Please help the Winnebago Waterways Steering Committee welcome their newest members! Bob, Alan, and Mark joined the Committee as members-at-large this past April. They bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the Committee. The Steering Committee is designed to bring together diverse stakeholders who work in a shared leadership setting and help drive the Lake Management Planning project for the Winnebago Lakes.

Bob Schmeichel

Bob writes: A long time ago one of my college professors told me that I talked too much during presentations and wrote the same way…so I’ll try to be brief. I am a retired registered Landscape Architect and presently the Town of Neenah’s Chairman. I am on the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and serve on their Outdoor and Environmental committee. I am also the Chairman of the Wisconsin Town’s Association Winnebago County Units. I attribute a lot of what I am to my Dad. My Dad took classes from Aldo Leopold back in the 30’s at the UW. My Dad was also a US Soil Conservationist for 45 years and instilled in me the appreciation of “You take care of your land and water and your land and water will take care of you”. Being a retired R L A, I too have embraced Aldo Leopold’s way of thought, that being “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect.” The same holds true for our waterways. I have been utilizing our Winnebago Waterways now for several decades and have witnessed both the good and the bad. And for those reasons I feel a strong commitment to our Land and Water Community.

Alan Weir

Alan writes: My wife, Gail, and I moved to the Southwest shore of Lake Winnebago eight years ago. We have enjoyed watching the lake every morning with a cup of coffee since arriving. I enjoy teaching chemistry and biochemistry at Fox Valley Technical College as a second career after my retirement from the Army. I spent 25 years on active duty as a chemist managing hospital, research and environmental laboratories. The year we arrived to Lake Winnebago was the year of explosive aquatic plant overgrowth. We joined the new Lake Winnebago Quality Improvement Association of Fond du Lac and work to understand and improve water quality of the lake and its watershed. My wife and I have five grown sons, two dogs and a few cats. I enjoy cycling, reading, paddle boating and kayaking on the Lake.

Mark F. Sesing

Mark writes: My historical roots are embedded in the Fond du lac/Mt. Calvary area and at the age of 13 were soon to discover the excitement of Lake Winnebago’s fish, wildlife and recreation. My interest is preservation of the Winnebago lakes and ensuring their future health. The challenges of managing the lakes have been elevated due to social, economic, and political conditions. Shorelines have changed, land draining into the lake has changed, and users have changed. New threats as well as new opportunities await us all. I feel a long range strategy will call for new thinking while employing the ethics of good old fashioned work and mutual sacrifice.

Personally, I am gifted with a wonderful family who cherish time together indoors and outdoors. We love the country and the city life. Education: University of WI – Biology and Conservation (1975). Profession: Retired from WI DNR (Lake Management Program) in 2011 with 34 years in water related work. Hobbies: I fish n’ hunt, enjoy music, reading, writing, hiking, gardening, boating and miscellaneous armchair sports. I am currently involved with lake management on Big Green Lake and am a board member for the Friends of the Kettle Moraine-Northern Unit. I look forward to working with the Winnebago team.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Lake Management Planning for the Winnebago Lakes.

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This article was written by Korin Doering, the Winnebago Waterways Program Coordinator. Contact Korin at (920) 851-0948 or korin@fwwa.org.