Friends,

 The International Sailing School (ISS) in Colchester, Vermont, on Malletts Bay has lost the lease to their shore based property.  They still have their mooring field in the bay, but it is at risk.  

  We are working with the Army Corps of Engineers to get an official permit for the ISS mooring field.  Robin Doyle has worked tirelessly to place her familiar yellow buoys back in the water for her summer students and customers.  But this is all at risk if the Army Corps decides to not recognize the mooring locations that have been there for 40 years.  Another entity is trying to take over the moorings and expand their operations.

   If this happens we will lose a great community asset that has provided education and low cost moorings and access to Malletts Bay and the lake for decades.  Affordable lakeshore property is disappearing quickly.  Private land owners and corporations will control most of the lakeshore, lake access and places to put boats on the lake for recreational use.  A large corporation has already bought local marinas on the Vermont and New York side of Lake Champlain.

    If you appreciate the value that ISS has provided for the past 40 years for education, youth programs and affordable access to the lake then we need your support and we need it quickly.  We are working diligently to save this resource and continue it as a community sailing and boating center that is open to all and not just those that can afford lakeshore property or to pay a marina for dock slips and moorings.

  Please sign this petition to urge the Army Corps of Engineers to permit and preserve the ISS mooring field for ownership and use by ISS.