Wendell (Wendy) Howell, founder of the Huron Valley Conservation Association, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the club's annual awards dinner on April 5.
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Howell was nominated for the honor by Kris Matthew, a past president of the organization.
Matthew said Howell founded the HVCA in February of 1968, and was actively involved in the early growth of the club and its many activities, including corn roasts in the Metroparks, snow machine races on Ford Lake, cowboy-style sanctioned rodeos, trap shoots and participation in local parades.
Conservation activities included the clean up of Fire Island on Belleville Lake and involvements with the clean-up of Willow Creek and the draining of Belleville Lake for the removal of carp and other invasive species.
"While Wendy was involved with the club during this period, he was also the area chairman for the pilot's union and the Regional Air Safety chairman. At the same time, Wendy was commuting from Belleville to Minnesota for work, and he and his wife, Jean, were raising their family of seven children," Matthew said. "In 1972, Wendy was transferred to Minnesota, and, at that time, the HVCA had 400 members and $40,000 in the bank."
Matthew noted that it was due to Howell's leadership, vision, energy and the desire to help, protect and maintain the natural resources of the area, that he was nominated for the honor.
The Howells currently reside in Florida and he is an honorary member of the organization.
Howell, who traveled to Michigan to receive the honor, said he conceived the idea of forming a conservation association after a visit to the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association in 1967.
While on a camping trip, he had visited the facility and was impressed with its facilities, which included a meeting hall and dining room, skeet and trap shooting ranges and boat landing. Upon his return, he placed an ad in the local newspaper, inviting participation of those interested in forming an sportsman/conservation group.
Initially, only 10 to 12 people responded, but the interest continued to grow and a club was organized.
"One of our first projects was the clean-up of Willow Creek, which was receiving a lot of contaminants from Willow Run Airport and the county landfill," Howell said. "We had complained to the government agencies responsible for the contamination and were also in communication with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources requesting information about what may be required to get a clean up of the carp and other rough fish on Belleville and Ford lakes."
Howell said early HVCA members such as Noble Hamrick, Marty Elliott, Ernie Knust and Wayne Lybeck were instrumental in the success of the organization.
Loretta Solo was awarded the Noble Hamrick Member of the Year Award for her
service to the club.
In his nomination letter, Theodore Solo said, "Even though she was not an elected club officer, she consistently supported club activities throughout 2007. She has helped with the Nominating and Election committees, the Ham Dinners, Spaghetti Dinners and the fund-raising Texas Hold 'Em events."
"She has been a regular attendee at club meetings all year. She has helped with preparation activities at the meetings and she has maintained the club's attendance and 50/50 meeting raffles for this past year. This member is one who is there to help with many of the little jobs that definitely need attention, but can often go unnoticed."
In conclusion, Solo said, "It is because of this continuing loyal involvement in the Huron Valley Conservation Association that I nominated Loretta Solo for the 2007 Member of the Year award."
HVCA officers are President Richard Church, Vice President Ralph VanValkenburg, Treasurer George Brown, Secretary Kimberly Smittle and directors, Robert Coutts, Wayne Lybeck, Jody Matthew and Bobbie Waddell. Past president is Patrick Doyle.
Master of ceremonies for the event was David Parrott and banquet committee members were George and Sandy Brown, Kris and Jody Matthew, Carol Sam and Ralph VanValkenburg.
Joan Dyer-Zinner is a freelance writer and former editor for The View. She can be reached through editor@bellevilleview.com.
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