The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association (WWOA) recognized Paul Kienitz of Merrill with their Distinguished Service Award for his years of service to the Association. The presentation occurred at WWOA’s 2017 annual meeting banquet on Sept. 23. The award is given to individuals who have shown exceptional dedication, effort and achievement in furthering the goals and principles of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.
Kienitz joined WWOA in 1998. He was elected to the statewide Board of Directors in 2011 and served until this year’s annual meeting. Kienitz served as President from 2014-2016. Under his leadership, WWOA created a variety of partnerships within the forestry community to enhance WWOA’s educational mission.
Kienitz has been very active in WWOA’s Government Affairs Committee. He worked diligently to educate legislators about WWOA’s perspective when proposed changes to the Managed Forest Law program arose and during state budget discussions.
Kienitz is currently chair of WWOA’s Scholarship Committee. He has worked with an anonymous WWOA benefactor and many WWOA donors over the past year to create the new WWOA Forestry Leader Scholarship at UW-Stevens Point. Starting in the spring of 2018, WWOA will award an annual $5,000 scholarship to a deserving junior or senior forest management student.
Upon receiving the award, Kienitz thanked his wife, Christina, and his family for their support of his work with WWOA. Always a team player, he recognized the work of his fellow Board members and chapter chairs in accomplishing so much during his terms on the WWOA Board of Directors.
The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association has been serving Wisconsin’s private woodland owners since 1979. WWOA was established for and by Wisconsin’s private woodland owners interested in becoming better woodland stewards. Through WWOA, woodland owners can network with other woodland owners interested in good forest stewardship and have an opportunity to learn from a variety of natural resource professionals. WWOA publishes Wisconsin Woodlands, quarterly magazine for its members, holds a three-day annual meeting, and has 12 local chapters throughout Wisconsin, which hold field days. For more information about WWOA or educational programs in Wisconsin, call the WWOA office at 715-346-4798 or visit our website at www.wisconsinwoodlands.org.