Shanna Lady Liberty Statue Project SOS

S.O.S. “Fun Raising Events by Dawn Gottschalk

Happy Holidays! The “Fun” Raising committee has been hard at work getting us closer to our goal of being able to fund Lady Liberty’s placement back on the island. Thank you to all who volunteered and participated. Our committee looks forward to seeing you at these future events!

 

Jan 17, Saturday 10am – 3 pm- Whitney Creative Art Studio – Downtown Lapeer      

Visit the Whitney and 20 percent of every purchase will be donated to the S.O.S  Fund. Bring your family and friends and create your own piece of artwork! A great way to get out of the house, support a local business, and give to the S.O.S Fund!

 

Jan 31- Saturday 4-8pm  Sue and Daren’s heated barn – Lakeshore Dr and Elm Pl

Adult Event :  Chili/Soup Cook Off and Bunco Night 

Enter your best chili/soup to be voted on by all attending! Join the Bunco dice game. 

It is super easy to learn, and you can win prizes!

BYOB, and enjoy a fun night with your neighbors!

Sign up and details to follow.

 

Feb 8 – Superbowl Squares  $20 per square, $250 per quarter payout

Support Lady Liberty Fund, and maybe you will be a lucky winner! 

TEXT (no calls please) Karen Uetz @ 419-967-5383 and she will arrange square choices and payment methods. Grid numbers will be drawn at the Cookoff/Bunco Night!

Get them before they are gone!

 

May 23, Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend  9-11 am (Rain date Sunday May 24)

Pancake/Sausage Breakfast “Fun” Raising at the Beach pavilion 

In conjunction with the Greatest Coffee Hour we will be serving Pancakes and Sausage.

Come support the Lady Liberty Fund and don’t cook that Morning! Winning Raffle Tickets will be drawn after breakfast! We need to borrow ‘Blackstone’ style grills and people to help flip those flapjacks! Set up and clean up help will also be needed. Let’s make this another great Barnes Lake Family Event! Contact Dawn Gottschalk via call or text @248-568-3726 to volunteer. More info to follow.

 

May 30, Saturday – Can/Bottle Drive

July 11, Saturday – Can/Bottle Drive

Save your cans and bottles and put them in plastic bags at the end of your driveway by 

11 am. Volunteers will be by to pick them up! Volunteers are also needed to collect and return cans/bottles.                                              

Contact :  Dawn Gottschalk 248-568-3726

 

Ongoing “Fun” Raising

 S.O.S Swag  

Have your Barnes Lake 4th of July crew decked out, and support the Lady Liberty Fund at the same time! Pre orders will be taken at the Whitney Art event, Chili Cookoff, and the Pancake Breakfast!

T-shirts (Youth and Adult)$20-$23

Tote Bags $20, 

Baseball Caps $25

Hoodies $30.

TEXT only to Karen Uetz @419-967-5383 for preorders and questions.

 

Matching Funds – An anonymous donor has pledged to match the first $1000 in donations towards the Lady Liberty Fund! You can always donate directly by going on the Barnes Lake Club Website and scan the QR code, make sure you scroll down to the Lady Liberty Fund.

 Raffle Tickets : Raffle Tickets will be available for purchase. $5 per ticket/ $20 for 5.

Donated Prizes are always accepted. Prizes will be drawn at the Pancake Breakfast on

Memorial Day Weekend! Tickets will be available to purchase at all events or by Contacting Dawn Gottschalk @248-568-3726, dawngotts@gmail.com

Generously Donated Prizes Include:  

Adult eBike

Handmade Cherry Wood Bench from Cherry Tree at Barnes Lake

Lego Statue of Liberty Kit

 Barnes Lake Patio Plant Box

 Barnes Lake Lillies Framed Artwork

 

Any questions or concerns regarding the S.O.S. Lady Liberty Project feel free to call

Jerry Gottschalk 248-568-7174  or Dawn Gottschalk 248-568-3726

Shanna Lady Liberty Statue Project SOS

History of Lady Liberty @Barnes Lake by Jerry Gottschalk

Dear Barnes Lake Area Residents,

 

A little History of Lady Liberty in Barnes Lake

Lady Liberty was erected in remembrance of the vicious attack on the United States on 9-11-2001.  The statue was a gift to the lake by resident Larry Kool. One winter day around 2002 or 2003 Lady Liberty miraculously appeared on the sand bar and it has been her home ever since.  It is fitting that she is getting a makeover and restoration for the 250th celebration of Independence Day on July 4, 2026.

 

Update on Lady Liberty Lakes, and Energy

We had to get a permit from EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy) because the original statue was never officially on the records at the state of Michigan.  This is a cumbersome process but the permit request has been submitted, and under review with EGLE.   All lake owners and residents with lake privileges will be receiving a letter from EGLE explaining the project and everyone will have an opportunity to respond.  EGLE’s basic concern is only what is below the waterline, so our design on top is subject to our community input.   Early in the year we will be sending out an email explaining a couple of design choices and every owner will have a chance to vote on which design they prefer by email or in person.  We will also have a date at the beach park pavilion to review the designs and can answer any questions and you can cast your ballot. We will also be incorporating a new flagpole with the Lady Liberty project.  The fundraising has been going great and we are over half way to our goal. We will be buying extra maintenance items (lights, US Flags, etc.…) that we may need in years to come.  All extra money will be given to the Barnes Lake Club Lady Liberty fund, so she can be consistentlymaintained for years to come.    The committee’s goal is to have the project completed and unveiled on July 4 weekend.  More fundraising events are in place.   Construction and unveiling details will follow.

 

If you have any questions or concern’s please do not hesitate to contact me via email or a phone call.

 

Regards,

Jerry Gottschalk

248-568-7174

graphtron@sbcglobal.net

Shanna Lady Liberty Statue Project SOS

Cornhole “Fun” Raiser 

Come join the Fun and help get Lady Liberty restored and back in Barnes Lake! 

Saturday October 18th   1-4   1:30 Toss time

(RAIN date Sunday October 19)

1043 Lakeshore Dr

6  – 15 minute games

$10 per person – all $ towards S.O.S fund

Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 15th place

Brats and chips provided. BYOB and chairs

50/50 Raffle

Please pre-register your names, number of players and if you have boards/bags to use.

Dawn Gottschalk 248-568-3726

Shanna General Lake Info, Lady Liberty Statue Project SOS

Q&A about the Statue Project SOS

Where to send donation:

  –send to Barnes Lake Club and indicate lady liberty as the project

Who will be holding the money? 

The Barnes Lake Club will be holding the money donated to the club until we document the need to spend funds and/or buy materials.  The fund-raising money will have a detailed accounting of what was collected and spent, and will be on file for anyone to review. The money collected will be deposited into a Venmo account and be distributed the same way-so all deposits and expenditures will be accounted for.  There has been a block of squares sold for the MSU/ U of M game and the accounting is pretty easy to trace -each square paid has the person’s name and at 100 squares priced at $20-total income is $2000-with $250 paid out per quarter generating $1000 profit.  No other money has been collected as of 9/28/25.  The money that has been spent was donated by the individuals needing to get the information out to the community. We could use a volunteer to be treasurer for the project. 

What is the cost of this project? 

We have no idea as of today, because it depends on what EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) requires from us.  If we get lucky the permit could cost between $50-100, but could go as high as $900.  EGLE could require us to do very little to the base and foundation, but also could require an extensive overhaul of what is currently in place.  The new base we are thinking of using is made of fiberglass (maintenance free) and costs approximately $1960.  The metal under structure has a rough estimate of $1200 for the metal and power coating (makes it almost rust free) with the assembly, welding etc… donated free of charge by a lake resident.   A rough estimate could be $3000 on the low side and $7000 on the high side.   Any leftover money will be used for long term maintenance items that we might need years down the road and the balance donated to the BLC.

How will the cost be covered?  

Fund raising and donations! We already have an individual willing to do a $1000 matching funds donation!  I have no reservations that the fund raising will exceed our costs for the complete project.  

How is the project progressing? 

The project is progressing in a timely manner; we are subject to EGLE and are waiting for there decision on what is needed.  EGLE has indicated this project is unique and Burns Roland is actively in contact with them. Fund raising is proceeding and events have been planned.  We plan on a July 4, 2026 unveiling. 

The main individuals overseeing the project is as follows:

EGLE and permits-Burns Roland

Design-Cad/Cam & design -Brian Cobb

Fundraising- Dawn Gottschalk

Overseeing the project-Jerry Gottschalk

This is a community project, for the community, by the community!

We have a fantastic group of volunteers helping with getting Lady liberty back in the water and plan on a great unveiling celebrating our 250th anniversary on July 4th, 2026! We have some ideas on how to include our youth around the lake and have them participate in the unveiling of Lady Liberty.

Please tell any of the people raising questions they can call me directly, it is easier and things do not get misinterpreted. I will answer any and all questions to best of my ability.

This is a Lake Improvement Board Project and not s BLC project. 

I will be at the monthly BLC meeting this week to give an update and answer any questions.  

Regards,

Jerry Gottschal

248-568-7174