ICORE seeks nonprofit status

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

MERCER, Wis. — The Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts group hopes to soon become a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Almost one year ago, the group represents a wide variety of activities, according to Will Andresen, with the University of Wisconsin Iron County Extension Office, who has worked with ICORE over the past year.

“They were created to fill a void in the community, and that void is kind of the silent sports part of the outdoor recreation scene,” Andresen said.

He explained that silent sports encompassed a wide range of activities, including water sports, biking, hiking, nature photography and bird watching. Basically, Andresen said, it covered all non-motorized activity that aren’t hunting or fishing.

“It’s certainly not that we aren’t interested in those others, but those things already have organization and are already doing good work,” Andresen said, regarding the hunting, fishing and motorized groups in the county.

Andresen and others involved with the organization made clear there will be many instances where the group works with the other recreation groups in the area.

“These are not going to be competing (with existing groups), where non-motorized people try and shut down motorized trails,” said Vic Ouimette, who has also been involved in ICORE since its founding. “We have enough public land (and waterways) that we can all pursue our sports without having to try and keep somebody else from enjoying theirs.”

ICORE has three general focuses for the time being, Andresen said, which are primarily awareness and education, events and infrastructure development.

Nonprofit status largely being sought for financial reasons, Andresen said, which will allow the group to be a depository for tax-free donations, and can make the group eligible for more grants.

The group is also looking for a board of directors but will remain membership-driven organization, Andresen said, with meetings primarily taking place in Mercer, Wis.

ICORE meets the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m., with the next meeting being held on Oct. 28 at the Mercer Community Center.

Those interested in participating can attend the meeting or contact Andresen at 715-561-2695.