONL, provided $50 to our bottom line.

BOTTOM LINE:  This was FONL’s 10^th Anniversary year.  The best ever $1,872 net profit requires a big “Thank You” to ALL who made it happen.  ALL funds received by FONL through fund raisers, resident and member contributions are returned in toto to the community.

LAKETOBERFEST

6 Oct 07

A Fun Deal

In response to signs purchased and donated by Jingle Davis and Mark Yenney, and coordination effected by Friends of Norris Lake President, Rob McNulty, NL residents and guests turned out in force on a perfect autumn Saturday afternoon (6 Oct) to enjoy the spoils of a bass fishing tournament, bluegrass music, food, fun and games.  And they did just that.  Call it Blues on the Beach, LAKETOBERFEST, or whatever, its FONL sponsors have continued to tweak each semiannual event based on attendee suggestions as to what pleases them. And FONL did so this time.

Jeff Robinson’s Blues Cat band is a perennial audience favorite—they are lively, loud and engaging and they finish with a bang—fireworks at 9pm off the pier.  This year FONL went to Plan B—the price was right and Paul Jacobs and his bluegrass band from Sparta, GA, complete with guitar, banjo, base, fiddle and mandolin, were invited.  Paul and his wife, Kathy, are former residents whose music was known to us but that band dissolved after their initial move to Milledgeville where they purchased a cabinet business.  Musicians tend to have an extended family so Paul has now reassembled a new group from various towns throughout Georgia. They came early from near and far, played late and were well received as a change of pace. 

It should be noted that such an afternoon and evening of fund raising pleasure does not come without a substantial fixed cost--$600 for the band and $135 for the porta-potty.  (The latter item cost more than usual because residents wanted hand-washing facilities therein and they got it.)  Even so, the bottom line usually reflects a profit that is returned in the form of community facilities improvements as FONL receives no funds from the Homeowners Association. Generous donations from local residents and event profits supplement FONL members’ free labor that leads to new piers, a bandstand, durable picnic facilities, fish studies, fecal coliform testing of the lake, fence building and a host of other initiatives funded and maintained by FONL.

The day began early as seven boats and occupants launched upon the lake in the wee morning hours in search of rewards for biggest bass and heaviest string.  Coordinator Rick Cartwright, with assistance from Dianne Swann, released the group at 7am and the hunt was on.  At 3pm, the weigh-in board reflected the biggest bass as 3lbs, 9ozs caught by perennial champion Jimmy Carter; heaviest string was produced by Ken Johnson and Jimmy Carter weighing 11lbs, 13ozs.  The second place string was a distant 4lbs short. 

The kids’ games that followed were a BIG hit this year thanks to Pam Prince and Sherry Abts whose imagination went wild and so did the kids—the whole northwest Park area was filled with rug rats, tweenies and teenies, all having a great time.  Ruth Williams checked in with her clown suit and laid some tricks on them that led to a lot of “How’d you do that?” head scratching.

Jeri and Gene McFadden were in charge of the food purchase, preparation and sales and somehow had little left over at the end of the day.  They graciously donated the food cost.  Rafael and Ivet Ramirez donated several large pots of chili. Assisting Jeri and Gene in the grilling and serving were Rob McNulty, Angie Rojas, Charlotte Seidenschnur, Jeff Harvey, Jean Harrison, Pat Jorisich, Rick Cartwright, Sean O’Keefe and Chris Swann.

Roy and Libby Fair staffed the FONL table that documents our activities, expenditures and accomplishments.  Several residents—Tangi Adams, Tom and Eddi McIntyre, Bari Blake, Tim and Caroline Russu, Jeff Wuesthoff and Kim Seitz renewed their FONL memberships and received their updated T-shirts and mailbox decals.  Rick Cartwright and Sherry Abts sold the popular 50/50 tickets that put $120 in the pocket of the winner.  As a community service project, teenager Rachel Harrison once again mesmerized the younger set with her dazzling handmade jewelry and donated $103 to FONL.  Matilda Durham provided 3 of her coveted cake specialties for raffle.

Let’s not forget the guys with the muscles—Lance Harvey, Dennis Williams, Mike Holmes, Rick Cartwright and Dustin Miller who performed the set-up/take-down and clean-up roles to restore the landscape as they found it.  The beautifully groomed grounds were the handiwork of Cal Reily. As the GE slogan goes, “There is no limit to progress when people work together.”

SPRING FESTIVAL 2007

Another Done Deal
 

Approximately 28 excited fishermen in 14 boats gathered at Norris Lake in the cool dawn hours of April 28, 2007 in anticipation of catching the “big one” that would enrich their pockets by some 260 bucks and, if double lucky, weigh in with the heaviest string and collect even more.  The morning started with a whimper (less boats than expected) but finished with a bang about 3pm when the boat of Johnson (big bass, 7lbs 4ozs) and Carter also produced the second heaviest string of 5 bass and added another 200 bucks).  Pittard and Meason weighed out the heaviest string at 14lb 5 ozs for the 300 dollar prize.

By 5pm, a crowd of some 300+ residents and guests had gathered to spend the evening soaking us the refrains of Jeff Robinson’s Blues Cats/2.  If the division is strange to you, Jeff had to “borrow: several musicians from the Borderline Band to fill out the venue but the combined group was as popular as ever with a somewhat different slant.  Perhaps the most evident group having fun was the kids who seemed to outnumber the adults, They were in a foot race with eggs on a spoon, bowling on the green and hula hooping but they created their own favorite diversion—playing in the branch.  The food was great, the half and half tickets sold briskly as did books, plants and jewelry and several memberships were renewed.

By the time the dew settled in, the Friends of Norris Lake had sponsored yet another winning event. New friends were made; old friends shared tales (and gossip); most went home happy; some went home TIRED but a good time was shared by all.

Blues on the Beach 2006 A Done Deal! The Friends of Norris Lake will sponsor the popular Blues event on Saturday, October 14, 2006, with Jeff Robinson’s Blues Cat band once again providing the music.  The event is being co-chaired by Jeri McFadden and Claudette Howard and, once again Matheny Park will come alive as residents, family and friends gather in the autumn evening to partake of food, fun and games.  Food service will begin at 5pm as will the music and continue to whenever.  Please bring your own seating or blankets to spread as available chairs and tables will be limited to those operating a venue.  Area parking space is scarce so please do not block the driveways of nearby residents.  Please respect our wishes and leave personal community agendas at home.

http://bluescatalley.com

If you did not hear these guys at the Blues on the Beach event in October you truly missed a treat. Well, lightning does strike twice and the "Blues Cats" are great musicians and make listening a blast.

Chili Cook-Off

Contact the event chairman for details by clicking here or call (770) 388-7899 Get the Registration Form Here

Neighborhood Connoisseurs congregate once a year to taste-test the best Chili Norris Lake has to offer and listen to some great Bluegrass. The field is limited to the first 15 entries, and everything counts. From flavor and consistency to presentation. Win the judges choice or stuff the ballot box by inviting all your friends to taste and vote in the Peoples Choice. Proceeds benefit the lake and lake related projects. This year we are lucky to have Laura Huber and Pam Prince as co-chairs for this event.