Fall 2011
News from the North Woods
Welcome Helen!
Page 9
We have a new Reservations Coordinator - Helen Hallstrom!
Learn more about her below or stop on out to the Center meet her: What do I do at the Center? As the reservations coordinator, I respond to all types of inquiries about our Center. Schedule conferences, retreats, programs and correspond with other departments at the center. Coordinate in-house details to ensure our resources are utilized for each reservation. Correspond with each reservation contact to fine tune accommodations. My favorite thing about working at the Center? I grew up in this area and I LOVE this home place! Grindstone Lake is mysterious and beautiful! Working here, I am part of a big family working to connect people with nature. My tasks here are challenging and rewarding and it’s easy to stay motivated! My favorite things to do outside? Playing hockey with my kids on our pond, baseball in our hayfield, jogging in the morning, family badminton championships, being out-fished by my boys, kayaking and canoeing, campfires, agate hunting, shooting trap and riding my motorcycle anywhere.
Volunteer Spotlight As a non-profit organization, we depend on volunteers for help with everything from routine maintenance to special projects. All of the special people who selflessly donate their time and talents to the center are deeply appreciated. The following is information about one of our recent volunteers, Joshua Wiebelhaus. Joshua Wiebelhaus grew up in the Twin Cities and worked for the National Forest Service in WI as a wildland firefighter prior to becoming Crew Leader for the Minnesota Conservation Corps. He recently spent a week visiting his girlfriend, our new intern Anna (see page 10), here at the Center. While he was here, he generously volunteered numerous hours of his time helping us with various grounds and maintenance chores. His assistance was very much appreciated! Joshua’s MCC crew is based out of Kilen Woods State Park near Jackson, MN. His job requires him to work on invasive species control and supervise controlled burns for the Minnesota DNR. Currently, he lives in Westbrook, MN and enjoys canoeing, camping, exploring the outdoors, and nature photography. And last, but not least, his favorite animal is the Greater Prairie Chicken!
Our volunteer program has transformed this year with the help of our board members, new directors and staff. If you are interested in volunteering some time please contact us. We are interested to hear about your areas of expertise and we have a growing list of specific jobs we could use your help. We do not have a minimum hour requirement. Any amount of time would be a great asset.
Alumni News Condolences to the family of Jim Sales on his passing. He was our first maintenance staff here, in the years before Ty. Jim’s sons were Jr. Naturalists and camp counselors at the Center. If you’ve admired our gigantic birdfeeders, Jim’s the one who built them. He was a great guy and some of our Friends and former staff will remember and miss him. He is survived by his wife Judy, sons Jim and Jon. If you are an alumni and have some news to share about your life, please send an email to us at fenner@audubon-center.org – we’d love to share the info with our readers. www.audubon-center.org
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudubonCenter What impact do you hope to make in the world? How would you like your family to be remembered?
Consider a LEGACY gift to the Audubon Center of the North Woods that will make a lasting imprint that reflects your values and visions…
LEGISLATION EXTENDS TAX-FREE CHARITABLE GIFTS FROM IRAs On 12/17/10, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. In addition to many other changes, it allows individuals to make gifts to charity from a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA without including the distribution in your income - only until the end of this year. Through December 31, 2011, you may make tax-free transfers from your IRA to charity totaling up to $100,000 in each year. If you are married, your spouse may also be eligible to make such gifts up to $100,000 from her/his IRA. Gifts from an IRA may only be used to make an outright gift to a qualified public charity, such as Audubon Center North Woods. The gift must be distributed directly from your IRA administrator to Audubon Center North Woods. Donors must be age 70½ or older and own a traditional or Roth IRA. Other retirement plans, such as pensions, Simple IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and others are not eligible. The distribution is excluded from the donor’s taxable income yet still counts toward the IRA owner’s mandatory annual or required minimum distribution amount. Although you cannot deduct the gift on your income tax return, the distribution is not reported as income so there is no adverse income tax effect. Certain limitations apply to these non-taxable charitable distributions from an IRA. The information above is not intended to be legal, tax, or investment advice. Please consult your attorney and/or personal financial advisor to obtain this information.
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