Preserving Our Sense of Place

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Preserving Our Sense of Place

By Bonnie Matuseski, President
For thirteen years I have been an enthusiastic volunteer for the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve and was recently honored to be elected President. I am humbled by the vision and dedication of the founding members who started buying land in 1987, as they formed one of the first local land trusts in the state of Wisconsin. With the dedication of volunteer boards and generous donations of members ever since, the MIWP has grown to 2900 acres, permanently protecting our Madeline Island for many generations to come.

What is it that makes Madeline Island special to you and your family? The culture of this island is born in the natural beauty of its land and water and the connections we make with the natural world. “Island time” allows us to gather with family and friends to watch the glow of a sunset or enjoy a canopied hike in our forests. Sense of place is defined as a condition of meaning and attachment. I think preserving our sense of place is the driving force behind the MIWP, a mission not just for today but for the long-term future of our Madeline Island Community. We care for what we love.

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Spring is a Marvel

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Spring is a Marvel

By Steve Mueller, President 2022
Spring is a marvel, especially on our Island, insuring new energy and renewal, “no matter the hardships of winter”, as Simard says. As we emerge from the pandemic this year, the feeling of spring’s renewal brings new hope for us all. As president of the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve, I’ve appreciated the support of our board and membership to persevere through the isolation imposed on us over the last two years. And I’m thankful that our lands have offered solace and renewal for all who needed to escape into nature in order to maintain balance during difficult times. This year you will see a burst of activity from our organization owing to the commitment and contributions of many people.

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In Wildness is the Preservation of the World

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In Wildness is the Preservation of the World

By Steve Mueller, President, 2021
This famous quote by Henry David Thoreau was on a poster in my college dorm room 50 years ago. It was accompanied by a picture of an old growth forest, dark and primeval. Now I picture it as an old growth hemlock forest on the north end of Madeline Island. The quote has become more powerful over the years and now seems to be a true call to action for a world challenged with the effects of climate change and the accelerating loss of natural habitat and biodiversity.

The Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve embodies this call to action, and I am proud to be the president of an organization that is part of the local solution to this global problem.

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What Binds Us In Common Purpose

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What Binds Us In Common Purpose

By Steve Mueller, President, 2020
I have had the privilege of being elected as the new president of this great organization for the next three years. My wife, Cynthia, and I have a home on the North End and we look forward to spending a good part of the year on the Island. During my 10 years on the board, I have been impressed with the energy and commitment of the board members and our membership, so I look forward to leading us into the new decade.

On behalf of the Board, I want to offer a big thank you to the outgoing president, Fred Koerschner, who has led the organization with abundant enthusiasm and skilled leadership since 2017.

As I write, it is clear that the year 2020 is going to be one of challenges for the world, the nation and our island community. The COVID-19 virus has made us reevaluate what is important in our lives and recognize what binds us in common purpose.

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What We're All About

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What We're All About

Fred Koerschner, 2019
In 1987, a group of forward-thinking pioneers were alarmed by how quickly natural lands on Madeline Island were being developed. They rallied support and formed the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve.

Thirty-two years later the Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve holds true to the original purpose set forth by our founders. It is our passion to protect and preserve the natural areas on Madeline Island for the enjoyment of everyone. It is what we’re all about.

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Taking Stock

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Taking Stock

Victoria Erhart, 2016
Everyone needs to stop and take stock every so often, and I think the same thing holds true for organizations. The MIWP started out as a simple land trust with a single goal, to buy and preserve land, but we have evolved to the point that we are involved with nearly everything on the island that has to do with the environment. I love that, I am proud of that, but I worry about our ability to sustain it.

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That's What The Wilderness Preserve Is About

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That's What The Wilderness Preserve Is About

Victoria Erhart, 2015
As I sit down to write this President’s letter, I have in mind a neat list of accomplishments I want to share. Sometimes I worry the list is a little too neat; I am tidying up all the messiness: the discussions, the disagreements, the tangents and the crazy ideas that didn’t go anywhere. That’s probably not all bad. It’s a little like you’re a patron at a restaurant; do you really need to know everything that is going on in the kitchen?

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What Have We Done; Where Are We Going?

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What Have We Done; Where Are We Going?

Victoria Erhart, 2014
I like to use this President’s letter as a kind of forum to think out loud about the MIWP—who we are, what we have done, where we are going. It’s easy to get caught up in the minutia of running an organization (who’s bringing the tablecloths?) and lose sight of the big stuff. Are we doing things that have value? Are we working on issues that no one else is addressing? Is the island a better place to live, walk, hunt, ski, watch birds because of the MIWP? Let’s look.

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Preserving Our Island's Natural Heritage

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Preserving Our Island's Natural Heritage

Victoria Erhart, 2013
Preserving our island’s natural heritage. Those five words are the fruit of a weeks-long discussion by the entire MIWP board on our role on the island, our “brand promise”. These days, when large tracts of land are seldom available for purchase, we have to take a broad view of what it means to preserve our natural heritage, to be a good steward of the land.

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I Re-Remember

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I Re-Remember

Victoria Erhart, 2012
This is new for me, this writing of President’s letters. I am used to my Fourth of July Parade articles being buried somewhere back of page 5 or thereabouts, and this feels different. But Tom Kromroy, after 7 years of impeccable leadership, has passed on the baton to yours truly, and I would be speaking for everyone associated with the MIWP when I say thank you, Tom, for a job beautifully done. Tom will remain on the board and focus on land issues.

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Yes, We Do Need Your Continued Support!

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Yes, We Do Need Your Continued Support!

Tom Kromroy, 2005
Last fall, I received a call from a longtime member who asked what the Preserve was doing with the funds they donate each year, and whether or not we continue to need their financial support. I quickly responded with a strong yes and proceeded to review the annual program that our organization completes each year. I think my response was what the member was looking for because a few weeks later we received their donation. The question was a good one and it made me sit back and take a look at what our organization actually accomplishes each year, and how we communicate those accomplishments to our membership.

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