About Us
The Ohio Division was formed in 1922 as a part of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA). The Ohio Division was formed to assist, compliment, and support the local chapters of Ohio. The Division offers the local chapters contact with the National Headquarters through our four National Directors. The Division can further offer support to the local chapters by drawing on a wide base of experts statewide.
Every IWLA member in Ohio is a member of the Division.
We hold annual winter and fall business meetings.
The Ohio State Convention is held annually in the spring. That meeting is used for regular business and to prepare chapter and Division submitted resolutions and awards to the national IWLA office for discussion and action at the National Convention held every July.
Every Ohio member in good standing is welcome and encouraged to attend at all state meetings and conventions.
The Ohio Division IWLA is a non-profit conservation organization and is recognized as a Section 501-(c)-(3) public charity under the Internal Revenue Code.
If you have questions or comments please feel free contact us at:
Ohio State Division IWLA
13217 Patten Track Road
Monroeville, OH 44847-9630
Ohio Division Officers - All of the officers are volunteers.
Jim Burkhardt (Hamilton Chapter), President
Gregg Lamb (Fairfield Chapter), Vice-president
Vacant, 2nd and 3rd Vice-president Positions
Shawn Gallagher, (Seven Mile Chapter), Treasurer
Christie Fisher, (Medina Chapter), Secretary
National Directors (from Ohio)
Ohio Division President: Brenda Schwartz (Medina Chapter)
Dave Zieverink (Cincinnati Chapter)
Brenda Schwartz (Medina Chapter),
Rick Graham (Tiffin-Senenca County Chapter & National Executive Board)
Shawn Gallagher (Past National President)
Jim Storer (National Secretary & Executive Board)
Awards received by Chapter, the Division and Ohio Individual Members from National Izaak Walton League of America Organization
Fifty-Four Founders Award: The Leagues highest recognition given to that person, group or institution judged to have made an outstanding contribution over the years to the conservation of America's natural resources.
2000 Donald Ferris from the Hamilton Chapter
2010 Raymond C. Zehler (Ray) from the Hamilton Chapter
Hall of Fame Award: Commemorates members who have given long devoted service to the League and who have achieved a record of outstanding accomplishment.
1997 Anna Jo Schekelhoff from the Tiffin-Seneca County Chapter
1997 Raymond C. Zehler (Ray) from the Hamilton Chapter
Save Our Streams Award: Recognizes individuals, organizations, members or chapters who best demonstrate the principles of environmental education and citizen action in the pursuit of clean water.
2007 Cincinnati Chapter
Best Chapter and Division Web Site Award: Awarded each year to a League chapter and division whose Web sites are deemed best.
2007 Cincinnati Chapter
2016 Tiffin-Seneca County Chapter
2017 Ohio Division
John C. Gregory Memorial Award: Recognizes the division with the greatest numerical gain in members.
1985 Ohio Division
1988 Ohio Division
2000 Ohio Division
Best Division Newsletter: Awarded each year to the division newsletter deemed the best.
2000 Ohio Division for the Buckeye Ike Line
Robert C. O'Hair Memorial Award: Presented annually to the two chapters (fewer than 500 and greater than 500 members starting in 2012) conducting the most worthy youth program during the previous year.
1966 Northwestern Chapter
1987 Hamilton Chapter
2012 Hamilton Chapter (less than 500 members)
Best Chapter Newsletter Award: Awarded each year to two chapters (fewer than 500 and greater than 500 members starting in 2010) with newsletters deemed best.
1994 Lorain County Ely Chapter
1996 Lorain County Ely Chapter
1999 Hamilton Chapter
Honor Roll Award: Recognizes non-member individuals or groups outstanding accomplishments involving conservation, public information or publicity efforts in keeping with the League's goals.
1954 Ohio Conservation Bulletin
1960 Edward L. Kohlne, Dayton, Ohio
1962 R. L. Eckelberry, Columbus, Ohio
1965 White Castle Inc. ,Ohio
1970 Fred E. Morn, Ohio Department of natural Resources
1988 John R. Bender, Councilman, Elyria, Ohio
2014 Erin N. Morris, Cincinnati Park Board, Ohio
The Arthur R. Thompson Award: Recognizes a division for outstanding conservation activities.
1998 Ohio Division
Outdoor Ethics Award: Recognizes individuals, organizations, members or chapters judged to have done outstanding work in outdoor ethics during the previous year.
2006 Scott Tanner from the Delta Chapter
Conservation Award:
1969 Dr. Charles Damback, Ohio
1970 Ceciel Rhoad, Ohio
1977 Carl Rahe, Ohio
1977 Bruce Diehl, Ohio
1985 Ed Schekelhoff, from the Tiffin-Seneca County Chapter
1989 Elmer Kaufman, Ohio
1995 Dale and Glennyce Kretchman, Ohio
1998 Joseph X. DiNova from the Central Ohio Chapter (formerly the Capital Chapter)
2003 Raymond C. Zehler (Ray) from the Hamilton Chapter
2016 Daniel and Yvonne Hayes, from the Hamilton Chapter
Thelma "Pete" Reed Memorial Award: Recognizes the member who has volunteered in many conservation projects, educational efforts, community service or chapter leadership development and is not serving as a national leader of the League, but is considered an "up and coming" future leader.
2000 Richard E. Hargis, Ohio
Outdoor America's Future Award: Recognizes the IWLA youth or student member who has volunteered in many conservation projects, educational efforts, community service or chapter leadership development, and is considered a your "up and coming" future League leader.
2007 Alexandria Tanner from the Delta Chapter
Stanford Adams Memorial Leadership Award: This IWLA Executive Board's award recognizes the national director, director-at-large, or regional governor judged to have shown a continued commitment to the duties and responsibilities that come with their elected leadership position.
2015 Raymond C. Zehler (Ray)
James Lawton Childs Memorial Award: Presented annually to two chapters (fewer than 500 and greater than 500 members starting in 2012) deemed most outstanding in conservation activity achievement.
1939 Akron Chapter
1997 Cincinnati Chapter
2013 Hamilton Chapter (fewer than 500 members)