A Century of Conservation: Why Local Partnerships are the Key to Saving Our Outdoors

 .
This is an article written by the Prairie Woods Chapters of the Izaak Walton League of America and published in the Park Rapids Enterprise. 

In 1924, the Izaak Walton League’s magazine, Outdoor America, published a glowing tribute to a force of nature: the American woman. The League’s founder, Will Dilg, recognized early on that no movement for the "betterment of life" could succeed without the backing of what he called the "finest type of American womanhood. "He pointed to the defeat of the Bursum Bill—a notorious piece of legislation favored by the administration of the time—as proof. While the bill sailed through the Senate, it was stopped cold in the House. Why? Because two million women from the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) entered the political arena and demanded action.

Today, one hundred years later, that spirit is alive and well right here in northern Minnesota.
As we prepare for Earth Week, the Detroit Lakes and Cass County chapters of the Izaak Walton League (the "Ikes") find ourselves once again proud and grateful for the collaboration of women’s groups. Leaders from the League of Women Voters (LWV) in Park Rapids, Walker, and Detroit Lakes, alongside the GFWC of Mahnomen County, have been working side-by-side with the Ikes to produce the upcoming "Will Dilg" shows. We recognize what Dilg knew a century ago: protecting our natural heritage is a task too massive for any one group. To safeguard our waters and woods, women’s organizations remain indispensable partners.

Today’s threats range from groundwater contamination and industrial agriculture to high-impact boats and vehicles damaging our lakes and forests. The evidence is everywhere; wildlife populations are a fraction of what they once were. Just look at the "bug screens" of the 1970s—a relic from a time when insects were plentiful. As any bird watcher can tell you, when the insects vanish, our entire ecosystem feels the loss. 

During Earth Week, you have a rare opportunity to look back to look forward. Steven Marking will bring Will Dilg to life in a series of performances across the region. We must ask ourselves: "What would Will Dilg do today?" Watch the film trailer here: https://vimeo.com/933763507?share=copy

Can the combined forces of the Ikes, the LWV Park Rapids, and the GFWC mount a campaign strong enough to overcome these growing threats? The honest answer is likely no—not by themselves. It will take everyone.

We invite you to join us to celebrate  Earth Day in Park Rapids at the Armory & Arts Center at 7 pm for "A Visit From Will Dilg." The show will be followed by "table-talk" sessions where we can discuss these local issues while enjoying free Manoomin Porridge. Please click on this site to purchase your tickets: https://donorbox.org/events/919479: Tickets are available at the door but there is a discount to buy early. 

A century ago, women stepped up to save our outdoor heritage. Today, the call is sounding again. We hope to see you there.