March 21, 2020

SWTU Members,

In response to the spread of COVID-19 in Dane County and at the urging of TU National and our state and local officials, SWTU is making changes to chapter events scheduled this spring and summer.

The Board Meeting scheduled for March 24 at 6pm will be held via conference call. SWTU follows the National TU fiscal year (April 1 – March 31) so the majority of this meeting will be discussion and adoption of the FY 2021 budget. Our Finance Committee recommended adoption at their March 17 Meeting (also held via conference call). A few highlights:

• SWTU had one of it’s best fundraising years on record in FY 2020, due in part to our 50th Anniversary Banquet and Campaign, the Icebreaker, and very generous donations from individuals for stream restoration work. As of March 17, a total of $33,195 was raised during the past year.
• The FY 2021 Budget reserves $26,000 for special conservation projects including work on Kittleson and Willow Creeks, the Sugar River, a donation to TUDARE for work in Vernon County, and funds to support a Wisconsin DNR stream maintenance crew in the Driftless region.
• SWTU is financially strong, but we rely on the continued support of our members to sustain our chapter and conservation work. In addition to our annual fundraising efforts we continue to build our endowment and will be kicking off a legacy giving campaign in late 2020.

We always welcome members to attend the board meetings – if you would like to call in on Tuesday please contact me for the conference call information and agenda: swisconsintu@gmail.com

Our April 9 chapter meeting has been cancelled. We will be closely monitoring the COVID-19 guidance from our state and federal partners, but we will likely also cancel the May 14 Chapter Meeting. No meeting is scheduled for June. On Tuesday the board will discuss the status of future chapter meetings, and the Board Nominating Committee will send additional emails to you soon with more details about the board election previously scheduled for April 9.

In addition to CDC guidance on social distancing, this week Governor Evers has placed a statewide moratorium on gatherings of 10 or more people. Jim Hess has been working closely with the Wisconsin DNR and to err on the side of caution the March 28 workday has been cancelled. Hopefully things will clear up in the near future and we will be able to reschedule work days, but we may need to cancel all of the Spring workdays. Watch your email and our website for future updates.

This event was being planned for May but is now postponed indefinitely.

While it is disappointing to have to postpone and cancel events, everyone’s top priority right now must be protecting the health and safety of ourselves, our family members, and our community.

Stay well,

Amy Klusmeier

SWTU Board President