the ikes update july 2016 · lake or a shady hammock, or ... john stegmeier ... in ww i and met his...
TRANSCRIPT
How about those fireflies? After a busy hot summer day it cools me down to watch them dance through my backyard. On a clear night they mingle beautifully with the stars as they blink among the leaves. They’re just doing their thing, but to me they’re Enlightening Bugs.
Summer is busy but if we want to shine we need to relax, too. Maybe you’re finding a cool lake or a shady hammock, or using the IKEs’ campfire in the evening. We’re hoping to get some informal gatherings going, like maybe every Wednesday or Thursday night around the fire pit to roast, toast, talk, or paddle the canoe. On July 14 let’s give it a try, with some food-foraging suggestions presented as well. 7:00 til whenever. That’s a Thursday. Come on over.
On July 23, 10:00-1:00 Teardrop Island Garden area will be open for enjoyment. I visited Tammy Lundeen’s place when I needed plants for a shoreline restoration project, and it was very impressive. She has beautiful native plants at great prices. Plugs are easy to plant and grow quickly. Contact [email protected] if you need habitat.
I’ve been busy working with
Calvin and TU, planting rain gardens with the Green Team, a great combination that installs plants to control storm-water and introduces high school students to a wide range of people, careers, botany, and work. I love it. It is a way to let the water stay where it lands, soaking in, rather than dumping into storm-drains on its way to a flood.
July through August I’ll turn to art. Kalamazoo Nature Center is hosting a show of my oil paintings and paper-art, so if you’re down that way, please stop in for a double-dose of nature and art.
Summerfest was a lovely day for those who came! I especially want to thank new volunteers Shelby and Cassidy Freeman who helped Ron Yob with the Archery. They were good with the kids and said they wanted to do it again. Lisa Gordan jumped in and brought a newbie, Sylvia, to do the kayaking. Many of us regulars pitched in, because we like to see people having a good time at the IKEs, but it’s wonderful to see new people get excited, too! More on the outside inside.
Georgia Donovan
July 2016www.michiganIKEs.org
The IKEs Update
1926-2016 . 90 YEA
RS . 1926-2016 . 90 YEARS
. 192
6-20
16 . 9
0 YEARS .
About 75 folks attended Summerfest 2016 and enjoyed a variety of activities and a free lunch featuring hot dogs, cold salads, chips, cookies and ice cream. Attendance was down considerably from recent years and perhaps the hot weather was a factor. What to do to increase participation is another discussion.
The Kitchen/Klean Up Krew were Tam Bagby, Blake Gardner, Len Kizer, Llyn & Gary Wheeler and I.
Volunteers make any event and this time we had some new faces
helping. Ron Yob, Shelby & Cassidy Freeman did the archery, which the kids took to nonstop.
Lisa Gordon and friend, Sylvia did the kayaking and they were busy all day.
As usual Ron Waybrant headed the kids’ fishing and Bob Stegmier did a presentation on solar energy and conducted a Save Our Streams workshop. Maurie Houseman talked about invasive species and Duane De Vries was on hand to answer questions and talk about membership to the
folks who came to Summerfest.
Tam led groups of people around the trails and Georgia Donovan had kids scurrying all over the place on a nature treasure hunt.
Tam and I gave away about three dozen bags of our organically grown oregano, which seems to grow overnight.
In all Summerfest was a fun day. Thanks to all who helped make those smiles on the faces of the kids.
SummerfestTom Watson
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Summerfestpage 3
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Summerfest
SEE MOrE SuMMErfEST PHOTOS On Our WEbSITE:
MICHIgAnIKES.Org
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officersPresident, Duane DeVries ...................532.9151
[email protected] President, georgia Donovan ....... 340.4604
[email protected], Jim Schneider ......................340.4604
[email protected], fred Eyer ............................363.0253
Board Membersbarry gilbertson [email protected] gilmore .....................................365.8892Maurie Houseman ...............................560.2895
[email protected] Huston ...........................................942.2503
[email protected] Kirk ...............................................874.8230
[email protected] Kizer ............................................866.4256
[email protected] Oliver [email protected] Watson ........................................874.7254
Conservation ChairJohn Stegmeier [email protected]
Grounds/Maintenance ChairC. J. Tasma ...........................................887.8542
Membership SecretaryRon Waybrant ......................................361.1422
Lodge RentalJim Schneider .......................................340.4604
Our chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America was formed 90 years ago. Your current board and many of our members think that is quite a feat and you will hear about the chapter’s happenings and accomplishments in the newsletter this year. Here is part six.
History of How the DLC-IWLA Acquired
Myers Lake Ave. PropertyBruce I. Dutcher, January 11, 2005
My parents, Mr. & Mrs. Minor D. Dutcher bought a cottage on the South side of Silver Lake, Cannon Twp., Kent Co., in the late 1930’s, and I fortunately, spent summers there in my growing up years, which included WWII. I graduated from South High School in 1946 and the u of M in 1950. About six cottages to the east was a cottage owned by Dr. Walter W. Oliver and his wife Margaret T. Oliver. They had two sons, Bill (William) and Jim ( James) who were friends with my brothers and me. My parents, the Dr. Oliver family the Dr. Kliesteker family, the Alonzo Evans family (next door) and others nearby would periodically have joint picnics together, too. We were a friendly group, and all got along well together.
I grew up in fishing and hunting family (heritage), and my father, Minor D. Dutcher had my older brother David E. and I doing both of these activities (hunting and fishing) with him starting at about age 8. I was eager to participate and learn all I could about hunting and fishing and early on, observed Dr. Walter Oliver, many nights during the summer out dry-fly fishing for bass along the Silver Lake weed beds. Dr. Oliver tied his own unique buck-tail pattern dry flies with a divided hackle resembling a swimming frog. He was most proficient at it often returning with 4 or 5 bass and I became and eager student of his expertise. Strangely, on reflection, neither of his sons were interested in fishing or fly-tying. Dr Oliver enjoyed trout fishing too.
One hard working salesman with the Dutcher realty Co. was Harry Minion (he and his wife Almeda also owned and operated the grocery store on the South side of Silver Lake), and Harry Minon sold, what is now the IKE’s property to the Oliver’s in April 1952 (Liber 1598, Page 491). I have a clear memory of Dr. Oliver telling me then he was buying this property for his retirement; that he was going to plant walnut
trees on it, they would become valuable timber income during retirement. One of those walnut trees stands in the front lawn in front of our Conservation Center. He subsequently, also planted considerable wildlife plantings, including Autumn Olive that was then highly touted for wildlife.
Tears well up in my eyes to write about Dr. Oliver’s oldest son, bill, our neighbor friend. My memory is that bill compiled either the best or second best academic record at East grand rapids High School up to the time he graduated from East. He went off enlisting in World War II and tragically, William Mcneil Oliver, 377th Infantry was killed December 1, 1944 at felsbergm germany charging a german unit in a watchtower that had pinned down his company. note: Walter W. Oliver, MD, was a medical officer in WW I and met his wife-to-be, Margaret Oliver, who was a nurse, while in service. She worked with him daily in his practice, specializing in eye, nose and throat treatment at Medical Arts building in downtown grand rapids for many years.
The Oliver’s burial plot is in the northeasterly portion of the Oakwood Cemetery located at the South end of brewer Avenue just South of Cannonsburg road (Conspicuous headstone-OLIVEr). I can objectively report that Dr. Walter Oliver and I had a rare mentor-student affinity for each other, as well as being neighbors and friends. I believe he found in me, at least as far as fishing and fly-tying goes the interest that was not in his sons. (This is very difficult for me, emotionally, to write about because it was a “thumbs-up time” in my younger years; great memories, and my brother, David, and I and the Dr. robert Klinesteker and the Evans sister are about all still standing.)
Raymond J. Foley also sold real estate with my dad and me (Dutcher realty Co.) and was also very active in the Dwight Lydell Chapter. between ray foley and me, as Dr. Oliver was experiencing his health declining and he began thinking of selling this property, we jointly talked Dr. Oliver into selling it to the IKEs. The purchase price to the IKEs was $5,000. What a value! However, I believe, more of the credit was ray foley’s rather than mine (they were closer in age), but Doc Oliver and I had a great rapport and we
Chapter AnniversaryBob Stegmier
(continued on page 7)
page 6
would frequently have contact at the lake and at the Wednesday noon meetings at the downtown YMCA of our Dwight Lydell Chapter. I was the President in 1953. I must tell you of this experience, too.
I remember a heavy rain in early June 1952; I headed for the lower end of the Stegman Creek and after a terrific struggle landed a heavy 23 ½ inch, beautifully marked german brown trout. I couldn’t get back to the cottage quick enough to show off my prize catch to Dr. Oliver. He looked at it and said, “That’s some fish … what are you going to do with it?” He went on convincing me quietly saying, “Margret’s sister and brother are here from Massachusetts and they’ve never tasted trout! I’m sure they would enjoy it.” I responded, “Doc, here’s the fish” and handed it to him. There’s more to this happing – when my day got home that evening and learned I had given Doc. Oliver my
huge trout, he was most upset. Why? Minor Dutcher loved eating any fresh kind of fish. My brother and I were continually challenged summers to catch him enough fish to eat. If available, he would eat fresh fish and fresh peaches (or home canned) seven days a week! He groused about my giving Dr. Oliver this trout for months, thereafter.
A year later, May 1953, I caught what subsequently turned out to be the biggest brown trout of my life, 27 ½ inches, which probably was over 10 lbs., in the Muskegon river. I wondered at that time if I would every catch one larger, but I was still thinking about my dad’s angst the year before so I cleaned it and to it to him to eat. now 50 years later, I feel that was a mistake. I should have either had in mounted, or released it.
Chapter Anniversary(continued from page 6)
Kids’ Fishingpage 7
Included is a picture of me leading a talk about aquaponics at The Island School (where I studied abroad), a picture of me taking notes for my field history journal 40 feet below the surface at The Island School, and one of my senior photos.
Emily Jenkins received an IKEs Scholarship
You likely have seen a mounted specimen on the wall at the lodge. If you haven’t on your next visit take an admiring good look. Maybe it will be August 11, for the Chicken and Ribs Dinner. Don’t forget friends. It is a really nice mounting and recently repaired by Dick Van Haften, nice job Dick. Some of you may have been fortunate to have caught one but not in Michigan! good news it may be back in some select streams.
Michigan’s Arctic Grayling Poised For A Long-Awaited Comeback
Beckie StrumThe Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2016
Plans under way to reintroduce the species of fish that hasn’t swum in state’s rivers in nearly 100 years.
An Arctic grayling in Montana, one of only two states in the lower 48 to ever natively have the fish. Montana is now fighting to protect its dwindling wild populations.
grayling, Mich., a fishing hub in the woods of central Michigan, is named for a historic fish that hasn’t swum its rivers in nearly a century. but now the fish are getting a second chance at a comeback. Avid fly fishers from grayling have had to travel thousands of miles to catch the species, which used to flourish in their own backyards, said Steve Sendek, a retired fisheries biologist from the town.
“I’ve fished for grayling in british Columbia and Alaska,” Mr. Sendek said. “They’re a wonderful fish.”
Arctic grayling, a cousin of the trout in the salmonid family, like cold, clear stable waterways, the kind you find in the idyllic backwoods of Michigan. In the 1800s, however, settlers began to overfish and introduced nonnative species of trout, which competed for food
and space. A growing logging industry also disrupted and destroyed hundreds of miles of grayling habitat.
“All of those came together in a perfect storm to push the grayling off the map in Michigan,” Mr. Sendek said.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources announced this month that plans were under way for a years long effort to reintroduce the species to the Manistee River, which passes a few miles outside the city. It is a joint project between the state, researchers at Michigan Technological University and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians—all of whom want to see Michigan’s historic fish species returned to its native environment, said Todd Grischke, assistant chief of the fisheries division at Michigan’s Department of natural resources.
Michigan was one of only two states in the lower 48 to ever have native grayling—Montana is now fighting to protect its dwindling wild populations.
“They talk about carloads of grayling fish, well-train carloads in 1800s, being shipped off because they were that plentiful,” Mr. grischke said.
This isn’t the first attempt to restock grayling in Michigan’s rivers, Mr. grischke said. biologists raised grayling in hatcheries in the 1980s and 1990s, and then tried to introduce them into the wild as yearlings. but the delicate 1-year-old fish didn’t survive the transition.
This time, the graylings will begin life in the rivers as eggs in incubators. The special containers will protect them from harm until they are big enough to survive on their own. “These incubators offer, I don’t want to say risk-free, but it offers a competitive advantage so that they can grow into mature adults,” Mr. grischke said.
researchers at Michigan Tech. are exploring an area about 70 miles down river from grayling to reintroduce the fish, Mr. grischke said.
The first round of fry, hatched eggs, could be in the water by 2018. but it might be as many as 10 years before adults are fully established in the Manistee river, he said.
“This is an old-fashioned place and visitors ask about the grayling,” said Robert Tomlinson, who owns a local fishing lodge and chairs the local visitors board. “It could be amazing to bring it back.”
Extent in Michigan is the Arctic GraylingBob Stegmier
PHOTO: JIM MOGEN/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
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One of the most important “busi-ness” items at our annual IKE’s Convention each year is establish-ing or updating League policy:
This year our chapter is taking the matter of what to do about the 62-year old Enbridge #5 Pipe-line across the Straits of Macki-nac. Your DLC board of Direc-tors in their June board meeting determined to bring this matter to the attention of the IWLA and members across the country and ask them to support us Michigan-ders and other IKEs living along the shores of the “great Lakes” to take some corrective/prevention action. This resolution is suggest-ing that the current pipeline be re-placed ASAP with a “dual walled pipe” or as some refer to such a “doubled” walled pipe similar to a doubled walled hull of an “oil” tanker. The resolution stated here will be taken to convent where it will be presented to the Energy and Environmental Committee for consideration. This commit-tee will determine if it is an ac-ceptable League matter and likely modify the wording some before it be submitted to the delegates for approval or disapproval.
The resolution:The Izaak Walton League of America assembled in Stevens Point WI, July 19-22, 2016 urge that the 62-year old Enbridge #5 pipeline, a single walled pipeline,
be replaced with a modern Dou-bled Wall Pipeline. The reason is to protect the world’s largest freshwater resource from potential contamination emanating from a leak in the old and deteriorating pipeline carrying various petro-leum products.
This concern is wide spread from
the locals living near the straits to folks living in the watershed as well as folks all across the united States and Canada.
Legislators in Michigan and Congresspersons from Michigan and other great Lakes States are calling for action of one sort or another resolution but the Dou-bled Wall Piping System seems to be getting little if an attention. A Doubled Wall Piping System would be a good resolution to the concern and be one of the quick-est ways to resolve the concern.
The most important element of a dual walled pipe is to prevent the material in case of a rupture in the
material carrying pipe from getting to the en-vironment. The second wall contains the pol-luting material. This is from a white Paper pub-lished by Venture Engi-neering & Construc-tion 1501 reedsdale Street, Suite 505 Page
7 of 7 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 and issues this statement in the paper. “The most compelling reason for a double wall pipe, instead of a robust single wall pipeline, is the containment of a product leak.” The complete report can be viewed at: http://www.ventureengr.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Double-Walled-Piping-Systems_
White_Paper.pdf.
The League currently has in its policies an item calling for Dual Walled pipelines in sensitive areas.
With the acceptance of the resolution the League should exercise all efforts from the national Office through all
chapters to affect this change! Submitted by Dwight Lydell Chapter IWLA, belmont MI.
Chapter members attending convention are Maurie Houseman, John Trimberger, Ron and Ruth Waybrant, Bill Weber, and yours truly.
2016 IWLA Convention, Resolution BusinessBob Stegmier
Deadline for the August issue is
Monday, July 25th at 8:00 AM.
page 9
Again there is some good stuff in this issue. I’ll start with the write-up of long time and very active “IKE” Ray Zehler from Ohio. Of course his death is not “good stuff ” but he did a lifetime of good stuff. Just read every word of it. Also, notice that little smile of his, it was a trademark. I don’t recall ever seeing him without it. When I read it I just wondered how he had time for anything else, especially his farm. ray was a wiry tough little guy about 5’ 7” tall and about 150 pounds and at convention a few years he did pushups for an Endowment fund raiser. He rapidly dii yours truly. See page 9 of OA. Another good informative read is “Clean Water: Your right To Know” by Executive Director
Scott Kovarovics with a detailed summary of this challenging Americans water issues. read it and get involved, page 4.
Then on page 22 is a great chapter story where the Harry Enstrom Chapter in Pennsylvania received a $15,000 grant from the Izaak Walton League Endowment to underwrite a Citizens Watershed Monitoring Program to monitor headwater streams across the state. We do get our feet wet in monitoring in the Bear Creek watershed and with TU in the Rogue Watershed but not much more than our feet wet. We could do more! We should look for ways to take advantage of these Endowment grants. In the past they have been very easy to get.
Outdoor America 2016 Issue 2Bob Stegmier
A few people got together for the first of two scheduled Fun & Fixit days on June 11. We forgot to take photos but fortunately Georgia Donovan managed to snap a couple for us.
In attendance were Larry Allaben, Tam Bagby, georgia, Fred Eyer, Maurie Houseman, Len Kizer, Ron Waybrant and I. If someone showed up after I left I
apologize for not mentioning you here.
I got some pizza for lunch, which we ate under the gazebo.
Mark your calendars for the next fun & fixit Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 17. See you then.
Fun & Fixit DayTom Watson
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Lodge Calendar July 7, 8 & 9 Jodi Morton Rental July 12 Board Meeting 7:00 PM July 14 Dave Lester Rental July 23 Tear Drop Island Open House 10:00 – 1:00 August 6 Tom Watson Rental August 9 Board Meeting 7:00 PM August 11 BBQ Chicken & Ribs Dinner with Program October 8 Bob & Maryann Schumaker Rental
October 29 Jack Hornbach Rental
Conservation Needs a Friend …….. Ask a friend to join the IKEs!
nAME _______________________________________________ _________________ _____________________ HOME PHOnE buSInESS PHOnESPOuSE __________________ CHILDrEn & AgES _______________________________________________
ADDrESS ___________________________________ CITY_____________________ STATE ___ ZIP _______
DATE____________E-MAIL ADDrESS__________________________________ SPOnSOr _____________
_____ Individual - $52, _____ Family - $72, _____ Student (18-21) - $24, _____ Youth (under 18) - $12
Mail to Ron Waybrant, 4905 Cresthill Dr NE, Grand Rapids MI 49525. Checks payable to “Izaak Walton League”Call Ron at 616.361.1422 for more information. If you want a GATE KEY so you can walk our 39 acres at your leisure ADD $5 to the membership fee. Indicate which of these important committees you're interested in working on: natural features Stewardship _____ finance _____Membership _____ building & grounds _____ Conservation ____ Programs _____ Every Member Dinners ______The Izaak Walton League of America – a non-profit conservation organization – is recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity under the Internal revenue Code.
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DWIGHT LYDELL CHAPTER of the IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE of AMERICACore Event Schedule 2016
Scheduled Event & Location ChairpersonJanuary 30, Saturday 10am-3pm....Winterfest family Outing @ CC ........................ georgia DonovanMarch 4, friday ...........................Conservation-Awards-fund raiser banquet ..... banquet CommitteeMarch 17, 18, 19, 20 ......................ultimate Sport Show-grand rapids ........................... Jim SchneiderApril 21, Thursday .........................fish & game Dinner ..................................................... Tom WatsonMay 7,14,21, 28 - Saturdays ..........Kids fishing & native Plants @ CC, 9AM-noon ............................May 12, Thursday ..........................Steak and Chicken Dinner, Elections ........................... Tom WatsonJune 11, Saturday ...........................fix up/Clean up Day 9-?, work, eat, play, campfire Maurie HousemanJune 25, Saturday, 10am-1pm ........Summerfest Community family Day @ CC .......Maurie HousemanJuly 19-22 ......................................2016 IKE’s national Convention, Stevens Point WIJuly 23, Saturday ............................native Plants for Everyone, Tear Drop Island (IKEs) .....Tammy LundeenAugust 11, Thursday ......................bbQ Chicken & rib Dinner with Program @ CC ...... Tom WatsonSeptember 14, Wednesday .............Oktoberfest @ CC ......................................................... Tom WatsonSeptember 17, Saturday .................fix up/Clean up/Play 6PM @ CC ......................Maurie HousemanOctober 5, Wednesday ...................Chili Cook-Off/Potluck @ CC ...................................... Tom Watsonnovember 10, Thursday .................game Dinner @ CC ...................................................... Tom WatsonDecember 1, Thursday ...................Christmas Dinner @ Timbers restaurant ......................... Jay Huston
Website: www. michiganikes.org CC is the Conservation Center/Lodge @ IKEs Property located at 5641 Myers Lake AvenueMailing address is Izaak Walton League, PO box 541, belmont MI 49306
STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN • JULY 19–22, 2016
IZAAK WALTON LEAGUENATIONAL CONVENTION
94th ANNUAL
2016 CONVENTION KIT
DEFENDING OUR WATERS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
STEV
ENS
POIN
T CV
B
Founder’s Sponsor of 2016 National Convention
If you only think of Wisconsin as “The Cheese State” – or
the state your favorite football or basketball team needs to beat
– it is time to think again. Also known as the Copper State,
the Dairy State, and America’s Dairyland, Wisconsin produces
excellent beer and has an expanding wine industry. What do all
these things have in common? Water. The Wisconsin Division
of the Izaak Walton League is very involved in defending and
protecting their state’s waters. This topic will be highlighted
throughout the 2016 National Convention.
Something for everyone…. That’s what Stevens
Point offers its visitors. Rich in the history of the
Wisconsin Glaciation Episode, it is also a city on
the cutting edge. Stevens Point is home to the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, innovative
parks and gardens, a symphony orchestra, more than 80
restaurants, outstanding breweries, and major corporations.
For many years, you have enjoyed Point Beer courtesy of the
Wisconsin Division at our convention’s Parade of States.
Now you can take a tour of the Point Brewery and many
others in the area. Visit the Sculpture Park, enjoy the kayak/
canoe trip on the Plover River, visit a cheese factory, stroll
along the Wisconsin River, and grab an ice cream (or two!)
while you enjoy this incredibly clean and fun city. For
you history buffs, be sure to check out the boul-
ders around the Bill Cook Chapter – these are
outwash rocks left by the last ice melt! SO…GET TO THE POINT!
Dwight Lydell Chapter
of the Izaak Walton League
5285 Windmill Drive NE
Rockford MI 49341
Printed on recycled paper
Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Waters and Wildlife REtuRN SERvIcE REquEStED
Please don’t throw this newsletter away - pass it on to a friend.
NonprofitOrganization
u.S. Postage PaidRockford, MI
Permit No. 208
Future Activities in July and August: