Jan Reinicke, Friends board president, talks about the charity’s successes.
By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Jan Reinicke
Friends of Lake Panorama is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting recreational amenities at Lake Panorama. The first meeting of the Friends of Lake Panorama board was Dec. 3, 2013. An application for nonprofit status was filed with the IRS in January 2014 and approved in July of that year.
The charity is governed by a volunteer, seven-member board of directors. In this month’s Q&A, Jan Reinicke, Friends board president, talks about the charity’s successes during its first decade and looks ahead to the next one.
Q. You’ve been a member of the Friends board since the first meeting in 2013 and board president since 2017. Why were you interested in helping with this effort?
A. Having been a part of the Lake Panorama community since the mid-1980s, it was easy to see the evolutionary changes occurring in the development. Over the years, it had become much more than a place for retirement or weekend enjoyment. There were more permanent residents, and more families with children.
While the lake has always been the major attraction, there was then, and continues to be now, a growing need for more recreational opportunities. Friends of Lake Panorama is the perfect vehicle for bringing people together to develop partnerships, energize volunteers and raise the necessary funds to improve existing recreational amenities, while also proposing and developing new ones.
Q. What are some of the things accomplished in the last 10 years?
A. At our first board meeting 11 years ago, we agreed that once the IRS granted Friends nonprofit status, fundraising efforts would focus on two projects — one on each side of the lake. We chose a destination playground at Sunset Beach and sports courts on the east side.
The Sunset Beach playground opened in July 2016. The Boulder Beach sports courts opened in June 2018. Many other successful projects followed. Playgrounds were improved at both Shady and Boulder beaches. A rain garden was installed to slow runoff at the Panorama West parking lot.
We had significant volunteer involvement during both the planning and fundraising phases of the dog park. More updates were made at Sunset Beach with the addition of a small sports court that accommodates both pickleball and basketball, and three swings in the playground area.
Developing the Panorama West Nature Trail included installing a large sign with a map at the trailhead, trail markers and benches. Shade sails at Lake Panorama National were installed where shade trees used to stand. Direct donations have made it possible to install more than 20 benches at the three beaches and two 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 course. This led to new irrigation, cart paths, tee signs and markers, trash receptacles, and ball washers, plus turf improvement, clubhouse landscaping and sand trap renovations. This is a wonderful example of the impact estate gifts to Friends of Lake Panorama can have on our community.
Beginning in the fall of 2022 through the middle of this year, our priority project was to develop low-impact recreational amenities on Lake Panorama’s south shore. This project involved improvements to existing trails, disc golf course, small shelter with picnic table, five benches and 16 bluebird houses.
The south shore project also made it possible for Friends and the LPA to work with Panorama Community Schools personnel to move the cross country team trail from Panorama West to the south shore. This allowed us to work with a wider community and have the kind of impact that is consistent with our mission as a nonprofit. It is a great example of community cooperation and support.
This past spring, donors made it possible to plant 14 trees along the Panorama Road west entrance, with another three at Sunset Beach and five at Boulder Beach.
I think it’s clear from this summary Friends of Lake Panorama is interested in working on all sorts of projects, both large and small.
Q. Friends works closely with the Lake Panorama Association. How important is that relationship?
A. While Friends strives to develop many working partnerships to carry out projects and fundraise, our most important relationship is with the Lake Panorama Association board and staff. None of the projects could have been completed without the approval, guidance and assistance of the LPA.
Projects proposed by Friends have to be maintained by the LPA, so it’s important we work with the LPA from conception to completion. We are fortunate to have a supportive board and staff as we work cooperatively to improve our community.
Q. The current priority project for Friends is raising money for needed improvements at the Lake Panorama National golf course. How are things progressing?
A. In the fall of 2023, the LPN board of managers began development of a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. At its April 2024 meeting, the LPN board approved a fundraising effort that focuses on Priority 1 projects identified in the master plan. The Friends of Lake Panorama board agreed to partner with the LPN board on this fundraising effort.
Projects in Priority 1 include expanding forward tee boxes, leveling and resodding main tee boxes, removing all railroad ties and where needed, replacing the ties with block retaining walls, updates to the driving range and new tee signs and ball washers.
At our annual Beach Ball fundraiser in June, $30,000 was raised for the Priority 1 projects. Another $12,000 was raised in October with a golf tournament and a food sampling event. Direct donations so far have surpassed $46,000. Some funds were used this fall to upgrade four forward tee boxes on the golf course.
Fundraising for needed updates on the LPN golf course is expected to continue as a priority project for both LPN and Friends for several years.
Still, the Friends board continues to look at the Lake Panorama community as a whole, and is open to suggestions from LPA members for other projects that would enhance current amenities or provide new amenities. We’re also in conversations with LPA staff about possible projects we might be able to assist with in the coming years.
Q. How can people donate to Friends of Lake Panorama?
A. While there are many components to what Friends of Lake Panorama does, nothing is possible without donors. We are so grateful for all the financial support we’ve received from so many people and businesses over our first decade.
There are several donation options. One easy way is to clip the coupon from the Friends ad on page 17 in this issue of the Lake Panorama Times, fill it out and mail it with a check to Friends of Lake Panorama, P.O. Box 488, Panora, IA 50216. Or simply include a note with your check so we know how you want your donation used.
Direct donations can be sent via Venmo @Panorama-Friends. Donations also can be made by credit card online at www.friendsoflakepanorama.org. Details about all past, present and future Friends projects also are on the Friends website.
Donations of securities (stocks, mutual funds, etc.) are welcome, as are direct IRA qualified charitable distributions.
A reminder: All donations are tax-deductible and donors receive a confirmation letter for tax purposes. In these last few weeks of the year, we hope Friends supporters will consider a 2024 donation in recognition of the end of our first decade, and the beginning of our next one. n