8 TAH BE vAlU! DUP BAO WN BEG CR 
NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL MEETING — 1959 
By Mrs. LESTER STOLTE 
NEw INFORMATION AND renewed enthusiasm for the cause of conservation 
was the achievement of the sixth annual N.R.C.I. Conference at Allerton 
State Park on September 26-27, 1959. There were 73 persons registered and 
30 different organizations represented. One of the highlights of the Con- 
ference was the formation of an action group for the preservation of the 
Prairie Chicken. 
The theme of the Conference was “Conservation for the Future.” Dr. 
Robert Bullington (Nature Conservancy) called the Conference to order at 
9:55 a.m. on Saturday, September 26. Raymond Mostek (Illinois Audubon 
Society) was Chairman of the Symposium on Our County Forest Preserve 
Districts. He introduced Mrs. Ethel Untermeyer, Chairman of the Advisory 
Committee of the Lake County Forest Preserve District, who spoke on 
“The Need and Value of the F.P.D. as Seen by the Citizen.”’ Roland Eisen- 
beis, Superintendent of Conservation, Cook County F.P.D., discussed ‘Out- 
door Education and the Forest Preserves.” William Lodge, Superintendent 
of Conservation, Piatt County F.P.D., described “Practical Problems of 
Gin Myo ae Pe) ee 
The Saturday afternoon sessions included “Conservation Topics,” with 
Elton Fawks (Izaak Walton League, Illinois Division) as Chairman. He in- 
troduced Dr. Lewis Stannard, Secretary of the Illinois Chapter of Nature 
Conservancy, who spoke on “‘Nature Conservancy Activities and Open Areas 
in Illinois.” Miss Katie Hamrick (Champaign Audubon Society) was the 
next speaker, and her topic was, “Progress in Prairie Chicken Preserva- 
tion.” A Prairie Chicken Foundation was formed under the combined spon- 
sorship of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Izaak Walton 
League, Illinois Chapter of Nature Conservancy, and the Illinois Audubon 
Society. Each group will conduct its own drive for funds, with which it is 
hoped the Foundation may purchase or lease land for the Prairie Chicken. 
Elton Fawks spoke on the new Hawk and Owl Bill and the decline of the 
Bald Eagle. He said Illinois has one of the best Hawk and Owl Laws and 
he urged everyone to write his Congressman on the decline of the Bald 
Eagle before it is too late. Peter Petersen, Jr., (Iowa Ornithologists’ Union) 
spoke on “The Need for Record Keeping.” Dr. Peter Barton, Director of 
Conservation Education in the Illinois Office of Public Instruction, gave an 
informative talk on the plan to require all new Illinois science teachers to 
take at least one 3-credit-hour course in Outdoor Conservation Education. 
William Hewitt (National Wildlife Federation) spoke on “Politics in Con- 
servation.” George Fell, Director of the Natural Land Institute (Rockford), 
showed some excellent colored slides of eastern areas, notably Walden Pond, 
and spoke on ‘‘What We Must Do to Preserve Our Heritage of Wild 
Nature.” In the evening we were all treated to an outstanding color slide 
program by Dr. Donald Ries (Nature Conservancy). His program was 
called, ‘A Chipmunk’s Tale.” 
On Sunday, September 27, Dr. W. D. Klimstra, Director of Cooperative 
