Lacawac Sanctuary plans for its future

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK, PA — A mix of interested citizens, university researchers and Lacawac Sanctuary members have joined together to form a committee with the intention of actively shaping the sanctuary’s future.

The committee will seek information and hire consultants to help plan future programs and facilities. The group is comprised of people with varied perspectives on the needs and uses of Lacawac.

The group held their initial meeting on January 19 at the Adult Building in Wallenpaupack Lake Estates. They met in order to organize their use of a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Growing Greener planning grant.

Members Bob Kiley, Robert Moeller, Sue Thompson, Janet Fischer, Tom Kingsley, Janice Poppich, Joyce Hatala, John Whitehouse, Liz Noble, Craig Williamson, Sam Jackson and Jon Tandy attended the initial meeting.

Discussions included considerations for the Statement of Work (SOW): identifying stakeholders (including, but not limited to, higher education, local schools, Friends of Lacawac, area businesses, scout groups, environmental groups, eco-tourists and researchers); programming options; establishing need before proposing additional facilities; identifying of funding sources for planning, construction and maintenance; assigning parts of the work to the study committee so the contractor can do more of the parts that require her or his expertise; and to function as part of the match for the grant.

The initial discussion of the study process and drafting the SOW and Request for Proposal (RFP) led to the decision to form a sub-committee to draft the RFP and SOW, and Joyce Hatala, John Whitehouse, Liz Noble and Jon Tandy volunteered to serve on it.

For more information call Jon Tandy, Lacawac board chairman, at 570/857-0882, Janice Poppich at 570/689-9494, or visit lacawac.org.