By Ivan J. Hack Jr.

Chapter president, North Royalton

Our nation is in a state of conflict. We have country vs. country; politician vs. politician; state vs. state; neighbor vs. neighbor and poor vs. rich. We need a common goal to unite all of us to live side by side in peace. That goal is to protect and defend our soil, air, woods, water and wildlife from ourselves and the destructive path we are on.

The Izaak Walton League is a national nonprofit organization that can unite all of us with that common goal. The Headwaters chapter was formed to unite all residents in the protection of our earth regardless of your beliefs or where you live.

In 1922, 54 visionary sportsmen met in Chicago to discuss an issue of common concern: the deterioration of America's top fishing streams. Uncontrolled industrial discharge, raw sewage and soil erosion threatened many of the nation's most productive waterways. At the same time, critical wildlife habitat was being destroyed across the country and the nation's forests and wilderness areas were quickly disappearing.

Aware that action - not just talk - would be necessary to solve these problems, the group formed an organization to combat water pollution and protect the country's woods and wildlife. The Izaak Walton League of America soon became the nation's preeminent organization of hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to sustainable use of our country's natural resources. Ninety years and many victories later, the 39,000 members of the Izaak Walton League of America are responding to today's conservation challenges and building on the accomplishments of those who preceded them.

The Headwaters Chapter of the Izaak Walton League was founded in 2008 and has been working in many communities to meet local conservation challenges and introduce youth and families to conservation and outdoor recreation. We have worked to educate the public on solid conservation projects. We have been dedicated to putting conservation on the ground and making the earth a healthy place to live. We have used an EnviroScape model to demonstrate erosion and non-point pollution to the public, participated for a week at the Cuyahoga County Fair, have participated in rallies and conservation events and have worked with legislators to create laws that will protect our environment. These are just a few of the many ways we educate the public and are always looking for new ways to protect our earth.

The Izaak Walton League has been at the forefront of every major clean water battle in the United States since our founding, from the first federal water pollution law to recent efforts to restore Clean Water Act protections for critical small streams and wetlands. The League also spearheaded conservation of land and waters for the benefit of all Americans, including creation of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The league works in the upper Midwest and across the country to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy resources to power our homes, businesses and vehicles. We recently won a decade-long battle to require strong federal regulation of the largest source of mercury emissions in the United States: coal-fired power plants. The league has also played a leading role in strengthening the Farm Bill's conservation programs since the legislation was created. Today, the league is working to ensure taxpayer investments in agricultural programs are linked to common-sense conservation practices that protect soil and water quality and wildlife habitat.

As the Izaak Walton League of America reaches its 90th anniversary in 2012, we encourage our members and supporters across the country to join us in celebrating the league's tradition of grassroots conservation activism and working to ensure the health of our natural resources for generations to come.