As the new Chairperson for TWIN, I would like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement as I try to fill some very big shoes left by Dick Thiel.
The activities of the board meeting at the annual conference at Pigeon Lake on October 14, 1995, brings several items to report. A decision was made to take a portion of the money from savings ($3,000) and put it into a six month and 12 month CD account. This was possible due to the fact that all committees stayed within their budgeted amounts over the last spending year, and to the great success of the winter workshops and sale items.
We are very fortunate to have Marilyn Leffler from Madison as new editor of the Lobo Lingo. She will be assisted by Cathy Hazelbaker, also from Madison. Together, they bring with them previous experience with publishing newsletters and we are very excited to have them share their talents to benefit the wolves.
In preparation for the upcoming workshop season, decisions were made to make some changes in the program schedule for Friday evening and Saturday in order to comply with the TWIN/DNR/TWA agreement to limit howling in any given wolf pack area. The board also agreed to complete survey forms for the DNR when and if the wolves respond to help with research and monitoring efforts. Treehaven has also arranged to have a bus available for tracking, field work, and howling surveys during Saturday to alleviate this driving responsibility from TWIN members who attend. Secretary Don Bogdanske has revised the TWIN Winter Workshop evaluation form in an effort to improve the wording and make it more effective as a tool for improvement. Furthermore, the board carried a motion to pay the premium and take on insurance coverage for the winter workshops in an effort to protect the organization.
Due to the presence of wolves in the Central Forest of Wisconsin encompassing Clark, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe and Wood Counties, TWIN, along with TWA/DNR, successfully posted signs (pictured below) in an effort to educate area hunters that wolves are present and are protected during the Deer Gun Hunting Season. Hunters are able to shoot coyotes during this season due to the fact that they exist south of Highway 29, which is the current boundary. Initial findings indicate that the wolves fared well during hunting season; hopefully, a direct result of this educational effort.