Draft Minutes from 2025 WOCA Business Meeting
Announcements
Nineteen folks attended the 2025 workshop, a cookout was honchoed by chefs Ron Weber and Bob Haase, and members enjoyed a wide range of speakers on ice fishing, public forests, the glowing success of wild turkeys reintroduced in Wisconsin, the world’s largest musky shop, wildlife rehabilitation, CWD spread, tick borne disease, trends among deer hunters, and more.
A last minute freeze on travel at DNR sent Pat Durkin scrambling to fill three presentations – but through creative use of local and vacationing DNR staff and university personnel, great substitutes saved the day.
The annual auction to fund WOCA and OHEC’s scholarship for a budding outdoor communicator netted $1,740. That with a second $1,000 contribution from WOCA member Jennie Sereno and her husband, and a continued $500 commitment from OHEC, our scholarship program is in great shape for 2026.
Just a reminder to members who won auctions, a note to the donor works wonders and motivates them to continue support next year, and it’s the nice thing to do. Just indicate you won their donation in an auction, you will use it and display it with pride, and all the proceeds from the auction of their donation go to fund a scholarship for a budding outdoor communicator, assuring a solid future for outdoor recreation. Special thanks to Tom Luba for contacting fishing suppliers and yielding an excellent assortment of prizes.
Minutes
Submitted by Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Steffes
President Pat Durkin opened the business meeting commenting on the relatively low attendance at this year’s conference. Down to 19 from well more than 30 members a few years ago. Many regulars were absent. It was agreed the conference will be held as usual in 2026, but if lackluster attendance continues, a serious conversation on the future of the organization is needed.
The 2025 WOCA/OHEC scholarship winner, Matthew Crawford, a junior in communication at UW-La
Crosse but transferring to UW-Oshkosh for his senior year, presented information about his Facebook,
Instagram and blogs aimed at promoting fishing in Wisconsin. He provides concrete information on
where fish are being caught, at what depth and with what bait, in hopes of increasing angler satisfaction. En route to the WOCA meeting, he launched his kayak on a small lake and managed to land a 45” musky (catch and release), and wowed attendees with the video. Matthew shows promise to be a successful outdoor writer and active WOCA member.
As part of the scholarship presentation, Laurel Steffes announced that, once again, WOCA member Jennie Sereno and her husband Dave, donated $1,000 to the WOCA/OHEC scholarship fund. It was moved and unanimously approved that Jennie be made a lifetime WOCA member and a message of sincere gratitude be sent. Such support of our scholarship is incredible.
Current scholarship committee members are Art Barlow, Dave Zeug and Laurel Steffes. 2024 WOCA minutes were reviewed and approved. Members asked about the treasury, and Steffes indicated that once the workshop bills were in, and accounts payable were settled, accounting would be provided.
Tim Eisele moved, and it was unanimously approved to send a $250 donation in memory of long time
WOCA member and former WOCA President Roger Sabota to Trees for Tomorrow, our excellent host. Eisele also moved and it was unanimously approved that WOCA send a $250 donation to the Wild Instincts Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. (Secretary note; this has been completed.) in support of its important work. Owner/co-founder Mark Naniot provided an excellent presentation on the center’s work.
Anticipated Payables in early 2026–
Balance of Trees billing $1200
Conservation Hall of Fame dues $300
2026 Trees Deposit $500 plus estimated $2,000 in 2026 fees
2026 Scholarship and related payables $1500 plus workshop expenses $300 ($500 from OHEC to be
received)
Postage, Web Maintenance and hosting, domain fee, stationary $400-500
NOTE: Honorariums were refused by all three officers to boost the treasury
Pat Durkin, President and annual meeting organization
Bob Haase, Vice President
Laurel Steffes, Secretary-Treasurer
Prize chair, Kevin Naze
Board of Directors: Art Barlow, Dave Zeug, Lisa Gaumnitz, Ed Culhane, Dave Clausen, Mark Horn, Dan Small, Ron Weber, and officers Pat Durkin, Robert Haase and Laurel Steffes
Pat Durkin indicated that a newsletter editor was needed and is working on the issue.
Election: The current slate of officers was reelected unanimously.
Dates for the 2026 conference at Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River: July 31 and August 1.