Keweenaw Land Trust - Voice for protection of land and water in the Western Upper Peninsula

Mark your calendars for this timely workshop! This event is designed to help woodland owners make informed decisions on how to protect their estates and leave their land in able hands. The day begins at 8:30 AM with registration and morning refreshments. At 9:00 Carol Nielsen from the Wisconsin DNR division of forestry will frame the results of the recent “offspring” study, an investigation on how Wisconsin’s woodlands are poised to be passed on to the next generation. Following Carol, attorney Mark Bradley, an expert on estate planning, will prime us on the importance of caring for your estate. Next, Rodney Walter of the Nature Conservancy will discuss conservation options.

A wholesome noontime meal is included, followed by a panel discussion including land trust representatives and landowners who have taken measures to protect their forests. There will also be time for questions of the speakers and informal one-on-one conversation with speakers and panel members. An educational activity is planned for younger people, ages 9-16, and will be held by Trees for Tomorrow staff.

This is an event that you do not want to miss. Even if you already have protected your estate, the up-to-date information from Mr. Bradley will save you many times over in legal fees! See the link to the registration form.

Speaker Profiles:
Carol Nielsen has worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for twenty four years in a variety of positions and locations including the private lands forester in Sawyer and Iowa Counties, the Forest Tax Program Manager and the Private Forestry Specialist (her current position) in Madison. She has a BS in forest management from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. After graduation and before coming to work for the DNR Carol was in the Peace Corp in Guatemala. Carol and her husband own 240 acres in Southwest Wisconsin (Richland County) where they implement the practices they encourage others to do.

Mark Bradley is an attorney with the law firm of Ruder Ware in Wausau and Eau Claire. Mr. Bradley chairs the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group and is a member of its Board of Directors. His areas of concentration include family business succession planning, estate planning, and trust administration. Mr. Bradley is a member of the estate planning faculty of the State Bar of Wisconsin and teaches at state and national continuing education programs for attorneys, accountants, and financial planners. He is a co-author of Eckardt’s Workbook for Wisconsin Estate Planners, published by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Mr. Bradley is an elected fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel. He is also listed in the Trusts and Estates section of Best Lawyers In America. Since 2003, Mr. Bradley has served as a member of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. In June he completed his second year as President of the Board.

Rodney Walter of the Nature Conservancy has served as the Director of Habitat Protection since 2006. Here he has made additions to the protected land in the Baraboo Hills and Military Ridge preserves and in Door County, and arranged a conservation buyer-funded land purchase for Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area in Vilas County. Rodney started full time with the Conservancy in 2000 as a land protection specialist. In that position he worked to purchase land for the Baraboo Hills preserves and coordinate Conservancy and partner participation in the “Highway 12 Agreement.” This conservation effort allowed major improvements of US Highway 12 in exchange for protection of farmland in Dane County and forested land in the Baraboo Hills. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Rodney worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for 10 years. There he held several positions, including management of the DNR conservation easement program and DNR land records, and positions that promoted management for rare species on State and private lands. Rodney has a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from UW-Madison. He is a former volunteer member of Clyde Community Center Board in the town of Clyde, located in Iowa County, where he currently lives.

Info on Partners in Forestry:
For 8 years now, Partners in Forestry has served as an advocate for sustainable forest-based local economies and focused on conserving the wooded lands essential to this mission. PIF has not been reluctant to take a position on important issues, and this organization is responsible for instigating the Local Lumber Use law in the early part of this decade. PIF stayed the course until the bill was signed into law as the 2007 Wisconsin Act 208. Our directors and board are solely volunteer, committed by passion and no other motive. For more information on Partners in Forestry and their mission, focus, and accomplishments, please contact Director Joe Hovel at (715) 479-8528.

Estate Planning Workshop Registration Form (PDF)

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