WWOA has a long tradition of providing educational opportunities for its members. After all education is a key component of WWOA. Our members can choose from a wide range of opportunities to help them better understand about the art and science of growing trees. They can attend an afternoon tour at one of our Annual Meetings, or participate in a daylong event, such as a chapter field day.

Some members even have taken advantage of WWOAs’ overseas trips. Back in 1989, a trip to Germany was offered for the first time. Since Germany has a long and rich history of forest management, it was only natural to visit the country and learn about it. That was over twenty-two years ago, and it is time to go back. This time not only will the trip be to Germany but also participants will visit Switzerland and Austria.

The tour is being put together by Free Spirit Travel located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Ginger Mittelstaedt who has been the owner for over 27 years has received numerous awards for her experience. She has chosen Collette Vacations as the trip tour operator. Ginger says” Collette Vacations have been in business longer than we have and is the company we have chosen for our Educational International Travel Program. It is a family owned and operated company, which travels the extra mile putting together trips. They have been creating vacation dreams since 1918. Collette realizes that travel is about more than just visiting a destination- it’s about a lifetime of memories to share.”

The trip will leave O’Hare airport in Chicago and arrive in Vienna, Austria. From there you will board a luxurious motor coach and travel through Germany. Ending up in Lucerne, Switzerland then returning to Chicago. Some highlights along the way will be: Danube Cruise, dinner a St Peter’s Stiftskeller, Innsbruck, Bavarian Castles, visits to the Black Forest and Chateau de Chillon Zermatt. Several WWOA members who have been to Germany before are working with Ginger to provide interesting side trips. One trip will be to Eagle’s Nest, Hilter’s former private refuge during World War II. Also there will be an evening dinner with Viennese classical music. A nominal fee will be associated with these side trips.

Bill Horvath and James Rivers will be co-leaders of this trip. Bill, who is past Board of Director of WWOA and James who is currently President Elect are excited about this trip. James has been to Germany many times before visiting his son. James says “Germany is a wonderful country that you have to see”. Since the WWOA Annual Meeting in 2012 will be in August, there will be no scheduling conflicts between the two events.

If you book by March 14, 2012, the WWOA member price is $4,049 (double) and $4,249 (single). After March 14, the price increases by $100. Included in the price is: round trip air from O’Hare international airport, air taxes and fees/surcharges of $150 (subject to increase until paid in full) and hotel transfers. Not included is a cancellation waiver and insurance of $200 per person.

Ginger hopes everyone will consider joining the WWOA educational travel program Exploring the Alpine Countries (Austria-Germany and Switzerland September 13-25, 2012). WWOA members will receive a discounted rate. She says” We will be putting together seminars and forest stops, so check with your tax advisor for possible tax deductions”. Contact Ginger at Free Spirit Travel at 800-444-0383 or info@free-sprit-travel.com for complete details on this great educational adventure.

So, start planning now for this trip of a lifetime, reservations are made on a first come, first serve basis and seating is limited. Call today for a free brochure.

You have invested time, energy and money into turning your woodlands into a special place, whether it is for hunting or other outdoor activities, a get away with your family, or to grow timber as an investment. While you enjoy the woods now, have you ever thought about who might enjoy it in the future?

Perhaps your vision includes passing the land to your successors whether they are your children, grandchildren, or others. Many woodland owners haven’t thought much past, “Hopefully my heirs will be interested enough to want to carry on what I have started.” If this dream is important to you, it will take some effort on your part to make it come true. Start now by attending this workshop.

Ties To The Land workshop focuses on ways to maintain family ties to the land from generation to generation by creating a succession plan. Communication may be the difference between an estate plan, which directs the transfer of assets, and a succession plan that helps transfer, from one generation to the next, the vision, the passion and the skills needed to be stewards of the land. It is the first step to creating an estate plan. This workshop is a mix of presentations and practical sharing exercises to help families develop techniques needed to address these issues. Registrants will receive a copy of the Ties to the Land workbook and additional resources designed to help families talk to each other about the future of their woodlands. Generations of families are encouraged to attend the workshop together.

2012 Workshop Schedule

Each Ties To The Land workshop consists of 2 sessions – plan to attend both dates listed for the location of your choice. Pre-registration is required, please complete the registration form available here. Deadline for registration is 7 days prior to the 1st meeting. Classes are limited – maximum of 30 participants per location and minimum of 10 participants to hold class. No registration confirmation will be sent, however you will be contacted if your selected location has filled or is cancelled.

Click here for registration form.

Burlington: Seno Woodland Center
Address: 3606 Dyer Lake Rd, Burlington
http://senocenter.org/
262-539-3222
Dates: Sat April 21 & May 19, 9 am - noon

Baraboo: Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
Address: E13701 Levee Rd, Baraboo
http://aldoleopold.org/Visit/directions.html
Dates: Sat February 11, 9 am – noon and Thurs March 8, 6-9 pm

Eau Claire: UW-Eau Claire
Address: Human Sciences & Services Building Rm 204, Water St, Eau Claire
http://www.uwec.edu/Maps/campmap.htm
Dates: Sat March 24 & April 14; 1-4 pm

Fond Du Lac: Moraine Park Tech (Room O-104)
Address: 235 N. National Ave, Fond Du Lac
Dates: Thurs March 15 & April 12, 6-9 pm

LaCrosse: Myrick Hixon EcoPark
Address: 789 Myrick Park Dr, LaCrosse
608-784-0303
Dates: Tues April 17 & Thurs May 17, 6:30-8:30 pm

Waupaca: Waupaca County Courthouse
Address: 811 Harding St, Waupaca (lower level)
Dates: Mon March 5 & 26, 6-9 pm

The WWOA Board of Directors is presenting a process to continue the effort to gain approval of revisions to the WWOA Bylaws. These revisions are simply updates that better reflect how WWOA operates.

The process has three steps:

1. Circulate bylaw revision packets to Chapters for review and discussion. Chapters have until March 18, 2012 to make their recommendations back to the Bylaw Committee.
2. On March 20, the Board and Bylaw Committee will meet to review the recommendations. Together, they will develop a package to be sent to the membership for voting.
3. In mid-April, proposed bylaw revisions will be mailed to WWOA membership for voting.

The bylaw revision packet can be found here. Contact your local chapter for more information.

Wake up to Wild Wednesdays!

The Department of Natural Resources has launched a YouTube channel, WIDNRTV, and plans to post stories Wednesday mornings.

The videos will showcase Wisconsin's wildlife, outdoor recreation and natural resources and the DNR staff, organizations, citizens and businesses who protect, restore and enhance those resources.

"There are so many compelling stories to tell about the great outdoors, our economy and our environment," says Laurel Steffes, director of DNR's communications program. "We're excited to share these stories with more people through YouTube."

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Looking for a great gift and one that will leave a legacy?

Through the "Give a Gift of Green" program offered by the state nurseries gift givers can purchase packages of quality nursery stock designed for use as windbreaks, wildlife habitat or restoration.

Each package provides 300 seedlings ready for planting. Packages range in price from $126 to $221 depending on type. The tree seedlings will be available for pick up in 2012 in time for planting from a state nursery or can be delivered to a location in your county.

To purchase a "Gift of Green" packet today, call the Department of Natural Resources, Griffith State Nursery at 715 424-3700 or visit Division of Forestry pages of the DNR website and click on the "Give a Gift of Green" feature button.

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2011 – USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today unveiled a plan that will help farmers, ranchers and woodland owners enhance productivity, profitability and environmental stewardship by using the practice of agroforestry. Agroforestry intentionally combines agriculture and forestry to create integrated and sustainable land-use systems that take advantage of the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.

Merrigan unveiled the USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework during the North American Agroforestry Conference, in Athens, Ga. The framework is the USDA guide to advance agroforestry knowledge, practices and assistance that lays the roadmap to influence the long-term health and sustainability of all lands for future generations.

"Agroforestry does not sacrifice farmland for forests or forests for farmland," Merrigan said. "Rather, agroforestry is the marriage of disciplines that, in the end, will protect our natural resources, benefit our communities and allow for the development of other sources of income for farmers, ranchers and woodland owners. Agroforestry can enhance values for any landowner."

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The Department of Natural Resources and the Milwaukee Brewers are teaming up to plant trees along the Hank Aaron State Trail as part of the Brewers Green Week promotion and the 100th anniversary of Wisconsin’s state tree nurseries.

The Brewers have committed to purchase and plant one native Wisconsin tree for every 20,000 home tickets sold during the 2011 regular season.

“What a fantastic opportunity to work with the Brewers, celebrate our state tree nursery anniversary and enhance one of our most popular state trail corridors,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “When this project is completed later this fall, I hope to be able to travel the trail and see first hand the results of this effort.”

As part of the partnership, the DNR also will distribute 7,500 spruce seedlings to fans exiting Miller Park following the 1:10 p.m. June 22 game with the Tampa Bay Rays.

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The incidental taking of endangered and threatened species that may occur in grassland and savanna areas of Wisconsin would be authorized during specific management activities intended to preserve and enhance that habitat, under a Broad Incidental Take Permit and Authorization the Department of Natural Resources is proposing for such activities. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.

A Broad Incidental Take Authorization for Grassland and Savanna Management was initially approved in 2000, and minor changes are now being proposed for this document. Additionally a Broad Incidental Take Permit is also proposed to allow DNR staff, as well as other agencies, organizations and individuals, to conduct management activities to benefit grassland and savanna species.

A variety of grassland habitats are included in the permit and authorization, including prairies, sedge meadows, shrub-wetlands, fens, brush prairies, sand barrens, bracken grasslands, and sphagnum bogs. Also included are pastures and fields dominated by non-native grasses and forbs with or without shrubby invasion, and plantings of native grasses and forbs. Savannas include oak and pine barrens, glades, oak openings, and open oak woodlands.

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Gov. Scott Walker today announced that Wisconsinwill observe Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week, May 22-28, 2011. Through a proclamation, Gov. Walker urged state residents and visitors to become better educated about emerald ash borer (EAB) and to take action to help slow the spread of this ash-killing pest.

“Protecting Wisconsin’s ash trees against EAB is something we can all do by educating ourselves and taking steps to help slow the spread of this tree-killing beetle across the state,” said Gov. Walker. “Ash trees in our yards, parks, and forests improve the quality of life in our state and are worth protecting.”

Since 2008, EAB infestations have been located in the Village of Newburg (Ozaukee/Washington Counties),Victory (Vernon/Crawford Counties), and in Cudahy, Franklin, and Oak Creek (Milwaukee County). Adult beetles have also been found in Green Bay and Kenosha.

To help recognize EAB Awareness Week, the state’s multi-agency EAB Program will begin airing commercials on television and radio, urging residents and visitors alike to be careful about moving potentially infested firewood.

Short videos that illustrate some of the basic facts about EAB and ash trees will also be posted the Program’s Web site and will be available through “on-demand video” features on cable TV throughout much of the state.

Residents and visitors to Wisconsin can help slow the spread of EAB and learn more about the pest in a few ways:

• Follow all quarantine guidelines. For most people, that means not moving firewood out of these counties: Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Brown, Vernon, and Crawford.
  
• If camping, buy your firewood at your destination instead of transporting it over long distances. Consider buying your firewood from a state-certified firewood vendor. The list of current vendors can be found on the EAB Program Web site.
  
• Learn about the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation. This information can be found at the EAB Web site at www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
  
• Report ash trees that show signs of infestation by calling the EAB hotline toll-free at1-800-462-2803. Callers may also request that information be mailed to them if they don’t have access to a computer.
  

The beetle attacks all species of North American ash trees. In Wisconsin, ash species comprise an average of 20 percent of municipal trees and number approximately 765 million in the state’s forested areas. The EAB larvae kill ash trees by destroying the soft layer of wood just under the bark that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree.

Emerald ash borer is native to Asia.  It was discovered near Detroit in 2002.  Since then, it has spread to 15 states and two Canadian provinces, primarily through infested firewood.  The beetle has killed millions of trees.

Purple loosestrife and other invasive plants grew like gangbusters during last year's warm, wet summer, making citizen help in combating these invaders even more important this year, state officials say.

State invasive species control specialists are seeking groups to help raise special purple loosestrife eating beetles and to help report infestations of that and other invasive plants.

"The early wet, warm weather accelerated the germination, growth, flowering and spread of purple loosestrife, and other invasive plants last summer," says Brock Woods, the state’s purple loosestrife biocontrol and wetland invasive plant coordinator. "We need citizens to help us roll back the gains invaders made last summer."

Purple loosestrife has been a serious exotic invader of Wisconsin wetlands for decades while nonnative Phragmites (giant reed grass) and Japanese knotweed are newer species of concern. All three grow taller than almost all other herbaceous plants, spread prolifically, and can quickly dominate large areas. They displace native wetland plants, degrade wildlife habitat, displace rare plants and animals and choke waterways.

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