_ The Ambassadors of Lake Saint Louis elected their slate of officers for the 2012 year on Friday, January 20, 2012.  Serving the club this year as officers will be Karen S. Little (President), Ray Rudy (Vice-President), Paul Brauner (Secretary), and Janet O’Brien (Treasurer);  and completing the Board as Directors will be Jerry Disper, Scott Ellis, and James Tognoni.  Directors serve declining three-year terms with one director replaced each year.  An installation reception for the new officers and board members is planned for February 24, 2012, at the LSLCA Clubhouse.
The Ambassadors support many civic activities such as the July 4th Fireworks fund drive, the Oktoberfest fund raising activity, college scholarships for area students, Meet the Candidates evenings for municipal and general elections, and Community Association Evening for community association members to familiarize themselves with opportunities within Lake Saint Louis.  The Ambassadors also have helped other organizations such as Operation Clean Stream, the City Drop-off Electronics and Appliances Recycle Event, and the City’s Music on the Lake Program.
The Ambassadors meet each Friday morning at 7 a.m. at the Community Association Clubhouse on Cognac Court and share breakfast and speakers of varying interests.  Membership is open to anyone interested in continuing and expanding community activities for all citizens.  The public is invited to attend any meeting of the Ambassadors and find out about the Ambassadors and their work in Lake Saint Louis.  

The St. Louis region Polar Bear Plunge for 2012 was again held at the Lake Saint Louis Community Association Clubhouse beach on February 4.  All funds raised by participants benefit Special Olympics of Missouri.  For more information and videos of this event, visit http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/costumed-swimmers-take-the-plunge-into-lake-sainte-louise/article_40e56afa-5371-52cf-9bda-e74577b78b47.html. 

The Ambassadors of Lake Saint Louis were very pleasantly surprised by the turnout for the community's first Oktoberfest on October 1, 2011, at the Meadows Shopping Center.   It was estimated that about 3000 people attended the event, the largest crowd ever for a special event at the shopping center!  Special thanks go to the three event organizers:  John and Joan Bloecher and Club President Karen Little.  President Karen expressed appreciation for the hard work of club members before, during, and after the event; and for the participation of so many community clubs and individuals.  Approximately 40 vendors set-up under tents on the parking lot, including bratwurst and beer sales, kettlecorn and funnel cakes, a kid's corner with face painting and bounce area, art displays and other crafts, a City firetruck, and a dance area in front of the traveling float of the nationally-recognized Waterloo, Illinois, German band.   The weather was perfect on a sunny day in early October.

The Ambassadors planned this event as a fund raiser for our community's July 4 fireworks presentation.  Early figures show that over $6000 were raised to put towards the cost of the 2012 fireworks.  Thanks to all who attended and helped with the Oktoberfest.  What a way to bring our community together!  Plans already are underway for next year's Lake Saint Louis Oktoberfest.

For the third year in a row, the City of Lake Saint Louis sponsored a drop-off electronics and appliances recycle event on the parking lot of the Meadows Shopping Center.  Held on October 15, volunteers from the Ambassadors, City staff, and members of the City's Green Environmental Advisory Committee worked with employees of Web Innovations and Technology Services.  WITS is the state's largest not-for-profit recycling agency that takes in out-of-date or broken electronics and appliances to recondition for reuse or to dismantle for recycling.  This work provides real job experience for underserved residents in the greater St. Louis area.   Throughout the day, 300 vehicles were unloaded and 15 tons of televisions, computers, appliances, lawn mowers, and other items were collected.   The GEAC plans to organize another collection day next fall.

Please consider donating now to the July 4, 2012, fireworks and music event.  You may do so through this website or by sending a check to our mailbox at:  Ambassadors of Lake Saint Louis, 100 Cognac Court, Lake Saint Louis, MO, 63367.    THANKS!!

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(Thanks to Charlotte Norton for the wonderful photos)

Checkout this YouTube presentation by photographer Richard Shoaf of the 2011 Lake Saint Louis Triathlon held on August 20.   More information about the 2011 Triathlon can be found on the City website.

The Ambassadors of Lake Saint Louis again awarded two $1000 scholarships for community high school seniors planning to attend a Missouri university during the 2011/2012 academic year.   Selection criteria included academic standing, extracurricular activities, community service, and a short essay about their college and career choice.  This year's recipients are Lydia Harvengt and Zachary Hume.  Lydia is a senior at Holt High School and plans to attend the Honors College at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She will take a pre-law path that combines a major in chemistry and political science.  Zach is a home-schooled student who already has successfully completed classes at St. Charles Community College.  He plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla) and major in Chemical Engineering.  Pictured about from left to right are John and Joyce Hume, Zach, Lydia, and Dyanne and Thomas Harvengt.

The Lake Saint Louis Pontooners again organized the annual Parade of Boats and Blessing of the Fleet on Memorial Day Monday, May 30, 2011, beginning at 2 pm.  The parade of boats formed at the Rue Grand Marina and traveled behind the Water Patrol Boat to Windjammer Point.  Here, they received a blessing for a safe boating season.  Over 60 boats participated this year.

The Ambassadors of Lake Saint Louis and the LSLDP Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 17th Annual Golf Tournament at The Links at Dardenne, a Walters Family Course.    SSM St. Joseph Hospital West was the gold sponsor of the event.  Other major sponsors included Charter Business, Stuckey and Company, Andrews Academy, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Verizon Wireless, Garden Villas of O'Fallon, Wharf Health Mart Pharmacy, and First Bank.  Despite heavy morning showers, we had great day of golf, networking, lunch, dinner banquet, prizes, and much more.  Twenty teams participated with all holes represented by business sponsors. The proceeds of this event go to help the Ambassadors college scholarship awards and our fireworks funds, and to community activities of the Chamber of Commerce.   THANKS!!   We look forward to seeing you at our tournament in 2012!!