Dick Parker, Treasurer
Grand Marias (218)-387-1183
I was born in the Chicago, Illinois area. I spent my summers working at a resort in northern Wisconsin. There I learned to enjoy the out of doors and value the experience of wilderness living. This led to an education focusing on botany and forestry that became the foundation of my business career and life. After completing my education, I spent the next 35 years in the building products industry primarily involved in the manufacturing and distribution of wood based products such as windows, doors, siding, paneling and nursery products.
Although Phyllis and I lived in numerous locations across the country during my business career, our vacation time was primarily spent in Cook County where we developed an appreciation for the quality of life and many recreational opportunities that this area has to offer. As a result, when retirement approached, we made the decision to locate in Cook County, where we currently reside as year around residents.
After retirement, I became involved in numerous volunteer activities in the county such as: the Maple Hill Community Fire Department, Cook County Snowmobile Club, the Cook County Firewise program, ATV Club and ACMU. In addition, we became volunteers and supporters of the several special events within the county such as: Beargrease, Mush for a Cure, Ham Run, and Fisherman's Picnic. These activities were combined with my leisure time spent biking, sailing, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. I currently serve on the Cook County Firewise, Sprinkler and Wildfire Planning Committee, the Maple Hill Firefighter's Relief Association Board. I am a past board member of the Cook County Snowmobile Club.
During early involvement in these activities, I became aware of a gradual shift in the availability of our natural resources for multi-use recreation. This shift became apparent as more and more restrictions were being applied, in many cases without common knowledge, to the use of the natural resources that we, Cook County residents, so highly value. As a result of this concern, which was also expressed by a number of local residents, I became involved in the establishment of the Arrowhead Coalition for Multiple Use. (ACMU) in 2004.
ACMU's charter was, and continues to be, that ACMU would be a moving force in education and informing the general public, and our membership, of potential changes that impact our access to Cook county's abundant natural resources. It was clear to me that whatever our interests: hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing, fishing, hunting, mushing, snowmobiling, or ATVing, our access to the natural resources were gradually being restricted by resources outside of our control and in many cases without our knowledge. Most importantly, ACMU was established to be an informational resource for individuals of all interests.
Given the organizations charter and successful informational campaigns to keep the users of our county's natural resources informed, I am pleased to be a member of the ACMU board and it's treasurer.