All About Dan Kollodge

My wife, Carol and I purchased a cabin under construction on Little Round lake in January 2005. We chose this location because of the size and incredibly clear water of Round Lakes, the up-north feel of the Hayward area, and ease of travel between St. Paul, MN and Hayward. Growing up my family went on tent camping vacations on a lake in Minnesota and I started fishing as a boy in my father’s cedar strip and fiberglass fishing boat, pushed by a 7 ½ horse power Johnson Sea Horse. I’ve enjoyed fishing and lakes ever since. All the pieces just fell in place and we ended up here.

I joined the RLPOA board at the annual member meeting in 2008. I raised my hand because I thought they were giving away a door prize. Before I knew it, I was voted a member of the board. In reality, I raised my hand because I really care about Round Lakes. There were director openings and I just couldn’t sit on my hands and hope someone else would step up. I guess it was a put your money where your mouth is moment. There are many people who talk about doing, but far fewer that actually take the leap and get involved.

My first task was championing the association’s aquatic invasive species control effort, specifically monitoring and control of Eurasian water milfoil. I had no clue as to what I was doing but like anyone else, you just dig in and learn it. Digging in meant engaging with the Wisconsin DNR, learning about AIS control practices and applying for state grants. The two things I learned during this time is that the association has no authority over anything. Progress is only made by effectively working with Sawyer County, the LCO Nation, and the DNR; and a compromise win is better than no win at all.

I few years later there was a changing for the guard on the board, with the association president leaving at the end of his term. At the urging of other board members, I agreed to become president of the association. Since that time I’ve been president and was chair of the AIS Committee through 2019. I’ve applied what I learned to the president position and together with the board I believe that we have been good stewards of the lakes.

I also need to recognize all that my wife Carol does for the Association. She is a strong supporter and volunteers her time working on membership outreach, managing the membership database, and keeping me on task, which is easier said than done.

Together we enjoy the ATV trails, boating and fishing, and all the community has to offer. We enjoy the winter also, with ice fishing and snowmobiling. If you are going to live in Hayward you need to embrace the winter. We plan to retire at some point and move to the lake fulltime. With the new found time, we intend to travel the country and see the amazing wonders, and enjoy more of what we have only been able to experience on the weekends in Hayward.