Invited speaker Alan Stankevitz described efforts to live a more sustainable lifestyle, including construction features of his solar-powered cordwood home, for guests at the annual volunteer recognition dinner for La Crosse-area fishery program offices. Photo credit: Alan Stankevitz.

Grade school teacher Sue Houlihan (left) and Genoa NFH biologist Jenny Walker-Bailey (right) collaborated to successfully connect children with nature during student visits to the hatchery. Photo credit: Sarah Bauer.

Alan Stankevitz, a professional avian photographer, exhibited some of his favorite local images for guests to enjoy at the annual volunteer recognition dinner for La Crosse-area fishery program offices. Photo credit: Alan Stankevitz.

As daylight grows longer with each passing day of winter and frozen rivers in the Coulee Region slowly begin to thaw, another reliable sign that spring is fast approaching is the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office’s (NFWCO) annual volunteer recognition dinner.  This year’s event was held February 27 at the Fish and Wildlife Resource Center in Onalaska and was co-hosted by the Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH) and the La Crosse Fish Health Center.  In addition to volunteers, many Friends of the Upper Mississippi Fishery Services, who actively support the mission of these fishery program offices, were also invited.  Guests were offered a variety of delicious appetizers, salads, and entrees from which to select, as well as cake, coffee, and fresh ‘pond water’ punch.  After the meal, sustainable-living advocate and award winning avian photographer Alan Stankevitz shared his passion for practicing these environmental pursuits in the hidden valleys of southeastern Minnesota and sharing these experiences on Internet sites he maintains (http://www.daycreek.com, http://iwishicouldfly.com).  Then a total of 23 volunteers, who contributed more than 500 hours of combined service to one or more of the La Crosse area fishery program offices during FY08, were individually acknowledged for their contributions.  Receiving special recognition from these offices for their past efforts were: Al Hammes (NFH – Volunteer of the Year); Owen Johnson (NFWCO - Volunteer of the Year); Gil Hanesworth and Chuck Snyder (NFWCO - Hall of Fame Volunteers); Arnie Swartz (NFWCO – Friend of the Year); and Sue Houlihan (NFH – Conservation Steward Award).  As in years past, this annual late-winter gathering provided an enjoyable evening for Service employees, volunteers, friends, and family members to celebrate recent cooperative achievements in fisheries conservation.