The Northwest Wisconsin Waters Consortium

A brief history

Waldo Asp called the first meeting--it was held in conjunction with the fall 2007 meeting of area Conservationists, at the Hayward Courthouse.  About 18 people from six area counties attended.  

Chris Jeffords assisted in presenting a by-laws draft which was endorsed, Waldo Asp was drafted to be president; Craig Walkey, vice president; Jim Brakken, sec./treas.  

In the following months these officers and others attempted to identify persons who led county-wide lake organizations in northwest Wisconsin.  All interested persons were welcome to attend the first annual meeting at Telemark June 19.   At that meeting the by-laws were revised and the organization became known as the Northwest Wisconsin Waters Consortium.

The necessary papers were filed to incorporate the NWWC as a non-stock not-for-profit corporation under Ch. 181 of the Wisconsin Statutes.   

Nominations for officers were called for from anyone who wished to nominate someone. A ballot was sent to all counties which paid dues and had a viable county-wide lake organization.  

The election was finalized in September.  The elected officers are:  Waldo Asp (Sawyer County), president; Jim Brakken (Bayfield County), vice president; Craig Walkey (Washburn County), secretary; and Ralph Heuschle (Rusk County), treasurer.

There are several counties in northwest Wisconsin that do not have county-side lake associations, but efforts are under way in those counties to form an association that might join the NWWC in the future.

Earl Cook, president of WAL, was appointed to be official liaison with NWWC, and the recent open meeting of the WAL Board in Rice Lake endorsed the concept of regional consortiums. WAL will work with the NWWC in developing programs, educational efforts, legislation and support for local county lakes organizations.