Voluntary Efforts

* Baraboo Hills Stewardship Volunteers, Baraboo (volunteer effort):  These volunteers remove invasive plants from The Nature Conservancy's presernve including Durst Rockshelter, Baxter's Hollow and Hemlock Draw.  The Baraboo Hills Stewardship Volunteers regularly work with area landowners to educate them about invasive species.  At Durst Rockshelter and Baxter's Hollow, for example, the reach out to and work alongside neighboring landowners in invasives removal.  They also assist with a yearly children's event co-sponsored by Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County (YEPS).

* Tom Boos, Madison (volunteer effort): Tom volunteers many hours with various groups, including IPAW, The Prairie Enthusiasts, The Natureal Resources Foundation of WI, The Nature Conservancy and Pleasure Valley Conservancy.  He spends nearly every April day using fire as a tool to combat invasive weeds and encourage the growth of native species.  He organizes and participates in groups controlling invasive plants year-round.  Tom's greatest asset is his enthusiasm and ability to inspire others.  he doesn't just train or educate, but he shows how to control invasive plants by his hard work and dedication.  He tackles difficult jobs with a positive attitude and encourages others to become involved and continue his work.

* Kathie and Tom Brock, Shorewood Hills (volunteer effort): Their invasive species work has been instrumental in getting many other private landowners to begin or improve prairie and savanna restoration efforts.  It was at the time of Kathie's retirement in the mid 1990's when The Nature Conservancy began to see a lot of the Brocks/  Since this time thay've applied what they learned at 2 special places that today truly reflect their tremendous efforts; the Conservancy's Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie and their very own Pleasant Valley Preserve, which they donated to The Prairie Enthusiasts/  Kathie and Tom have shared their restoration experiences with others through dozens of field trips, the creation of their own webpage, presentations at conferences and frequent postings to the IPAW list-serv.

 * Linda Spelshaus, Sheboygan (volunteer effort): Linda Spelshaus has been the Purple Loosestrife Education and Control Coordinator for Ozaukee Master Gardeners since 2003.  She raises foliage feeding beetles on her own, recruits and trains others, conducts surveys, monitors wetlands and coordinates education and eradication programs that have been effective in controlling Purple Loosestrife along wide stretches of the Milwaukee River.  Over 100 volutneers have been trained by Linda in the rearing of the foliage-eating beetles.  In addition, she has worked with others to prepare and display exhibitis on Purple Loosestrife Control at various venues around the state.

Professional Effort

* Laura Felda-Marquardt, Rhinelander (professional effort): Laura built the highly successful Clean Boats, Clean Waters program from its initial concepts into the statewide force that it is today.  Her professional life focuses on keeping aquatic invasive species out of Wisconsin's lakes and especially empowering local citizens to protect the lakes that they love.  Since 2002, she has trained over 1,000 volunteers what are now part of the network working to keep invasive species out of Wisconsin's lakes.  Each of there volunteers goes back to educate others at their local lake - neighbors, visitors, friends - spreading the word even further.  Laura is an accessible, knowlegeable and always cheerful ambassador for Wisconsin's aquatic invasive species prevention program.  Local citizens all across the state know her name and see her as their expert!

* Eunice Padley, Madison (professional effort): In response to requests from the Governor, Eunice spearheaded a 2005 study that identified plant species currently posing the greatest threat to Wisconsin forests, the ecological and economic impacts posed by invasive plants and various ways that the Division of Forestry could address the problem.  She has also worked on several multi-agency initiatives including the development of Forestry Best Management Practices for Invasive Species.  She has coordinated invasive plant projects that involve inventory and monitoring, research, education, outreach and policy development.

* Becky Sapper, Ashland (professional effort): As a volunteer member fo the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species for three years, Becky was the primary person to initiate Invasive Species Awareness Month (ISAM) in Wisconsin, which included working to obtain a declaration by the Governor, securing funding for a part time position to oversee ISAM for each of three years and participating in the planning of educational events.  Furthermore, Becky saw a need to recognize individuals and organizations that have done outstanding work fighting invasive species and so played a major role in establishing the annual Invador Crusader Awards.

* Rick Shulte, DeForest (professional effort): As a representative for UAP Timberland, Rick has traveled Wisconsin to meet with land managers, answering questions and providing advice on the safe and effective use of herbicides for plant management.  He conducts and assists in annual field trials on invasive plants, testing treatment timing, technique, concentration and impact on native species in order to provide his clients with options that will fit their unique needs.  He understands that the objective in resotration is to both remove invasive plants and promote native species, and that both must be equally considered when forming a vegetation management plan.  In addition, Rick is very active on the IPAW list-serv, providing advice on treatment methods, timing, mixes, et cetera in the course of discussion.