Underground Fisheries Organization

Wisconsin Chapter AFS – UFO

The UFO (Underground Fisheries Organization) was founded in 2010 as a special black-ops group charged with bringing fun and excitement into otherwise mundane meetings. The goal of the group is to provide time for fun, camaraderie and drinking beer to locations across Wisconsin.

Regular events include Bar Room Biology, Identify that Road Kill and others.

MENARDS

The Menard’s Award has been a tradition at Wisconsin Chapter AFS meetings since 2005. For a full and interesting story, watch the Steve Gilbert video titled “Telling the Tale“. However in short the story of the Menard’s award goes something like this. During the planning stages for the National AFS meeting in Madison in 2004, letters were sent out to hundreds of local businesses asking them to support this event. Many companies provided raffle items, sponsored breaks and otherwise donated generously for the annual meeting that traditionally brings in over 1,000 biologists from around the country. One day we got a package in the Madison PO box with a letter from Menard’s telling us they would be happy to contribute to the meeting and enclosed a blue t-shirt with an american flag on one side. Since that time, we have used this t-shirt in our annual raffle and one lucky person gets to “win” the travelling shirt. Once the person wins the shirt, they usually pose for pictures, sign their name to the shirt and donate it back to chapter. Of course this brings appropriate noise from the crowd as they cheer on the lucky person into choosing this prestigious t-shirt. This reminds all of us to never underestimate some groups in Wisconsin.

Past recipients of the Menards Award are shown below with a link to their picture with the shirt

Corn Hole Tournament