Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award

Winnebago Audubon Society offers this award to recognize an individual (or an organization) from our community who has worked to achieve the Society’s objectives. The award was named to honor the memory of Katherine D. Rill who dedicated her time, skills and efforts to preserve and restore wildlife habitat, conserve birds, engage in citizen science, and educate others about natural systems.

Katherine played a vital role in establishing our chapter in 1982 and continued to be an integral part of the chapter for over 20 years. In the mid-1960s, she was involved in the statewide effort to ban DDT. She was instrumental in the preservation of Cactus Rock, a state scientific area south of New London. Along with her husband, Russ, they helped preserve Tellock’s Hill Woods, a state natural area near Clintonville. The thesis for her master’s degree, “A Flora of Winnebago County,” was published in the transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences. Her own herbarium, donated to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh a few years ago, contained over 8,000 sheets of dried, pressed plants. She worked for the Natural Areas Preservation Council, now the Bureau of Endangered Resources, creating an inventory of unique, relatively undisturbed areas in five counties – many are now state natural areas. She never hesitated to take action against ill-conceived projects, often attending permit hearings of the US Army Corps of Engineers and DNR. And she served as secretary and president of the Citizens Natural Resources Board.  These are just some of the things Kay was involved in.

Nominees for the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award must be from our area. The candidate must have shown a dedication to preservation or restoration of habitat; or conservation of birds; or engagement in citizen science; or education of others about natural systems. Candidates may not nominate themselves. Please send nominations to Winnebago Audubon Society, PO Box 184, Oshkosh, WI 54903 no later than March 1. Include your complete contact information along with a letter detailing why your nominee qualifies. The nominee should be able to attend the Annual Meeting in April when the award will be presented.

Past Recipients

2015: Frank Zuern

Winnebago Audubon Society presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Frank Zuern in October 2015. Society members, friends and family honored Frank for his lifetime achievements in the area of environmental stewardship and commitment to instilling his love for the natural world in his family and anyone with whom he comes in contact. For Frank, like Katherine Rill, being an environmentalist is a lifetime endeavor.  Frank exemplifies excellence as a private citizen in all four of the areas used as criteria for the award.

An educator by profession, Frank was instrumental in locating Sullivan’s Woods and convincing the Oshkosh Area School District in 1977 to purchase the 40 acres from Beatrice and Humphrey Sullivan.  This outdoor classroom plays an integral part in the school district’s outdoor education program and has been visited by over 40,000 students. After retirement Frank continued his involvement by serving as a classroom guide and helping maintain the property.

Frank’s interest in conservation of birds, especially bluebirds, began in the 60’s when the bluebird population had reached its lowest point.  He started building birdhouses and established several bluebird trails, which he diligently monitored. While traveling in Georgia he observed a bluebird nesting in a cannon and consequently designed a new bluebird house and named it the “Tree Branch” house. Frank based the design on the theory that the bluebirds would nest in the back of the box and the long distance from the entrance would prevent raccoon’s from destroying the nest. This design was published in the Wisconsin Bluebird, the newsletter for Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW).  He is a long time member of BRAW and has served on its board. 

     Over the years Frank has engaged in citizen science by writing many letters to local and statewide newspapers regarding environmental issues.  In 2012 he was interviewed by attorney George Curtis regarding the Governor’s controversial wetland reform bill.  This was posted on youtube.com and demonstrates Frank’s passions for protecting our wetlands.

Frank showed his dedication to preserving and restoring habitat by persuading the Winnebago County Conservation Club to create the old Glatz brewery grounds into a nature preserve/park.  In Arkansas he participated with groups that prevented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from dredging and straightening the Cache River.  This motivated him to write and publish “Cache River Eulogy” in 1973.

2012: Elaine Swanson

The recipient of the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award for 2012 is Elaine Swanson of Pickett, Wisconsin. Elaine exemplifies excellence as a private citizen in all four of the areas used as criteria for the award. All of the 16 individuals who contributed to her nomination remarked on having been indelibly touched by Elaine's passion for birds and for the natural environment which supports them and all other living things.

The first criterion for the Rill Award is Dedication to Preservation or Restoration of Habitat.  Elaine Swanson is a model of what private citizens can accomplish as stewards of their own land. She and her husband Severin have transformed 53 acres of former farmland into a wildlife sanctuary consisting of diverse wetland, prairie, and upland habitats, including 15 acres of forest and another 15 acres of prairie plantings. Thousands of trees they planted provide conifer and hardwood habitat for a wide variety of bird species, where only biologically sterile rows of corn previously existed. Trees have been replanted, and hedgerows reestablished. Flowers and shrubs were planted specifically for butterflies and birds, and two spring-fed ponds were dug. Elaine has hosted a tour of her prairies and has advised others who are starting their own prairies. The Swansons have also worked with Pheasants Forever for maintenance burning of their prairie.

All these activities exemplify what one of her friends describes as "living her . . . life with respect for the land and all the wildlife inhabitants." Elaine herself has described living on this land as ". . . a privilege to live here and work towards the restoration of a sanctuary for wildlife."

Conservation of Birds is the second criterion of the Rill Award. Elaine Swanson's extensive restoration of habitat has paid great dividends. A 10-house bluebird trail has been established, and Elaine has arranged for banding of the nestlings. Her avian "public housing projects"  also include martin houses, nest boxes for owls and wood ducks, and the release of pheasants and quail into the restored prairie, now home to 110 species of birds and four species of frogs. Elaine's concern for wildlife has not been limited to birds. She has tagged monarch butterflies and installed two bat houses on the family barn. Her spirit in acting as a human advocate for birds and other wildlife as shown by the following incident, contributed to her nomination.

Recently one of her outbuildings was renovated and installed with closing doors . . . When the barn swallows returned and hovered in front of the closed doors, she took immediate action to allow the birds to nest in their chosen site. . . the  swallows were allowed to nest in this building, and Elaine cleaned up after the birds daily.

Engagement in Citizen Science is the third criterion used for the Rill Award. Elaine's restoration of habitat and conservation of birds have succeeded because they are based on extensive self-education in the environmental science underlying her efforts.

Recently Elaine's activities as a citizen scientist have come to public attention, as she (with other area residents)  formed an organization which opposed granting permits for the largest dairy in the state, a Confined Animal Feeding Operation ("CAFO"), built within sight of her property. This organization, with Elaine as its driving force, is named PEPL, which stands for "People Empowered Protect the Land." PEPL has monitored the dairy's operation to help ensure that it is held to promised environmental protection standards. This work is vital to the public, since the DNR cannot do extensive monitoring. Elaine has educated herself on arcane aspects of CAFO operation, testified in public hearings, and submitted scientifically-informed comments to the DNR. Although she has been challenged in the press and the CAFO has expanded, her work has resulted in important environmental protection. A professional in environmental management has commented: "Because of Elaine's continued leadership [of PEPL], the environment and the people within are the better for it."

Elaine's Swanson's leadership in protecting the environment has been a model of what a determined citizen scientist can do to help preserve our natural world, often at personal cost and without the satisfaction of success.

The fourth criterion used for the Rill Award is Education of Others About Natural Systems. Elaine Swanson has long been a prolific and poetic advocate of environmental protection, and has spread her considerable knowledge among her friends, neighbors, and the larger community.

She has written letters to local and regional newspapers and to public officials on conservation priorities, testified at public hearings and before legislative committees, and been interviewed by the news media. The BBC sent a film crew to interview her and other members of PEPL about their work; the interview was shown nationally in England on the popular BBC program "Countryfile." Elaine often alerts people in her community to environmental issues likely to affect them, uncovering facts that otherwise would have remained hidden. She has the ability to approach people in a way that clearly communicates what needs to be done or changed, yet is respectful of organizations and people with differing views. A member of 19 environmental organizations, Elaine filters a wide range of information about nature and environmental policy for her audiences.

In sum, Elaine Swanson's ability to share her love for and affinity with the natural environment has made her an effective environmental educator in connecting people (young and old) with nature. To quote an environmental attorney: "I feel privileged to work with Elaine, and am awed by her unending enthusiasm, energy, strength, courage, and kindness."

Many individuals have engaged in one or a few of these four activities on behalf of the environment, but few  have undertaken as wide a range over a sustained period as has Elaine Swanson. She provides an inspiring example for all of us who prize our natural world: our community, state, and society are the better for her efforts. It is because of her life as an environmental steward that the Winnebago Audubon Society has chosen Elaine Swanson to receive the 2012 Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award.

2011: Dr. Quintin Metzig

Winnebago Audubon Society presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Dr. Quintin Metzig on April 9, 2011 at their annual spring banquet. Society members, friends and family honored Dr. Metzig for his lifetime achievements in the area of environmental stewardship and commitment to instilling his love for the natural world in his family and anyone with whom he comes in contact. He was nominated for the award by a number of people who know of his work and enthusiasm for preservation and restoration of land to return it to viable habitat for wildlife. He has been enthusiastic in sharing this work with his family.

As a local practicing veterinarian in the area for nearly 50 years, Dr. Metzig spent most of his days driving through the countryside attending to sick farm animals. He took his profession very seriously as he did his love of nature. He became passionate about preserving wetlands and upland habitat.

Over his lifetime Dr. Metzig not only reclaimed and maintained the existing wetlands, he created new ones on his 300 acre farm. He created natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, including the establishment of prairie grasslands, wetlands, and planting tens of thousands of conifers and mixed deciduous trees. His projects included upland habitat development, creating large and small ponds, and stream bank protection along the Rat River. In the 1960s he sold 1,000 acres to the State to be used as a preserve in the Wolf River Wildlife Area. Over the years he has also worked with the DNR and planted according to their recommendations. He spent every free hour maintaining and improving the land and habitat. At 94 he has not stopped and his two sons enjoy carrying on the tradition. This spring he will supervise his family in the planting of another 3,000 trees.

In all that he has done, he has taught multiple future generations the importance of preserving nature. The Winnebago Audubon Board of Director’s determined that the award would be a fitting honor to Dr. Quintin Metzig’s lifelong dedication to making our world a better place for generations to come.

2010: Paul Fowler

On April 17, 2010 at the Spring Banquet, Winnebago Audubon Society presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Paul Fowler. For Paul, like Katherine Rill, being an environmentalist is a lifetime endeavor. It colors the way he looks at the world. It reveals itself in his land ethic, his community activism, and his every day advocacy.

Land Ethic. Paul is a retired farmer. His farm is located eight miles south of Oshkosh on Highway 45 in the Town of Black Wolf.  As young farmers, in 1967 he and his wife Justine were recognized as Outstanding Farmer of the Year by the Oshkosh JC’s, and in 1973 as Farmer of the Year by the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., a three state dairy marketing cooperative. In those days Paul taught a course in soil conservation and his farm was used for field study by the Oshkosh Technical Institute. Over the years Paul and Justine planted more than 40,000 trees and shrubs and placed more than 100 acres of farmland into conservation protection. Paul also formed the Black Wolf Wildlife Association, a group of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts still dedicated to the preservation of natural habitat and wildlife. Visit Paul’s home today and he will point out dozens of recently planted trees, acres of native vegetative prairie, extensive buffered shorelines, and a few of the close to 100 bluebird and wood duck boxes his Wildlife Association has erected.

Community Activism. Paul’s contribution to the local community has spanned 50 years. He has chaired numerous farming and civic organizations. He was a founding member of Pheasants Forever and the Winnebago Lakes Council. In 2006 he was recognized as Conservationist of the Year by Pheasants Forever. Currently he chairs the Beautification Committee of Southwest Rotary. In his 15 years as chair, this committee has contributed  thousands of dollars and made over 75 awards to worthy community projects. Among its successes has been initiation and support of  several city programs: Adopt a Flower Bed, Memorial Tree and Releaf Oshkosh. Paul was among several civic leaders asked to help kick-off the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation’s recent $500,000 tree planting program: Taking Root. On a personal level, when Justine died in 2006, Paul chose to establish a grove of 20 trees in Menominee Park near Ames Point as a living memorial to his wife of 45 years and the beautification of city parks.

At  the state level, Paul has been on the board of Scenic Wisconsin for more than 10 years. In this capacity, he has urged the organization to broaden its activities beyond its mission of billboard control. Scenic Wisconsin now promotes rustic roads, scenic byways, native vegetation along roadsides, preservation of historic barns and proper placement of wind turbines and communication towers to protect wildlife and scenic vistas.

Environmental Advocacy. Paul’s love of the environment has made him many friends. He is not shy about speaking up. He has a willingness to research and share information to educate others about a variety of environmental topics and often takes a leadership role supporting many state and local initiatives. For the past decade, email has helped expand his advocacy. Rarely a day goes by that he does not forward environmental information to a long list of people he believes will benefit from the knowledge.

Paul’s outstanding record of land and water conservation, his active promotion of urban forestry and his long history of environmental advocacy made him an ideal candidate for this award.

2009: Michael Lizotte

On May 2, 2009 at the Spring Banquet, Winnebago Audubon Society presented the Katherine D. Rill Environmental Award to Michael Lizotte for his outstanding work in citizen science, environmental education and habitat protection.

Dr. Michael Lizotte is one of the leading experts on the Lake Winnebago system.  He has trained citizens to monitor the lakes, brought in over $200,000 for lake protection, and helped several thousands area individuals gain a better understanding of lake ecology and culture. His work and knowledge as a citizen and as a professor at UW Oshkosh is particularly important in our community as it has created positive perceptions and attitudes toward governmental agencies and sound environmental resource management.

Here are just a few specific examples of why Dr. Lizotte is worthy of this award.

-  He initiated volunteer monitoring programs for lakes, rivers and streams in the Winnebago system. More than 120 area citizens have been trained to use a Secchi disk to test for water clarity on the system’s four lakes. He also extended more more complex training to 40 citizens monitoring the 96 streams entering the Winnebago system. Volunteers test bi-weekly during the boating season and enter data into a DNR website. Previously only three DNR stations monitored the entire system. To cover training expenses, Lizotte tapped into the state’s Citizen Monitoring Network grant program. Over 1000 state lakes actively participate in this program.

-  Lizotte also initiated the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program on our lakes – a joint project of UWO and the Winnebago Lakes Council. This will be the fourth summer interns will be hired and trained to inspect boats and distribute educational literature at busy boat launches to protect our lakes against the spread of aquatic invasive species.

-  He wrote two successful large grants to develop and begin implementation of a regional plan to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the Winnebago system. This is a citizen-based effort with a 15 member advisory committee and numerous public meetings. Phase I has been completed and Phase II will extend through 2010.

-  Lizotte conceived the concept of a Lakes Education Center showcasing the Winnebago Lakes. Community response has been positive, including a site offered by the city in Riverside Park, and a small Oshkosh Area Community Foundation grant for promotion. Tough economic times have slowed this effort.

-  He raised the understanding of hundreds of community residents about the importance of the Winnebago lake system. For 2009 he is on course to speak to at least 30 community organizations, possibly reaching several thousand individuals by year end.

2008: George Curtis

George Curtis was the 2008 recipient of Winnebago Audubon Society's award for promoting awareness of envirnomental and conservation issues in Winnebago County. Mr. Curtis has hosted the TV program "It's Your Environment" for a number of years covering a variety of topics.  The program which highlighted Winnebago Audubon Society and presentation of the award can be seen on the web: www.youtube.com

2007: Doug Zellmer

Doug Zellmer received the Winnebago Audubon Society award for promoting environmental awareness in Winnebago County in 2007.  He has written many articles for the Oshkosh Northwestern to educate readers and recognize people involved with environmental issues.  Janet Wissink, president of Winnebago Audubon Society, presented the award at the annual potluck supper.