American Legion Auxiliary Post 407
Legion Auxiliary Post 407 was established to promote patriotism while assisting people and organizations within the community.
Each year, it nominates and sponsors a high school junior to attend Girls’ State.

The group also raises funds to help community organizations and support all projects put on by the Legion post. The auxiliary sponsors a meat raffle and bingo Saturday nights at the Legion at 6:30 p.m. They also make and donate several items to the VA hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Cloud.

At Christmas, they donate to Toys for Tots, the McLeod County food shelf and the McLeod County Veterans. The auxiliary hosts many fundraisers to help support these projects: poppy sales in May, Tony’s rib dinner, and no-bake bake sales. The members are always there to help the men in their projects, as well.

The auxiliary meets the first Wednesday of the month in the Legion basement on 1st St. N. at 7:30 p.m.

Present officers are Helen Yager, president; Viola Kieser, secretary; and Carol Norman, treasurer.

If interested in membership, contact Mae Stifter at (320) 485-2391.

Cub Scouts Pack 399
The Cub Scouts program enables boys to be involved and active in their community and with other Cub Scout packs through various fun scouting activities.

Pack 399 participates in the Winsted Summer Festival parade, the Winsted Winter Festival parade, an annual food drive, a summer day camp, the Pinewood Derby car race, and other activities and field trips to encourage growth and education.

Any boy in grades one through five is eligible to join. Yearly dues are $10 and meetings, which are for all dens, usually take place the fourth Monday of each month in the Holy Trinity Church basement. Den meetings, which are for a single grade of scouts, usually take place twice a month and scheduled by the den leaders and parents. There is an annual sign-up in September.

Den leaders change from year to year, and parent involvement is encouraged and recommended. Greg Bestul is the Cubmaster and Heidi Schmieg is the committee chairperson.

To join, come to the annual sign-up or call Bestul at (320) 395-4175.

Ducks Unlimited
The local chapter of Ducks Unlimited was organized in 1983 to promote waterfowl habitat and preserve area wetlands.

Annually, the chapter sponsors a banquet the second Tuesday of September. Through fundraising, it supports the national Ducks Unlimited’s mission for conservation.

There are presently 140 members locally, with no requirements for membership. Meetings are every Monday night from July through September at the Blue Note of Winsted on 3rd St. S. Dues are $25 per year.

For more information, contact Jeff Campbell at (320) 485-4535. The club’s mailing address is 649 Harvest Circle, Winsted, MN 55395.
Education Minnesota HLWW

Education Minnesota Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted promotes and ensures that students in Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted school district get the best possible education resources allow. The association meets the last Monday every other month.

Officers are Duane Lichy, president; Mary Waalen, vice president; Addie Mucha, treasurer; and Dawn Kalvig, secretary. Membership fee is $120 and you must be a teacher in the HLWW schools to join.

HLWW FFA Alumni
The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Alumni was started in 1980 to help support the local FFA chapter and the agriculture department at the high school in Howard Lake.

The group, currently numbering about 40 members, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. in the high school ag room.

The group’s annual events include the annual auction, meeting, and banquet in December. The group has helped provide equipment for the ag shop as well as curricular materials, and has acted as an advisory board for the agriculture department.

Membership dues are $15 per year, $100 for MN lifetime membership, or $150 for a national lifetime membership. Potential members must have a willingness to support high school agriculture. To join, contact the officers, advisor Jim Weninger or the high school ag department at (320) 543-3471.

HLWW High School After Prom Party
The HLWW After Prom Party organization was formed in the fall of 1988 to provide a safe form of entertainment for Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School juniors and seniors and their dates on prom night. The first after-prom party was in 1989, and has seen a steady increase in attendance every year since then. The students enjoy an all night party with food, fun, wonderful prizes, and entertainment.

This is a volunteer group that hosts many annual fundraisers which include a pancake breakfast during Good Neighbor Days, bake sales at the Howard Lake annual craft and art expo in November, and the Business Expo in the spring, a concession stand at home football games, and an annual fall garage sale.

We welcome anyone who is interested in helping. Watch the Herald Journal newspaper meetings column for upcoming meetings and times. Meetings take place in the commons area at the HLWW High School.

HLWW Laker Pride
Laker Pride is a Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Schools organization made up of school board members, teachers, school staff, parents and students to support students and school activities, to promote a positive school image, and to provide effective communication. Our mission statement is “To provide timely and informative communication to district residents, promoting HLWW activities that build positive Laker pride.” Laker Pride is involved in many varying efforts around school, including events such as Open House, monthly publications, "Meet the Lakers" newspaper articles, school spruce-up, and more.

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated on the Laker Pride committee. If you are interested in participating in Laker Pride, either on a regular or event-related basis, please contact HLWW at (320) 543-3471, ext. 247, or email: lakerpride@hlww.k12mn.us.

Jolly Juniors 4-H Club
The Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-HClub, established in 1946, promotes positive youth development through support for communities, organizations, and families in the education of their children.

Each year the Jolly Juniors operate the malt stand at the Winsted Summer Festival, and exhibit projects at the McLeod County Fair. The group has had four county championships in Share-the-Fun since 1986, including winning in 2002, 2005, and 2007.

There are presently 21 members with dues at $2 per year.
Membership is open to children in grades kindergarten through 12. Meetings are held monthly in members’ homes or at Dr. Thoennes’ community room.

For more information, call Lori Anderson at (320) 395-2806, or the McLeod County Extension Office at 800-587-0770.

Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus was established to help the needy and support religious vocations, while also promoting charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism within the order.

Its purpose to speak out for the lives of the unborn, the aged, and the mentally challenged.

Annually, the Knights conduct a pro-life breakfast and free throw shooting contest in January, a fish fry the second Friday in March, and a rural life Mass in August.

The order was formed in 1982 and meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m., with officers meeting the second Tuesday of each month. Membership dues are $20 per year and is open to Catholic men 18 years or older and in good standing with the church.

Officers for 2007-08 are: Grand Knight Loren Jilek, Deputy Grand Knight Jean Kappel, Chancellor Ken Pelzel, Financial Secretary Dennis Dunne, Treasurer Edward Fasching, Advocate Dick Genty, Recorder Roman Widmer, Warden Joe Casavant, Inside Guard Robert (Bob) Otto, Outside Guard John Lueck; trustees: Charles Weber, Wayne Quast, and Walter Kerber.

To join, contact any member, or contact membership chairman Robert Kutz at (320) 485-2407. The Knights’ mailing address is PO Box 250, Winsted, MN, 55395.

Lake Mary Homeowners Association
The Lake Mary Homeowners Association was organized in 1987 to improve Lake Mary’s water quality and protect it as a natural resource, thereby improving the quality of life around Lake Mary.

Lake Mary is located a few miles northeast of Winsted. Through its work, the association has spear-headed blacktopping a road on the east side of the lake, established a neighborhood watch program, provided education on septic systems and testing, and conducted annual meetings, including surveying its members’ interest in lake preservation.

The association is an active member of the Lake Quality Monitoring Program conducted through the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The group is currently working on fish stocking and other community-spirited projects for the Lake Mary area. For instance, at the request of the Lake Association Board, the Victor township supervisors agreed to erect “Watch for Pedestrians, 30 mph.” signs around the lake to assure safety for those who desire to exercise as well as enjoy the beauty of Lake Mary.

Membership is open to anyone interested in contributing to the quality of Lake Mary. To join, call Mike Thoennes at (320) 485-3849 or e-mail him at drmike@hutchtel.net, or write the association c/o Mike Thoennes, 10875 Greer Circle SW, Howard Lake, MN 55349.

Lake Mary VFW Post 9232
Present officers are Rose Heimerl, commander; Dave Gailey, quartermaster; Don Bickman, senior vice commander; Dale Gatz, junior vice commander; Dick Genty, judge advocate; Gordy Kubasch, chaplain; Leonard Rozeske, surgeon; and Jerome Thiemann, Don Bickmann, and Dale Gatz, trustees.

The post will conduct monthly meetings the second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion in Winsted, except January.

The organization is trying to get the post more active. If there are veterans who would like to join, contact Rose Heimerl at (320) 224-8599, or Dave Gailey at (320) 485-4306.

Martin Krueger American Legion Post 407
The American Legion is a national organization, established Aug. 27, 1920, for veterans of all wars to serve God, country, and community.

Sponsoring youth attendance at Boys State, renovating the Legion building, and providing Christmas gifts for veterans in the area’s care centers and Veterans administration hospitals are among Post 407’s ongoing efforts. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Legion has reintroduced the Blue Star Banner Program for families with a loved one in uniform and the Post has distributed these banners locally.

The Legion also sponsors the Winsted Boy Scouts, furnishes its building for the Senior Nutrition Program, provides drivers for the Meals-on-Wheels program, supports the blood donor program, and makes many charitable contributions. Each year the Legion conducts a Memorial Day program, a Veterans Day dinner, and a pancake breakfast the first Sunday each month and dinners as announced.

To join, you must be an honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces who served at least 90 days during a time of conflict. Annual dues are $20. Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Legion hall on 1st Street North.

With present membership at 186, officers are Commander Jeff Sterner, First Vice Commander Rose Heimerl, Second Vice Commander Ruth Harnit, Finance Officer Chris Otto, Service Officer Leonard Rozeske, Membership Chairman Chip Guggemos, and Chaplain Gordon Kubasch.
For more information, contact Chip at (320) 485-4332 or write the Legion at PO Box 360, Winsted, MN 55395.

Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce
The Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission statement is “To foster a stimulating atmosphere in which business can flourish, thereby adding to the economic and social well-being of our community”.
The Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce was established more than 50 years ago.
The Winsted Winter Festival, Winter Lighting Contest, The Women’s Expo, Brat Busters, Easter Egg Hunt and The Annual Chamber Banquet are some of the annual events sponsored by the organization. To find out more information regarding these events visit www.winstedchamber.com. It also promotes business appreciation events, sponsors political forums, and provides a welcome packet for new residents.
Membership in the chamber is open to any interested individual or business. Meetings are the third Thursday of the month at noon at the Blue Note Restaurant. Members receive reminder emails prior to the meetings.

There are presently about 90 members. Officers for 2008 are: President Don Guggemos, Vice President Jeff Cambell of IBR Realty, Treasurer Amy Gatz of Flagship Bank Winsted, Secretary Sarah Bisping of Herald Journal Publishing; directors: Erin Kutz of Flagship Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. and Americas Fitness Center, Tom Ollig of TDS Telecom, Deb Boelter of City of Winsted, Greg Gehrman of Winsted Hardware. New officers are elected every two years.

For more information or to join, contact any officer, attend any regular meeting, visit www.winstedchamber.com or call (320) 485-2535.

The Chamber of Commerce mailing address is PO Box 352, Winsted, MN 55395.

Winsted Boy Scouts
Through its patrol meetings and troop activities, the Scouts work to develop the character, citizenship, and personal fitness of Winsted area youth.

The group has seen a steady growth in membership in the past four years. As an active troop, they participate in spring and fall camporees, develop winter survival skills, ski, canoe, fish, and take part in area civic events. Each summer they attend Many Point, which provides Scouts the opportunity for such activities as sailing, archery, tower climbing, obstacle courses, and fishing.

Annually they sell malts at the Wright County Fair, Christmas wreaths, and popcorn.

Gary Larson is scoutmaster, and Chris Knott and Curtis Larson are assistant scoutmasters.

Membership is open to any boy who has completed the fifth grade, earned the Arrow of Light Award, or is 11 years old, but not yet 18. The scouts usually meet two to four times a month. There is a yearly registration fee of $11. To join, call Gary at (320) 543-2657.

Winsted Girl Scouts
The Winsted Girl Scouts encourage girls to experience new things, develop team building, explore and develop leadership skills, and be service-oriented in their community, county, and nation.

The service unit, established in 1978, serves girls in kindergarten through high school. Girls meet every two to four weeks at the discretion of the troop leader and are welcome to join any time during the year by paying the $10 registration fee. Registration begins in September with one or two kick-off events.

Annually, the Girl Scouts participate in a court of awards ceremony, cookie sale campaign, various service of unit events, and the Winsted Winter Festival, as well as other area and council events.

For more information, call Kim Hausladen (320) 485-2856 or Kathy Condon (320) 485-2860.

Winsted Karate Club
The Winsted Karate Club offers instruction in Shotokan karate for self-defense, competition, and personal development.

The club regularly competes in tournaments and performs various demonstrations throughout the year. Several members have made the US Karate Team and competed in Japan, England, Ireland, Germany, and throughout the United States. Club members have also appeared on KTCA TV, and Channel 2’s “Newton’s Apple.”

Organized in 1981, the club presently has 20 members and meets Mondays and Thursdays at the Winsted Public School at 7 p.m. The club is a non-profit corporation. Dues are $30 per month per individual, or $60 per month per family. It is a member of the American Shotokan Karate Federation (ages seven and up).

For information, contact Brenda Diers at (320) 543-2900.

Winsted Lake Watershed Association
The mission of the Winsted Lake Watershed Association is to provide a leadership role in improving and protecting the quality of Winsted Lake and watershed for present and future generations.

Membership is open to anyone interested in contributing to the quality of Winsted Lake and the watershed. The only membership requirement is to pay yearly dues of $20 per family, and the group encourages members to volunteer their time on projects when asked. To join, call Kevin or Andrea Dietrich at (763) 684-1370, or mail your membership dues to WLWSA, PO Box 577, Winsted, MN 55395.

The group meets monthly, the first Monday of every month, at 7 p.m. at the Winsted City Hall, 183 Main Ave. W. Everyone is welcome to attend and share their ideas or concerns.

Current officers are President Bev Schmitz, Vice President Dale Maus, Secretary Gary Daigle, and Treasurer Sue Thurk. Sue’s term ended December 2007 and we are currently looking for a new treasurer. If anyone would like to volunteer for this position, please contact Bev Schmitz at (320) 485-4327 or schm@tds.net.

Current Board of Directors are: Francis Condon, board secretary; Mike Nathe, board chairman; Jim Neff and Petie Littfin, past presidents; and Bev Schmitz, current president. Gene Hausladen serves as honorary ex-official. The board meets a few times a year or when necessary.

What we’ve done, and do:
• Formed as the Lake Association in 1979.
• Annual lakeshore cleanup each spring.
• Treat lake for algae bloom with copper sulfate.
• Obtained a permanent fishing pier for Winsted Lake.
• Thin ice sign repair, placement, and removal in cooperation with the City of Winsted.
• Annual sledding and ice skating party on Winsted Lake, when ice/snow condition permits.
• Re-routed South Lake to other side of dam in early ‘80s due to high phosphorus levels.
• Dam replaced in 1998 without a carp trap.
• Participated in AGNPS study done by University of Minnesota.
• Re-wrote and updated the by-laws in 2007.
• Updated the Vision and Value Statement in 2007.
• Formed a finance oversight committee in 2007.
• Re-stenciled curbs with “Drains to Lake” warning in the summer 2007.
• Updated our Mission Statement in 2007.
What we’re doing:
• Created a task force to address watershed concerns.
• Identified current landowners along our watershed.
• Working with the Soil & Conservation Department of McLeod County to get grass strips placed along our watershed ditches.
• Winter and summer aeration of the lake.
• Water testing of lake for nutrients and runoff.
• Creation of water testing results database in 2007.
• Physically verified & mapped areas where curly-leaf pondweed is currently growing in Winsted Lake.
• The WLWA has joined forces with the Blandin Foundation. A concerned group of citizens is working on a joint project to “improve water quality by limiting nutrient invasion via the watershed”.
• WLWA is also working with Lake Restoration, Inc. to treat the curly-leaf pondweed that has invaded Winsted Lake. The City of Winsted and the Lake Association will be treating the “off shore area”, and the Lake Association and shore land owners will treat the “on shore area” in the spring of 2008. If anyone has questions or is interested in helping with this project, please contact Dale Maus at (320) 485-3825 or Petie Littfin at (320) 485-2477.
Our future plans/wish list:
• Wading pool by lake park beach.
• Settling ponds.
• Replace bad/invasive weeds like curly-leaf pondweed with good vegetation. The lake association would like to start colonies of water lilies and other native plants in certain areas.
• Re-stock fish.
• Address the issue of shoreline erosion around the lake.
• Bring the wateshed landowners, farmers, and city together to make Winsted Lake better.
• Create a web site for the Winsted Lake Association in 2008.
• Form a fundraising committee to publicize and support our events and projects.
Education and public outreach:
• Publish educational newsletters twice a year.
• Winsted Summer Festival booth for residents to get to know the Lake Association.
• Winsted Winter Festival lighted parade float.

Winsted Little League Baseball Association
Winsted Little League promotes and organizes summer baseball and softball for area youth.

Approximately 130 children and 25 coaches participate in games throughout June and July.

Membership is open to anyone interested in coaching or playing little league ball. There is a registration fee per child. The league meets each March and April to organize for the upcoming season.

Watch the Herald Journal for sign-up notices. Contact John Entinger at (763) 658-4035 for more information.

Winsted Municipal Airport Commission
The City of Winsted has established an Airport Commission to serve as an advisory commission to the City Council on all matters pertaining to the Winsted Municipal Airport. It is important to the City Council to continue interest in the preservation and improvement of the Winsted Municipal Airport.

Members of the Airport Commission are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council annually. The Commission is composed of two (2) registered voters residing within the City of Winsted, and one (1) member at-large. In addition, the Mayor appoints a City Council liaison and a City employee to serve as ex-officio members. The Mayor’s appointees for the 2008 Airport Commission include: Russ Paschke, Kevin Kubasch, Dave Millerbernd, Gerald Boldt, and Sarah Bisping. The City Council liaison is Dave Mochinski and Deb Boelter, City Clerk-Treasurer is the city staff member who works with the Airport Commission.

The Airport Commission currently meets the second (2) Monday of each month in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 6 p.m. The Commission meetings are taped for replay on the city’s cable station number 10.

The Airport Commission meets to discuss issues pertaining to the Winsted Municipal Airport, and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding the operation and maintenance of the airport.

The Winsted Municipal Airport also has a group of hangar owners who conduct fundraising events to help fund projects and/or improvements at the airport. This group’s biggest event is the annual Chili Feed which takes place in January each year. Airplanes fly-in from all over for the Chili Feed. For more information on the Chili Feed contact Russ Paschke at (320) 485-3720.

If you have any questions regarding the Winsted Municipal Airport Commission, please contact City Hall at (320) 485-2366.

Winsted Sportsmen’s Club
The Winsted Sportsmen’s Club has helped to ensure quality hunting and fishing for area sportsmen since 1952.

Some activities the group annually organizes are the “Take a Kid Fishing” event, a firearms safety course, a snowmobile safety class, stocking lakes, a lake clean-up, and the raising and releasing of pheasants. The group builds wood duck houses and wildlife feeders, and supplies feed for wildlife.

The club also owns and maintains boat landings at Dog, Ida, Mary, and Round lakes. In April, the club conducts its annual hog roast fundraiser at the American Legion in Winsted.

There are presently 75 members. Membership dues are $10.per year. Meeting is the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. In summer months, it meets at the Lake Mary clubhouse, a few miles northeast of Winsted, and winter months at Tom’s Corner Bar, corner of 1st St. N. and Main Ave.

There are no membership requirements. To join, contact any member or attend a meeting or sponsored event. For more information, contact Tom Kieser at (952) 955-1704. The club’s mailing address is 10895 Fetch Ave. SW, Waverly, MN 55390.

Winsted Volunteer Fire Department
The Winsted Volunteer Fire Department was formed December 3, 1889. The departments first truck (chain driven Oshkosh) arrived in 1927. In 1944 33 foot of Meulener’s property was purchased for the construction of Winsted’s first fire station.

Over the years that followed, the bell was replaced by a siren and then by pagers, ambulance service was provided, fire trucks came and went, but one thing has stayed the same over the years, the dedication and devotion of the volunteers that truly make a volunteer fire department.

Currently the Winsted Fire Department operates with a 30, all volunteer, roster, providing fire protection services to the city of Winsted, and portions of Winsted, Victor, Woodland, and Hollywood townships.

Current officers of the Winsted Volunteer Fire Department include: Fire Chief Chad Engel, First Assistant Chief Chad Stender, Second Assistant Chief Charlie Fiecke, First Captain Mike Thonvold, Second Captain Brent Mickolichek, Ladder Captain Shaun Bush, and Secretary Troy Fleischacker.