By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society unveiled its new boat cover today, thanks to a donation from the Rotary Club of Osoyoos.
OLWQS President Birgit Arnstein explained that one of the society’s Data Managers, and former fisheries biologist Dave Kumka made a presentation to Rotary back in January about the society’s activities. While doing that he also made a pitch for a donation.
“Our summer cover had, through wear and tear had gotten a couple of tears and wasn’t working very well. We needed a new summer cover and the cost is both the cover, the poles that hold it up and the snaps to fasten it to the boat,” Arnstein explained.
“We talked with Rotary and they said they would like to replace the cover,” which all-in costs $1,000.
“We’re very appreciative of Rotary and it’s very visible from the walkway and that way people know who we are. It’s perfect!” she exclaimed.
Elliott Friedrich, the current Rotary Club of Osoyoos President said the service organization had some extra money in their budget this year and quickly agreed to fund the project.
“It’s going to be a win-win because it’s going to be good for our community and that’s what Rotary is all about and we thought what a great way for us to advertise as well.”
The new cover carries logos of both the OLWQS and the Rotary Club of Osoyoos.
“People who come by can see we’re involved with the community not only in the community but this is our lake as well,” Friedrich said.
Arnstein also lauded the town for opening the boat launch in time for July 1 as the organization will be pulling the boat out and decorating it for the Cherry Fiesta/Canada Day parade this weekend.
They will also have an information booth at Gyro Park for Canada Day with a bit of a show-and-tell enabling people to test for temperature, pH level and water colour. “We hope people will stop by and have a look at that and they they will see the other instruments that we use and what we do and why we do it,” Arnstein said.
