"Conserve now that the future may live!"
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"Conserve now that the future may live!" |
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League website: dccl.org. Spring Edition VOL. 1
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George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, of which we believe the League is a charter member, will speak about what the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is and how the Federation is collaborating with Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the Conservation Congress to pursue important issues with the DNR. For example, you may want to know how the DNR spends your hunting and fishing license fees.
This meeting could not be more timely for those who enjoy the outdoors. For those of you who do not know, George Meyer is a former Secretary of the DNR.
The board of directors recently heard from Jeff Nania, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, who identified areas of concern concerning where our various fees actually go and what they were originally targeted for. These are important issues that will be debated intensely in the Legislature, DNR and the Governor’s Office.
Also, we will award various annual awards for efforts in conservation and with the DCCL. See related article.
We will also hold our annual election of officers. Four directors will be elected. At this time two incumbent board members will seek reelection. Dave Wilken has elected to continue as an active League members, but not to run for another term. Our thanks to Dave for his years as an active director, and longtime treasurer for the League.
Incumbents running for three-year terms are:
Jerry Sands – Our webmaster who has helped bring us into the 21st century with a very active website (dccl.org), worked at the farm on a number of workdays. His family has also been active, and you might see his son’s name in another part of this newsletter.
Don Sprang – Has been our jack-of-all trades members and active director who is not afraid to ask the tough questions. He has been active in all facets of the League.
Tim Thompson – Tim has been active as past president of the League, helping out with the farm and the banquet and representing the League at the Jenni and Kyle Preserve Grand Opening. He also has worked on the Manuasha River and with the Capital City Waterways and on our very successful workday at Token Creek.
Cathy Matts - The board of directors would like to recommend for the vacant seat League member Cathy Matts. Cathy has been a low-profile active League member who serves as coeditor to the League’s Newsletter. She is also this year’s Banquet Chair for our annual fundraiser and has been involved in a number of work projects around the county.
We also will continue a longtime League tradition, our annual longest tail contest. The tail must be from the 2004 hunting season. The raffle this month will include a Weatherby bolt action rifle, Ice Auger, Motorola Radio, and League items.
Meeting time is 7:30, and the location is the VFW Hall at 133 E. Lakeside, Madison.
The board of directors will formally recognize Edward (“Ed” to us, “Eddie” to Jan) Brost as the League’s 2004 Dane County Conservationist of the Year at January’s annual meeting.
Ed was nominated by Dave Pulda, who along with many of us recognizes Ed as always being there for most if not close to all our conservation efforts, including the Token Creek/Culver Spring project. He chairs the Yahara River Cleanup every year while being involved almost every Saturday at the farm. He cares deeply about all matters of conservation, and is willing to discuss issues, while also willing to work the land to make it better for future generations. He has been a member of the League since the late ’40s, under the guidance of his dad, and we are proud to announce him as our Conservationist of the Year recipient this year.
At our annual meeting the DCCL will recognize David Pulda as our member of the Year. Dave Wilken nominated Pulda, and let’s just say he is honored to be involved with a great organization that is small enough so that individuals can make an impact. He joined the League in the early ’90s and has loved every minute of it while making a number of great friends, including this year’s Conservationist of the Year. Both gentleman are honored.
This year’s Junior Member of the League is Matthew Sands, son of Jerry and Theresa Sands. Matthew has been involved in a number of League activities and has been involved since he was knee high to a grasshopper. We expect little brother to be a future recipient. Thanks, Matthew, for your efforts, and we look forward to awarding you our Junior Member Award for 2004.
There are many great banquets in the works, with the closest one being Safari Club International on Feb. 4/5/6 (Dave Ekkebus – dnmekati@placenet.net), Southwestern Dane County’s DU Chapter ($70) on February 7 (Scot Stewart – 826-3505), Madison Area DU’s Banquet ($75) is Feb. 21 (Dave Branley), the Badger Chapter of Federation of Flyfishers Spring Opener on Feb. 12 and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s in March.
The League’s eleventh annual fundraising banquet (still $55) is set for Thursday, April 28. Expect your formal invitation around the beginning of February. As in the past, we will limit the number of attendees, so be ready as we sell out before the early deadline. This year’s event will take place at the newly built MAC Center in Verona.
A number of members in the past have offered door prizes or sponsored various raffle prizes at our banquet. If you are so inclined, please contact Dwaine Rundle at 276-9427.
CHEROKEE MARSH – Russ Hefty at February Meeting
A great New Year for all members and a challenge to each of you to help your organization.
League Calendar
January 25th Annual Meeting – George Meyer, Executive Director for the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation & Annual Election of Directors
VFW Hall, 133 E. Lakeside, Madison 7:30.
Febrauary 4/5/6 Badgerland Safari Club International Fundraiser
February 7 Western Dane County DU Chapter Banquet – Pine Bluff
February 12 Badger Fly Fisher’s Spring Opener - Marriott Inn beginning at 9:00 am. $10.00 admission. Featured speaker – Jack Dennis.
February 15 Board of Directors Mtg – VFW Hall beginning at 7:00 pm.
February 21 Madison Area DU Banquet - Dave Branley
February 22 Membership Meeting – Russ Hefty will discuss efforts at the Cherokee Marsh. VFW Hall beginning at 7:30.
February 25-27 Madison Fishing Expo - Alliant Center
March 15 Board of Directors Mtg – VFW Hall beginning at 7:00 pm.
March 22 Membership Meeting – VFW Hall beginning at 7:30.
April Conservation Congress Dane County Meeting
April 28 League's Annual Banquet. Announcement letter out in Feb.
Late April League’s Nest Building Project. Info. in future newsletters.
YEAR IN REVIEW
League members helped with setup at the Madison Fishing Expo.
League Scholarships were awarded to high school graduates:
Barbara Heindl – Graduating from Madison West High School. Plans to attend UW-Stevens Point, majoring in Forestry and Environmental Education.
Benjamin Vondra – Graduating from Wisconsin Heights High School. Plans to attend UW-Stevens Point, majoring in Natural Resources.
Sean Neverman – Graduating from DeForest High School. Plans to attend UW-Stevens Point, majoring in Natural Resources.
Donated $1,000 to the Capital City Water Trails.
Mark Martin of the Madison Audubon Society spoke to the League about the Goose Pond Sanctuary in southern Columbia county, about 20 miles north of Madison and one mile south of Arlington, and future plans for the region.
Penni Klein, Public Lands Manager for the City of Middleton, presented a Power Point presentation on a streambank improvement project along Pheasant Branch Creek. The League assisted with funding and grant work for the project, as well as providing some of the labor.
Members recycled a number of printer cartridges by using free postpaid envelopes furnished by the League.
Our Highway Cleanup went well in the Spring and Fall for our two stretches of Hwy. 18 near our farm.
The League’s Nest Building Project was held Saturday, April 3. Items were precut, and this activity continues to be a family favorite. 174 boxes were constructed by members and their families. Bid and Bob Schlotthauer, along with Joe Walsh, did much of the prepatory work and Bid chaired the activity. Originally, there were concerns that we were going to have to many houses to be done by noon, but the group was done by 10:30.
We reringed the top net on pen #2, at the farm, which had torn during heavy, early spring winds. Stone was placed in the four catch areas, assisting in waste removal and furnishing grit.
Thanks to Bruce and Lisa Wachholz, Eric and Angie Brinkmann, Bill Stickford, Jay Lengfeld, and Ron and MaryJo Brinkmann for taking care of our 1800 pheasant chicks and 600 quail chicks in their first weeks of life.
David Wilken was named the League’s 2004 Dane County Conservationist of the Year and the League recognized Bid Schlotthauer and Bill Lawrence as our Members of the Year.
Junior Member of the League was Amanda Maund, daughter of Brian and Sue. The care of the farm and birds has been of interest to Amanda.
Gene Roark, director emeritus for the League, continued to represent the League on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, an organization of which the League is a charter member. Gene also serves as Vice President this year.
The Madison Audubon Society was selected to be our charitable cause at the League’s 2005 annual banquet.
Jack Bell continued to share early history on the League in each of our quarterly newsletters with a number of stories from the ’30s and ’40s.
Operation Migration received a $500 donation from the League for its work with restoring a migratory population of whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida.
The League’s 4,400 acres of habitat for prairie chickens, located south of Plover, had a bird count down slightly, as reported by Jim Keir, who oversees our property on behalf of the DNR.
The League’s Board of Director’s listened to a presentation by the Yahara Fishing Club, which is considering a project to revitalize the Warner Park Lagoon. The first phase of the project is slated for 2005. Plans are to make the fix a permanent one, increase the depth of the lagoon, and provide habitat enhancement such as fish cribs.
We culled unwanted plants from Wilken Prairie during the summer with Ralph and Paulette DeDecker, along with Dave Wilken, doing yeoman’s work on the prairie by removing much thistle, Queen Anne’s lace, etc.
Chairs Linda and Keith Waier hosted a great Golf Outing in July. The weather cleared just in time to be one of the best days we have had to date.
The Open House at the Farm was held Saturday, August 14. Chicken breasts, burgers, brats, dogs, corn on the cob and side dishes were served by your directors. Smoked salmon and other appetizers began at 11:30. Members brought some great desserts.
Member John Braun did another great job of mulching around the trees, berry plants and the building and donated all the mulch.
A work day is held Saturday, August 21 to clear brush, etc. from the Token Creek Conservancy. Tim Thompson chaired this workday. This is an area the League has been associated since the early ’30s. What a difference we made along with a great member turnout. Life member Jerry Derr went back to his military days, by operating endloaders that day as Don Tierney, and his sons donated their time and heavy equipment to make for a great day of hauling.
Kent Van Horn, DNR’s waterfowl biologist, spoke at our November meeting about Wisconsin waterfowl. It was amazing to hear where Wisconsin stands in various duck rankings in the country.
League participated in Gander Mountain’s “Partners in Conservation” fundraiser in September.
The Board of Directors approved $4,000 in funds to assist the Friends of Pheasant Branch in their evaluation of the potential purchase of nineteen acres of land owned by the Middleton School District. Our contribution will help acquire additional grant writing time from specialists in this field which will assist in the purchase of a conservation easement and pay for additional mailings and printing to assist with public education and outreach for this project. Project objectives are to (1) preserve and protect the Lake Mendota watershed, (2) develop a sustainable working forest that will serve as a model for small woodlot owners and educational resource for students, and (3) develop educational resources and programs for small woodlot owners, students, and residents.
The League released six buckets of beetles (approximately 10,000) in Dunlop Hollow, outside of Mazomanie to combat purple loosestrife.
Chair Ed Brost reported in June that we had a good crew to clean up a section of the Yahara River for Madison’s Take-a-Stake in the Lakes. Stan Allen reported that workers collected four bags of trash along with one quarter, one penny, two fishing corks, and one eighteen-pound carp.
Membership had a chance to earn work hours building lunker structures on the upper reaches of the German Valley Branch of Gordon Creek on July 17.
The League’s Bird Release Day was in August and September, with members and nonmembers releasing 1,800 pheasants and 600 quail.
The Wilken Prairie was spectacular this year and will continue to be a sight to behold for years to come.
League donated up to $1,000 to the DNR near Hancock due to a failed corn crop which was needed to carry the prairie chicken habitat over to the next year. Their corn crop had been drowned and frozen out in the wet spring we had.
Board member Tim Thompson represented the League at the new Dane County Jenni/Kyle Preserve dedication on October 28. President Ed Fuss and Treasurer Jennifer Smith attended the West Branch Enhancement Sugar River meeting where the League was recognized for its work on the River.
The League authorized the purchase of a .22 rifle for the Hunter Education Graduate raffle.
The League donated $1,000 to the Capital Water Trails project that will take place in eastern Dane County.
League’s website (dccl.org) continues to keep members and others up-to-date, even the daily travels of the whooping cranes on their recent trip to Florida.
Connie Bowes and crew continue to educate numerous individuals interested in hunting through the League’s Hunter Education Program.
Keith Warnke, from the DNR, spoke to the Board of Directors about the Grasslands Reserve Program. He felt the League’s 4,400 acres of prairie chicken property was a strong candidate for the program. The League had the Federal government assess the market and grazing value of the property that will be placed in the program for consideration. When that determination is made, the League can then elect to place that parcel in a permanent conservation easement that will pay the League the difference of market vs. grazed value. This will permanently protect the land from commercial development.
The League donated $1,500 for interpretive signage at the Jenni and Kyle Preserve, which we have donated to in the past. The funds were matched by Dane County.
The League donated $200 to the Thursday’s Child’s Bass Invitational Fundraiser in June.
The League began to review its Bylaws which were last reviewed in the ’70s.
League representatives were present at meetings throughout the county, or wrote letters regarding a number of environmental concerns.
The League joined the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, an organization we had a strong association with in the late ’50s or early ’60s.
If the year 2005 or the word LIFE appears at the top of your mailing label, it means we have received your renewal for this new year. If we did not, but should have, please contact one of the directors.
If no date shows, then we have not heard from you, so please consider doing so soon. If you cannot locate the renewal notice that was mailed in late December, we have enclosed a copy of the renewal form in this newsletter. Please consider renewing as you can see by the items covered in this newsletter, our members and their membership fee does make an impact in Dane County and the State of Wisconsin. We value and need your membership. Thank you.
THANK YOU PATRONS AND CONTRIBUTING
MEMBERS FROM 2004
Dave Ripp Jack Argraves Steve Borquist
John Bowers Jim Crowley Fred Krantz
Clem LaMere John Lunenschloss Mike Manix
Terry Marshall Edsel Nofsinger Rod Regel
Gene Roark Bob Ross Bill Schmied
Jim Shurts Phil Terry Tim Thompson
Topf Wells Jim Champagne Ed Fuss
Warren Hillmer Bill Lawrence Deerfield Rod & Gun Club
Bid Schlotthauer Ken Schuetz WI River Sportsman
Robb Thole Mark Wohlferd