History

The concept for a lakes council for the Winnebago Pool Lakes arose in April 2003 during a 3-day workshop sponsored by the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation with a grant from the Great Lakes Protection Fund.

Participants from more than 40 local groups recommended the following priority actions to protect and improve these lakes:

  1. Form a lake/system council, association, or district
  2. Buffer our shorelines and adjacent lands
  3. Consider ecological impacts in water level management decisions
  4. Include water quality management tools in local comprehensive plans
  5. Educate citizens about the quality and importance of the lake environment
  6. Monitor the environmental quality of our lakes and shorelines
  7. Fund environmental quality projects
  8. Sustain communication among groups

A Steering Committee was formed to take on the first recommendation and form an organization that could accomplish the other recommended goals. The members of this committee represented local conservation groups, municipal planners, University of Wisconsin Extension, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Oshkosh Area Community Fund, and the League of Women Voters. Funding to initiate the Winnebago Lakes Council came from the DNR and the Lake Poygan Sportsmen’s Club.

Incorporation papers and an interim board were established in December 2004. The following individuals served on the interim board during 2005 or 2006:

Bob Beckstrom, LuAnn Bird, Paul Fowler, Greg Keil, Michael Lizotte, Jack Quigley, Nile Roeder, Dan Rudebeck, Jan Scalpone, Dani Stolley, and Bob Wojcik. Their efforts were supported by numerous advisors, contracted staff, and volunteers, including Robin McLennan, Mark Sesing, Catherine Neiswender, Chad Cook, Leslie Taylor, Mike Patterson, Linda Grishaber, Zaiga Maasen, Jeanne Shiras, Art Techlow, Kendall Kamke, Dick Sachs, Eric Fowle, Tim Badtke, Scott Engel, Carolyn Blassingame, Kathy Propp, and Tiffany Nytes.

The interim board accomplished several key milestones. A kick-off breakfast forum was held in Oshkosh in June 2005, signing up 30 founding members. The first quarterly newsletter was mailed out in January 2006 with an initial run of 10,000 copies, distributed with help from “On the Water” magazine. The River Alliance of Wisconsin provided leadership development training in January 2006, which helped develop goals for membership and projects. The Council established seasonal events for members with a winter Winnebago Lakes Gathering, a summer Recognition Picnic, and a fall Annual Meeting.

A key milestone was reached in June 2006: acquiring a federal 501(c)(3) tax exemption status as a non-profit organization. The first Board of Directors was elected in October 2006 at the Annual Meeting.

History of The Winnebago Lakes Council