Our Board of Directors is responsible for planning, coordinating, communicating, and managing the activities of our organization. At our annual member meeting, members elect directors for the coming two years.
Directors Mary Binkley, Sheila Leary, Linda Malkin, Jim Mand, and Paul Noeldner are in the middle of their 2-year terms and thus aren't up for re-election. Director Jan Axelson is retiring after 18 years on the board.
Our candidate slate for terms that begin at the 2025 annual meeting consists of current directors Timothy Baker, Lesleigh Luttrell, and Wendy Murkve, and Ed Syder.
Our board meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr. In good weather we may meet outdoors at the rainbow shelter. The meetings are open to all. To confirm the time (occasionally we reschedule) or request an agenda, contact Jan at (608) 215-0426 or janaxelson@gmail.com or any of our other directors.
If you are interested in joining our board, we invite you to attend a board meeting. Our bylaws permit adding interim board members at any time.
Here are statements from the slate of four board candidates for four positions with terms that will end at our member meeting in January, 2025.
Timothy Baker
Cherokee Marsh is a great place to walk and explore nature with my wife, Beth,
and two children, Della and Dorothy. It's also an obviously important
component of the lakes and wetlands system that defines the Madison area.
I joined the FoCM board in 2010 amid concerns about the health of the marsh,
especially in the face of potential development. I've also served on the City of
Madison Committee on the Environment and the Clean Lakes Alliance
Community Board in recent years, but my time with the FoCM has been the
most rewarding because this group has been so effective in not only protecting
and restoring the marsh and related ecosystems, but also educating and
encouraging people to experience the joys of the biotic communities found
here.
I especially enjoy helping people learn about native plants, birds, and aquatic
life, as well as a variety of outdoor activities including birding, fishing, hunting,
and native plant restoration.
Lesleigh Luttrell
I first joined the Board in 2011 and am definitely willing to continue to serve
another term on the Friends of Cherokee Marsh board. We’ve been able to
accomplish so much in the past few years thanks to our active, involved and
generous members and leadership. I look forward to doing my part to help
continue our work preserving and protecting our wetlands and encouraging
everyone to enjoy our treasured Marsh.
Wendy Murkve
I joined the board in 2022 and hope to be elected for a full term. As a Northsider of almost 32 years, I’ve fallen in love with Cherokee Marsh and have spent countless hours hiking, kayaking and snowshoeing, wandering - looking, and listening to the sights and sounds and smells of the marsh. It reminds me of my childhood, spent growing up on the banks of the Yahara River in McFarland. I am also working on a personal photography project to share the beauty of the South Unit as it changes throughout the year.
I’m still learning about the Board, but I currently prepare the monthly Events newsletter and work on our social media sites, as well as volunteer work cleaning up trash, pulling garlic mustard, and other projects.
If I’m elected to a full term, I hope to continue work we’ve started recently with local Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts councils to bring youth to the marsh for outdoor education and perhaps service projects.
Ed Snyder
I have lived in the north side of Madison for 22 years and have frequently enjoyed hiking in all three units of the Cherokee Marsh over the years. I became interested in restoration work in the parks after I retired in 2018 and have enjoyed participating in and co-leading work parties.
I appreciate the land here, the plants and wildlife. Trees impress me in particular, with their form, size, life span. I see their fragility, and also their resilience in the face of storms, insects, changes to the local environment. I like to think we can help them through our clumsy efforts.
I joined the board in the spring of 2024, I enjoy learning more about the Cherokee Marsh through the work parties and by being on the board of FOCM.
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