Mark LaBarbera

As Rob Bohmann stepped away from his chairmanship position of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress after logging a cumulative run of nine years in the harness, he looked around the convention hall and offered some thoughts to those who will follow him.
In his farewell speech, he thanked all 360 congress delegates from all 72 counties in 11 districts and urged them to focus on their shared love of the outdoors, not their differences.

At its annual convention, the Conservation Congress discussed key resource issues, voted on about 44 spring hearing questions, presented awards, added to its Hall of Fame, and elected Paul Reith, 49, of Dane County, to fill the chair vacancy created when Rob Bohmann, of Racine, did not seek re-election.
Reith had been serving as the congress vice-chair. During its May 14-16 meetings at Tundra Lodge, delegates also elected Michael Britton, of Rice Lake, as vice-chair, and re-elected Reed Kabelowsky, of Manitowoc, as secretary.