Volunteering for the Glen Lake Association has been a family affair for Bill Meserve and his wife, Susanne, who are both past board members and volunteers extraordinaire. After Bill retired from aerospace engineering in 2003, Bill and Susanne moved to Glen Arbor and quickly became involved in the community. Even after his board service ended, Bill continued to make an enormous contribution to watershed protection by playing an active role on a number of board committees and leading other volunteer activities. Bill will be passing the baton on much of that workload at the end of this year, and we would like to recognize his work and share our gratitude for Bill’s steadfast commitment and service to the GLA and to a healthy watershed.
“Susanne and I have lived on Big Glen since 2003, but I have been visiting the family cottage all my life,” said Bill Meserve. “My grandfather bought property from Dunns Farm about 100 years ago. So, I feel that using best practices on our property and volunteering to protect our lake is just natural.”
By a unanimously supported motion of the GLA Board of Directors, Bill Meserve was recognized with the 2023 Honorary Member Award for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the protection, preservation, and improvement of the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed through past service to the association. When it comes to being of service, you name it, and Bill has done it. When something needed doing, Bill did it. He exemplifies the spirit of service in all that he does—not just for the watershed, but for the whole Glen Lake community.
Bill Meserve – Recipient of the 2023 GLA Honorary Member Award
Photo by Don Miller, GLA member
Some highlights of Bill’s contributions include:
- Past Glen Lake Association board member for six years
- Past Chair / Member of the Water Level Committee, the Water Quality Committee, the Technical Committee, and the Technology Committee
- Chair of the Invasive Aquatic Plant Survey group
- Led the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP). CLMP volunteers collect valuable data on Michigan’s inland lakes, including information about water quality (clarity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, algae), invasive and native plants, and shoreline conditions. This information is critical for individuals, local communities, researchers, and state agencies like EGLE and the DNR to better protect and manage Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes. Learn more about CLMP.
- Prepared annual reports for the CLMP
- Conducted native and invasive species identification and removal
- Recruited and trained volunteers for Secchi disc monitoring for water transparency
- Member of the Swimmer’s Itch Task Force and collected water samples for three years to assist the GLA in learning more about swimmer’s itch
- Surveyed the number of canoes and kayaks on our waterways
- Supported local lake health initiatives, such as installing watershed signs and aquatic invasive species signage at watershed boundaries and road ends
- Became a GLA Legend along with his wife, Susanne
- Past sound engineer and current board member, Glen Arbor Players, a Readers’ Theater Company
- Member of Sleeping Bear Noontiders
- Leads the Glen Lake Church Food Pantry / Empire Area Food Pantry
Thank you, Bill, for your enormous and steadfast commitment and passion for protecting the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed. Your impact and the example you set will be felt for generations to come.
Bill Meserve studying aquatic plants
Photo by Rob Karner
Volunteers like Bill Meserve are the backbone of our watershed protection efforts, and we’re grateful for each and every one of them. To volunteer with GLA, please visit our website for more information and submit a Volunteer form.