About LOLA

Letter from the President
Lake Orion Lake Association (LOLA)
June 2025

Dear Members and Friends of LOLA,

It is an honor and privilege to introduce myself as the newly-elected President of the Lake Orion Lake Association, affectionately known as LOLA. I officially assumed this role on June 12th at our Annual General Membership Meeting, following my term last year as President-Elect and the prior year serving as Secretary. I am excited to continue serving our lake community in this new capacity.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to George Dandalides, who has tirelessly served as President for the past two years. George’s leadership and commitment to LOLA have been invaluable, and I’m pleased to share that he will remain on the board as Immediate Past President. Our leadership model — consisting of a three-president rotation of Current President (myself), President-Elect (Jim Barry), and Immediate Past President (George Dandalides) — is designed to carry forward institutional knowledge, improve efficiency, and enhance our ability to serve the membership effectively.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our entire Board of Directors for their dedication and love for the lake. I’d especially like to welcome Jen Hetu, who joins the board as a new Director this year.

As we look forward, LOLA will be guided by three key goals in 2025:

1. Strengthening Communication and Collaboration

We are committed to improving communication with our membership and forming partnerships with other lake-focused groups, including the Lake Orion Boat Club (LOBC), subdivision and neighborhood associations, and most importantly, our dedicated law enforcement partners — the DNR, Oakland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit, and the Village Police Department. Strong communication and collaboration across all fronts are crucial for building a safer and more connected lake community.

2. Growing Our Membership

Lake Orion has approximately 900 tax-paying parcel owners, yet we continue to face challenges in encouraging membership participation. For only $20 annually, members support programs that directly protect and enhance their property values and safety, including:

  • Management of the weed control program and Special Assessment District (SAD)
  • Maintenance and operation of the lake’s buoy system
  • Sponsorship of boater safety classes and newly added CPR certification courses in partnership with Orion Township Fire Department
  • Water quality testing, managed for the past eight years by Mike Kellar, who now leads a team including Jim Barry and Linda Crane. Mike will now shift his focus to invasive weed species detection and response.

And of course, we continue to support beloved community events like the Dragon Boat Races, taking place the weekend of August 22nd, beginning with the Lighted Boat Parade on Friday night. LOLA volunteers provide critical safety support throughout the event.

Given the scope and impact of these efforts, I believe a $20 annual contribution is not only reasonable — it should be considered essential.

Please also visit our website to review and support our sponsors — many of whom are your neighbors and business owners who live and work around Lake Orion. Their generous support helps fund all LOLA activities, and they deserve our recognition and patronage.

3. Building Stronger Community Relationships

Perhaps our most important focus this year is community building. We believe that bringing together LOLA, the Lions Club, subdivision associations, local businesses along M-24, the LOBC, and others will amplify our collective voice. Rather than being seen as isolated interest groups, we aim to present a united front to local policymakers.

We have begun forming relationships with both village and township leaders to address pressing issues such as lake safety, keyholing, and shoreline protection. While there are varying perspectives on whether overcrowding and safety issues exist, our goal is to create open, transparent dialogue that leads to solutions. The village has already received a legal opinion confirming their authority to adjust ordinances related to these matters. LOLA will work to ensure our local leaders understand the reality on the lake — and we will push for common-sense amendments that reflect the needs of all lake users.

Together, I believe we can make 2025 a turning point — a year in which LOLA not only advocates more effectively for our lake but also unites the many groups who care deeply about this special place. With your support, we will continue to protect, preserve, and enjoy Lake Orion for generations to come.

Thank you for your trust and involvement in LOLA. Let’s make this a great year on the lake!

Warm regards,
Daniel Nelson
President, Lake Orion Lake Association (LOLA)