WWOA 2023 Annual Meeting Announced
Join us at WWOA’s 2023 Annual Meeting on September 21-24 at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We are excited to announce our 1st Annual Meeting in the Dells! The Resort is located just north of the Wisconsin Dells along the Wisconsin River on Highway 13. Chula Vista has a convention center, hotel rooms, condos, waterpark, golf course, spa, scenic riverwalk, and a variety of restaurant options. View a map of the resort.
See the Wisconsin Dells area through new eyes with a more natural environmental focus, meet like-minded woodland owners, and learn more about keeping your woods healthy! Mark your calendar to attend a tour, a day, or stay for the whole weekend. A variety of registration options will be available.
Book your hotel room and mark your calendar NOW!
Make your hotel room reservation by calling Chula Vista Resort at 855-674-6140 and mention J00458 WI Woodland Owners Assn for our special rate. Two room types are available. The first room type, the Tower Jr. Suite or Fairway Villa rooms, are $109.00/per night plus taxes and include 2 queen beds, a pull out sofa sleeper, microwave, coffee pot, and mini refrigerator. The second room type is the El Grande 2 Bedroom rooms which are $239.00/night plus taxes and include 2 queen beds, 1 King bed, a pull out sofa, living room, full kitchen, 2 full bathrooms, and a hot tub. All registered guests will receive waterpark passes for the duration of their stay. Breakfast is not included with your room but “grab n go” and sit-down restaurants are open for breakfast. If you are concerned about the distance from your hotel room to the Convention Center, ask about this when booking your hotel room.
All reservations require a one-night deposit plus taxes at the time the reservation is made. The daily resort fee has been waived. Reservations cancelled 72 hours or more in advance of arrival will receive a refund less the $30 cancellation fee. Cancellations inside the 72 hours period will forfeit the full deposit.
2023 Annual Meeting Planning Committee – won’t you help us plan this meeting?
The first meeting of Annual Meeting Planning Committee will be held on Monday, December 12 from 3:30 -5:30 pm via Zoom. Can you join us for this brainstorming session? Consider sharing your knowledge of this area of state and your time to help the 2023 Annual Meeting be a success!
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the WWOA office at wwoa@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4798. You are welcome to join the Committee even if you can’t make the first meeting. The Planning Committee meets once a month for about 2 hours to discuss tour and speaker options and create the meeting tours and agenda. Won’t you help us create an interesting and fun event for WWOA members from across the state and nation?
Thursday
On Thursday, September 21, the WWOA Board of Directors will hold their quarterly meeting followed by the traditional tree planting to commemorate our annual meeting.
Thursday will offer a group tour during the daytime and our Sharing Experiences presentations in the evening with fellow WWOA members sharing their personal experiences in caring for their woodlands. Past President Randy Cooper is already on the agenda to share their woodland’s story of the 2019 derecho damage, resulting timber salvage, and reforestation. Thanks Randy!
Friday
Four tours will be offered on Friday, September 22. More information about the tours will be shared here as the various options are developed.
Friday after returning from your tours, our Friends and Exhibitors Social will follow with time to visit with our exhibitors, bid on silent auction items or purchase some raffle tickets while spending time with friends. Remember to purchase your Friday raffle tickets for the chance to win some wonderful prizes!
Saturday
Saturday, September 23, starts bright and early with the opening of the exhibit hall. Saturday includes WWOA’s Annual Business meeting, our keynote speaker, afternoon concurrent sessions on a variety topics, and possibly a craft session.
WWOA’s 44th Year Annual Business Meeting will be chaired by President Tom Kempen. It will highlight WWOA’s achievements for 2022-23 and some of our goals for 2023-24. We will recognize retiring WWOA Board members and present Memorial plaques to families that have chosen to donate to WWOA in their loved one’s name.
Saturday evening’s Awards Banquet kicks off with a cash bar, delicious dinner, and time to visit with friends. After dinner tickets will be drawn for the Annual Fundraiser prizes and the Chapter Basket Raffle. Help us recognize the WWOA’s Forestry Leader Scholarship recipients, Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee award winners and fellow WWOA members (submit your nomination) who have given so much of their time and energy to WWOA and our mission.
Sunday
WWOA’s Sunday Field Day event is looking for a host near Chula Vista Resort. The 2023 Annual Meeting Planning Committee will be working on this or contact the WWOA office if you have a suggestion.
WWOA’s 2023 Annual Meeting will offer a variety of registration options. Come for a tour, a day, or the whole weekend. The 2023 Annual Meeting packets will be emailed out to members in July. Please make sure WWOA has your current email address on file. If you do not have an email address, you will receive a packet in the mail. If you prefer a packet mailed to you, contact the WWOA office and let us know.
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Annual Meeting Fun!
Why should you consider attending if you’ve never come before? Hear what our members said on the 2022 Annual Meeting evaluations:
- “You meet new people, and this group of people are involved in current events, they ask great questions, they want to learn as much as they can, I’m so impressed!”
- “Appreciation for the bigger WWOA enterprise and membership expertise.”
- “We can learn so much from other’s successes, and even more from what did not work.“
- “It is a well-informed group of very passionate to people willing to help and support any woodland owner.”
- “I always learn something new, great tours, friendly people, nice locations, WWOA has done great things to build awareness of woodlands.”