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fowlesjohn · 04-16-2003, 10:30 PM

Hello, Actually Brink that is exactly what I am becoming, a tour guide and conference guide for Lake Erie and so I have to make notes about all of these places and memorize things that are pretty inconsequential, but, fun facts. Next year will be the first conference for Lake Erie that I will get to coordinate, so this year is the fast and furious rush to get it all together for a good time for the whole group (80 people, I think). This June 15th is a tour that visits almost every popular light on the south side of Lake Erie...I need to take lot's of notes (and I'm already nervous about next year). While we are at Marblehead, on June 15th, early in the morning (they are opening the light earlier than normal for our group) we climb the light, I am expecting a spectacular site.Marblehead is open 1 weekend per month for tourists and tours. For other lights they usually have a schedule of when the light is open for tours and if you find out it is not open to climb it probably means it is in pretty bad repair, therefore you should look for a group that might be trying to remodel and rebuild the light and volunteer to help. Our group accepts volunteers all the time for the Great Lakes lighthouses. See Great LAkes Lighthouse Keepers Association www.gllka.com and join the group. Our group owns a light out in the straits of Mackinac that is always in need of hands to help, we also have a weekend long "school" that takes you back to what life was life for a lightkeeper, amazing stuff. And there are others groups like ours all over the US, we even have some Canadian members and they are most greatful for us being on the other side of their beloved lakes and helping on our side like we do, we are greatful to them also.
Janice, San Diego is a very beautiful light! Wow, I envy you. Enjoy her and take care of her if you can. Some day I hope I can get there and climb her, for I have heard she is beautiful and a sight worth troublin' yourself to see.
MaryEllen, I sadly understand what you are saying. We have opened Pandoras' box regarding environmental issues and we are hopeless. Our waters cannot endure the plaques of it, our earth cannot endure the plaques from it, and our fragile liveforms will be sacrificed for it. Sad, sad. My oldest son lives in Richmond, Va and every time we visit there, it just breaks my heart what we hear and see. We should grieve, it is terrible. When will we collectively hear the moaning of too late? ever? I wonder. Know that even here on the Lakes we face the same problems, Toledo Harbor is nearly dead, from farm runoff. When we go to Local Environmental Planning Conferences and all the people are there who could possibly help, they seem overwhelmed by it all...sad, sad. We can't let this go on forever. And ever good effort starts at grass roots, so keep moving and voicing the truth, Mary Ellen! I will too, I promise. Gord would not want us to do it anyother way, either. We all know that. All we can do is all we can do.
GSS

[This message has been edited by gwen snyder (edited April 17, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by gwen snyder (edited April 17, 2003).]

04-16-2003, 10:30 PM	#59
fowlesjohn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ USA Posts: 308	Hello, Actually Brink that is exactly what I am becoming, a tour guide and conference guide for Lake Erie and so I have to make notes about all of these places and memorize things that are pretty inconsequential, but, fun facts. Next year will be the first conference for Lake Erie that I will get to coordinate, so this year is the fast and furious rush to get it all together for a good time for the whole group (80 people, I think). This June 15th is a tour that visits almost every popular light on the south side of Lake Erie...I need to take lot's of notes (and I'm already nervous about next year). While we are at Marblehead, on June 15th, early in the morning (they are opening the light earlier than normal for our group) we climb the light, I am expecting a spectacular site.Marblehead is open 1 weekend per month for tourists and tours. For other lights they usually have a schedule of when the light is open for tours and if you find out it is not open to climb it probably means it is in pretty bad repair, therefore you should look for a group that might be trying to remodel and rebuild the light and volunteer to help. Our group accepts volunteers all the time for the Great Lakes lighthouses. See Great LAkes Lighthouse Keepers Association www.gllka.com and join the group. Our group owns a light out in the straits of Mackinac that is always in need of hands to help, we also have a weekend long "school" that takes you back to what life was life for a lightkeeper, amazing stuff. And there are others groups like ours all over the US, we even have some Canadian members and they are most greatful for us being on the other side of their beloved lakes and helping on our side like we do, we are greatful to them also. Janice, San Diego is a very beautiful light! Wow, I envy you. Enjoy her and take care of her if you can. Some day I hope I can get there and climb her, for I have heard she is beautiful and a sight worth troublin' yourself to see. MaryEllen, I sadly understand what you are saying. We have opened Pandoras' box regarding environmental issues and we are hopeless. Our waters cannot endure the plaques of it, our earth cannot endure the plaques from it, and our fragile liveforms will be sacrificed for it. Sad, sad. My oldest son lives in Richmond, Va and every time we visit there, it just breaks my heart what we hear and see. We should grieve, it is terrible. When will we collectively hear the moaning of too late? ever? I wonder. Know that even here on the Lakes we face the same problems, Toledo Harbor is nearly dead, from farm runoff. When we go to Local Environmental Planning Conferences and all the people are there who could possibly help, they seem overwhelmed by it all...sad, sad. We can't let this go on forever. And ever good effort starts at grass roots, so keep moving and voicing the truth, Mary Ellen! I will too, I promise. Gord would not want us to do it anyother way, either. We all know that. All we can do is all we can do. GSS [This message has been edited by gwen snyder (edited April 17, 2003).] [This message has been edited by gwen snyder (edited April 17, 2003).]