Home > Friends >
About the Friends of Sylvania
Several people, impressed by the pristine beauty of Sylvania, met in the fall of 2008 and agreed to organize a group of 'friends'. On April 7, 2009, the Friends of Sylvania (FoS)was incorporated under the Michigan state law. At the first official meeting, on August 12, 2009, attendees selected the first Board of Directors; the directors adopted the bylaws and elected the first officers. FoS received non-profit status on January 6, 2010 (effective date of exemption: April 7, 2009).
Most of FoS's time is devoted to the organization of and participation in work parties to map and control invasive terrestrial plants and to clear trails and portages. Much of this work is supported by a grant from the Forest Service but the organizers and many participants in these work parties are volunteers: local people interested in helping, civic groups such as the Scierra Club, as well as visitors to Sylvania. We are also involved in the organization of formal and informal talks at the Visitor Center and in the maintenance of a 'Native Plant Garden'. All of these activities are coordinated with the Ottawa National Forest.
Friends of Sylvania is a member of the Western Peninsula Invasives Coalition (WePIC). The mission of WePIC is to facilitate cooperation and education among federal, state, tribal, and local groups and landowners in preventation and management of invsive species across land ownership boundaries within Gogebic, Iron, and Ontonagon Counties and additional areas within the Ottawa National Forest.
In 2014, the Friends of Sylvania became a 21CSC member organization (21st Century Conservation Service Corps).
The purpose of 21CSC is to provide service, training, education
and employment to young Americans and veterans and in doing so 21CSC will protect, restore and enhance public and tribal lands and waters. Through service to America, 21CSC will help develop a generation of skilled workers, educated and active citizens, future leaders, and stewards of natural and cultural resources, communities, and the nation.
Board of Directors and Officers
Daniel J. Wallace, President & Director
Timothy Schmidt, Secretary & Director
Waltraud A. R. Brinkmann, Treasurer & Director
Craig S. Coleman, Director
Volunteers
The Friends of Sylvania corporation is organized on a directorship basis and therefore does not have voting members but welcomes assistance and input from Volunteers and Active Volunteers (volunteers who provide a minimum of 15 volunteer hours per calendar year).
Support the Sylvania Wilderness
Are you interested in helping to preserve this unique and beautiful wilderness?
- You can contribute your time and talent by becoming involved in a volunteer activity.
- You can also help fund our volunteer and outreach projects. Your contribution–in any amount–is vitally important to the work we do to protect and preserve Sylvania. The Friends of Sylvania is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation is fully deductible under the IRS codes and will be properly used to support our mission.
Give by mail:
Please, print and complete the donation form and mail it, together with your check, to the address listed at the top of the form.Give online:
Please use the PayPal button below to donate securely online with your credit card. You do not need to have a PayPal account. (Please enter the amount at the top of the form and click on 'continue' near the bottom of the form).
We thank our donors: _2010-2024 donors list
Contact us
Please contact us to have your name added to our e-mail list. Friends of Sylvania will not share your e-mail address and will only send information about Sylvania or Friends of Sylvania activities.
Your questions and comments are welcome at contact us.