10 TH EY AU DU CBIO ONS DU IE Ee Bieta 
Illinois Conservation Council Formed 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP of the Illinois Audubon Society, representatives 
of a number of Illinois outdoor life groups held a pilot meeting in Spring- 
field on November 13, 1954, to plan a course of action. So much enthusiasm 
was generated at the meeting that the members agreed to call a state-wide 
conference on conservation in March, 1955, and to organize as a new Sso- 
ciety, to be called the “Illinois Conservation Council.” 
The original purpose of the meeting, as stated by the writer in issuing 
the invitation, was to provide for a statewide conference of all interested 
groups concerned with the conservation of Illinois natural resources and 
the preservation of its wildlife. Representatives of more than a dozen or- 
ganizations attended to discuss a common program all should follow. 
The Directors of this Society have long felt that there is a growing 
need for cooperation and understanding among the nature study and out- 
door groups in our state. The coming conference will be educational in 
nature — to determine which conservation problems should be studied and 
acted upon. No resolutions will be introduced and fought over; there should 
be no likelihood of dissension among groups with conflicting minor interests. 
Some of the reasons for holding this conference are: 
1. To gain a greater understanding of some of the conservation problems 
of our state; 
2. To provide for an exchange of ideas and information among nature 
groups with common interests; 
To learn of outstanding conservation projects undertaken by various 
groups and how these projects were successfully completed; 
4. To learn more directly how our state government is handling certain 
aspects of our conservation problems. 
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Those participating in the pilot meeting were: 
Mr. & Mrs. John Bayless Chicago Ornithological Chicago 
Society 
Mr. Donald Bender Volunteer Forest Patrol Chicago 
Mr. Richard Burk Volunteer Forest Patrol Chicago 
Mrs. EK. Byerrum Wildflower Preservation Warrenville 
Society 
Mr. J. W. Galbreath Cahokia Nature League East St. Louis 
Mr. George Hockenyos Izaak Walton League Springfield 
Mrs. K. G. Knudson Lincoln Memorial Garden Springfield 
Foundation 
Mrs. J. Liefsen Wildflower Preservation Wheaton 
Society 
Mr. Raymond Mostek Illinois Audubon Society Chicago 
Mrs. C. F. Russell Decatur Audubon Society Decatur 
Mrs. Hilda Stein Illinois Nature Conservancy Carbondale 
Mr. Lucas Wrisehnik Cahokia Nature League Granite City 
Mrs. L. F. Yntema Chicago Conservation Waukegan 
Council 
