Throughout 2024, Friends of Lake Panorama will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Iowa Secretary of State’s office Nov. 1, 2013. The first meeting of the Friends of Lake Panorama board of directors was Dec. 3, 2013.
On Jan. 17, 2013, an application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation was submitted to the IRS. A letter from the IRS dated July 2, 2014, stated the Friends of Lake Panorama is exempt from federal income tax, and contributions to the public charity are deductible under federal law.
The nonprofit’s mission is to improve recreational amenities at Lake Panorama. The charity is governed by a volunteer, seven-member board of directors, which held its 2024 organizational meeting Nov. 29.
At the meeting, two board members—Jody Muench and Jim Tibbles—were reappointed to new three-year terms. Other board members are Galen Johnson, John Muenzenberger, Jan Reinicke, Jackie Wellik and Bill Winkleblack.
In officer elections, Reinicke was elected president, Tibbles vice president, and Muenzenberger secretary-treasurer. Susan Thompson is the non-profit’s executive director.
With the help of many donors and the Lake Panorama Association, Friends has had a busy 10 years. Sunset Beach playground opened in July 2016. Boulder Beach sports courts opened in June 2018.
Many other successful projects followed, and include Shady and Boulder beaches playground improvements, Panorama West rain garden, dog park, Sunset Beach sports court, Panorama West Nature Trail, LPN Shade sails, and 20 new benches at beaches and golf courses.
In August 2017, Friends received a $473,700 estate gift from Jim and Joyce McLuen to be used at the Panorama West Golf Club. That estate gift turned an already good golf course into something truly special.
The current priority project is a package of low-impact recreational amenities on Lake Panorama’s south shore. The Lake Panorama trails system, with a cross country trail for the Panorama Community Schools incorporated into it, is marked and open.
Also complete are a fenced driveway to a parking lot that provides walk-through access to the recreation area, and a small shelter near the parking lot. The disc golf course is open for play, with signage to be added in the spring. Also in the spring, a picnic table will be added to the shelter, informational signs will be installed, and benches and bluebird houses will be placed throughout the recreational area.
More than $7,500 was donated to Friends of Lake Panorama in the final two months of 2023. Currently, donors giving to Friends can designate their gift to the Lake Panorama south shore recreation area, a tree planting project on the lake’s west side, and the Friends general fund.
Donations can be made by check payable to Friends of Lake Panorama, and mailed to Friends of Lake Panorama, PO Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Direct donations can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Donations also can be made by credit card on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions.
Those with questions or comments about Friends of Lake Panorama can send an email to staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.