From the dedication program, February, 2010

Dear Lake Park church friends,

An ad hoc organ committee was organized at Lake Park Church in January, 2008. The committee members are Betty Cummings, Ellyn Dzick, Linda Gaalaas, Seth Kiefer, Loren Peterson, Laurie Rappa, Kendra Stea, Colin Hagensick, and our organist, Mel Robbert. We began our journey on January 21, 2008, and traveled to Concordia College in Mequon to speak with Dr. John Behnke. He gave us a tour and demonstration of their organ and answered our questions. We interviewed several contractors to improve our current instrument, maintenance needs, sound quality and mechanical needs and obtained and evaluated formal proposals from two such contractors. Our preferred contractor was R. Karstens Organ Works of Sterling, Illinois. We weighed all of the options from the contractors and decided that Karstens would give us the most value for our money. Their bid was for a total of $208,000.

The current organ was installed in the mid-1980's and has adequately served the needs of the congregation without significant alterations or repair since installation. Due to the lack of funds at the time of its installation, the current organ did not include all of the stops and tonal qualities that an instrument such as this should have. The work done as part of the organ refurbishment included: repairs to the existing; a new console; and new tonal additions. Funds have been donated for the refurbishment of the LPLC organ that exceeded the $230,000 proposed contract amount. The church was without the use of its organ briefly during the installation and construction.

Karstens examined the instrument in October of 2008 and reported the following scope of work: 1) Install a new electrical interface for key coupling, switch-ways, and chest output controls; 2) Replace or substantially modify the existing two manual console; 3) Make repairs as needed to the existing pipe work; 4) Furnish and install a new organ division at the other end of the balcony; 5) Relocate and extend the chimes.

Mel drove many Lake Park members to Illinois to meet with the Karstens Organ Works president, Randall E Karstens and his employees, to see the workshop, and to view the progress of the organ project. Mel drove to Illinois approximately eight times and spent countless hours on the organ project. He is truly one of our Lake Park saints.

The work at Karstens began in August 2009, and has been mostly competed for our organ dedication on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Thank you to Karstens for a job well done and to Mel for his dedication and love to Lake Park Church. Lord, hear our prayers of thankfulness.

The Lake Park Organ Committee