Tin Cup Times 26th Annual Report

April, 2016

Welcome! As John proclaimed:

“SPRIG IS CUBBING!”

Michigan Supreme Court Portrait

by Rod Crossman. Dedicated, 1999 During 2016, we encourage each of you to: Join Us: The “Anatomy of a Murder” Dinner at Northern MI University is April 15. The Foundation will celebrate with the JOHN D. VOELKER Tribute & Exhibit hosted Opening Day, April 30th at the Trout History Museum in Lovells, Michigan - on the North Branch of the Au Sable River. Protect the Great Lakes Watersheds and “the environs where trout are found,” with the Foundation and its partners, Trout Unlimited, Anglers of the AuSable, the Yellow Dog River Preserve and others. The Marquette TU Banquet is April 23 at Northern MI University. Enter the 2016, $2,500 Robert Traver Fly-Fishing Writing Award Contest Support the 2016 Voelker Scholars and the Warrior Lawyers Documentary Come to our 2016 27th Annual Meeting June 25, 2016 Marquette County Courthouse, Marquette, MI Join The new Robert Traver Legacy Circle Details, inside…

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Board Members Richard F. Vander Veen III, President George Hyde, Vice President Frederick M. Baker, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer James Graves Grace Voelker Wood Julie Voelker Cohen Anthony Gagliardi Michael Petoskey Peter Strom Paul Strom Adam Tsaloff Karrie Wichtman Matthew Fletcher John D. Voelker (1903 – 1991) Charles Kuralt (1934 – 1997) Jim Washinawatok (1924 – 1997) John W. Cummiskey (1917 – 2002) Walter Abbott (1929 – 2005) John Frey (Emeritus) Nick Lyons (Emeritus)

2 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report

The 26th Annual Meeting was held Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Marquette Co. Courthouse.

Members Present: Grace Voelker Wood, Peter Strom, Michael Petoskey, Fred Baker, Jim Graves, Rich Vander Veen; by c.call: Karrie Wichtman. Guests: Michael Anderegg, Lynn Anderson; by c.call: Audrey Geyer

I. President’s Report: Rich Vander Veen

Rich welcomed those present and on the conference call. He recounted briefly the Foundation’s accomplishments, 1989-2015, crediting John’s friends for helping to achieve:

Ø 1989 - 2015 Published Laughing Whitefish & Trout Madness as limited, signed Editions Ø 1989 - 2015 Raising Funds to support the Foundation’s programs and projects Ø 1989 - 2015 22 Native American Law School Scholarships, empowering Individuals & Communities Ø 1990 - 2015 20 Robert Traver Writing Awards, creating a national contest with Fly Rod & Reel,

selecting, illustrating and publishing the 20 Award-winning stories in FR&R. Ø 1999 Commissioned Rod Crossman & dedicated John Voelker’s Michigan Supreme Court Portrait Ø 2001 Worked with Nick Lyons to edit and Lyons Press to publish John Voelker’s “12th Book,”

Traver on Fishing, An anthology of John’s best fishing stories Ø 2009-2010 Worked FR&R to edit and publish In Hemingway’s Meadow and Love Story of the

Trout, Traver Award Winning Stories Ø 1989 – 2015 Voelker Lake and future conservation projects with Trout Unlimited

II. Scholarship Report: Hon. Michael Petoskey & Karrie Wichtman

Judge Petoskey and Karrie Wichtman, who was recently named the first female Native American Managing

Partner of a national law firm, updated the Board on the current Voelker Scholars and recommended 2015-2016 Scholarships:

A. Rose Petoskey: Graduated from Cornell Law School and is working in a Washington DC Firm. B. Amy Foerster: Graduated from MSU Law School and passed the Michigan Bar exam. Karrie Wichtman has hired her as a new associate at the Rosette Law Firm; the Foundation provided financial assistance to help pay for the cost of Ms. Foerster’s Bar Review course. C. Elise McGowan: Recommended for and received a $2,000 Scholarship for 2015-2016 (MSU College of Law). D. Yvette Compos: Recommended for and received a $2,000 Scholarship for 2015-2016 (MSU College of Law).

E. Mike Hollowell: Recommended for and received a $2,000 Scholarship for 2015-2016 (MSU College of Law). Mike is a Member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. hollow89@msu-

3 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report 2016 Total: $6,000.00 granted … 1989 -2015 Over $200,000 Granted to Scholars who are now Warrior

Lawyers! III. Peacemaking and Justice Strategies: The Hon. Michael Anderegg, retired Marquette County Probate Judge and personal friend of the Voelker family, and Voelker Trustee and Scholarship Committee Chair Hon. Michael Petoskey discussed the importance and value of “Sacred Justice,” peacemaking and judicial resolution. Judge Anderegg described the founding and growth of the Marquette Alger Resolution System (MARS). Judge Petoskey described his Sacred Justice philosophy and practice. Karrie Wichtman recommended that the Foundation engage and empower its Scholars and graduates (now practicing attorneys) to participate in future symposia, conference or training sessions wherein they share lessons learned and acquire Alternate Dispute Resolution Certification skills. These forums might focus on building the Voelker Scholars and law school graduates skills to help resolve legal issues and educate others. Future collaborative opportunities were discussed and will be explored. IV. Warrior Lawyers Documentary Audrey Geyer met with the Board at our 25th Annual meeting in 2014. Since then, Ms. Geyer, Principal of VISIONS, a 501(c)(3)-approved non-profit organization, Audrey has developed and updated her documentary proposal, with a working title of “Warrior Lawyers.” Ms. Geyer reported on the current status of her Warrior Lawyers plans and the project’s funding status. Her goal is to raise at least $150,000. Over half of the budget has been raised. So, she initiated filming for the project. Ms. Geyer has interviewed Voelker Scholars Hon. Allie Maldonado and Karrie Wichtman, as well as Board members Fred Baker, Michael Petoskey and Rich Vander Veen. The Board agreed to support the Visions documentary proposal, and to assist Ms. Geyer in identifying and connecting with potential funding sources. The Voelker Foundation is pleased to work with Ms. Audrey Geyer.

An example of support for the Warrior Lawyers Documentary came from Willingham & Cote. Firm president Anthony Kogut said, “Willingham & Cote, P.C. will be making a donation of $1,000 to this project.” In response to expressions of thanks, Mr. Kogut said that the firm, to which Board member Fred Baker, is of counsel, believes that “When a [firm] attorney is active in a non-profit organization or event, we…support that with donations to the extent possible.” We thank the Willingham & Cote firm for its support! The Foundation hopes to see Warrior Lawyers join Ms. Geyer’s 2013 Native American-themed film “And Their Fires Still Burn” as a PBS-featured broadcast documentary. Our scholars have proved to be a remarkable group, whose accomplishments and contributions are beginning to resound and be recognized in the world. This is exactly what John wanted when he chose the Native American Scholarship as the Foundation’s first endeavor.

Please SUPPORT the Warrior Lawyers Documentary:

A complete Warrior Lawyers proposal is available upon request from Audrey Geyer, Visions, Box 1265, Brighton, MI 48116; 810.772.9628. AudreyGeyer@aol.com. Members are invited to visit the website for her

4 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report most recent PBS documentary, “Our Fires Still Burn,” at http://www.ourfiresstillburn.com/about-audrey. V. 2015 Robert Traver Writing Award: Jim Graves Jim announced that the Judges Panel decided to present the 2015 Robert Traver Outdoor Writing Award was given to E. Donnall Thomas, Jr., for his short story, “Rubies & Amethyst: Art is in the Eye of the Beholder,” for which he received the $2,500 prize. The story was illustrated by A.D. Maddox and published in the Autumn, 2015 Fly Rod & Reel. The 2016 Robert Traver Award will be publicized by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association and other national organizations. The Foundation congratulates E. Donnall Thomas and thanks Fly Rod & Reel for its outstanding support and leadership, 1990 – 2015. We encourage our Members to subscribe to Fly Rod & Reel and enter their story – or encourage a friend to enter – the 2016, $2,500 Robert Traver Writing Award contest. Entries should be sent to: Jim Butler, Editor, Fly Rod & Reel, Down East Enterprise, Inc. 680 Commercial Street, Rockport, Maine 04856 jbutler@flyrodreel.com VI. Secretary-Treasurer’s Report Fred Baker

Fred Baker worked with Rick Winder of the State Bar of Michigan Foundation to prepare the Foundation’s Annual Report to the IRS, its Annual Charitable Solicitations Act Report and Registration Renewal application to the Michigan Attorney General, and the Foundation’s Financial Reports, which are available to members by email, by sending a request to FBaker@willinghamcote.com.

The Board approved the Treasurer’s recommended 2015-2016 Foundation budget, which included the $6000 in scholarship grants noted above, $2500 for the Robert Traver Outdoor Writing Award, and a sum sufficient to cover the printing, mailing and other expenses associated with publishing the TCT. VII. John D. Voelker Biography Frank Parker Lynn Anderson presented a letter to the Voelker Family from Frank Parker, updating status of Mr. Parker’s John Voelker biography, on which Father Parker has made significant progress since last year.

VIII. Membership Committee Jim Graves

A 2016 Trout Season Opening Day April 30, 2016 collaboration is planned with the Trout History Museum in Lovells, located on the brook trout-laden North Branch of the Au Sable River. The Opening Day event will feature John Voelker’s Anatomy of a Fisherman video, speakers, and events that celebrate his beloved piscatorial writings.

IX. Board Membership

The Board agreed to thank Members who have served, but are inactive. They will be sent a Resolution, thanking

5 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report them for their service. In turn, there may be two or more Board Member openings for which the Board will be asked to nominate new Members. The Strom Brothers, Peter and Paul, who have for so long served as our Trout Habitat Committee, announced that they are planning to “retire from everything.” It is a huge loss, but their membership on the Board will end in 2016. We are certainly interested in finding one or more members who can replace them, though, in truth, they cannot be replaced. How special was it to have the sons of the man who, with John Voelker, was a finalist for the “UP seat” on the Michigan Supreme Court to which Soapy Williams chose, in the end, to appoint John? These big-hearted, gentle men will be missed sorely, and we thank them from the bottoms of our hearts for their many years of service. Both were students of member Fred Baker at Cooley Law School, so the passing of their guard threw a special chill into him. Thank you, Peter and Paul. Thank you. X. 2016+ Goals

Rich Vander Veen challenged the Foundation to raise 2016 funds to sustain the 2016+ Scholarships, help to fund the Warrior Lawyer documentary, present a 2016 Traver Award, and publish the Tin Cup Times. Additional resources and contributions of Board and Foundation Members’ time will be needed to collaborate with the Scholars on “Sacred Justice” projects, the planned Spring, 2016 event on the Au Sable, and future initiatives.

Voelker Scholars, 1990 – 2016 Aka Warrior Lawyers

1991 – 1993 George Hyde (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); Thomas Cooley Law School; Marquette private

practice; hydeswajanen@att.net 1995 – 1997 Brian Vigue (Menominee); University of Wisconsin Law School; brian.vigue@gmail.com 1995 – 1997 Michelle Greendeer-Rave (Ho-Chunk Wazijaci Nation & Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin); University of Wisconsin

Law School; Ho-Chunk National Department of Justice; michelle.greendeer-rave@ho-chunk.com 1996 – 1998 Allie Maldonado (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians); University of Michigan Law School; LTBB Chief

Judge; amaldonado@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov 1998 – 2000 Damian Fisher (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan); Thomas Cooley Law School; General Counsel, Little

River Band of Ottawa Indians; ecattorney@yahoo.com 1998 – 2000 JoAnne Cook (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians); University of Wisconsin Law School; Vice

Chair, GTB Tribal Council; ptownque@yahoo.com 2001 – 2002 James (Jim) Washinawatok III. (Menominee); University of Wisconsin Law School; Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Legal Department; jwash@southernute-nsn.gov 2003 – 2005 Elizabeth Cook (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians); University of Kansas Law School;

Assistant General Counsel, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi; lcook@nhbpi.com 2004 – 2005 Ezekiel Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians); University of Wisconsin Law School;

Fletcher Law; Zfletcher@fletcherlawpllc.com 2004 – 2005 Phil Harmon (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians); Michigan State University Law School; Human

Resources Director, Gun Lake Tribe; pharmon@mbpi.org 2004 – 2009 Karrie Wichtman (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); Michigan State University Law School; Managing

6 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report

Partner, Rosette & Associates; kwichtman@rosettelaw.com 2007 – 2009 Alison Grigonis (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians); UCLA Law School; Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator

Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.); Alison_Grigonis@heitkamp.senate.gov 2010 – 2011 Adrea Korthase (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); Michigan State University Law School; Young

Adult Transition Program Coordinator, State of Oregon; adreamk@gmail.com 2010 – 2011 Cherie Dominic (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians); University of New Mexico School of Law; LTBB

Office of Citizens Legal Assistance; cheriedominic@hotmail.com 2011 – 2012 Jason Sanders (Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, Eagle Clan); University of Wisconsin Law School;

jdsanders@wisc.edu 2011 – 2013 Tim Cornelius; (Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin); University of Wisconsin; ticornelius@gmail.com 2012 – 2015 Rose Petoskey (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians); Graduated Cornell Law School, 2015;

mp38@cornell.edu 2013 – 2014 Mary Shomin (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians); 1st Yr. Thomas Cooley Law School;

Mary.Shomin@gtbindians.com 2013-2015 Amy Foerster (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians) Graduated Michigan State University Law School and passed

the Bar in 2015; Rosette Law with Karrie Wichtman; foerst12@msu.edu 2014-2016 Elise McGowen (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians); Attending Michigan State University Law School

diindiisi.elise@gmail.com 2015-2016 Yvette Campos (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians); Attending MSU Law School;

naturally_yvette@yahoo.com 2015-2016 Mike Hollowell (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); Attending MSU Law School; hollow89@msu.edu

Warrior Lawyers by Tribe Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

1991 – 1993 George Hyde 2004 – 2009 Karrie Wichtman 2010 – 2011 Adrea Korthase 2015-2016 Mike Hollowell

Menominee Tribe 1995 – 1997 Brian Vigue 2001 – 2002 James (Jim) Washinawatok III.

Ho-Chunk Wazijaci Nation & Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin 1995 – 1997 Michelle Greendeer-Rave (Ho-Chunk Wazijaci Nation & Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin); University of Wisconsin

Law School; Ho-Chunk National Department of Justice; michelle.greendeer-rave@ho-chunk.com Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

1996 – 1998 Hon. Allie Maldonado 2004 – 2005 Phil Harmon 2010 – 2011 Cherie Dominic 2014-2016 Elise McGowen

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians 2013-2015 Amy Foerster

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan

7 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report 1998 – 2000 Damian Fisher

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians 1998 – 2000 JoAnne Cook 2003 – 2005 Elizabeth Cook 2004 – 2005 Ezekiel Fletcher 2012 – 2015 Rose Petoskey 2013 – 2014 Mary Shomin 2015-2016 Yvette Campos

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians

2007 – 2009 Alison Grigonis Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, Eagle Clan

2011 – 2012 Jason Sanders Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin

2011 – 2013 Tim Cornelius

Warrior Lawyers by Law School

Michigan State Law School Graduates

2004 – 2005 Phil Harmon 2004 – 2009 Karrie Wichtman 2010 – 2011 Adrea Korthase 2013-2015 Amy Foerster

MSU College of Law Students 2014-2016 Elise McGowen 2015-2016 Yvette Campos 2015-2016 Mike Hollowell

University of Michigan Law School 1996 – 1998 Allie Maldonado

Thomas Cooley Law School

1991 – 1993 George Hyde 1998 – 2000 Damian Fisher 2013 – 2014 Mary Shomin

University of Wisconsin Law School

1995 – 1997 Brian Vigue 1995 – 1997 Michelle Greendeer-Rave 1998 – 2000 JoAnne Cook 1998 – 2000 Damian Fisher

8 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report 2001 – 2002 James (Jim) Washinawatok III. 2004 – 2005 Ezekiel Fletcher 2011 – 2012 Jason Sanders 1998 – 2000 Damian Fisher 2011 – 2013 Tim Cornelius;

University of Kansas Law School

2003 – 2005 Elizabeth Cook

UCLA Law School 2007 – 2009 Alison Grigonis

University of New Mexico Law School 2010 – 2011 Cherie Dominic

Cornell Law School

2012 – 2015 Rose Petoskey

A letter of thanks, dated November 5, 2015, from Voelker Scholar Michael Hollowell, 2015-16 MSU Law School

I would like to thank you and the entire Voelker Foundation board. Your financial support will help me

prepare for the Michigan bar examination. Below I have included a brief biography about myself. I am proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the youngest of six. Although

my tribe is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I was raised on the central coast of California. Most of my relations, however, lived in Michigan. Growing up, I spent at least one month every summer in Marquette with my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle was a circuit court judge and loved to fish and sail. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the law and the great outdoors at a very young age.

After graduating high school, I enrolled at Arizona State University and earned my engineering degree. I

utilized my degree and worked in Arizona for several years. During this time, my parents and siblings returned to Michigan. My mother enrolled at Lake Superior State University and earned her degree. Her desire to serve as a tribal council member inspired me to redirect my career focus. I decided to pursue a career in law to make a difference in the Native American community. I choose MSU College of Law because of the indigenous law program.

At MSU College of Law, I have actively served on the Native American Law Student Association for two

years. I have also volunteered in the Navajo Nation’s Natural Resource legal department. This past summer, I worked in Dykema-Gossett’s Lansing office and completed many assignments involving Federal Indian law. My experience to date has definitely solidified my goal to serve the Native American community.

Ultimately, I want to help protect Michigan’s pristine waters, so tribes will be able to fish for generations

to come. As I reflected on my first two years of law school and pondered my future career plans, an overwhelming sense of excitement and determination took hold. I look forward to working here in Michigan and making a

9 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report positive impact for all tribes. The Voelker Foundation scholarship will help me achieve my goals.

Thank you again! Sincerely, Michael J. Hollowell, J.D. Candidate 2016

Hon Allie Greenleaf Maldonado Honored –Again! When we offered her our hearty CONGRATULATIONS!!, she replied: Thank you! My entire career wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Voelker Foundation. Thank you for all you do! Cambridge, Mass, March 3, 2016 – The Honorable Allie Greenleaf Maldonado is among 25 inspiring women who were honored during Harvard Law School's third Annual International Women’s Day Celebration, organized by the Harvard Women's Law Association (WLA) and Harvard Law and International Development Society (LIDS). Judge Maldonado is the Chief Judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB). Judge Maldonado is a Co-Chair of the first Tribal State Federal Judicial Forum, and a nationally recognized expert on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA). Honorees were selected from nominations submitted by Harvard Law School students, faculty and staff. As part of the celebrations, Judge Maldonado [was] featured in a portrait exhibit, which [was] displayed in the halls of the law school from February 29th- March 11th.

Speakers at the March 8 event included Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Mindy J. Roseman, Director of International Programs and Gruber Program on Global Justice and Women’s Rights at Yale Law School; and Roxanne Conlin, one of the first women ever to be named U.S. Attorney, and the first female president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. https://orgs.law.harvard.edu/womeninspiringchange/ The website includes portraits of all this year’s honorees, as well as honorees in previous years.

The Robert Traver Fly Fishing Writing Awards Please submit and encourage others to participate in the 2016 Robert Traver Award contest! Winners are selected by a team of judges from national and international submissions. The Award’s guidelines are: “A distinguished original story or essay that embodies the implicit love of fly-fishing, respect for the sport and the natural world in which it takes place. The Traver Stories and Essays demonstrate high literary values in three categories: “A. The Joy of Fly-Fishing: Personal or Philosophic. “B. Ecological: Knowledge and Protection of the Natural World. “C. Humor: Piscatorial Friendships and Fun on the Water.”

10 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report

Traver Award Winners

1994 – 2015 We celebrate the Traver Award Winners and their inspiring stories: 1994 – Peter Fromm, Home Before Dark 1995 - E. Donnall Thomas, Ephemerella (There’s one thing the Buddha didn’t know) 1996 - Harry Humes, Ghost Pain (a Mining Accident won’t keep him from the fishing he loves) 1997 - Gary Whitehead, For Keeps (one brother is better at forgiving) 1998 - Seth Norman, Edith’s Rule (Connecting and Giving Other Treasures) 2001 - Kate Small, Lateral Lines 2002 - Richard Chiappone, Opening Day 2004 - Bil Monan, The Surrender, (On a WWII battlefield, a soldier lays down his rifle and picks up a fly rod) 2005 - Rhett Ashley, Tex, Mex & The Amazons 2006 No Award 2007 – Jeff Day, In Hemingway’s Meadow; Rod Crossman, Illustrator 2008 - Michael Doherty, The Shining Path (Machu Picchu murder triggers father’s Fly Fishing Memories) 2009 – Peter Fromm, The Land Beyond Maps 2010 - Kent Cowgill, Two Men in a Museum 2011 - Michael Doherty, Seven Great Flies for the Boston Metropolitan Area 2012 - Dave Karcynski, Awake in the Moonlight: Notes at Hex Time 2013 - Richard Chiappone, Requiem for a River Bend 2014 – Jerold Hamza, Prose to Poetry, or Dance to the Music. CD Clarke, Illustrator. 2015 - E. Donnall Thomas, Jr. Rubies and Amethyst, Art is in the Eye of the Beholder. AD Maddox, Illustrator.

11 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report 2016 Robert Traver Writing Award entries should be sent to: Jim Butler, Editor, Fly Rod & Reel, Down East Enterprise, Inc. 680 Commercial Street, Rockport, Maine 04856 jbutler@flyurodreel.com

LONG-TIME FOUNDATION MEMBER JUNE SMITH BECOMES FIRST MEMBER OF THE TRAVER LEGACY CIRCLE

By Fred Baker Jr.

I was busy in my office last October when the phone rang. It was an attorney calling from Minnesota.

He said he needed some information to complete an amendment to his client’s trust, and wondered if he could get it over the phone so his client, who was sitting across from him, wanted to sign the document and go home with the job done. It turned out that the client was long-time member June Smith, who was one of the original subscribers to the first Laughing Whitefish book, and with whom I have corresponded over the years about her fondness for John Voelker, and, most recently, because (I was horrified to learn) she had despaired of scraping her Voelker Foundation sticker from her car for a second time to transplant it to her new vehicle when she bought her new car (she says it will be her last, but we shall see!), and wondered if she could get a replacement!

I gave him the information and that was that. Now, after some further (and laggardly on my part)

correspondence, it has been confirmed that the Foundation is, indeed, a beneficiary named in her trust, and, to top it all off, she has sent a check for $1,000, because it seemed to her that she should be in the Robert Traver Circle, but if she wasn’t before, she would be now.

It is members like June who keep us doing this. Thank you, June – your remarkable generosity over the

years, and your latest gifts, have inspired and enabled those of us who devote time, effort, and as much creativity as we have left at the end of our busy days to do a few good things in John’s name.

Support for TU: Protecting the “Environs where trout are found…” John Voelker was a Trout Unlimited member – as are many of our Members and friends. The Voelker

12 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Foundation was pleased to participate in the Marquette Chapter of TU. Its annual Banquet is April 23, starting at 6PM at the Great Lakes Room of the University Center, NMU. We were pleased to donate a signed, limited edition of TROUT MADNESS

The Yellow Dog River, Now and Then By Emily Whittaker John Voelker loved the Yellow Dog River and fished it often. So have many others that came after him. Keeping the river just as it was back then for John is something that the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve is currently working to accomplish.

Right now, the group is working to purchase 695 acres of forest and river corridor in northern Marquette County in an effort to establish a protected area along the Yellow Dog River (see map for details). The project is called the Yellow Dog River Community Forest and has three goals:

1. Preserve public access: The primary public access point for the entire river is located within the proposed boundary of the Community Forest and should remain open for all to use.

2. Protect the natural resources: The high quality trout stream, scenic waterfalls, and granite mountains should never be developed so it may continue to provide habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species.

3. Maintain the community uses: People use this property for fishing and other types of outdoor recreation but also as an outdoor educational setting. The community should be able to continue those uses in perpetuity.

The project will cost $1.1 million dollars upon completion and will result in the permanent protection of this favored fishing area. However, if YDWP is unable to purchase the property, the current landowners may end up dividing it into small lots and selling them to a small number of private individuals. Often times, subdivision and sale causes undue stress on the land and water features, as well as shuts out community members who have come here to access the river for generations. YDWP has raised $1,060,180 at the time of this writing and is asking for donations to help raise the remainder of the funds by the time of closing, which is scheduled for mid-summer 2016.

Once established, the protected area would be cared for and managed by the community. This effort will be led by the Community Forest Committee, which includes the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Fred Waara Trout Unlimited, U.P. Whitetails, Powell Township School, and several others. In addition, partners like the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Cedar Tree Institute will assist in implementing a Community Forest Plan.

For more information on the Community Forest project or to donate online, visit the group’s website: www.yellowdogwatershed.org. You can also visit YDWP office, which is in the Old Jail building in Big Bay. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 5, Big Bay, MI 49808

13 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report

Robert Traver Legacy Circle (Members who have named the Foundation in their will or trust)

June Smith

Rich & Sue Vander Veen

Robert Traver Circle

(Contributors of $1,000 or more)

Walter Abbott John W. Allen

Anglers of the AuSable Fred & Irene Baker

Rudolf B. Becker, III Tom Brokaw

Alfred Cambridge, Jr. The Charlevoix Community Fdn.

Dr. George J. Chatas John Cummiskey

Julie Voelker & Marty Cohen George Duffy, Jr.

Jim Butler/Joe Healy & Fly, Rod & Reel Kenneth D. and Ngat Foster

George J. Freeman John Frey & The Frey Foundation

Gigs and Joanne Gagliardi Tony & the Gagliardi Family

Globe Press James & Shirley Graves

Bruce Haag Dr. Anthony V. Hoots George and Lisa Hyde

City of Ishpeming Kelly Keenan

Hon. Damon J. Keith Louis Kollar

Charles Kuralt Don LeDuc

Nick Lyons & Mari Lyons Lyons Press

City of Marquette

The Foundation’s 1989 – 2016 Scholarships, Traver Awards, In Hemingway’s Meadow, The Michigan Supreme Court Portrait, Traver on Fishing, Voelker Lake and future conservation

projects were made possible by your financial support.

Please help us continue these initiatives! In addition to your tax deductible cash donations, other methods of gift giving are available

to you that have favorable tax benefits.

Please invite new members to join! Please consider a gift of cash or appreciated stock by December 31, 2016.

14 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual Report

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Dr. W.L. McCullough Michigan Bar Foundation

Hon. Michael and Barbara Petoskey Dick Pobst

Victor Pribanic Nathaniel P. Reed

Dr. Tom Rice Dr. Ed and Dr. Jan Romond

Rosette, LLP Walt Schaefer

Dr. Thomas D. Sharples June Smith

Derek Sommer, Spud Software Peter & Paul Strom John W. Stegeman

Richard Sutcliffe Mr. & Mrs. David G. Taylor

Trout Unlimited

Adam & Elizabeth Voelker Tsaloff Rich & Susan Vander Veen

Dick & Marion Vander Veen Grace Taylor Voelker

Jim, Gwen and Ingrid Washinawatok James Washinawatok, III

George Weeks Dr. Frank R. Wheeler

Karrie Wichtman Lester Wolff

Grace V. Wood & Ernest B. Wood MI Supreme Court Historical Society

THANKS!

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I wish to Gift a Foundation Membership or Become a Member! Please enter my subscription for the Foundation's signed, limited edition(s) of:

____ Trout Madness

$300.00 ($265.00 is tax deductible)

Trout Madness & the Intruder The Intruder The Pair: $750.00 $600.00 ($135.00 is tax deductible) ($100.00 is tax deductible) “Laughing Whitefish Returns” MSU Press Signed by Matthew Fletcher $100.00 ($75.00 tax deductible)

15 Tin Cup Times: 26th Annual DRAFT Report Anatomy ’59 DVD – History of the 1959 movie Signed by filmmaker John Pepin $50.00 Affiliate Membership may be obtained through a $50.00 contribution, which entitles Affiliate Members to a year’s subscription to the Foundation’s Tin Cup Times, with four cumulative annual donations qualifying Affiliates for full Membership status.

____ I wish to become an Affiliate Foundation Member. Here is my $50.00 annual subscription for the Tin Cup Times newsletter.

Donations and Gifts are Welcome! Supporters of the John D. Voelker Foundation may allocate donations to any of the Foundation’s goals. I enclose $_______ to be applied to:

____ The John D. Voelker Native American Scholarship Fund ____ The Traver Fly Fishing Fiction Writing Award Fund ____ The Voelker Lake Project. ____ Other Name: _______________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________________________________________________ Phone: ( ) Fax: ( ) Email: ____________________ Postage will be paid by the Foundation. Please allow two weeks for delivery. Send your subscription or contribution and this Membership Form to: The John D. Voelker Foundation, P.O. Box 15222, Lansing, MI 48901-5222. The Voelker Foundation is a MI non-profit with federal 501 (c) (3) status and is licensed by the MI Attorney General. Your contribution will enable the Foundation to continue the Traver Award, Native American Scholarships, and other good works we do in John’s name. Further information: Rich VanderVeen (616) 264-5025 or rfv3@mackinawpower.com or Fred Baker (517) 324-1069 or fmbjr@hotmail.com.

John D.Voelker Foundation PO Box 15222 Lansing, MI 48901-5222