Here is the letter my son will present tomorrow. Did I mention that he is a pretty good writer? (I'm mom, I have to brag!) As you can see he used all of your ideas. Many thanks!! I'll let you know how it goes.
November 14, 2007
RE: Request to Allow Fishing on Section S Pond
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Common Area Review Board:
Today there are simply too few constructive choices for kids to make concerning before and after school activities. Many are content to play videogames or worse. However if you were to give them quality, worthwhile choices, then problems and complications resulting from poor choices can be avoided.
A prime example of a quality endeavor is fishing. I have been fishing almost all my life, and during that time I have come to respect nature, enjoy lasting and memorable friendships throughout the angling community, and to bond and spend time with my friends and family. If fishing was to be encouraged and more quality ponds and lakes opened to fishermen, then I feel that larger groups of people would take up fishing and with it the respect and values that come with it. This would allow the whole community to become involved with the maintenance of property and of trash and waste disposal that have a negative impact on our fields and streams. In fact with heightened involvement, fundraisers and parent child activities could be established to get people excited.
I would like to propose opening the Section S pond for fishing. Although there are several ponds within Glenmore available for fishing, this pond is one of the most conveniently located for a great number of Glenmore residents. In addition, the banks of this pond are maintained, making it a safer place to fish than other Glenmore ponds. By opening this pond, additional children and adults would be more likely to fish.
As should be expected, safety is a principle concern. However a vast majority of ponds today, like the Section S pond, are constructed with injury prevention in mind. These ponds are built with shelves extending out from the shoreline that do not exceed a depth deemed hazardous to smaller children or any other person for that matter. In fact the addition of graduated banks that incorporate gentler slopes make most ponds as safe as the community pool. Now it may be argued that the pool has lifeguards where ponds do not. However in order to make fishing possible for younger children, there must be restrictions in order to maintain a safe environment. If this pond were opened for fishing, I would recommend that a legal adult MUST accompany children under thirteen. These rules should probably coincide with pool rules as many of the same dangers apply to both. Children under five should wear a life jacket and children over the age of five may wear one at parental discretion.
But what if a certain party violates these rules? In order for the rules to be upheld there should be a permit process that could be overseen by this board. This would insure that anyone fishing in a Glenmore pond has been made aware of the rules and has agreed to abide by them. In addition, all able anglers and/or their parent or guardian MUST sign a liability waiver.
During my life, I have found few things to be more enjoyable than catching a 6lb. Bass at 7:00 in the morning. Fishing is not a danger to society; it is not a danger to one's health. It is simply an enjoyable pastime that should be readily accessible to all who wish to participate.
