Community members gathered at Fifty-Third Winery on Tuesday, May 21, for the inaugural Wave Makers 2024 Workshop, a regional summit focused on creating positive, grassroots-driven change for Lake Anna and the surrounding counties. The highlight of the afternoon came during closing remarks, when Steve Britts was awarded the Wave Maker Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication to lake safety and community education through his work with the Better Boater Academy.

The event, hosted by Lake Media Group in collaboration with Capacity to Serve and the Lake Anna Civic Association, brought together residents, local leaders, and civic partners to review the findings of the 2024 Lake Anna Community Needs Study—a survey completed by more than 400 local residents across Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania counties.

Following a welcome by Jennifer Bailey of Lake Anna Breeze and an invocation by David Mills, attendees received printed copies of the survey results. The study revealed the top priorities for residents, including increased access to medical care, environmental protection, better growth management, and improved lake safety.

Keynote speakers representing organizations such as the Lake Anna Civic Association, Louisa Clean, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary each gave five-minute spotlights on local challenges and solutions. Steve Britts also spoke on lake safety and his “why” for creating the Better Boater Academy. Louisa County Board Chairman Duane Adams closed the speaker series with reflections on how community engagement can drive effective change.

Participants then joined one of five breakout groups focused on major priority areas: Medical Care, Environmental Concerns, Growth Management, Litter & Cleanliness, and Lake Safety. Each group began laying the groundwork for collaborative community action.

The event concluded with the Wave Maker Award presentation, honoring Steve Britts for his leadership and hands-on work promoting boater education and safety at Lake Anna.

“Thank you for giving me a voice I didn’t even know I had,” said Britts.

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE STUDY

Jen Bailey

Hi! I’m Jennifer Bailey and I partner with entrepreneurs who have massive ideas that could change the world. Most marketing is meaningless. Filled with empty promises, its only job is to bring in new traffic, new leads, and new customers. But I’ve drawn a line in the sand, and I’ve learned that marketing can do so much more than reach business goals and build profit. My methods give businesses the fire and soul they need to reach the right people, set the groundwork for sustainable relationships, and offer true value to the people on both the giving and receiving ends of marketing.

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