Chuck Ebeling, a long-time resident of Walworth Township and Chicago and a retired professional communicator, has served on the Conservancy board of directors since May 2000. He was board chair from March 2005 until April 2007. During that time Chuck inspired the Conservancy's bywords: "Common Ground. Community Character. Natural Resources."

Chuck served many years as chief global spokesperson and a vice president of McDonald's Corp. Locally he serves on the board for the Aurora Lakeland Medical Center Foundation. He is also an essayist and occasional lecturer at universities on public relationship issues.

He is an articulate and outspoken advocate for the preservation of the lake area's unique habitat and character. This has included working for the preservation of historic Yerkes Observatory and its lakeside grounds and advocating for the sustainable use of the area's many natural resources. For example, below is an essay with Chuck's observations on the habitat devastation along a stretch of Hwy. 50 between Geneva and Delavan lakes.

I was reminded of the transitory and fading existence of our lake area's natural resources today when I drove along Hwy. 50 east and west of Mercy Walworth Hospital and Medical Center where crews are clearing land to widen the road to accommodate current and future development north of Geneva Lake and near Delavan Lake. Hundreds or even thousands of healthy, strong trees have been and are being felled and ground into mountains of sawdust after dozens of acres of wooded and even wetland habitat are bulldozed for the road expansion.

I'm not a tree hugger, although I could have cried over that sight, thinking of how hard we fight to save a single tree on my property. Sure, we probably need a wider road.

The point is that development continues to erode our natural environment in the lakes area, underscoring the growing priority to conserve habitat where it is most strong and beautiful. If our communities, from the state to the county to municipalities, and individual landowners do not find creative ways to save our land, we will soon be another Lake County, Illinois or Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where the only woods are to be found in the front lawns of houses or on the odd remaining estate or park.

Did it ever occur to any government agency that it might be wise to conserve an acre of natural land for every acre paved over? Would there be a blade of grass or grove of trees in Chicago's vast lakeside Lincoln Park, the city's vast collar forest preserve system, or in New York's beautiful and enormous Central Park if people hadn't long ago cared deeply about conservation and got together to make some tough decisions for the future quality of life? Great cities continued to grow around such vast parks and forest preserves, just as small villages flourish throughout New England in the midst of conserved farm fields.

Or, as the song goes, will we pave over our own paradise and put up a parking lot?
If we don't find the will and means to act soon, who will save the soul of the land for us?

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Grace Hanny moved to Lake Geneva in 1962 at the age of 16. She graduated from Badger H.S. in 1964 and from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1968 with a B.A. in Sociology. She and her husband Jim Hanny have been married for 41 years. They have three adult married daughters, Carolee Barnett, Kristin Larkin, and Katy Freytag, four grandchildren and three step grandchildren.

Grace's history with the Conservancy began in 1984. At this time, the Conservancy was a one-woman office. While she was Executive Director, in addition to the programs and exciting things the Conservancy was doing, she also had the newsletters to write quarterly, fundraising letters, agendas, board meetings, bookkeeping, and all the other things that go into running an office.

During that time, she was also Project Director for the Geneva Lake Architectural Historical Survey. The Geneva Lake Land Conservancy received a federal grant from the U.S. National Park Service to conduct a historical survey of Geneva Lake Area. This resulted in the publication of the Geneva Lake Historical Survey, which identified 22 historic districts.
Grace also worked with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore wetlands destroyed by the Abbey, and worked with the air and water testing station for Geneva Lake.

With the cooperation of the Styberg family, Grace worked to establish the Conservancy's first conservation easement, and she was instrumental in obtaining the conservation easement known as the Stenning, currently owned by Richard H. Driehaus, followed by a fundraising event held at the Stenning.

Additionally, with the financial backing of Board members, Grace was able to arrange the purchase the area now known as the Fontana Fen. Similarly, through conversations with Mac Pohn, she was able to convince him to agree to sell his property to the Conservancy. With the help of Linn Township and Melita Grunow, the property was purchased and is now known as Linn Community Nature Park.

Grace has also served on the Holly Ball and Mai Tai committees, and have helped organize and facilitate these fundraising events for the Conservancy.

In addition to her work at the Conservancy, Grace has been a stay-at-home mom, served as President of the Lake Geneva Preschool Association, Clerk on the Board of Education for Traver School, Member of Linn Township Plan Commission and Master Plan Update Committee, member and officer of Lake Geneva Garden Club, active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva and Black Point Board of Directors. Additionally, Grace owned her own business as a Court Reporter for seven years.

In Grace's own words, "I have tried to live a life of service. What matters most in life to me are the people I love and what I did to serve God."

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Fontana resident and Geneva Lake Conservancy Board member and Vice Chairman Robert W. Klockars is also the Executive President of Walworth State Bank, a 100 year-old Community Bank.

Married, with three daughters, Bob is a Swedish-American and a native of Glen Ellyn, IL. His family has been coming to Lake Geneva since the early 1950s when his church denomination purchased the Covenant Harbor Bible Camp - Pier 30. Bob says he recalls many fond family memories of Covenant Harbor and Lake Geneva as campers, staff members, board members, and volunteers. Bob and his wife Jane became permanent Fontana residents in 2002, and Bob joined the Conservancy Board in July 2003.

Bob's 30-plus years of experience in nearly all aspects of the community financial industry is a considerable boon to his service on the Conservancy's Board.

When asked what made him join the Conservancy, and his thoughts on the community and the Conservancy itself, Bob responded, "I was honored to be asked to join the Board of Directors of the Geneva Lake Conservancy. Their mission parallels our family values and beliefs about conservation and measured growth. When done properly, conservation practices can be incorporated into a community growth strategy without damaging the unique characteristics of the environment."

We at the Conservancy are happy to have Bob with us not only as Vice-Chairman, and soon-to-be Chairman, but also as a member of the communications committee. There he will be able to apply his vision of community growth and conservation to the Conservancy's vision for sustainable growth for Geneva Lake.

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Marie Kropp moved to the Lake Geneva from Niagara Falls NY in 1977 and immediately fell in love with the beauty of the lake and the wonderful Midwestern people.

Following a career as a professional singer, Marie taught piano for 8 years and preschool for 6. In 1988, she married Charlie Kropp, and has a son, Michael and daughter-in-law Vicki.

Marie became a Board member of the Conservancy through her friendship with John Anderson. While on the Board, she played a key role in fundraising. Although she is no longer directly involved with the Conservancy, her understanding of the importance that this mission continue, keeps her active with the Conservancy's on-going fundraising efforts.

Charlie and Marie started The Carrie Ann Foundation 1985; their focus was helping families with direct financial assistance in coping and fighting cancer. They paid bills, provided transportation for treatments and second opinions, computers, etc. The foundation has paid out over $500,000 since its beginning.

The main fundraiser for the Foundation was the Holly Ball. After many years of hosting this great event, Marie felt it was time to pass it on, and the Conservancy stepped in and made it what it is today!

In 2003, Marie and Charlie became involved with Camp One Step at a Time at Aurora for children undergoing treatment to attend summer camp and have a place to just be "kids." By hosting an annual golf event, they raised and donated $250,000 toward rebuilding a new facility for them. although the new facility is in place, every summer Marie plans a wonderful party for the kids, called "Charlie's Angels" day.

Since the passing of her husband, Marie has taken on the role of Chairman of Waukegan Steel Sales, a structural steel and fabricating plant.

Marie's passion for fundraising continues with her new focus on the Lake Geneva Wine Festival, benefiting Aurora University, Holiday Home Camp, and the YMCA.

In Marie's own words, "I am truly blessed to have such wonderful friends that have supported me in all my fundraising efforts and ideas. Without them, nothing would have been possible."

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Tom lives in Chicago with his wife and two young children and for the past three decades, has spent weekends enjoying Geneva Lake.

When asked to share his thoughts on the Conservancy, its mission, and his involvement, Tom said:

"Just as most people hold a certain physical location or area in high regard due to memories from the past or hopes for the future, the Geneva Lake area is especially important to me for both of those reasons. The area has served as a formative influence since my high school days when I was introduced to a lifestyle of nature, boating, and responsibilities quite different from my downtown Chicago experiences. I hope to introduce those same enriching exposures to my own sons as they grow.

"Throughout the three decades I have been a part of the fabric of the Geneva Lake community, I have witnessed notable changes in the land use patterns, specifically in the size and prevalence of residential developments along the corridors and by-ways one drives through to arrive at Lake Geneva. Unlike some others areas of our country, the planning for these lasting changes has not seemed coordinated, especially between the many stakeholder municipalities, or driven by a longer-term planning consideration other than the review of an application. As for the character of the area, there continues to be the classic dichotomies of lake versus farm, local versus weekend, etc. The differences, however, are bridged by a widespread admiration for the land, its beauty, and its productivity.

"Throughout my nearly fifteen year involvement with the Conservancy, the organization has been steadfast in its defense of the environment, even against powerful forces and with a limited budget. Changes in Conservancy leadership through the years, both in its staff and in its board, have seemed to bring new views and new resources to the organization. A committee structure and more formal functional processes now guide the Conservancy in its patterns of meeting challenges.

"For me, mentors such as Skip Ballje and Grace Hanny were particularly important in my learning to appreciate the specialness of the Geneva Lake area, its natural and cultural histories, and its future potential. Past Conservancy leadership supplied by John Anderson and David Weinberg were particularly helpful in allowing the organization to emerge from a group of concerned individuals to an established force for doing good. Perhaps my own passionate involvement with the Conservancy has had a small contribution to protecting the area's legacy for future generations."

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Rudy Rasin, a member since December 1997, has been actively involved in conservation since 1972 when he and his wife Joy purchased and currently maintain a large woodland tract in Vermont, a state that has been a leader in the conservancy movement to preserve family farms and open space.

His involvement in the Geneva Lake Conservancy was inspired by his family's placement of an easement on its 40-acre historic lakefront residence in Lake Geneva that was in the family since 1911. He has also served on the Board of Gathering Waters and has worked closely with the management of the Land Trust Alliance of Washington D. C. He was involved in its initial development plans to establish accreditation of conservancies to guide and protect local landowners in the selection of qualified land trusts that meet its stringent qualifications for responsibly managing property entrusted to them under easement.

Rudy, president of a venture capital/brand development company, is a resident of Lake Geneva and Chicago.

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Dawn Ripkey was welcomed February 9, 2008 as the latest member of the Geneva Lake Conservancy Board of Directors.

When asked why she would like to be considered as a director, Dawn replied, "I would like to be involved with an organization whose focus is to protect the beautiful area in which we are all so fortunate to live."

Dawn's family moved to Linn Township in 1972. Her father was principal of Northwestern Military and Naval Academy for 20 years, during which time her family were fortunate to live on the lakeshore campus. After college Dawn lived and worked in Chicago and the suburbs, seeing firsthand the effect of suburban sprawl, especially in Lake County.

Dawn and her husband Scott moved their family back to Fontana in 1998 when their children began school. Dawn and Scott returned to the area because they wanted to provide their children with the same experiences Dawn and Scott had growing up and raise their children in a style of living unique to the lake-area community.

"The GLC is working to protect and improve the area I have loved all my life," Dawn said about the Conservancy. "I feel the Conservancy has a responsibility to educate the community about conserving and protecting the area, especially in the next 20 years, as development and population growth will apply more and more pressure on Geneva Lake and the area."

Dawn has been involved with a number of not-for-profit organizations in the lake area over the years. She is treasurer of the Fontana Elementary School Board and serves on the finance committee for Holiday Home. In the past Dawn has served on the board of the Geneva Lake Sailing School.

Dawn has been involved in the fund raising, events, and strategic planning of those organizations. The Conservancy hopes to use Dawn's special skills in those areas and hopes she will be able to help us in finance, gift planning, local government interaction, strategic planning, and events.

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