Deana Jerdee is the Executive Director of Paddle Antrim, a non-profit in Antrim County. She shared her PowerPoint with us.
Established in 2014, Paddle Antrim is a non-profit whose mission is to protect community water resources by using paddle sports to connect people to the waterways. Paddle Antrim's focus is on stewardship, accessibility and education.
 
With the aid of a grant from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Paddle Antrim coordinated with 20 access site owners to create a state-designated water trail.  The trail is over 100 miles long, travels through 12 lakes and connected rivers and has 84 access sites.
 
To encourage accessibility and raise funds Paddle Antrim sponsors events, including a two-day kayaking festival that has raised almost a million dollars.  The group also pushes safety education and environmental stewardship.  It supports the community, working with lake associations and the like through mini-grants and otherwise.  It has designed a non-motorized wash station for kayaks.  As was evident through the Q&A, this is something of interest to lake associations in our area.