Update from the Nominating Committee - Proposed Officer Slate

May 3, 2025

To: the IHC membership

RE: 2025 Nominations for new Officers

The Nominating Committee was formed by the President in on April 8, 2025. Our mission was to

nominate willing individuals (some supported by teams) with the best skills and experience to lead us

through the Island Rebuild. Below is the resulting slate of nominees to be voted on at the Memorial Day

Weekend Meeting.

President: Jeni Robinson

Jeni is currently serving on the IHC Board and is knowledgeable about the rebuild process, challenges

and priorities. Communication and management skills are her particular strengths.

Vice President: Scott MacPherson

As past President Scott will be a strong resource for the President and provide continuity of knowledge

about the rebuild process.

Treasurer: Will MacPherson

Will has agreed to continue as Treasurer for the next term to further develop new ways to manage our

finances for the rebuild, continuing the work begun in his first term.

Secretary: Julia Wheeler

Julia has been serving on the Island Rebuild Committee and has at times already filled in for Kate Roloff

taking minutes at IHC meetings.

Clerk: Dave Robinson

As required for anyone serving as Clerk, Dave is a resident of Maine. He already has been involved with

the Town of Georgetown Planning Board and is prepared to represent the IHC with Georgetown and the

State of Maine.

Cookhouse Manager: Gail Yalenezian

Though we don’t anticipate having a functioning Cookhouse during the upcoming officer term, this is a

Board position required by our bylaws. Gail’s vision for this position in the interim is to work with

volunteers to organize community-wide events.

Island Engineer: Michael Walker

Michael will serve by managing the many systems and processes under the Engineer’s purview with the

help of multiple volunteers—a form of delegation that he is very familiar with in his professional life and

that will facilitate his ability to fulfill the role when he is physically away from the island for work.

Currently, Michael is serving on the IRC, so he is well informed about our progress and our future

challenges, and he is accustomed to participating in discussions and decision-making remotely as

needed.

Proposed Slate PDF

Island Update 4.16.25 - From Kari Jones

Please see below or HERE in pdf.

Introducing Donald Waltz

I am happy to announce that we have secured a new caretaker for this summer who plans to start the week of April 21st and work with us through the season until mid October.  Introducing Donlad Waltz from Jefferson, Maine, Donlad is a master plumber who grew up lobstering and also has a background in carpentry.   Donald has experience in maintaining septic and water systems in South Bristol and opening and closing Damariscotta Lake cottages for the respective Maine seasons. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Donald on board and provide an outlet from his primary role as a plumber.   

With that being said, we plan to utilize Donald’s experience for island caretaking needs 2-3 days a week.  Some days, Donald will be bringing his son to take the lead on all landscaping needs.  The opportunity to hire Donald for personal cottage care is open to the community understanding that the costs will fall to the cottage owners.   As we enter the throws of the season, we would like to remind the community that the club boat is to be primarily use and available for the caretaker.   Each cottage is expected to use their own boat and should therefore prepare accordingly. 

Progress update – mainland and island pierhead 

Kennebec Marine has launched the Georgetown floats, and therefore our own as of this past weekend.  Depending on the tides, they plan to return at the end of this week or beginning of next (the 21st) to install the new aluminum ramp and span to complete their work with the pierhead. 

Work Boats – Club Boats

To start the 2025 season, we plan to use both the old and new workboat to assist with the future projects we have in store. Also, by having both boats in the water it will allow us to pull the club boat out of the water and give it the TLC it deserves. A 25 HP engine will be put on the new boat, and the 8 HP will be put on Ol’ Faithful.

Work Weekend (s)

Please take note of what is happening the next three weeks so everyone has an insight as to what we are working to accomplish. 

April 23rd-25th  Electricity established at Harborview to gain power to the sewer pump and get the septic/water system up and running.  We are striving to collect water on Mount Flushmore this year so cottages do not have to run off their own water source or pull from the well. 

  • April 24th- 25th –  Small team of volunteers onsite to establish septic and waterlines across the gut

    • High Tide = ~10am

May 3rd – First Island Work Weekend. 

Please note the high level list of projects that are available to tackle. Obviously, there is still plenty to do/accomplish as a community.  Please reach out to Kari Jones to confirm your availability the weekend of May 3rd so we can better prioritize the list once we know what workforce we have on hand to contend with.   Making Hen Island more accessible this year is a priority so we can more easily address our sewer and water systems.  

Low Tide = 10:45am 

  • Team Hen Island

    • General Clean Up of debris (burn or haul into woods)

    • Paint window trim of the Ice House

    • Dismantle and save wood from broken ramp in preparation of new stairs/ramp

    • Bring carts over to Malden

  • Team Malden

    • General Clean up of debris (burn pile) 

    • Rebuild pump house

    • Clean/Organize Gov’t Center

      • Make room for future trash collection center

    • Install Finger Floats

    • Install mini ramp on mainland dock

Larger Projects

    • Haul cement/Lumber

    • Establish stairs or ramp on Hen

    • Dig Holes for sonatubes – mix cement to pour and set for boardwalk runs 

      • Paradise to Grand Central Station

      • Thomas to Harbor View

    • Build Boardwalk on Malden

Pierhead Furniture

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to give you an update on our Pier Head furniture efforts.  All the furniture has arrived.  Thanks to Dick Walker, it is all assembled and the majority of it has been delivered to the new and improved Pier Head. We are very excited to attend the first gathering of the season soon.

To date, we have not collected the full amount that was paid to acquire this furniture and would appreciate any additional donations.

You may snail mail to my home address: 156 Meadow Lane, New Gloucester, ME 04260 or Venmo me @jetcoss

Thank you so much to the following individuals who have generously donated:

John Cranshaw

George Pawle

Rachel Yalenezian

Kate Roloff

Scott MacPherson

Kelsey & Michael Walker

Jason & Julia Wheeler

Gail & Al Yalenezian

Corby Lane

Bob Brown

Cora Hall

Dick & Polly Walker

Janet & Rick Cosseboom

Pierhead Progress Update 3/24/25

Please see the following update from Kennebec Marine:

  • Ramp is fabricated and has been delivered to the shop

  • Aluminum span will be fabricated by end of this week

  • Everything should be complete and installed by the 15th

Archives: Newsletter from Summer 2024

 Island Home Club Newsletter

SUMMER 2024

Summer Edition 😎 

Message from the IHC President.

by Scott MacPherson, IHC President 

Greetings members. We are well into an unusual summer season and I would like to share some updates as well as call for a community meeting.

As requested in the last IHC meeting, please review the proposed amendments to the bylaws and share any feedback with the Board. These proposals will be voted upon during the Fall meeting, therefore, it is important to be familiar with them in advance. The full proposals have been linked and included as Appendices in the Meeting Minutes, included in the Secretary’s Notes, below. 

The CMA engineering report that was commissioned by the IHC has been received and can be found attached to this report.  We have a small group of former Island Engineers that have reviewed the report and helped to guide next steps.  This report is excellent and full of helpful data.  I encourage you all to read it through.  A copy of the report can be found HERE.

The board would like to call a community meeting on Tuesday Aug 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM by Zoom.  We plan to discuss the CMA report findings, projects needing to be completed before the winter and next steps of the rebuild process.  Expect an agenda to be sent with the meeting link very soon. 

We are in the final stage of the SBA loan application. We have completed the necessary paperwork and are awaiting approval.  This is by no means a commitment to take out a loan, however it is an option for the community to discuss as we look at next steps of the rebuilding process.

THIS MONTH’S

TOP STORIES

Government Center 

by Kari Jones, Island Engineer 

I am hopeful that many of you have been able to spend some time on the island this summer, but if you have not, please see a brief recap of what we have accomplished and what we have left to achieve. 

Accomplishments over the last month:

  • Septic System up and running! 

  • Dismantled broken truss and salvaged hardware

  • Refurbished, flipped and launched ramp from marsh to be used for Hen Island

  • Contracted AJ to come out and hook up ramp and float to temporary location on Hen

  • Repaired pumphouse platform

  • Received CMA's Engineer Memo

  • Hired an interim caretaker 

Introducing Tom (TJ) Fitzpatrick who kindly agreed to help us steadily work through some smaller projects, maintain the landscaping, and lend an extra hand with some of the larger projects over the weekends as our interim caretaker.  Mr. Fitzpatrick joined us just after the Fourth of July and answers to both Tom and TJ.  He swears he does not yet have a preference for what he likes to be called so there is a chance you will hear him referred to as both.  Tom (TJ) is the son of John Fitzpatrick, owner of New Meadows Marina in West Bath and has his own boat shop that he works out of here in Georgetown ME.  He has many years of experience working on or around boats and is an avid snowboarder during the wintertime.  

For the last few weeks, Tom (TJ) has proven to be a wonderful help with the following projects, and we are very excited to have his bright attitude for the rest of the year: 

  • Getting the sewer line trenched and buried

  • Flipping and launching ramp from marsh

  • Clearing the path around Malden of down trees and overgrown bushes

  • Clearing a walkable path on Hen after the ramp was installed

  • Organizing woodpile 

  • Replacing rotten/ broken boards

  • Installing solar lights on the Malden Float

  • Mowing the lawn and weed whacking around cottages

  • Moving rocks between Thomas and Walker to backfill the seawall 

"Winter is Coming" - Following the guidance of the CMA proposal and considering our timeline we will be focusing on the following projects in preparation for next winter.  Please mark your calendars for August 24th and September 21st for official work weekends at this point in time.   

  • Secure Pierhead and raise it

    • Believe we can get a volunteer team to accomplish the task of getting boards popped back into place and chains refastened

  • Continued efforts to secure/button up Cookhouse

  • Backfill and support seawall 

  • Rebuild Winter Foat platform 

House Keeping Items

  • Please use common sense and be respectful of tying up boats on the Malden float so people have access to easily get on and off

    • If the workboat is not actively being used (i.e. operated within a couple hours) dock it on the finger float or moor it.  The same can be said for any dinghies if your cottage is not actively using it

    • Understand tying stern to is a risk for your engine being clipped by anyone coming to tie along the front

  • Work together and communicate as necessary to ensure there is a boat across on the Mainland at all times. 

Treasurer's Ledger 

by Will MacPherson, IHC Treasurer

Secretary’s Notes

by Kate Roloff, IHC Secretary 

The notes for the 2024 annual meeting of the IHC are available HERE. This includes a summary of the proposals that were voted upon.

Community Announcements

We are pleased to share these exciting updates with the IHC membership.

FIYC

Commodore Dave Robinson shares this announcement: Due to unsafe conditions on the island, the FIYC JUNIOR REGATTA has been canceled for this summer. We are hoping to resume this popular event next summer. 

GOOD NEWS

Congratulations to Colin Mulcahy and beautiful bride Kelsey! Many island members were present to celebrate with the bride and groom who tied the knot in Kittery, Maine on July 6th. 

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • All Island Meeting - Tuesday, August 13th @ 7:00 by Zoom

  • Upcoming Work Weekend - August 24th and September 21st

Photo of the Month

Hen Island is back online!

Island Home Club

Five Islands, Maine

Archives: Newsletter from MAR 2024

Island Home Club Monthly Newsletter

MARCH 2024

St. Patty’s Day Edition 🍀 

Message from the IHC President.

by Scott MacPherson, IHC President 

Greetings members! It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Winter Meeting in February. The BOD and the subcommittees have been hard at work since then and much has been accomplished despite the challenges that continue to arise. This has certainly been a learning process as we navigate the substantial rebuilding process.  The various sub groups are now meeting weekly to coordinate amongst each other as the planning and discussion continues.  A reminder to communicate with Kari or your subgroups when planning and working with contractors.  Recently the island experienced another flood tide which rearranged some of the debris and flotilla.  Fortunately, no further major damage has been reported.  


THIS MONTH’S

TOP STORIES

Government Center 

by Kari Jones, Island Engineer 

Status update: progress and timelines, summarized info by subcommittee, here's what we’re doing now and here’s the next phase of work. 

Island Access:   

  • AJ has resumed work on the Mainland Pierhead and is making good progress.  See the recent pictures attached below this section (Photo credit to Diann Longstreet)

  • Focus remains on prioritizing island access with a sub group meeting weekly to determine the next steps

  • Septic rebuild plans are ready to go and pending island access

  • We are also asking to get our floats delivered asap to put on the moorings, but may prove challenging considering their location in the pile.

  • We are keeping the old workboat for use this season instead of selling it at this time. 

Treasurer's Ledger 

by Will MacPherson, IHC Treasurer 

Thanks to everyone who has — or is in the process — of transitioning payments to an electronic format. I was pleased to see almost every cottage transition in the very first month! Payments were received almost instantaneously making for easy access to funds as bills have come due. Appreciate everyone’s willingness to improve efficiency in a volunteer position.

Capital Fund Update -

  • Signed MOU with Bath Electric and funded to retain their services

  • Paid mainland pier contractor 2 out of 3 payments already. Final payment will be at completion

  • Paid sales tax for new work boat

Finance Committee Update -

  • Investigating SBA Loan @ 3.5% once declared disaster; Total available proceeds still TBD, but looks like it’s replacement cost + 20% for improvements

  • Private loan process and documentation being worked out over next few weeks

  • Special assessment is the option of last resort, but always an option to explore

  • Exploring construction insurance rider to be ready for when first phase of work begins on island

Secretary’s Notes

by Kate Roloff, IHC Secretary 

The notes for the 2024 winter meeting of the IHC are available HERE. This includes a summary of the proposals that were voted upon.

Community Announcements

We are pleased to share these exciting updates with the IHC membership.

GO FUND ME

The Go Fund Me page for the Island is completed and ready to go! Thank you to those that helped with the copy, photos, editing, etc. Please feel free to send this link to any friends and family of the island that you see fit. [In the top right corner of the GFM page you will see a Share button - when you click on that you have several options - one of which is Facebook.  You can also add to Instagram or send an email from there.] We are happy to report that 19 donations have been made thus far totalling $3,785 - off to a great start. 

**The IHC BOD invites the membership to take part in this important fundraiser and challenges the community to achieve 50% participation by May 1.  No donation is too small as we are focusing on participation. Feel free to let Bo (bo.yalenezian@powerdigitalmarketinginc.com) know if you have any questions.**  

Fundraiser by Bo Yalenezian : Help Rebuild Malden Island, Five Islands, Maine (gofundme.com)

FRIENDS OF MALDEN ISLAND, ME

The Friends of Malden Island, ME Facebook group is now live and growing with 46 members so far.. Many thanks to Julia Wheeler for creating this virtual meeting space for the extended Island community to be connected. Here is a brief description of the page:

This group is intended for those who share the love of Malden Island. Friends have come and gone over the years but let this be a place where we come together, cherish our memories, anticipate our future, and help each other. 

Since this is a private group, requests to join need to be approved by the page administrator. Once joined, you may invite others that you think would be interested in participating by sending them a link to the page. 

Friends of Malden Island, ME | Groups | Facebook

GOOD NEWS

Congratulations to Ned MacPherson and Julissa Rosado on their Caribbean nuptials! Ned and Julissa were married in St. Barths on January 27th, attended by a small group of close family and friends. Cheers to the beautiful couple!

Important Upcoming Dates:

  • Long Range Planning / Island access meeting - Thursday, March 21

  • Monthly Board of Directors Meeting - Monday, April 8th

Photo of the Month

The bell rings on.

Island Home Club

Five Islands, Maine

Archives: Newsletter from JAN 2024

Island Home Club Monthly Newsletter

JANUARY 21, 2024

Weekly Cleanup Edition

Message from the IHC President

by Scott MacPherson, IHC President 

Greetings Islanders,

We have accomplished a great deal in the eleven days since the devastating storm that damaged our island. Our community has been faced with similar challenges before and we are relying on the strength of the whole which has truly been greater than the sum of the parts.  Moving forward, the Board of Directors is planning on frequent IHC member emails to update the community on our progress.  Please take a look at what we have been up to and where we are going next. Reach out to me or any board member if you see a place where you might contribute to the effort. We want to hear if there is something that you would like to do that is not listed here, as well! Every bit counts as we move forward together.

What we have done:

Insurance claim was submitted expediently. 

Full damage assessment reports were submitted to the town of Georgetown and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), to support efforts to obtain State and Federal funding for disaster relief. 

Debris on the island and in the harbor and surrounding areas was secured. 

Electricity was disconnected to the island on the mainland. The electrical infrastructure was inspected. Damaged or unsafe lines were isolated and secured. Power was restored to the remainder of the island.

Recovery work has begun and groups have been organized to tackle the most immediate tasks. 
What we are doing:

We have delegated tasks into sub groups that are working to coordinate estimating and engineering the recovery efforts 

  • Communication/Archive:

    • Media/File Storage and Organization (Kate, Julia, Bo)

    • Weekly Newsletter Updates (Scott, Kate)

  • Funding:

    • Finance Committee (Will, tbd)

    • Insurance Claim (Will, John C., Jet)

    • Local / State Disaster Relief (Emily, Rachel)

  • Immediate needs:

    • Ongoing Debris Cleanup (Kari, Sam)

    • Temporary Float Access (Doug, Sam, Al, Mason)

    • Safe Transport (Dick, Kari)

  • Infrastructure Repair:

    • Mainland Pierhead/Boardwalk/Run (Sam, Al, Dave, Mason)

    • Island Pierhead/Trusses/Run (Beth, Michael, John C.) 

    • Septic System (Al, Russ, Sam)

    • Electricity Infrastructure (Doug, Will, Dick)

    • Hen Island Bridge/Trusses (Beth, Dave, Michael, John C.)

    • Cookhouse Planning (Bob J, Al)

Each group is collaborating with each other and reporting progress as it is made to the BOD by email and during regular IHC Response Team meetings. Click here to see the Org Chart.

What’s coming up:

On Sunday, February 4th the Winter Meeting will be held by zoom starting at 11:00 am. A zoom link and meeting materials will be provided by email closer to the meeting date. The objective of the meeting will be to update the IHC on the latest progress, review finances from 2023, and a budget proposal for the year ahead.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lyndsay Rowan has generously offered to donate an original painting of the Cookhouse for fundraising purposes.   

Jenni Robinson is delivering leftover canned and dry goods from the Cookhouse to the Preble Street Resource Center in Portland

The Cookhouse clock has been rescued and has been sent for repair by Dick Walker.

RESOURCES

Check out this webinar from the Island Institute on storm recovery and resources in Maine. Here is the description from their website and a link to the recording is provided.

Listen in and hear directly from these State officials about what to do now and what to expect in the coming weeks and months. Topics include: 

  • Roles and responsibilities of various state agencies 

  • Processes and timelines to access federal assistance funding 

  • Existing programs and resources for recovery and relief 

  • Special considerations for working waterfront businesses and homeowners.

Webinar Recording: Storm Recovery and Resources - Island Institute

Important Dates:

  • IHC Winter Meeting - Sunday, February 4th @ 11 AM

Photo of the Month

The Cookhouse, in the beginning. Circa 1939.

Island Home Club

Five Islands, Maine