Category: Annual Reports

Annual Reports of KILA, published in September.

2020 KILA Annual Report

All KILA members.

This last year has been a challenge for sure. Unprecedented cancellations of island activities due to COVID-19. Even though we had a tough year we had some great highlights all should be proud of. First we had a great 2019 family hayride with record turnout. Thanks to all the volunteers.

Coming into 2020 KILA we went to all virtual meetings like today’s for safety reasons. We had the difficult decision to cancel both the homecoming 2020 and parade. Annual hayride for this fall was also cancelled. We fully plan on resuming in 2021 and better than ever!!

In November I was asked to attend the Park Board meeting to discuss KILA’s project we pledged to give to the community. In 2018 the board voted to raise funds for a community project similar to the light the park project we successfully achieved. We approached the park board with an idea of a 20’ x 20’ splash pad to be put in one of the parks on the island. The idea was voted 4 to 1 against accepting this gift from KILA and the community. The reason was the cost of maintaining it. We are sponsoring a sign for the park on Addison St. Once the park board decides on the name of the park, KILA will pay for the sign to be erected.

The board came up with great ideas on how to Keep Kelleys Safe. First we bought reusable face masks in April and distributed them in late May; 2 per family and also donated to many island businesses that requested them. Also in June we voted to buy the yellow signs you see all over the island with the masked smiley 😊 face with a mask on asking people to “Keep Kelleys Safe”.

I’m very proud of KI being as safe as we have been keeping COVID at bay and proud of KILA being involved up front to help.

The financials are attached below. We did not have any activities to generate any income, beyond dues. We only really had expenditures for the masks and the signs and donations for Fireworks and Film Fest this year.

Here’s looking forward to a safe, healthy, and enjoyable 2021.

Chris Arnold

President, KILA

September 19, 2020

(Please download the full report for financials)

2019 KILA Annual Report

As the 2019 summer draws to a close, we are all making plans for the fall to spring season.  Some hardy folks will remain on KI while others go south or west (some even go north). 

KILA’s annual meeting was held on Saturday September 21st at 10:00 am at Estes school and attended by about 25 members.  We reviewed the high points from the year, reelected five board members, and discussed the future direction of KILA. 

The following is a brief summary of KILA activities since last year’s annual meeting.

  • The Family Hayride in October was a rousing success.  We had a record number (220 people) of families participating.  Chairperson Jennifer Pieratt and her team of volunteers from KILA and the 4H camp ably handled the surge with food, games, and of course, a hayride.
  • In May, KILA held a welcome back pot luck led by Wally Christy.  There were 55 attendees to great kick-off the 2019 summer season.
  • The main event for KILA was Homecoming.  From all reports, this was very successful and an enjoyable time for all.  Some highlights:
    • This year was the second time it was held a week earlier on the second Saturday of August.  This was to allow more families attend before the students return to school.  And, the weather fully cooperated.
    • The Friday evening session included a live band (Fuzzy Dice), snacks and beverages and seemed to be well received.  But, attendance was not as large as expected.
    • The parade, chaired by Tom Behlen, included several floats following the theme of “KI Roots”.  The parade marshals was  Laura Jean Pohorence, born & raised on KI for all her 90 years.  It also included the Elyria High School marching band with 44 young performers.
    • The pie contest, led by Vicky Finnegan, had 16 entries and all the pie pieces sold out.
    • Kid’s contests (Marshmallow golf, Twinkie eating), led by Janet Killam, were again popular with many kids, large and small participating.
    • The food, led by Caroline Jorski and her team of “green hats” and Beer & Pop, led by Frank Dodson, kept the many happy attendees satiated and hydrated, in a good way.
    • The entertainment was great; Frank & Dean and the Fat City Band were again very popular.
    • The KILA booth, headed by Wally Christy, sold shirts, glassware, and license plate holders.  They also accepted membership applications (5 new members) and sold Raffle tickets.
    • Speaking of the Raffle, we only sold 413 of the 500 tickets.  That resulted in over $3700 for our next project.
    • Other fund raising activities were very successful.  They included:  Silent Auction (led by Wally Christy & Drew Algase) to help fund next year’s marching band, 50/50 raffle (by Elliot Algase), Beer Slide (by Leslie Algase & Tim Arnold).  Thank you to all the auction item donors and those who purchased items and tried the raffle & slide.
    • All of this was possible because of the many volunteers in all areas.  A big THANKS to all.
  • The 2018-19 KILA project, funded by Homecoming revenues and donations, is to “improve and enhance the Pavilion Park”.  Initially, the expansion of the electrical service at the pavilion was considered.  This is still being evaluated.  Another potential project is for a “splash pad”.  This was wildly discussed in the Facebook KI yard sale as well as comments from members and residents.  This is also being evaluated. The KI Park Board is considering these and other projects for KI as part of their master plan for the parks.    At the annual meeting, your feedback on both projects is welcome.
  • KILA has 243 active members (13 new members) in 2019.  Big increase from 178 in 2017 but similar to the 252 members in 2018.
  • KILA’s website and domain name: www.kila.rocks.
  • KILA has had some great promotion and advertising in Kelleys Life thanks to Caroline Jorski and broad support from the KI Chamber of Commerce (Thanks Jordan).
  • The 2019 Candidates Forum was held on September 21st to hear from candidates for village council and mayor, school board, and issues & levies.  The audience heard from Mayor Ehrbar, school board member Herndon, Clerk Treasurer Brown, and clerk treasurer candidates Ahner and Klonaris.
  • The 2019 Family Hayride is October 19th at the 4H camp at 3 PM.
  • KILA Account Balances: 
  Dec. 2017 Sept. 2018 Sept 2019
Operating $19,109.51 $27,520.74 $ 29,214.42
Crime Watch $2,572.48 $2,632.65 $   2,642.92
“Legal” $16,596.00 $16,739.36 $ 17,147.67
     
Total $38,277.99 $46,892.75 $ 49,005.01

These are bank balances. The operating fund does not reflect a 2018&19  project donation (~$10,000 budgeted). 

  • 2020 tentative calendar:

April 18:  Board Meeting
May 16:  Board Meeting (& Welcome Back Pot Luck)
June 20:  Board Meeting
July 18:  Board Meeting
August 7 & 8:  HOMECOMING
August 15:  Board Meeting
Sept 19:  Annual Meeting followed by Board Meeting
October 17: Board Meeting
October 17: Family Hayride at 4H Camp 3:00 PM

Thanks to all KILA members whose volunteer activities and efforts make all this possible.  You all should be proud of how your helped KILA to “enhance & improve” Kelleys Island.