When did you get involved with Minnesota Trout Unlimited?

I have always had a love of the outdoors, and this is one of the reasons I majored in biology during my undergraduate years and subsequently joined TU.

What drew you to join Minnesota Trout Unlimited?

I was a long-time member of Clearwater TU in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Joining TCTU was a natural progression after moving to Victoria, Minnesota in 2019.  My strong commitment to conservation was a big motivator.

How have you contributed as a volunteer?

BOARD MEMBER:  I am serving my second term as a TCTU Board member. 

STREAMKEEPER COORDINATOR:  I helped organize and start the TCTU Streamkeeper program where we monitor water quality for area streams.  We started monitoring three streams during the first year and have now expanded to monitoring 8 streams.  We have about 25 TCTU citizen volunteers involved in the effort, and the interest seems to be growing.

RUSH RIVER BIO STUDY:  I was a member of the Rush River Bio Study in October of 2023.  Our team conducted chemical and macroinvertebrate testing at six of the 16 sites on the Rush River in Wisconsin.  Data was collected, analyzed with the help of UW Stevens Point, and was compared to earlier studies that were conducted in 2004.

SAVE OUR STREAM TRAINING:  In early August we held our first Save Our Stream training session.  This involved training about 20 participants in chemical and macroinvertebrate testing following protocols from the Izaak Walton League.  My granddaughter, Hannah, even helped me scout out some possible locations for the testing at Eagle Creek.

How has volunteering for and being a part of the Minnesota Trout Unlimited community impacted you?

Volunteering and being part of the TU community is a big deal for me.  I enjoy the comradery, the stories, and helping make our streams and communities a better place.

Why should someone join the MNTU community as a member and/or volunteer?

I encourage others to join the MNTU community and, if you have the time and interest, becoming an active volunteer.  In my work with citizen water monitoring volunteers, I have found some very committed, energetic, and dedicated individuals that are passionate about conservation efforts.  This enthusiasm can be contagious, and I find this experience to be very fulfilling and rewarding.  As a bonus, this is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors.

Anything else you would like to share?

I enjoy fly tying and now consider myself an accomplished novice.  I especially like learning new skills with the Laughing Trout Fly Tying Club in Wayzata.

My background for most of my adult life has involved education.  I taught science in Minnesota.  Then I served as an assistant principal in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for 9 years.  I accepted the Chippewa Falls High School principal position in 1996 and served in that capacity for 16 years.  After retiring in 2012, I served as the Field Specialist in Wisconsin for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Graduate School of Education until 2019.  Helping teachers and educators refine their teaching skills has always been important to me.

My wife, Mary, was also an educator and taught elementary art in Eau Claire, WI.  We have been married for 46 years.  We have two daughters and four grandchildren- Sam and Hannah living in Eden Prairie,   and Noah and Ben living in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.  They help keep us young in spirit.

My wife and I also are members of the Minnetonka bird club and love bird watching.  Watching Warblers dance near area streams as they chase insects is always a joy.  This spring I spotted a Red Tanager on an area stream, and that was a special treat.