2016 Annual Report

Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

Thinking back over 2016 makes me realize how much the reach of the Environmental Defenders has increased and diversified over the past couple of years. This resulted in a nice bump in membership in 2016, involving people of all ages. And with that increased member-ship has come increased involvement, especially on the part of our youngest members. This allowed us to have a greater impact through our restoration workdays and monarch planting events. Also, the

young muscles of our high school volunteers helped immensely as we again were inun-dated with electronics during our monthly recycling drives that we took on the road around the county for the first time in 2016. We continued to be active through our membership in the Illinois Environmental Council to try to achieve a better statewide option for electronics recycling – an effort that is continuing. Our Speakers Forum really took off during 2016 with a greater number of presentations being given to a wid-er variety of audiences on topics ranging from natural landscaping to recycling to pro-tecting our water resources. Of course, we continued our longstanding efforts to reach larger numbers of citizens with environmental protection information at our Earth Day Celebration, It’s Our River Day, the County Fair, and at several documentary screen-ings, as well as at events in collaboration with other groups. Our BYOBag McHenry County initiative took a big step forward with the county approving a month-long coun-ty wide BYOBag proclamation, which took place in August. Also, we were very success-ful in our lengthy advocacy efforts that came to fruition in 2016 to convince the County Board to hire a Water Resources Specialist. This successful campaign will result in in-creased efforts and greater collaborations to protect our water resources in McHenry County. Our members really stepped up when it came to successfully advocating for the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill, which was signed by the Governor in 2016. Lastly one of our most important accomplishments during 2016 was writing a Strategic Plan for the Board and each of our committees for the years 2016 – 2018. This Plan guided us as we increased staffing in the office and shifted our employees into two new positions that we hope will better meet our needs as an organization as we move toward our 50th Anniversary! As I think about all that the Defenders accomplished in 2016, I’m espe-cially aware of the fact that none of it could have happened without our members gen-erously volunteering their time to help our organization fulfill its mission. So, thank you to all of you!

Our Mission: Preserve, Protect & Educate

In order to protect all living things, The Environmental Defenders is dedicated and committed to the preserva-

tion and improvement of the natural environment in McHenry County. We are committed to building sound

ecological relationships between people and the natural world that supports all life. To achieve the aim of

environmental preservation and improvement, we provide the community with educational programs and

volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation.

We advocate policies which protect drinking water supplies and conserve land for open space and agriculture.

We demonstrate waste reduction through recycling drives and reuse centers. We encourage natural resource

protection through native landscaping and stream protection programs.

A Message from our President

Cover photo by Weg Thomas

Chairperson, Cindy Skrukrud

This committee meets monthly with the goal of pro-tecting the water and other natural resources of McHenry County. This includes protection of both groundwater, our county’s sole source of drinking water, and our high quality lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Preserving and restoring the oak savanna and prairie habitats of our landscape is a priority along with ensuring that our communities are built and man-aged to sustain these resources.

Some of the highlights of our 2016 activities were:

Successfully led the effort to convince the McHenry County Board to budget and hire a water resource specialist (Scott Kuykendall took on this position on Feb. 20, 2017.)

Reached out to over 200 government bodies, including townships, municipalities; library, school & park districts; as well as churches, requesting they lead by example by eliminat-ing the use of toxic coal tar sealants on their properties and by informing their constitu-ents of the harm posed by the use of sealants high in carcinogenic PAH compounds and the readily available less toxic alternatives.

Planted prairie plants for monarch butterflies and other pollinators at two roadside prai-ries and at the Kishwaukee River headwaters and worked with the McHenry County Fair Association to establish a butterfly garden at the fairgrounds, in cooperation with Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who supplied the plants. Removed invasive species and collected trash at the O’Brien Road Prairie on Make A Difference Day.

Served as host organization for the Silver and Sleepy Hollow Creeks Watershed Coali-tion (SSHCWC) and lead organization recruiting volunteers for monthly Sterne’s Fen workdays.

Helped to conduct the Spring and Fall Youth Groundwater Festivals organized by McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program.

Provided input on watershed protection for McHenry County’s Natural Hazard Mitiga-tion Plan.

Convened biannual meetings of the McHenry County Watershed Roundtable, bringing together the county’s watershed groups with McHenry County, McHenry County SWCD and McHenry County Farm Bureau to develop and work on common priorities for water-shed protection

Conducted educational activities and distributed information about water resources protection at our Earth Day Celebration, at Crystal Lake Park District’s Lake Discovery Day, at the Friends of Hackmatack Monarch Family Fun Fair and It’s Our River Day.

Organized volunteer-led canoe/kayak trips on Nippersink Creek and Kishwaukee River and a behind-the-scenes tour of McHenry County Conservation District’s Pleasant Valley preserve.

Defenders’ Accomplishments in 2016

Water & Natural Resources Protection Committee

Chairperson, Cynthia Kanner

The committee of over 10 volunteers celebrated many more

towns signing onto the BYOBag proclamation campaign. And,

in July of 2016, the Board of McHenry County unanimously

voted for August 2016 as BYOBag month county wide. To date,

approximately 2/3 of towns have all dedicated a month as BYOBag month. The City

of Woodstock declared 2016 BYOBag year beginning in April and completed in

April 2017. Plans for the future include writing an ordinance to be presented to all

towns in McHenry County asking for a charge for plastic and paper bags. Our efforts

to reduce plastic pollution by advocating for lasting change through plastic bag

reduction will continue throughout McHenry County.

Co-chairs, Christine Kustra & Gary Kanner

Revived back on the 2nd of May, 2016, the Transportation

Committee’s accomplishments have been modest. Successes

include drafting our Strategic Plans when we were just be-

ginning to learn about one another; this big endeavor, being

a living document, has essentially found a seat at the table

with us. We hold these goals and objectives true by revisit-

ing them to ensure these targets are met. In light of this, we

also have established connections and knowledge of our

County’s successes, needs, and challenges on this subject.

We had the pleasure of having Scott Hennings, Principal

Transportation Planner of MCDOT speak with us on many

subtopics of transportation as well as helping us all under-

stand the various spokes of the wheel that keep the region

moving. Our goals are to keep organized with our Strategic Plans, which encom-

passes 1. Promote bike path improvements/expansions/utilization and 2. Build rela-

tionships with other transportation committees by getting to know officials and

committees at different levels. We have talked of educational and outreach pro-

grams for the public on transportation issues in McHenry County.

Transportation Committee

BYOBag Committee

Chairperson, Barb Day

Recycling Drives: Monthly drives roamed the county to bring the opportunity to many.

Volunteer hours—989

13,868 pounds of Styrofoam collected.

Batteries collected at recycling drives and from locations around the County 14,886 lbs. of batteries 8672 of alkaline 4399 of lead 1815 of rechargeable

248,376 lbs of electronics: 6940 of computers/laptops/servers 3232 of flat screen monitors 158387 of glass televisions/computer monitors 79817 of printers/copiers/fax/scanner and all others (microwaves, vacuums, stereos, etc)

5250 lbs of clothing collected.

VHS and cassette tapes were collected and taken apart for recycling.

Waste Reduction

Committee

Chairperson, Cynthia Kanner

Highlights accomplished by the Membership committee in 2016:

Achieved our goal of enrolling 10 new members per month

Tabled at Bioneer Speaker Series at MCC on three evenings

Tabled at annual Natural Landscaping Seminar at MCC

Hosted a members’ event for Neill Sachs’ presentation on Alaska

Held Annual Dinner Meeting at Park Place

Tabled at annual Garden Fest at MCC

Tabled at Earth Day in Prairie View Education Center

Held Pancakes on the Prairie event for members

Tabled at documentary “Plastic Paradise” at MCC

Arranged for two tours for members at Gladstone Fen

Tabled at McHenry County Fair

Held Annual Corn Roast for members at Pioneer Tree Farm

Tabled at It's Our River Day in Algonquin

Tabled at showing of documentary "The Burden" at MCC

Tabled at Green Living Expo at MCC

Held Open House and Volunteer Appreciation event in November

Membership Committee

Conservation is a state

of harmony between

men and land.

Aldo Leopold

Everything The Defenders accomplishes is achieved through our volunteers who sit on

our various committees. Whether doing the heavy lifting at recycling drives or tabling at

events, our volunteers make it all possible. Following are the accomplishments from 2016

and in come cases and in some instances endeavors for the new year. Our committees are

always looking for Defenders’ members to volunteer their time, expertise and energy .

Chairperson, Mary Forni

Co-chaired the Earth Day event at Prairieview Edu-

cation Center, and worked

with McHenry County

Conservation District on

the Eco-Run held the same

day at Prairieview.

Members of the commit-tee maintained the Environmental Defenders’ library, available to members to

check out books and films.

A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Annie Schirmer from Marengo High School who will study wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens

Point.

Worked closely with Citizens Cli-mate Lobby with focus on the threat of

climate change.

Tabling at events

Documentaries shown:

“This Changes Everything”

“The Burden” and presentation by Re-tired Navy Commander Cliff Lee

Education Committee

Thank you to all the volunteers who support the Defenders by donating time, baked goods, high quality

gently used household items, and customer service expertise to maximize our fundraising efforts through-

out the communities we serve. Without everyone's support and ideas, we could not continue to support the

luxury of an office and the limited staff we have or to have the Green Spot to redistribute useable books at

reasonable rates. If you have additional fundraising event ideas, don't forget to let us know!

Chairperson, Anne Basten

Raised $30,000 through the following activities:

The Green Spot Used Book Store

Hallway used book sales

Annual meeting raffles and auctions to members

Sale of used items online

Two garage sales in spring and summer

Used Book sale in Algonquin Township

Supplying volunteers for the County Fair ticket booths

Fundraising Committee

unaudited audited

2016 2015

ASSETS

Cash & Cash Equivalents 55,774 45,422

Investments 248,125 233,826

Accounts Payable 0 79

Prepaid Expenses 2,020 5,009

Property & Equipment, net 101,294 101,294

Other Assets 1,000 1,000

Total Assets 408,213 386,630

LIABILITIES

Accounts Payable 0 985

Payroll Tax Liability 1,681 1,936

Sales Tax Liability 339 339

Total Liabilities 2,020 3,260

NET ASSETS

Unrestricted, Undesignated 406,193 383,370

Total Net Assets 406,193 383,370

Total Liabilities & Net Assets 408,213 386,630

Note: Amounts shown as of December 31 of each year.

Financial Summary

Nancy Schietzelt , President

Lori McConville, Vice President

Alice Lumsden, Secretary

James Wigman, Treasurer

Dwight Dalton

Ed Ellinghausen

Mary Forni

Kim Hankins

Sue Jensen

Christine Kustra

Rico Rotta

Ken Santowski

Joe Starzynski

Nicky Strahl

~ Andrea Hawkins-Kamper, Intern

Cynthia Kanner, Outreach Coordinator

Christy Matsuoka, Bookkeeper & Records Clerk

Board of Directors

& Staff

Adele Petersen, Realtor, ReMax Unlimited Northwest

Algonquin/LITH Chamber of Commerce

Algonquin Township Road District

American Ad Bag

Apple Creek Flowers

Artland Story Group

Alpine Accessories

Illinois State Senator Pam Althoff

Backdrop, An Art Gallery

Brothers Junk Removal

Burseth Farm

Computer Recycling Center

Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters

Copy Express, Inc.

Crystal Lake Brewing

Crystal Lake Park District

Dave’s Bait & Tackle

Duke’s Alehouse & Kitchen

Falcon Green Resources

Green Box Boutique

Hyperstitch, Inc.

Marvin’s Toy Store

McHenry County College

McHenry County Department of Water Resources

Napoli’s Pizza

Pioneer Tree Farm

Red Buffalo Nursery

Respace, Inc.

Sustainable Life, Inc.

The UPS Store of Crystal Lake

Wheel Werks Bikes

Windridge Memorial Park

Woodstock Chamber of Commerce

Business Members

Membership & Contributions

$1,000 Plus

Charles Liebman

Judy Rogers & Dale Shriver

Kenneth Santowski

Dan & Sandra Scheinfeld

Nancy & Randy Schietzelt

Cynthia Skrukrud &

Tom Von Geldern

Ted & Judy Thornton

$400-999

Barbara Bennett

Tim & Melodie Feeley

Russell & Sara Foszcz

Jerry Gudauskas

Alice & Bill Howenstine

John Niziolek

Mark & Isabel Schiffer

Jim & Kathy Wigman

Anonymous

$200-399

James & Peg Bolm

Deb & Don Chapman

Dwight Dalton

Bev Dow

Ed & Carol Ellinghausen

Avis & Jeff Fisher

Marlene & Hugh Frisbie

Lisa Haderlein & Tom Cubr

Michael Hallisy

Hertha Hill

William & Betty Holleman

Donald Humbertson

& Cynthia White

Maurine & Jack Kaskel

Jim & Marlene Keenan

Jean Leete-Knutson

Lorraine Lid

Kelly & John MacDonald

Perle Olsson

Katie & Nick Parkhurst

Neill & Margaret Sachs

Jeff & Karla Schumacher

Gilbert & Susan Tauck

Eberhard & Catherine Veit

Thomas & Margaret Vicek

Becky Walkington

& John Peterson

Molly & Bob Walsh

David & Colleen Zeiger

$100-199

Dee Abbate & Fred Berchtold

Jeanne Adams

Adrianne Adams

Greg & Carol Alfus

Pam Althoff

Deborah Ballard

Nancy & John Balough

Anne & Scott Basten

Ron & Debra Bendis

Lenore Beyer

Dave Brandt

Virginia & Dennis Brightwell

Addie Burns

Derek & Gavin Burseth

Matt Calhoun

Carolyn Campbell

& Carl Edstrom

Bette & David Chwalisz

Alan & Bonnie Cornue

Joe & Peg Daleiden

Barb Day

Sara Denham

Dan & Marijane Deters

Dan & Lynn Doherty

Timothy Dooley

Lou Emmons

Albert Ettinger

& Susan Lannin

Carol Faure

Curtis Fetzner

Nancy & Steve Fike

Lee Frisch

Lorna & Evan Gladstone

Lawrence & Barbara

Glowacki

Nancy & John Gonsiorek

John & Elaine Gurnett

Peter Handy

John Healy

& Mary Jo Lucas-Healy

Ronald Heuer

Deborah Huml

Sue Jensen

Dorothy Johnson

Cathy & Dan Johnson

Pam & Brad Johnson

Rick & Lois Johnson

Cynthia & Gary Kanner

June & Steve Keibler

Jan & Al Kennedy

David Kranz

Dr. Philip Lambruschi

& Helene Lambruschi

Barbara Lanphier

Robert Levin

& Debs Wallner

Frances Lovelace

Please let us know if you feel an error has been made in contribution reporting.

Diane & Alan Lubow

Pat Malo

Mary & Robert McCann

Lori McConville

Dale & Trudy Medendorp

Beverly & Victor Meuch

Tom & Kelly Mitchell

Stephen Mitten

Terry & Mary Nader

Tom & Jean Nigbor

Jerry Paulson

Ray & Lynn Pensinger

Donald & Emele Peters

Adele Petersen

Tom & Carol Philips

Donald Purn

Leo Quanz

Paul & Chris Rechten

Renate Rotta-Koch

& Richard Rotta

Mark Rusley

Annette Sather

Larry Schmidt &

Kathleen Bergan Schmidt

Pam Schroeder

& Debby Church

Carol Sek

Dr. Lloyd Shaw

Jan & George Soderberg

Teri & Nimette Soli

Judy & Jack Speer

Joe Starzynski

Joseph Sternberg &

Elizabeth O'Leary-Sternberg

Judi & Chuck Stuck

David & Elizabeth Stumpf

Mary Ellen & Norio Tanabe

Steve Tayler

Jan Thelen

Janet Trafelet

Susan & John Tredwell

Al Van Maren

Greg & Carol Waggoner

Bruce & Sharon Walter

George & Beverly Waterman

Jim & Mary Weisman

Johanna White

Laurie & Jay Wilde

Nancy Williamson

& Steve Byers

Chip Yager

Paula Yensen & Mike Bissett

Phil & Chris Zack

Up to $99

Michele Aavang

Mary Ahnen

Jan Altman

Michael Ander

Brian Anderson

Jim Anderson

& Kerry Leigh

Ders Anderson Anderson

Sherry Anderson

Teagen Andrews

Betty Andrysiak

Clarence & Pam Arnold

Jeff Aufmann

Tammy Baier

Miriam Baily

Julie Baldwin

Jennifer & Michael Balian

Lora Ball

Lidija Baltabols

Lillian Bandelin

Shirley Basler

Christine & William Batalden

Kim Bateman

John Bazan

Robert Beardsley

Juliette Beaulieu

Ann Beck

Douglas Becker

Robert Becker

Dave Bengston

Gerry & Emily Berendt

Isabel Bernardi

Ann Bessette

Jack & Linda Biesterfeld

Rick & Beverly Blankenbaker

Kerry & Sherry Blass

Dennis & Barb Blow

Laura Bobowski

Marcie Botto

Carmen & Neil Boyer

Jane Brantley

Robert Brasile

Zach Bray

Curtis & Maria Bremer

Eduard & Natalia Breuer

Scott Brissey &

L. Chase Brissey

Scott & Kim Brix

Richard & Sonja Brook

Troy & Kerry Bruley

Peggy Brunschon

Dee & Art Budelier

Burton Bridge Beach Civic Association

William Byczek

Steven Cafcules

James Campbell

& Suzanne Campbell

Roy & Janice Carlsten

Cecelia Carman

Andy & Martha Carver

Sharon & Michael Chakoian

Judi Chase

George Chinn

Cathy & Aage Christensen

& Jason Nosbaum

Pat Christian

Georgianne Chromczak

Jeanette Clark

Berne Clary

John & Timmie Clemetsen

Roger & Phyllis Close

Douglas Close

Algonquin Club

John Cole

Amy & Doug Collins

Kim Compton

Lawrence Connell

& Kathryn Smith-Connell

Patrick Connolly

Jean Cooper

Tom & Deb Corcoran

Jacklyn & Richard Crosby

Jose & Selena Cruz

John Daab

& Kathleen Spaltro

Tom & Brenda Dahlfors

Pat Dahn

Martin & Beth Daly

Michelle Dare

Lisa Davidson

Margaret Deason

Debbie Dechant

Walt Dembos Jr.

Ronald & Alice Denley

Terry & Pat Dieckhoff

Abigail DiTroia

Frank & Karen Dombrowski

Bill & Elizabeth Donato

Barbara & James Donnelly

Mary Donner

Dennis Dreher

Laura & Bill Dreiling

Chris Duel

Anna Evans

Rich & Susan Eyre

John & Dorothy Fankhauser

Sean Feely

John Fiorina

Tom Firak

Larry & Kathie Fischer

Ray & Grace Fischer

Ken Fiske

Tom Flynn

Donald & Lucille Foecking

Marianne Fontes

& Chris Padgett

Mary Forni

Margaret Fox-Hawthorne

& Doug Hawthorne

Kay France

Rob Franco

Dorothy Frantz

Budd & Gretchen Friend-

Jones

David & Caren Gardner

Russ & Janet Gardner

Carol Gardner

Marla & Carlos Garrison

Sheryl Gartner

Jane & Pamela Gerloff

David Gervais

Mary Goerner

Judith Goffo

Bethany Gola

Marla & Robert Gomberg

Frank & Colleen Gosser

Bob & Karen Graham

Karen Griswold

Debbie & Ted Groat

James Gross

Melissa & Zach Grycan

Mike Gullotto

Terry & Linda Gurgone

Duane Haak

John Hackman

Linnea Hadlock

Robert & Kathleen Hahn

Kimberly Hankins

John Hanlin

Charlie & Ellen Hanson

Ann Hanson

Sally Harris

Mike & Kathy Hartke

Jim & Joan Hasselman

Andrea Hawkins-Kamper

Helen Hawthorne

John & Jean Headley

John Hebert

Jeff & Carol Heisler

Molly & Peter Heraty

Jan & Judy Beth Hervert

Linda Hewins

Fran & Jim Hicks

Dave Hill

Debra Hillstrand

Bruce Hilstrom

Jenn Hofmann

Beth Holland

& Jim Zid

Tom & Roberta Hoover

James & Denise Hotchkiss

David & Barbara Howard

John & Susan Hudson

Dorothy Hughes

Bob Idstein

Sandy & Gordon James

Mercedes Jamka

Matthew Jamnik

Diana Jarrell

Chantel Jenrette

John Jocius

Suzanne & Dave Johnson

Gary & Judi Johnson

Keith & Nancy Johnson

Lisa Johnson

Jeff & Denise Jordan

Dennis & Jennifer Judd

Les Kaffko

John Katzenmayer

Ron & Robin Kelps

Patrick Kenneally

Bob & Kelley Kepes

& Holt and Ivan

Elizabeth & Kenneth Kessler

Sharon Khan

Bob Kirschner

Zak Klehr

Cynthia Knox

Bill Kopanda

Jeff Koppa

Walter & Ann Korpan

Leslie Krebs

Susan Kreibich

John Kremer

Bill & Nancy Kreznor

Paul & Liz Kubiak

& Gavin and sabella

Laraine Kubiak

Sahara Kuiper

Sandra Kupstis

Christine Kustra

David & Kendall Lace

Jennel Lampe

Larry & Lucy Lane

Donald & Carol Larson

Esther Larson

Pat Lawlor

David & Carolyn Lawson

Monica Leccese

Ann Legg

Lloyd & Rosemarie

Lesmeister

Geri Levine

Joe Lewis

Wayne & Nancy Limbaugh

Greg & Pat Lofgren

Nancy Loomis

Ray Lucich

Rance & Alice Lumsden

Cheryl Lynch

Lisa Maier

Lou Anne Majewski

Renee & Albert Malik

Mark & Sherri Manninen

Christy Matsuoka

Chet Matysek

Doug May

Thomas & Caryn McAndrews

Charles & Diana McCloskey

Mark & Annie McCormick

McHenry Savings Bank

Jeff McKee

David & Deborah McLean

Gene McSweeney

James & Janice Merrifield

Sarah Michehl

Keith Mierzwa

Bryan & Jennifer Millard

David Miller

Lauren Mirs

Laura Mitchell

Kayalia Mitchell

Astrid Moi

Mary Moltmann

& Ed Bennett

Mike & Barb Montes

Sean Morgan

Bart & Elisa Mueller

Ingrid & Brent Mullane

Connie & Robert Murray

Debra Muscarello

& Maxwell Robey

Rob Mutert

Barbara & Jay Needleman

Jim & Ardie Nelson

Stephen Newton

Joseph & Trudy Nie

Jean Hervert Niemann

Brian Noshay

& Emily Zack

Helen & Stephen Noskowicz

Jim & Julie Novak

Andrew Nuno

Cheryl Nuzzo

Richard Obenauf

Mark O'Connell

Anne O'Donnell

Lonni Oldham

Mary O'Leary

& Kathleen O'Leary

Bob Olsen

Rob & Mary Jeanne Olsen

Susan Olson

Marie Orwig

Gretchen & H. Nick Oster

James Otis

Edward & Rosemarie Pahnke

Bob & Carolyn Paine

Kestas & Rita Palulonis

JoAnne & Carl Papp

John & Sarah Parisi

Susan Parker

Connor Patterson

Sandra Paulu

John Pavlis

Joseph Perilongo

Mary Perkins

Stan & Mary Perrin

Victoria Peters

Anne Pierce

Stephen & Kimberly Platt

Kay Preshlock

Sue Racansky

Tricia Rachford

Jaclyn & Nick Radeni

Gregory T. Rajsky

Amanda Ranieri

Irene Raven

Helen Rehling

Kathy Reiland

Margaret Reiland

Larry Reinhard

Bob Reisdorf

Carol & David Rice

Susan Richards

Todd Rickey

Bob Riepl

David & Kathleen Rigby

Sue Rodig

Jon & Ina Roquet

Don & Tracie Rose

John Roseliep

Steve Ross

Lynn Rotunno

Angela Ryan

Kathy Salzmann

Roger & Darlene Schlies

Carolyn Schofield

John & Elizabeth Schroeder

Bob Schroyer

& Patricia Sullivan-Schroyer

Linda Schuberth

Steve Schultz

Ingrid & Will Schulze

Eric Seagren

Bill & Donna Seeley

Joe Sgarbossa

& Barbara Sgarbossa

Kimberly Shefner

Tom & Vicki Sheppard

Mark & Ann Shuman

Cal & Michele Skinner

Kathy Slover

& Michael Sedola

Cathy & Peter Smith

Wendell Smith

Caroline Sobolak

Renee Solger

Robert & Arden Spooner

Sally & Robert Stachniak

Karen Stahlecker

Philip & Melody Stanko

Bill Steinforth

Rick Stevens & Rhoda Drije

M.A. Stompanato

Carol & Timothy Stone

Nicky Strahl

Jim & Diane Strzelinski

James Sullivan

Scott Summers

& Carol Krohm

Marti Swanson

Rhoda Symons

Svetlana Taylor

Sandi Teiken

Michael & Stephanie Teta

Jack Thacker

Tom & Karen Thennes

Michelle & Bryan Thomas

RB Thompson

Trudith & Dan Thompson

James Thrall

Ray & Angela Thuma

Bob & Ann Tirk

Mike Tryon

Kent & Tanya Utsurogi

John & Lori Valus

Fernando Vellisca

Dorothy Vick

Ann Viger

Melissa Volny

Luella Voss

Gail Wachowski

Carolyn Wahl

Joseph Wajrowski

Michael Walkup

Debbie Wallenfang

Rick Walters

Arnie & Diane Waltmire

Richard & Mary Wantuch

Thomas & Eva Wedel

JoAnn Wedin

Bruce & Marian Weiss

Caron & Steve Wenzel

Ed Weskerna

Linda Wheeler

Christina Whitworth

Chuck Wiedemann

& Janie and Russ

Donovan Wilkin

April & Noel Williams

Larry & Kim Willis

Nola Willis

Barbara & Al Wilson

Dan Wilson

Bill & Mary Winkel

Debora & Keith Winn

Lauretta Wolf

Mary Wolff

& Warren Wahl

Christine & Dana Woodall

Jerry & Elaine Worth

Sally & Jim Yanahan

Kristina Zahorik

Matthew Zastrow

George & Judith Zielinski

Norb & Liz Ziemer

Tami Zuck

& Gregg Hornyak

Land Conservancy of

McHenry County

McHenry County

Conservation District

McHenry County

Farm Bureau

Our organization would not exist

without the passion and energy of

those who organize and volunteer to

help better our environment. The

Defenders, as we are well-known, is

YOU. Thank you.

VOLUNTEERS

Highlights Advocacy Efforts 2016

Facilitated monthly Green

Drinks educational and networking events

Worked with MCC’s Sus-tainability Center as part of the Bioneers group to conduct the Green Living Expo and the Bioneers Speakers Series

Provided an Environmen-tal Tip to the North-west Herald for weekly publication

Presented programs advo-cating environmental protection to groups around the county

Activated our membership to support Commu-nity Solar in Illinois and the Illinois Clean Energy Plan

Continued our participa-tion with the McHenry County Health Department’s Solid Waste Task Force

Joined the efforts of Chica-go Living Corridors, the IDNR’s Monarch Butterfly Summit, and the Right-of-Ways as Habitat Working Group to increase habitat for monarchs and other pollinators

Participated in the Steering Committee for the creation of a Fox River Corridor Plan from Algonquin to Burton’s Bridge led by CMAP

Continued to support the efforts of the McHenry County Chapter of the Citi-zen’s Climate Lobby

In addition to all the work

conducted in 2016 by the

Defenders’ committees,

we also provide education

about and advocate for policies that

protect a healthy environment in

McHenry County, not only for us for

but for all living things. At right is a

summary of those accomplishments: