The Lois Webster Fund
The Lois Webster Fund (LWF):
As an impassioned co-founder of the Denver Audubon Society (now the Audubon Society of Greater Denver - ASGD), it was always Lois Webster's hope to have an endowment to support education and research for Colorado's non-game wildlife. Her dream was realized in 1995 on her 75th birthday when, instead of gifts, her many friends gave generously to create the fund tha now exists in her memory.
For those with affection and concern about birds and other non-game wildlife, the Lois Webster Fund (LWF) provides a unique opportunity to help fund vital research and education projects. The LWF is fortunate to continue receiving donations from Lois's friends and admirers, but donations from others are welcome, encouraged and needed to carry this valued research forward.
Research Projects
Applications for the 2010 funding cycle are due January 29, 2010.
Projects Chart - including the 2009 grants
The LWF ended the 2009 fiscal year with $54,373. In any given year, the fund’s Governing Rules allow up to ten percent of the endowment’s value to be used for project funding. The LWF provides funds in partnership with academic and other conservation organizations to support education and research projects focused on Colorado non-game wildlife species that are either threatened, under stress and/or depend on habitats that are threatened. With 2009 project commitments made, LWF has cumulatively provided more than $36,211 for these beneficial research projects over the years. Click here for a full list of projects.
Lois Webster – Our Inspiration:
Lois devoted much of her life to environmental education, both as a science teacher for over 25 years with the Aurora Public Schools and as founder and an active member of Denver Audubon. Born in 1920 in Dodgeville, she moved to Colorado in 1944. In addition to teaching, and her many volunteer environmental positions, she was an avid traveler and gardener. She died in Denver in 1998.
She served on the boards of the Colorado Open Space Council (now the Colorado Environmental Coalition), the Colorado Field Ornithologists and the Colorado Native Plant Society. She was a founding member of the Colorado Division of Wildlife's non-game Advisory Committee. She received many environmental awards including the Sol Feinstone Environmental Award for Outstanding Volunteer Efforts in 1985. She was instrumental in the creation of Barr Lake State Park and active in many volunteer activities related to the Pawnee National Grasslands.
Lois’ Legacy :
Her achievements were numerous, but what she is most remembered for by those who knew her was her quiet persistence and abundance of insightful ideas. She could organize a group of volunteers to do almost anything, as it was impossible to say “no” to Lois. Her leadership skills were enhanced by the widespread respect she earned over the years and by her calm, rational approach to even the most complex problems.
The LWF committee meets as needed to administer and to review requests for grants. An annual reception and program is held to highlight the results of the funded project(s). Many of the committe members were friends of Lois' and have been on this committee since its inception (we couldn't say not wen asked to serve by Lois). The committee includes Tom Parchman(ASGD President), Carol DeStefanis (ASGD Treasurer), Ed Butterfield, Vicki Dreitz, Karen Hollweg, Urling Kingery, Polly Reetz (ASGD Board), Allen Stokes, John Wright and Margot Wynkoop.
For more information on the Lois Webster Fund, email Polly Reetz or Margot Wynkoop.
Download Pawnee National Grassland Plover Studies by F. Knopf
Knopf 2008 PNG Plover Studies (74 pages - 1.06 MB)
Miller and Knopf 1993 (7.6 MB)
Knopf and Miller 1994 (2.78 MB)
Knopf and Rupert 1996 (8.22 MB)
Knopf and Rupert 1999 (6.22 MB)
You can also order a paper copy ($20.00) or a CD ($4.00) of the 2008 study by contacting Margot Wynkoop, 331 S. Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80209, or by calling the ASGD office at 303-973-9530.
Make an online donation to the Lois Webster Fund
