New Lake Lanier Association logo with blue lettering, graphic of green trees, blue mountains and darker blue water.At its annual Member Celebration, the Lake Lanier Association rolled out a new brand image and celebrated the organization’s 67th in existence. It also awarded the inaugural Charlie Spencer Award to honor an outstanding volunteer from the past 12 months, Lu Treadway of Gainesville.

“Our brand-new image will be anchored by a vibrant, modern twist on the association’s classic logo,” said Amy McGuire, executive director of the 4,500-member lake advocacy organization. “This new logo will be the springboard for everything the association does going forward.”

Featuring strong, bright colors and a color-block icon combining the lake’s blue water, green tree-lined shoreline and the Blue Ridge Mountains, the logo was designed using crowd sourcing. About six months ago, the group issued a call for designs and 400 people made suggestions.

“We have taken the best of the submissions and created a memorable logo that’s clean, simple and distinctive,” McGuire said. “It will be easily recognizable. This summer, the public will see it begin to appear on our soon-to-be unveiled website, signage and T-shirts. We are very excited about it and know that our constituents will be too.”

Volunteer of the Year

Lake Lanier resident Lu Treadway was awarded the group’s Charlie Spencer Volunteerism Award for 2022.

“Lu has given selflessly to the lake and the association in countless ways, from the many moving parts of Shore Sweep to taking meeting notes, helping with the member celebration and even stuffing envelopes,” said Bonny Putney, vice president for LLA’s Shore Sweep. “She and her husband Robert Hathaway have moved floats, cleaned up islands and rallied the troops to help for many years. They even have a pontoon boat named ‘Trashy Ways,’ to help pitch in and do whatever needs doing. I can’t do Shore Sweep without her. She is willing to go anywhere and do anything; she’s a real blessing.”

Named for former safety committee member and long-time association supporter, Spencer was involved with the association for about eight years. “Not only did he help with safety initiatives, including the 100-foot signs at marinas, he also provided advice to ensure that we had the best and proper insurance for Miss Jackie, our association’s tri-toon,” Putney said. “And when he passed, he named Lake Lanier Association as a memorial designate, encouraging people to make donations in his memory.”

Looking ahead

Within the next several months, the organization will be moving into a store-front location at the corner of McEver Road and Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville. For the past 25 years, it had been headquartered in the North Georgia Community Foundation Building on Oak Street.

The office will house staff offices, a meeting area, a dedicated space for accepting water sample drop-offs and a studio space for creating podcasts and videos.

An open house will be announced to members shortly after the move is complete.

“The association had a very successful year in 2022 and that has positioned us for even more growth and progress toward our clean, full and safe lake initiatives,” said McGuire. “More than ever before, we have many excellent strategic partners from across north Georgia who will move us to the next level of lake advocacy, community presence and member engagement.”

For more information about the Lake Lanier Association, to join or volunteer, visit www.lakelanier.org.