Member Profile – Thomas M.

I moved with my wife to Lewis Smith Lake in 2001. At that time, activity was beginning to accelerate with Smith Lake real estate development and relocation seemed like a wise move for my wife, who was active with selling waterfront property. Back in those days, a large percentage of the population which frequented the lake, included people who visited on weekend’s along with fishermen. Because development along the shores of Smith Lake was in its infant stage, traffic on area roadways was sparse and infrequent.

Because the population who lived on, or in close proximity to the lake was minimal, the accumulation of litter was not really of major concern. My how things have changed? I met with another Smith Lake resident while lunching one day. I mentioned to him I was dismayed with the increasing amount of litter accumulating on our area roads. He agreed with me the situation was becoming a real eyesore. As the conversation continued, we explored various ideas and then decided to see if we could enlist the help of others with forming a group to collect litter. We held an organizational meeting at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Westside Field Office in Crane Hill. We enlisted the help of our Sheriff’s Department and the Cullman County Commission. Together, we got the ball rolling.

We had to create some kind of means to identify ourselves. In the finality, we selected the name Litter Trash Cleanup Volunteers (LTCV). In the early days of communicating with one another, uttering the letters LTCV rapidly, was a real “tongue-twister” for most of us. After the organizational meeting, the ranks begin to swell. Our first LTCV litter pickup event, held on April 22, 2021, had seventeen (17) volunteers participate and they collected 700 pounds of litter. Imagine, local volunteers coming together from the communities of Sulphur Springs, Bremen, Ardell, Wheat, Trade and Crane Hill Alabama, pooling their efforts, to improve the aesthetic value of the area
surrounding Lewis Smith Lake.

What is most gratifying… hearing another member of the LTCV express his or her pleasure, volunteering their effort, to enhance the quality of life in and around the breath-taking beauty, we come to identify as Lewis
Smith Lake.