Lake host: Nice work if you can get it

[Argie's Wife]

From The UNION LEADER...

A program intended to protect the state's lakes from invasive exotic plants means work for 220 people across the state this summer.

For about $10 an hour, each "lake host" sits in a lawn chair at one of the state's 87 manned ramps with a clipboard and a pile of literature on milfoil and wait to greet boaters.

The hosts ask owners for permission to check the vessels for weeds hanging off the hull or trailer. They analyze the plant life and dispose of it, then go back to sitting in the lawn chair. Boat owners can refuse to allow the inspection.

The rest of the story: CLICK HERE.


Yes, you can get paid for watching boats go in and out of the water.

[fatlazyless]

...gee whiz...the town of Meredith definately needs someone to collect their 20 dollar launch fee at the town docks because people are launching and no one is collecting the twenty bucks.....the state and town should get together and do a two-fer.......two tasks for one employee and create a dual town-state employee...also keep track of vehicles parked for three hours plus and in need of a parking ticket...

[Sal]

In Massachusetts, the 3 separate and distinct duties would probably qualify the (triple) state/town employee for 3 separate and distinct and stackable pensions together with unemployment benefits when the job terms expire.

[mcdude]

From the Union Leader article

According to NHLA statistics, there were 55,924 inspections of boats conducted and 224 "saves" -- when exotic plants were found and removed before a boat entered the water.

Sounds like a pretty good record to me. A few years ago someone spotted invasive zebra mussels from the Great Lakes on a boat about to be launched in Winnipesaukee. Another good save.

The NH program runs locally on Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro, Merrymeeting in New Durham and the Suncook Lakes in Barnstead. Most every lake does bi-yearly WATER QUALITY TESTING through the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program. (VLAP)

Check out their website.... quite interesting. NH DES

(Apologies to George Gershwin)

[tis]

Well, it sounds nice, but I think I would get very bored after a while. I love to read, but to sit almost all day -day after day after day and read? I imagine there is a lot of slow time and it might be nice to mostly sit for a bit, but after that I would be climbing the (trees?) I have to keep busy. But I guess for some people who are "sitters" it would be a great job.

[SAMIAM]

Sounds like the perfect government job......lets get them in the union so that they can't be fired under any circumstances such as drunk,drugs,no show etc.Then lifetime work guarantee,retirement at 90% of base pay and free health care forever for them and their family.....oh.....and a government car with free insurance and gas allowance.Sound familiar?

[PennyPenny]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Sounds like the perfect government job......lets get them in the union so that they can't be fired under any circumstances such as drunk,drugs,no show etc.Then lifetime work guarantee,retirement at 90% of base pay and free health care forever for them and their family.....oh.....and a government car with free insurance and gas allowance.Sound familiar?

SIA, I think you are a little out of line with your statement or opinion regarding lifetime work guarantee and retirement at 90%. My husband has been a union member for quite a while now and there are no guarantees. Currently he is not working and when his "hours worked" run out we start paying monthly for the health insurance that WE hardly ever use but pay $8.00 an HOUR for out of his paycheck. You are wrong about the drugs and alcohol etc. If someone were to show up and test positive for one of them, they could be fired from the job and then they end up on a do not hire list. Yes they can still be a union member( by paying their dues) but chances are they won't get on a job that has drug testing. The BA won't even ask the person, they will just sit on the bench. I could inform you about unions and contracts etc. but will stop with what I have mentioned above. Please don't catorgorize everyone the same. Believe me, you want my husband working for the government jobs. He has the Homeland Security Clearance.

[Merrymeeting]

Most of the "hosts" are students earning tuition money (many at UNH so the state gets their money back )

In addition, a significant amount of the coverage is done by volunteers who make nothing other than the satisfaction of keeping our lakes safe.

[fatlazyless]

...better yet...me-thinks I will get into the 'boat launch biz' as an independant contracter....and dress myself up in official looking khaki & pith helmet and start collecting the town's launch fees for my own pocket.....what the heck...the town gets all the money anyway....Meredith's property tax bill has arrived.....three cheers!

...oh yeah, this is a thread about keeping invasive weeds like milfoil out of NH lakes.....well, fortunately thanks to all the big & constant boat waves or something, there is absolutely no milfoil anywhere near me, thankyou very much to those wave-maker 35' cruisers.....and keep those waves moving!

Interesting, so far this year, the big waves and Winnipesaukee boating has been missing. Where the heck are all the boats?

[wifi]

Originally Posted by tis

.... but to sit almost all day -day after day after day ....

PS: Don't forget your sunblock

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

...gee whiz...the town of Meredith definately needs someone to collect their 20 dollar launch fee at the town docks because people are launching and no one is collecting the twenty bucks.....the state and town should get together and do a two-fer.......two tasks for one employee and create a dual town-state employee...also keep track of vehicles parked for three hours plus and in need of a parking ticket...

Why don't you go for it. You say you're unemployed looking for work.