Annual Newsletter 2026

HURON BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIATION

FALL 2026 NEWSLETTER

Dear HBCA Members,

Another year is slowly closing upon us and the holiday season is beginning with Halloween this weekend.  The winter predictions are varied; however, we like the warmer variation with no major snow storms for the winter months. Fingers crossed up north that the snow is manageable, the roads are clear and dry, and we get through March without an ice storm. Remember raking leaves is nature’s way of preparing us for shoveling snow.

Our last Member Meeting was held September 5th with a very good presentation by our County Emergency Management Director, Tim Pritchard. He gave an overview of what Emergency Management does in our community and during potential disasters including where shelters and emergency services can be found. If you haven’t signed up for CODE RED with the county, it is a free community notification system that sends texts, emails or phone calls when there is an emergency in the county. For example, road closures, weather alerts, and disaster preparedness. Even if you are not in the area full time, you will still receive alerts on up north activities which is one way to watch over your up north property. Two ways to sign up:

·  Text: picounty to 99411 on your mobile device

·  Enroll online through the CodeRED Enrollment Portal

https://presqueislecounty.org/emergency-management/ 

Our second speaker was Michigan Broadband discussing the latest developments with their Internet and VOIP phone services. While a lot of construction has been done in the area, they are not complete for the full Huron Beach residential stretch from the Cheboygan County line to the Ocqueoc River. More information will be available as they complete their area work.

The September 5th meeting with members was very productive. Here are a few of the things the members voted on unanimously:

·      Membership dues shall be increased to $35 a year beginning January 1, 2027. It has been over twenty years since the last increase.

·      Community Hall rentals will be $75 for members for the first eight hours including set-up and $10 an hour afterwards. Non-members will pay $150 for the first eight hours and $20 an hour afterwards. Deposits by members and non-members are refundable upon final inspection of the premises.

·      Table and chairs can be used off site by our members with a small deposit refundable upon return of items. Non-members will not be allowed to use or rent our tables and chairs off site.

·       Bylaw changes included Article IV, section 4.2 authorizing the Board to consist of up to nine members but no less than five members. Three current Directors have other residences out of the area, so this will allow Board meetings to reach a quorum for decision-making in the event a Director cannot attend. Now the board consists of four officers (President, VP, Treasurer and Secretary) and three Directors. Another change was to increase the term of the officers of the Board to two years instead of elections every year. This will allow for some consistency and longevity in the officer positions.

·      Additional bylaw changes in Article XI, 11.1, Article II, 2.1 & 2.3 were made to correct HBCA listed in the bylaws as a 501(c)3 organization when in fact it is a 501(c)4 tax-exempt organization.

·      Annual Board elections were held and the following were unanimously voted as accepted:

-      President to 12/2027          Emilie Stawiarski    

-      Vice President to 12/2028  Thomas Stawiarski 

-      Treasurer to 12/2028          Interim Archie Patterson    

-      Secretary to 12/2027          Kathy Operhall       

-      Director to 12/2028            Thomas Peterson   

The terms for Directors Rosemary Patterson and Janet Pushies end December 2027. If you’re interested in volunteering for the future HBCA Board, contact the President. You do not need to live permanently in the area to participate.

Other announcements included:

·      Treasurer, Tom Peterson, has decided to be a Director on the Board and passed the treasurer’s position on to Archie Patterson. Archie has stepped in as Interim Treasurer until a member volunteer for the position can be found. We thank Tom for his seven years of service as Treasurer and Garage Sale Chairperson as well as long-term member with Annette in HBCA.  We look forward to his continuing participation as a Board Director. We thank Archie for volunteering to handle all things financial for HBCA in the interim.

·      HBCA is seeking a permanent Treasurer at HBCA and a Chair/Co-Chair for the July 2027 HBCA Garage Sale. Contact the President if interested.

·      Our 2026 annual garage sale was a great success thanks to our volunteers and our participating shoppers. A total of $608 was donated to the Fireman’s Boot and given directly to the Ocqueoc/Bearinger Fire Dept. An additional $1200 was donated to the Fire Dept and $300 to the Cheboygan Humane Society whose help closing up after the sale and removing unsold items was an unbelievable effort on their part. In an hour and a half, the Fire Department building was empty and clean. 

·      July 10th will be the date for the 2027 Garage Sale. Always looking for volunteers to help set-up on July 8th and 9th. Contact the President if interested in donating a little bit of your time. New this 2027 sale will be a craft vendors section across from the Bake Sale in the Community Hall. The Board voted that for 2027 we would ask for a donation from the vendors rather than a set table rental fee. Then it will be re-visited in 2028 if it’s a success for our crafters. Four tables are available in the hall. If interested, contact the President asap to save a space.

·      PIE&G has decided to remove the EV charger from HBCA’s property as a cost-saving method for them. Charging electric vehicles will no longer be available.

·      HBCA passed the Mechanical inspection by Presque Isle County on new equipment.

·      HBCA purchased a powerful HP computer for the treasurer’s use. This will allow seamless transition of electronic documents and records from one treasurer to another over time as well as the electronic archiving of old historical documents.

·      Membership dues will begin collecting in February 2027 to allow early balancing of the budget for the year. A new email address has been set-up for sending in your forms and any communication to the Treasurer:  finance.hbca@gmail.com Your membership benefits in many ways:

-      Informative speakers at Member meetings twice a year. For a list of previous speakers, see our website. Open to suggestions for 2027.

-      Up-to-date local information at meetings: what’s happening in the area this year

-      Website with information and upcoming local events

-      Assistance in helping local residents navigate county departments and issues

-      Social Hour every Thursday at 11:00:  June to November

-      Reduced Hall rental fee for members and table/chair free rental.

-      Opportunity to volunteer for Garage Sale Days

-      Did you know? HBCA installed the red lane # signs years ago and if one is destroyed on your lane, the county will replace it and HBCA will reimburse you a reasonable cost.

·      HBCA had two hall rentals in August earning us additional funds for our budget.

·      Currently we are in need of a stove for the Community Hall.  If you have one in working order that you’re replacing or know of any bargains in the area, please contact the President.

·      Our Board meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month from April to October. If interested in participating/viewing, let us know and we’ll include you in our Zoom meeting calendar. All are welcome.

·      A plaque is on display in the Community Hall as a memorial for deceased loved ones. The Fire Department will receive any funds donated from the brass name plate. Contact the President if you wish to remember someone in a special way.

·      With that in mind, it is a farewell to our good and long-time member, Joan Scheel, who at the age of 95 passed October 12th while visiting her up north home. She was an outstanding advocate for historical documentation, a staunch supporter of veterans, a historical source for the 40 Mile Lighthouse, and a good friend to all who knew her. We wish her rest and the best to her long-time companion, Victor.

On behalf of the Huron Beach Civic Association Board, we wish you the very best during the upcoming Holiday Season and hope to see you on May 29th at our first 2027 Member Meeting.

Happy Holidays,

Emilie Stawiarski, President

734-730-9192 [leave a voice mail as I won’t answer if I don’t recognize the number]

huronbeachca@gmail.com