Results of Survey taken at Wild Ones Annual Conference and Meeting in Appleton, WI, August 2008Summarized by Carol Andrews

1. How and when did you first learn of WO? An “x” or other writing indicates someone listed this method on their survey.

Newspaper / Conference by WO / Workshops/
classes by WO / Friends / Other person / WO Display / Brochure / Other group’s publication / Don’t remember
x / x / x / x / Iowa Urban Conservationist Wayne Peterson 12 yrs ago / X at Conservation Stewardship program / X posted at Library re: FVAC conf in 1997 / Friend’s plant sale ad, 5 years ago / X
announcement of new chpter 5 yrs ago / Milwaukee Audobon in 1992 / X in early 90’s / FormerCity Arborist 12 yrs / Ad in Horticulture mag., ‘94 / X
x / Iowa Urban Conservationist / X or a web link
X re: local chapter mtg. in 2005 / At a bird outing 15 yrs ago
Milwaukee Journal article mid 80s / At garden club – w/in last year
Scott Woodbury at ShawNatureCenter; MO N.P. Society
Cincinnati Nature Center 2003

2. In your opinion what are the 3 most important benefits of membership in WO?

Tours and field trips / Getting. Sharing tips with other members / A source of info / education / Meeting like-minded people /
Support group /
Networking / WO Journal / Chapter newsletter / Advocacy / Plant rescues (“digs”) and other sources of plants / Chapter meetings / Participation - doing thru community involvement (gardens…) / Annual Conf / Good for Enviro and habitat
x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / X
x / x / x / x / x / x / x / x / X
x / x / x / x / x / X
x (member only ones) / x / x / x / x / x
X / x / x / x / x
X / x / x / x / x
x / x / x
x / x / x
x / x
x / x
x / x
x / x
x / x
x / x
x
x

Quotes related to benefit that I grouped together under “Advocacy”:

A voice/ A group to point to when talking to others / feel part of a larger movement / part of a good cause / helping the environment through using native plants and spreading the word / chance to pass on this info /

3. In a statement that would take one minute or less to express, describe how you would explain who or what WO is to a prospective member.

Wild Ones …

  • promotes natural landscaping in our own yards to enhance wildlife habitat and at the same time reduce water and chemical use and lawn mowing.
  • provides a support group and a source of info on natural landscapingthru WO Journal.
  • is a group of people who promote native plantings and natural landscaping through education and advocacy.
  • is an advocacy group that provides support and a good source of info.
  • is a group that encourage the use of native plants for landscaping that in turn provides habitat for insects and animals, so contributing to biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
  • is an organization that supports the use and preservation of native plants.
  • is an organization of people interested in native plants and natural landscaping, working toward preservation of natural and native plant communities.
  • Is an organization that promotes the use of native plants (Wisconsin flowers), shrubs and trees.
  • Is a not-for-profit organization that promotes natural areas, environmental education and landscaping with native plants.
  • A group that encourages use of native plants in landscaping.
  • A group of people who are excited about the advantages of using native plants in landscapingand who encourage others to landscaping with native plants.
  • A group of people who want to use native plants in their gardens and promote use in public spaces.
  • Let’s me give back to help clean up my little postage stamp of the Earth and make it habitable by a diversity of wildlife.
  • Is a non-profit promoting and educating people about planting native plants species.
  • We grow native wildflowers and grasses in our yards.
  • Educates people about the benefits of using native plants, and show them how to use natives in natural landscaping.
  • Is a group that promotes the use of and protection of native plants to preserve abundance and diversity of wildlife. As we learn how interdependent most living things are we are learning how important this is for our earth.
  • Is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the use of native plants.
  • Is like a garden club for people who want to create habitats for native plants and animals using native plants and no poisons to build sustainable landscaping.
  • Is a national non-profit that promotes sustainable landscaping through use of native plants that in turn provide wildlife habitat to help make up for what has been lost to development, agriculture, forestry and so on.

Dominant themes

  • Planting and preserving native plants
  • Promotion and advocacy
  • Education and support – WO is a good source of info
  • Provide / replace wildlife habitat to promote diversity and healthier ecosystems
  • Part of living more sustainably, minimizing our impacts
  • Non-profit

4. Have you ever volunteered for WO? If yes did you offer your time or were you asked?

Yes – offered / Yes – asked / No
X / X / x
x / X / X
X / X / X
X / X / X (but I do related work 10-15 hr/week)
X / X
X / X
X / X
X / X
X
X
X
X
x
X

Note: about half of the “yes” said “both offered and asked” so I put an x under each column for them.

5. Describe events your chapter has help where the public was invited and which were most and least successful.

Most Successful / Least / Other
Trip to Necedah wildlife refuge / Annual election of officers and seed exchanges
Joint meetings with Audubon group, including a recent one on global warming / Potluck/picnic at member’s cottage
“Healthy kids day” at the local YMCA – kids planted a wild petunia to take home w/ materials given out to parents to promote WO / Work day at local prairie was very poorly attended. Their membership seems more interested in education programs and not volunteering.
Annual “Towards Harmony with Nature” conference each January for 13 years
For December meeting we have 5 people volunteer to bring in soup or chili – food brings people in
Seed exchange
Spring expos in February with day-long presentations
Successful demonstration garden in public space
Shaw Arboretum Prairie Day – 2 votes for this
Donated $1000 grants to 2 public gardens for plantings of native plants. Helped plan and plant.
Monthly programs w/ speakers are very successful
Annual tree and shrub sale
Hosting annual WO conf
participation in local environmental / harvest fair events
Meetings held at homes w/ distinctive features often draw most but this is also unpredictable
Yard tours and help me day.
Monthly meetings, native plants conference, garden tours