2018 ANNUAL REPORT 
Reflections from current Board President—Mark Spreitzer 
 
This is an exciting time for Welty! While balancing the annual budget remains the board’s 
top challenge, the past year brought both stability and new opportunities to Welty. 2019, 
our 20th Anniversary, promises to be an exciting year of reflection and growth. I wrote last 
year that my focus as board president has been to develop a sustainable staffing model, 
balance Welty’s budget, and grow Welty to better achieve both its mission and financial 
sustainability. We continue to work on those goals and with the help of all members and 
supporters—we are moving in the right direction. 
2018 was Welty’s first full year with an Executive Director, Brenda Plakans. Program Direc-
tor Aaron Wilson is completing his first year as of this annual meeting and Environmental 
Educator Andy Tuszynski has been with Welty for nearly two years. This stability on the 
staffing side is paying dividends as Welty looks to offer programming to even more schools, grow its summer camp en-
rollment in partnership with the City of Beloit, enhance the prairie and other outdoor classroom spaces at Big Hill Park, 
and offer affordable environmental education programming for the whole community. 
While Welty’s staff, board, and program offerings are strong, the budget remains a challenge. With the goal of keeping 
programs affordable for area school districts and families, Welty is heavily reliant on donations and grants to fund annu-
al operations, and has gradually been drawing down reserve funds to balance each annual budget. The board is com-
mitted to growing revenue to achieve a balanced budget to support current and growing programming through fundrais-
ing and investment. (See Finance Committee report for more details, p. 4) 
Welty’s 20th Anniversary year offers the chance to reconnect with long-time supporters, volunteers, and board mem-
bers, while recommitting to Welty’s mission and raising awareness of Welty’s programming with new audiences. The 
board is excited to take advantage of this critical opportunity to increase both programming and fundraising in order to 
maximize environmental education in the area and put Welty on a sound financial footing for the next 20 years and be-
yond. These efforts will culminate with a celebratory dinner on October 18, 2019. Last year reestablished a strong foun-
dation and, with your help and participation, 2019 promises to be a banner year for Welty! 
 
Welty Environmental Center Staff 
Brenda  K. Plakans, Executive Director;  Aaron Wilson, Pro-
gram Director; Andy Tuczynski, Environmental Educator;  
Rhonda Nelson, Office Assistant 
2018 FWEC Board Members 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
Mark Spreitzer, President; Kirk Berridge, Vice President;  
Alice Lamont, Treasurer;  Heidi Andre, External Secretary;  
Jan Knutson, Internal Secretary 
AT-LARGE DIRECTORS 
Jaime Benedict, Dave Bendlin, Ken Forbeck, Yaffa Gross-
man, Ann Hankins, Missy Henderson, Judy Robson, Barb 
Seguin, Katie Udell, Harry Wiersgalla  
In July 2018, Welty hosted Community Action PREP students, 
for 2 overnights.  The kids had to document scavenger hunt 
tasks that took them to the ski jump overlook, as well as 
through the rest of Big Hill Park.  Stateline Community Founda-
tion’s Community Impact grant paid for the sleepovers. 
Welty’s Mission Statement 
 
To provide leadership in environmental and  
ecological education to students, teachers and  
individuals of all ages, so that the residents of  
this region can make informed decisions leading  
to respect for and the enjoyment, preservation  
and sustainable use of our natural resources.

WELTY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT (page 2) 
 
Executive Director’s Report—Brenda K. Plakans 
The last few months I’ve been researching the history of Welty as an organization (20 years
--non-profit status granted in 1999), but also the efforts of Beloit residents to bring a nature 
center to Big Hill Park (40 years--going back to the 1970s).  Much time and energy has 
been spent to creating a home for this organization and developing its mission over the 
years.  It is an honor to manifest the vision of so many nature-minded folks with our work at 
Welty at the Big Hill Center. 
  
The past year has also been evidence of more time and energy paying off.  Aaron Wilson 
joined Andy and I on staff in May of 2018.  His arrival marked a new era of strategic plan-
ning and scheduling, record-keeping and accountability, standard setting and achieving for 
the Program department (See Program director’s report for details, p. 3).  Our participation numbers jumped by 2000 
people, and our local non-profit collaborations continue to grow (Summer 2019 goals: 3 Community Action overnights, 
500 more Big Hill Adventure Camp campers with the City of Beloit, 4 NATC day camps, continued prairie work, installa-
tion of interpretive signage at Big Hill). 
  
However, with our increased staffing, operating expenses continue to be a challenge. This spring, the finance commit-
tee spent many hours developing an investment policy  to provide Welty with two endowments that will generate inter-
est to help defray costs (See Finance report, p. 4).  We’re still carrying a deficit to support all this growth activity, but 
are developing a way to grow more sustainably in the coming years. (stay tuned for more details about how to help in-
crease these funds) Our total income for 2018 was $257,775.29—which includes two very generous one-time gifts to 
establish the endowments (totaling $171,000); our total operating income—not counting those endowments—was 
$86,775.29; our total expenses were $102,269.38, leaving a deficit of $15,494.09 that we were able to balance using 
existing reserve funds in order to preserve the full principle of the new endowment donations.   
 
Grant income increased in 2018, and Welty was the lucky recipient of a Visit Beloit J.E.T. grant, that allowed us to hire 
a graphic artist to design a suite of 7 interpretive signs for Big Hill Park  using content generated by Beloit College stu-
dents. These signs should be in place throughout the park by mid-June, with a set on display at the Center, for those 
who would like to do more reading and less hiking.  These signs include information about the Newsome Education 
garden and the prairie restoration we are leading with help from Rock County Conservationists and Green-Rock Audu-
bon Society.  We also received funds from Ecolab for a digital microscope and flat-screen monitor, to help with investi-
gations into the micro-world at Big Hill. 
  
I look forward seeing members at the Center this summer, and hope many of you will be able to join us for our Farm to 
Table Harvest Dinner on Friday, October 18 to celebrate Welty’s 20th Anniversary (invitations will be sent in June).  We 
have so much to celebrate from the past 2(4!) decades and I can’t wait to share our plans for the future! 
Program Income
35%
Special Events
6%
Contributions, 
unrestricted
47%
Contributions, 
restricted
10%
Investment interest
2%
2018 FWEC Income

WELTY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT (page 3) 
 
Program Director’s Report—Aaron Wilson 
2018 was a great year to join the Welty staff. As a staff and team of volunteers, we 
built on the momentum of 2017 (5,400 participants) and hosted 5,524 school-age 
children and 2,083 adults. We continue to partner with the School District of Beloit 
on four full-grade field trips, connecting nature with all of the district’s 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 
and 5th grades. These trips have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from 
students, teachers, and parent chaperones. We will continue to work closely with the 
SDB as the Wisconsin science curriculum has shifted to meet the Next Generation 
Science Standards. We have already made minor alterations to a few of our trips to 
meet the evolving needs of Beloit’s students. Now, more than ever, we see our role 
as critical in providing the opportunity for students to get outside and get their hands 
dirty with ecological science.  
We also partner with SDB afterschool programs funded by 21st Century Community 
Learning Grants. Andy Tuczynski (Environmental Educator) and I are working with 
the students at Fruzen, McNeel, Cunningham, and Todd, doing activities focused on 
ecological systems. We have several interns from Beloit College to help with this 
challenging work: Charlie Burks, Emeline Brady, Jennifer Pantelios (Fall 2018); Eliz-
abeth Krol, Gretel O'Donnell, Jacob Westrich (Spring 2019). 
One highlight from this year is our expansion of Welty day camps. Listening to the needs of parents, we added two 
weeks of camp to the end of August 2018 and extended hours of No School Day camps from six hours to nine. These 
opportunities have been so successful, even at a new twenty-camper limit, that we have added a waiting list. It is awe-
some to hear, when parents come to pick up their campers, that the campers are already asking when they get to re-
turn!       
Despite an extremely cold start to 2019, we are on the path to a strong and successful year, having already worked with 
1,103 children and 366 Adults. We have planned a robust lineup of events and partnerships for the spring and summer. 
We will be expanding Big Hill Adventure camp with the City of Beloit. There are numerous events for adults and all ages 
of children and youth, including the addition of four day camps that Welty will offer at the Nature at the Confluence. 
Looking into the future, if those day camps are successful, we might have an opportunity to expand them to full weeks in 
years to come.  
All this programming success could not have been achieved without a dedicated team of volunteers. These volunteers 
brave all sorts of weather conditions to help bring Welty’s unique hands-on environmental education to students. I would 
like to take a moment to honor those who have repeatedly assisted with field trips and camps here: Jaime Benedict, 
Dave Bendlin, Bruce Cawkins, Deb Fallon, Chuck Goldstien, Sandy Kallas, Pam Kindschi, Audrey McManigle, Elizabeth 
Meek, Jinjer Miller.  
Aaron at NATC during a morning 
news interview on Rockford’s ABC 
station. 
(Right) This year  Welty added No School Friday day camps 
on SDB Professional Days, to host 20 kids for a day of na-
ture fun.  (Above) Andy leads a stream monitoring exercise 
at Waterford Public Library.  During the summer, Welty trav-
els to regional libraries to lead nature programs.

WELTY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT (page 4) 
Finance Committee Report—Kirk Berridge, Board Vice President 
 
The finance committee has been investigating possibilities to help provide a stronger financial 
foundation for Welty Environmental Center. After interviewing candidates, the committee se-
lected Nancy Heidt, who is the Branch Manager of the Raymond James Investment Group 
offices located within Blackhawk Bank in Beloit.  
    
The committee also advised the Board that the endowment gifts be invested as two separate 
accounts, one that will be dedicated to help us pay our rent at the Big Hill Center, and a sec-
ond for a general endowment fund that is used to hold unrestricted gifts. The money will be 
invested in an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governances) fund that aligns with the goals of the organization. Once 
invested, the interest from the rent fund will help pay our rent for a number of years, and the General fund will help 
with operating expenses that we have not been able to completely cover with programming and the annual appeal. 
 
The finance committee also proposed a motion that the Board inform the Stateline Community Foundation that we do 
not have future plans to build our own building.  SCF is holding the J. Carl and Susan Welty Learning Center fund 
that was established by Susan Welty to help pay for construction of a future Welty Environmental Center.  We are 
proposing that an appropriate way to meet Susan’s wishes would be to reallocate that money to help us pay our Cen-
ter rent. As fate would have it, we are now located in the spot (Big Hill Park) for which the Susan’s original fundrais-
ing was done to build a nature center. We have asked for an annual disbursement of 4% of the SCF fund to comple-
ment the sustainable draw we are taking from the rent endowment fund. The SCF Board is considering our request in 
May. 
Special Events Committee—Board Director, Katie Udell 
 
Welty is 20 years old in 2019!  To celebrate we have two main fundraising events for the year – 
the Maple Sugar Fest, which was held on Feb. 23rd, and the 20th Anniversary Harvest Farm to 
Table Dinner, which will be held Friday, October 18th at 5:30 pm at Welty! 
 
This year’s Maple Sugar Fest was a great success, although slightly hampered by icy weather 
conditions. This year’s fest had an improved cooking layout with three new propane grills 
(convertible to griddles) that were placed on the covered deck. Thanks to the fantastic volun-
teers, we had an efficient cook and serving line of delicious pancakes, applesauce, sausage 
and REAL maple syrup! New children’s activities were provided by Joy Boardman, storytimes 
featuring readings by Loren Sass and Jeane Kruger, and the Seven Springs All Nations Drum had an amazing drum 
ceremony, storytelling and a fun interactive dance! Plus, kids (and adults!) could try their hand at tapping a tree 
(indoors!), see sap boiling demonstrations, and watch the Rock Valley Wood Carvers and Jan Knutson demonstrate 
wood carving and basket weaving! Thank you to all that came out to support Welty, and to all of the volunteers that 
made it happen! 
 
We are gearing up for another fantastic fundraising event to celebrate 20 years – please save the date for October 18th 
at 5:30! We are planning a delicious farm to table dinner celebrating local foods. With sunset at 6:10 p.m., this will be a 
great time of year to see the beautiful colors and celebrate the harvest season.  
 
Save the Date! 
20th Anniversary Harvest 
Farm to Table Dinner 
Friday, October 18  5:30pm 
Locally-sourced dinner     
catered by bushel & pecks 
(invites going out in June) 
BMHS ecology 
students helped 
lead City of 
Beloit 5th grade 
field trips to Big 
Hill Park in May. 
They did plot 
studies compar-
ing the condi-
tions of prairie 
soil and wood-
land soil.

WELTY 2018 ANNUAL REPORT (page 5) 
2018 Donors and Members— Thank you all, so much! 
 
 
Donations were made in Honor of: 
The Dobsons      Chris Nelson    Loni Powers    J. Carl & Susan Welty   
Donors of $1,000 or more 
Catherine Anderson    Kirk Berridge    Erik Berridge   Frank E. Berridge, Jr.    David and Jean Bradford    Sonja Darlington   David & 
Stephanie Dobson     William J. Wartmann 
Donors of $250 - $999 
Gillian and Mark Batterman   William and Melissa Henderson    Nancy Johnson and Jim Van De Bogart    Jan and Dave Knutson   Bar-
bara Seguin and Dennis Murphy   Dick and Shirley Newsome   Ken and Lois O'Tool      James Rougvie and Brenda Plakans    Gary 
and Teresa Sommers    Mark Spreitzer and Philip Gorman    Martin and Nancy Stabb     
Donors of $100 - $249 
Heidi and Richard Andre    Larry and Karen Arft    Norman and Carol Aulabaugh   Pierre and Pam Charles  Annabelle Collins            
Ann Davies   Neil and Kay Deupree    Paul Dionne and Jennifer Esperanza   Roger L. Dutcher    Jane Fossum     Peter and Nancy Hal-
verson    Pamela Halverson   Ken Hansen   Charles H. and Prudence Harker   Marty and  Marlene Howe    Penny and Tom Kennedy    
Philip A. and Victoria E. Melzer    Maribeth Miller and Family   Charles and Helen Mortensen   Fran and Jacquelyn Patch   Barbara S. 
and Andrejs Plakans    Paul and Alice  Roemer    Stacey and David Rougvie   Mae Sanford     Daniel Schoof and Alyssa Whitney   Ray 
and Joan Schultz    Katie and Andy Udell     Gene and Connie Van Galder    Steve Vavrus and Susan Swanson     Anna Marie and 
Thomas Warren    Harry and Kedron Wiersgalla      Michael and Mary Wolfe    Daniel Youd and Tamara Ketabgian 
Other Gifts and Membership Renewal 
Joanne Anderson    Gary Anderson    Martin Anderson    Ransom Anderson   Sarah Arnsmeier    Tony and Marlene Bachim         
Carole Baier    Daniel Barolsky    David and Barbara Bendlin     Randall and Jaime Benedict    Michelle Benesh     Al Bennett and Nan-
cy Hansen-Bennett     John and EunYung Boardman   Roy Bossingham and Carol Wickersham   John M. and Karen Butchart     Bette 
Carr and Ralph Irvin    John and Margie Carroll     Bruce and Lora Cawkins and Family   Jeanne Chernick-Krueger   George Clay    
Robert Crandall and Michael Piette     Bonnie Cunningham    Andre and Carmen DeKok    Shirley J. DiFrancesco    Allen (Butch) and 
Nancy Dix     Richard and Val Dunagan    Eric and Willie Ericson   Tom Evert and Bette Lang   Michael and Deborah Fallon   Lee and 
Marilyn Fassett     Daphne Fautin and Robert Buddemeier    Frank J. Fiorina    Matt and Ann Forbeck   Mary F. Frederick    Fred and 
Pat Freeman    Tom and Nancy Garrett     Sylvia Welty Geer   Ken and Sandy Gold    Charles F. Grose MD      Delores Hahn   Janet 
and Roy E. Hahn   Mary Alice Harris    Gary R. and Darcy L. Hess     Robert Hunter    Jacqueline Dougan Jackson    Helen and Greg 
Kaiser    Sandra Kallas and Roger Crary    Catherine D. Karlshoej    Thomas and Rosemary Kautz   Brittany Keyes and Doug Elfstrom    
Pam Kinschi and family    Paul and Kathleen Klespis-Wick     Tom and Theresa Klubertanz     Christine Kopec    Timothy Krause and 
Elizabeth Babler     Alice I. Lamont    Kevin M. Larson and Nicolette Meister    Cynthia K. Laube    Tamara L. and Jack W. Maegli    Bet-
ty Magnus     Carol Mankiewicz and Carl V. Mendelson      Jerry and Phyllis Mathews    Constance Matusiak     Neil McLaughlin     Da-
vid Mezger    Megan Miller    Alona Monroe    David Mowery     Susan and Gordan Nelson       Christine N. Nelson and Fred Burwell       
Karen and Sam Niehans    Jane Noble    Larry and Alice Olson   Dean and Jayne Paynter   Catherine and Leo Pilachouski     John and 
Shelley Plakans     Will Pollock     Judith Robson      Loren and Diane Sass    Stephen Schmaeng    Gregg Schneider and Susan Ad-
ams     Carol Schwaegler     Philip M. Selgren      Tracy and Upal Sengupta      Wanda Sloan     Pegg Stoddard    Connie and Jerry 
Sveum     Joanne Thompson   Sandra Voie      Stephen and Mary Wadle     Rebecca Wallendal    Gerald A. Westphal     Larry and Hes-
ter White     Jessica Fox-Wilson and Aaron Wilson

I want to provide support for Welty Environmental Center’s operations! Welty has 501
(c)(3) tax exempt status and is solely a private, non-profit educational organization. 
Dues and contributions may be tax-deductible. Please accept my gift to continue these 
important environmental education efforts in the Stateline area. 
 
Name(s)__________________________________________________________ 
Address__________________________________________________________ 
City_____________________________________ State_____ Zip____________ 
Phone___________________ Email____________________________________ 
Please accept my one-time annual gift: 
  Senior/Student ($20)  
Individual ($30) 
  Family ($45)                       Life Member ($1000) 
Additional Contribution:  $_________________ 
TOTAL $______________________________  
Check made payable to Friends of Welty Environmental 
Center.   Please mail to: FWEC P.O. Box 131  Beloit, WI  
53512. 
Credit Card option also on our website: https://
weltycenter.org/support-us/ 
                                                                    Detach and send to FWEC P.O. Box 131  Beloit, WI  53512 
1201 Big Hill Court  Beloit, WI  53511 
 
 
TO: