Earl Cook—President

Earl L Cook resides on the shore of Bass-Patterson Lake in Washburn County.  He is the President of the Bass-Patterson Lake Association; Director and past Vice-President of the Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association; and President, past Vice President, and Director of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes.  Earl is the Citizen Lake Monitor for Bass-Patterson Lake. 

He is regularly involved in town and county activities serving as the Town of Bass Lake's Plan Commission Chair.  In that role, he guided the development and adoption of the Town's Comprehensive Plan.  Earl has also works closely with the County Zoning Department, Zoning Committee, and Board of Adjustment as an advocate for the 964 lakes in Washburn County.  In his county activities, he has served on several county committees addressing the Zoning Ordinance, Shoreland Zoning, and strategic planning. He has served as a member of the Organizing Committee of the Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference for the last 6 years and participated regularly in the annual Wisconsin Lakes Conference.  

Earl is a graduate of the Lake Leaders Institute, Crew IV, served on the NR115 Advisory Committee, and several other state-wide committees.   As a member of WAL's Legal and Legislative Committee, Earl closely follows and advocates for state legislation that promotes the protection and well-being of Wisconsin's water resources.

Contact Earl:

715-766-3702
elcook @ interserv.com

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Sandy Gillum—Vice President

Lakes, their watersheds and the ground water systems associated with them are valuable and abundant natural resources and economic assets in Wisconsin. From childhood I simply loved “going to the lake” and now have the great pleasure of living beside a lake. People have different mind’s eye views of “the lake”. My mind captures the beauty, the ambiance, the creatures, the quiet, the reflections, and opportunities to sit back, breathe deeply, and enjoy. The legacy I wish to leave for my grandchildren’s’ generation includes opportunities to swim, to sail, to paddle, to fish, and to immerse themselves in the joy of being at a clean, healthy lake where they can have experiences to build their own memories.

To insure a legacy of quality lakes in Wisconsin requires a personal stewardship commitment by all citizens. It is WAL’s mission to foster a level of stewardship that will protect and provide clean, safe, healthy lakes for everyone. I believe this goal can be achieved through educational opportunities that provide people with the basis for advocacy efforts that promote sound policies and stewardship decisions that benefit our lakes. WAL plays a vital roll in bringing citizens information and forums where positive steps can be made toward that goal. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to share in and contribute to WAL’s programs.

Sandy is past president of Vilas County Lakes Association and currently serves as co-chair of her town’s lakes task force.

Contact Sandy:

715-479-6051
ssgillum @ nnex.net

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Sal Troia—Treasurer

"The Wisconsin Association of Lakes is the only organization in the state that is focused on the welfare of all the lakes in Wisconsin through legal action and education. As a result, the success of the state's economy and the continuing increase in lakeshore property values is significantly impacted by the success of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes."

Contact Sal:

608-242-9439
bicycleracer @ tds.net

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Mary Knipper—Secretary

I grew up on the East Coast, going to the beach every summer day, and when I moved to the Midwest, I thought I could never enjoy lake living...this is one time it felt great to be proven wrong!

Each season on our lake is full of surprises and new experiences, and being able to share this with our children and visitors allows us to see it through fresh eyes time and time again. My husband and I are committed to doing our part to pass this wonderful legacy on to our family, and working to protect lakes gives us an opportunity to meet and work with others who share our love and respect for the waters of Wisconsin. I recognize that the issues facing our local lakes are not unique, and that it will take a statewide effort to address these concerns and promote good environmental policies that will ensure that the generations to come will benefit by the decisions we make now.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes works on behalf of all lake advocates, has the power to effect policy, and be the collective voice that we need. Education plays a vital role in protecting our waters, and I know that I can count on WAL to provide that statewide outreach.

Contact Mary:

262-728-6662
knipper @ pensys.com

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Rollie Alger—Northern Representative

Wisconsin lakes are important to me because they represent, along with other natural resources, our values and legacy as a society. Thoreau said "…you can determine the values of a man by how he defines beauty." I believe that to be true and accurate.

Pristine water bodies reflect a "responsible use" ethic that is responsive not only to our needs, but all other species as well. I am called, like all others, to be a steward of the natural beauty and resources the Creator has bestowed.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes will provide me with additional stewardship opportunities. These, along with the hours spent on lakes and streams, will afford me the opportunities to use my time and talents in ways that are positive, meaningful, and will contribute to forging a character of stewardship.

Contact Rollie:

715-545-2711
alger @ nnex.net

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Pat Andress—West Central Representative

"I love the land and land includes lakes. I want to protect and preserve the land, wildlife, and wild places. Because, since childhood, I have a passion for lakes, I have chosen to support the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL) because this organization is about lakes and better stewardship in the broad sense of land protection and preservation.

If society is concerned about future generations, changing the way we live now is part of the long view, having more respect for the land, treating the land less as a commodity, and being better stewards of the land. We are not making any more land. We are not making any more lakes. It’s a matter of balance: balancing what is good for the people with what is good for the land. And I trust WAL is working toward that balance, and that is why I support WAL."

Contact Pat:

715-723-9157
raypat @ citizens-tel.net

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Kristen Charlton—West Central Representative

Wisconsin lakes are important for so many reasons but primarily they represent the identity of Wisconsin. Water is central to who we are. Our state resides in one of the most abundant fresh water areas in the world. We live wedged between the Great Lakes and are surrounded by over 15,000 inland lakes. We freely use water in so many ways in our everyday lives without giving it much thought. We recreate in our waters in a multitude of ways. We fish musky, ice fish, canoe, swim, watch sunsets, or just take in a quick view as we drive around the state.

All these things make up the Wisconsin experience and we are extremely fortunate to have them. From urban lakes to "up north" lakes we all share a common bond with water in some form. That's why it's so important to preserve the uniqueness of our lakes today and for the future. We want them to be around for a long time. Promote the continuity of our culture and identity as Wisconsinites by protecting our lakes.
A tool to care for our waters is the Wisconsin Association of Lakes. WAL is committed to all lakes in Wisconsin not just a few. It's critical to have organizations such as WAL advocate and support long- term efforts on a statewide level. It coalesces everyone from around the state to focus on important issues. It is a unifying voice for all lakes in Wisconsin.

Contact Kristen:

715-286-5166
kbcharlton @ msn.com

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John Feavel—Northeastern Representative

Contact John:

715-258-8034
johnfeavel @ yahoo.com

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Tim Hoyman—Northeastern Representative

I grew up in Neenah, Wisconsin spending much of my time on Lake Winnebago and other lakes in Waupaca, Shawano, and Winnebago Counties. I have always loved being around lakes, but never really developed a true appreciation for their function until I was in college where I fell under the positive influence of an aquatic biologist that seeded and nurtured my interest in limnology. In graduate school, my interest grew to include the protection and management of lakes through planning.

Over the years, I have learned that it takes a community-effort to effectively manage and protect lakes and the most important component of that effort is stakeholder education and awareness. I believe WAL and the Wisconsin Lakes Partnership have done much to educate and raise the awareness of lake users on a statewide scale. I also believe that WAL's efforts to protect our lakes through legislative lobbying and judicial litigation is a significant part of Wisconsin's lake protection initiative. I hope my involvement with WAL will aid in continuing those important efforts.

Contact Tim

920-338-8865
thoyman @ onterra-eco.com

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Chris Jeffords—Northern Representative

When I was about 9 years old my father drove our family to a vacation spot all the way from central Illinois to a southern Wisconsin lake.  Our week’s activities included swimming until we swallowed plenty of lake water, rowing our wooden boat in circles til we got sore, and catching enough crappies to hook me on fishing for the rest of my life.  Life on the lake was in my blood.

While fishing is the usual excuse I use to get out on the water, truth is it has fallen quite far down the list of priorities from those early days.  Yes I still enjoy catching dinner, but other “diversions” have become more enjoyable. Hearing a loon cry calling for a mate, watching the ducklings frantically paddling to keep up with their mother, and seeing the heron awkwardly trying to land on it’s nest high up in the trees are just a small sample of a day on a healthy lake that have made their way up my list.  What about the occasional deer getting an afternoon drink, the eagle soaring high in the early morning wind currents and the splashing tail of the very upset beaver?  They all are important to me.  They help me connect to the natural world.   Even more important, I would like to be able to see these sights and sounds passed on to future generations.  Of the over 15,000 lakes in Wisconsin, how many thousands of others have the same feelings about Wisconsin lakes?

This is where WAL comes in.  What other organization has state wide influence in lake protection?  Who is it that speaks on behalf the lakes for future generations? Without this loud voice, where would our lakes be?

WAL has done so much for us all.  Education has begun the change process via seminars, conventions, emails, literature, press releases and more.   Networking with other interested individuals and associations to share ideas, successes and failures at the regional and state conventions seminars helps us continually improve our effectiveness.  And lobbying to implement new policies and practices as we learn those things that will benefit our precious lakes’ resource is an activity central to the cause.  With much already done, there is much yet to do.

Contact Chris

715-945-3085
hunterwi @ indianheadtel.net

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Carol LeBreck—West Central Representative

I was born and grew up in Berwyn, IL but was fortunate to have spent summers at a family cabin in Wauconda, IL, where I learned to swim, fish, catch frogs and turtles, and "fall in love with nature". Every one of my Dad's two-week vacations from Western Electric was spent in a small one-room cabin on Bony Lake (part of the Eau Claire Chain) in Barnes, WI, Bayfield County. In those early days, the road beyond Hayward was sand, and every mile was an adventure if there had been rain during the preceding days. When the car door finally opened by the lakeside resort cabin, it was the smell of the pines that told us we were "back in the northwoods"…and it was the "call of the loons" that confirmed that this was a very special place.

For over 60 years I have been spending time on Bony Lake, 33 of those as a property owner. I have watched the changes take place on the area lakes and on the environment in general. Without serious efforts to control development, not just on the shorelines but within the entire watershed areas of the lakes, and to wisely manage recreational use of the lakes, we will surely push them beyond their "tipping points". Once lost, these unique resources will not be "retrievable". Far too many of our decisions are based on short-term financial gains of individuals or government entities without sufficient study and awareness of the long-term effects of these decisions on our natural resources. It is time to reverse this dangerous trend.

Contact Carol:

715-425-6904
carol.k.lebreck @ uwrf.edu

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Sam Lewis—Northern Representative

Sam has spent sixty-four years on Lake Nancy and is the current President of Lake Nancy Protective Association. A resident of Stillwater, Minnesota, he is interested in serving as a WAL representative for seasonal property owners, finding ways to enhance the role of lake associations and districts and to further youth education on lake issues.

"WAL can help protect Wisconsin's waters across the state. Only WAL has the perspective of the whole state. I would like to be able to feel that in 50 or 60 years when my grandchildren are thinking of retiring that Lake Nancy in Washburn County will still be in the kind of shape it is today. It would be great if the water quality is still good so my grandchildren's grandchildren can still swim in a clean lake. It is my hope that there will still be loons nesting on the lake, that there will still be natural shoreline and vegetation, and that the lake is not overrun with noisy machinery.

Will it be possible in 2060 to find frogs along the shoreline and eagles soaring overhead? Will there be white, yellow, and blue water lilies and flowers in the shallows? Will the residents around the lake care for their lake, and will they be able to get good assistance from governmental bodies, the lake association and WAL in preserving the waters of the area and in educating lake users in ways to help the lake be a great place? For these reasons, I believe that WAL can be very important to me and my descendents."

Contact Sam:

651-430-0636
sandslewis @ msn.com

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Dave Pozorski—Northeastern Representative

Dave is a graduate of the Lake Leader Institute. He is an active participant in the Manitowoc County Lakes Association and the Committee Chairman of the Silver Lake Park Restoration Committee. His lake interests include invasive species, shoreline restoration, water usage issues, and increasing public participation in lake organizations.

Upon being introduced to the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, I was really impressed with the fact of the joint effort between the Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the fellowship between lake districts, associations, and interested individuals all working together to maintain or clean up our states lakes. This process has worked through personal contacts for questions and problems, conventions, educational workshops, and demonstration sites. "

Contact Dave:

920-758-2314
posorski3 @ lakefield.net

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Paul Schumacher—Northeastern Representative

One of the treasures of Wisconsin are the abundant, clean, fresh-water lakes, and the ground and surface waters which recharge these lakes. Protection of these treasures is vital to the strength of our economy and vital to the natural systems which sustain our health.

The Wisconsin Association of Lakes is a primary steward of Wisconsin Lakes, bringing together other partners such as the DNR and University System and other key stakeholders. Through the strength of these partnerships we meet the challenges of sustainable use of these natural treasures.

Contact Paul:

262-692-2423
spaulsdoor @ aol.com

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Susan Wallin—Northern Representative

Contact Susan:

715-259-7766
swallin @ eraparkside.com

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Roger Walsh—Southeastern Representative

Contact Roger:

414-453-0872
rwalsh76 @ wi.rr.com

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