Conservation Stewardship Award Recipient: William Pollard & Family

Join us for a Rockin' Holly Ball

Village of Fontana Ordinance Update

Year-End Fundraising

Wanted: Your Rain Garden Photos

Land Trust Alliance Advocacy Update

GLC Wish List: Printer

The Conservancy Gives Thanks

Around Town: Upcoming Events

Holly Ball Sponsors & Donors

The Conservancy is proud to honor Mr. C. William Pollard and his family & foundation for their generational and tireless efforts with the Lake Geneva Youth Club and Conference Point.

The Pollard family's involvement in the Geneva Lake area started in 1894 when Thomas Pollard, William's grandfather, took the position of farm manager for a Mr. Chandler at Ceylon Court and Ceylon Court Farm, which were named for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Ceylon Building. William's father, Charles William Pollard, was born on the farm in 1897. In 1907 or 1908, Thomas moved the family to Chicago, but family members returned to the Geneva Lake area many times during his son's youth.

After World War I, Charles married Ruth, and together they had three children: Virginia Pollard-Carley, JoAann Pollard-Soderquist, and Charles William Pollard Jr. The family continued to spend its summers on the lake - first in Lake Geneva and then along the shore not far from where William's father was born.

After World War II, Ceylon Court came up for sale. The buildings were dilapidated, but Charles had a vision for what the property could become: a camp for boys and girls.

He saw it as a way in which he could help children enjoy the same opportunities he had on Geneva Lake and also to learn of God's love for the children.

Together with his brother-in-law and friends, Charles bought the $100,000 property and created the Lake Geneva Foundation for the operation of the camp. William was 10 years old.

Volunteer labor from many churches in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas helped in the refurbishing of the buildings. The first camp season was in the summer of 1950. Since that time, the camp and conference ministry has grown and flourished with the contributions, input, and help from many faithful volunteers and staff. Last summer there were more than 6,000 guests and campers, and during the entire year there will be more than 20,000 people using the facilities of the camp and conference center.

Over the years the Pollard family and its extended family have been involved as campers, counselors, and board members. Currently William's niece, Wendy Soderquist Togami, serves on the Lake Geneva Foundation Board of Directors.

Since 2008 there has been a growing relationship between the Lake Geneva Youth Camp and Conference Center in Lake Geneva and Conference Point Center in Williams Bay. Earlier this year the boards of both organizations agreed to a common membership so they could provide overall management and direction for all the facilities. Ross Adams serves as executive director for both the youth camp and Conference Point Center.

There is still much work to be done at the Conference Point Center to improve and restore the facilities. However, combining the organizations provides an opportunity to preserve the character, history, and beauty of these two locations as they serve young people and adults who desire to meet together to better understand the purpose and meaning for their lives and the role of God in their lives.

This is your last week to get your tickets for the Holly Ball!

The Holly Ball is a lakes-area tradition for nearly 30 years and has benefited the GLC since 2000. This year the Conservancy is honoring William Pollard and his family with our Conservation Stewardship Award for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Lake Geneva Youth Club and Conference Point.

Returning this year is the cake auction - delectable delicacies donated by generous local ladies! After you mingle, eat, and bid, you can dance the night away to the jazz, pop and R&B sounds of The Eddie Butts Band.

Take a chance - Play the Raffle!
Don't worry if you can't join us the night of the Holly Ball, you can still support the Conservancy and enter to win $2,500 by playing our raffle. The second prize is four incredible courtside seats at a Chicago Bulls game, and the third prize is a hotel package - ski or golf - at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Tickets are $20 each, or get six for $100.

Visit our Holly Ball page for more information, or contact Katie at katie@genevaonline.com or 262-275-5700 to reserve your ticket and/or raffle ticket today!

This year has been one of challenge and accomplishment for the Conservancy and our lakes area. Development, which lagged in 2009, has started to present itself again. This year, we fought efforts to use a condominium zoning loophole that would connect more homes to our overcrowded lakes. We also fought new boathouses located close to our shores.

Additionally, we have worked diligently to protect the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy forever. While government-owned, we all know that governments change, and at times vulnerable ecological areas can be the first sacrificed for short-term gain.

In addition to what we have done, we are looking to the future. We are taking the steps necessary to develop unified shoreland standards for unincorporated areas and, further on, the possibility for a lake commission that will protect our lakes through cohesive zoning regulations and protections.

This is why we are asking our members to remember us in their year-end giving. If you have not yet donated to the Conservancy, please consider a tax-deductible gift today.

If you have any questions or concerns or simply want to find out more about the Conservancy's efforts, feel free to contact us at (262) 275-5700 or e-mail glc@genevaonline.com.

The enhanced easement incentive expired Dec. 31, 2009. Now more than ever we need your help persuading Congress to renew and make it permanent.

You can take action today by asking your representative and both senators to support including the enhanced incentive in any year-end tax bill.

You can reach any member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Don't just leave a message at the front desk. As an organization representing hundreds of constituents, you can ask to speak with the staffer who handles tax issues. Make sure the person knows of any prior relationship your land trust has had with the office.

Just in time for Holly Ball and the year-end fundraising push, the Membership & Outreach Coordinator's color printer died in the line of duty.

It served it's office valiantly, and to be honest, that little printer at left was never intended for such high-capacity use. If there is a generous soul out there who would be kind enough to donate a tough, efficient, higher-capacity desktop printer, the office will greatly appreciate it!

On Oct. 29 the Conservancy held it first tree and garden clinic. With the help of Steve Messick from State Line Landscaping and Danniel Ward-Packard from Botanica Fine Gardens and Landscapes, we made the clinic a success.

Steve showed the participants the basics of tree trimming, demonstrating on our maple trees as well as our apple and pear trees. Danniel helped to show everyone which perennials to cut back before winter and which to leave and how to spruce things up in the spring before your plants start growing back.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos of the clinic.

Thank you to all who helped and participated.

The Conservancy thanks Kevin Kirkland and the Fontana Paddle Company, which named the Conservancy as the beneficiary of its Eco-Tours of Geneva Lake by Kayak. The paddle tours used a conservation-themed "script" discussing the natural and cultural features of the Geneva Lake shoreline. The text was provided by the Conservancy.

Coming Up Around Town

Dec. 4: GLC Holly Ball
This year's Rockin' Holly Ball features the Eddie Butts Band, and a $2,500 cash-prize raffle! Visit the GLC's Holly Ball page, call (262-275-5700), or email the Conservancy for more information.