Last updated: August 2026
The Pelican Lake Association, Inc. is a volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Dues and donations fund lake work that is planned and committed months in advance, so refunds are not something we can offer routinely. We do correct genuine errors, and this page explains how.
This policy covers every payment made to the association, however it was made — by check, in cash, or by card.
Membership dues
If you paid dues in error — a duplicate payment, the wrong amount, or a membership you did not mean to purchase — tell us within 30 days of the payment and we will refund it in full.
Two situations where dues cannot be refunded:
- Once the membership has been used to vote. One paid membership carries one vote at the Annual Membership Meeting. After that vote has been cast, the membership has done its work for the year.
- Part-way through a membership year. Memberships are not prorated. If you sell your property or move away mid-year, your membership simply runs to the end of the year it covers.
If you paid dues twice for the same year — which happens most often when two people in a household each pay — tell us and we will either refund the second payment or, if you prefer, apply it to the following year.
Donations
Donations are generally not refundable once received. A gift to the association is put to work quickly, and in the case of restricted funds it is often committed to a specific project before the season starts.
We will still fix mistakes. Contact us and we will correct any of the following:
- A duplicate donation, or a charge you did not authorize
- An amount entered wrongly — an extra digit, or a decimal point in the wrong place
- A gift directed to the wrong fund, which we can usually redirect rather than refund
- A memorial gift recorded under the wrong name
If a donation is refunded and a tax receipt was already issued for it, we will issue a corrected receipt.
Raffle tickets
Raffle tickets are not refundable once purchased. Raffles are run under a Wisconsin raffle license, entries are recorded when the ticket is sold, and a ticket cannot be withdrawn from a drawing. Raffle entries are also not tax-deductible.
If a raffle is cancelled before its drawing, the association will announce how ticket purchases will be handled.
Events
Most association events are free to attend or ask only for a voluntary contribution, so there is usually nothing to refund. Where an event does charge for a ticket or a registration:
- If the association cancels the event outright, payments are refunded in full.
- If the event is postponed, your payment carries over to the new date, or you may ask for a refund instead.
- If you cannot attend, tell us before the event and we will refund you where the association has not already committed the money to food, prizes or venue costs.
Outdoor events go ahead in most weather. A rain date, where one exists, is published with the event.
Merchandise
Association merchandise is sold at events by volunteers. If an item is faulty or the wrong size, bring it back to any association event or contact us, and we will exchange it or refund it.
How to request a refund
Use the contact form and select “Membership and dues” as the topic. Please include:
- Your name, and the name the payment was made under if it differs
- The approximate date and amount
- How you paid — check, cash or card
- What went wrong
The Treasurer reviews refund requests and will respond within 14 days. Requests that fall outside this policy are decided by the Board of Directors at its next meeting. Please do not send bank account or full card numbers through the contact form; we will never ask for them.
How refunds are paid
Refunds go back the way the payment came in. A card payment is refunded to the same card, and how quickly it appears on your statement is up to your bank — often several working days after we process it. A payment made by check or cash is refunded by check to the address we hold for you.
If you think a charge is wrong, please contact us before disputing it with your bank. A volunteer organization can almost always sort it out faster and more cheaply than a formal dispute, and we would rather fix it than argue about it.
Changes to this policy
The association may update this policy. The date at the top of this page shows when it last changed, and the version published at the time of your payment is the one that applies to it.
Questions
Questions go through the contact form, or by mail to Pelican Lake Association, PO Box 96, Pelican Lake, WI 54463. See also our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and the Support page for ways to join or give.