B. Public Information and Educational Element

Long-term attitude changes are most effectively modified through information and education. Awareness leads to concern, which in turn leads to the desired actions by the target audience. This concept was the goal of the Ad Hoc's Public Information and Education Subcommittee. The stated goals and accomplishments are:

• Design and install informational signage at all boat landings. Large and bright signs were posted on each public landing and on Ellison Lake landing encouraging boaters to inspect their boats. (See Appendix 2A) In addition, information boxes with brochures were placed at each landing for boaters to pick-up invasive species information. HELP STOP AQATIC HITCHIKERS (pub # WT-801) brochures were placed in each box and regularly replaced as necessary.
• Develop a public information campaign in all pertinent local and regional media outlets using a group of volunteer public relations professionals. A number of lake leaders distributed brochures around their lakes to enlighten lakeshore owners. Articles have appeared in local news media. Kiosks were erected and EWM information was distributed at the Barnes Centennial, Barnes 4th of July Parade and Gordon Good Neighbor Day. Information about EWM has been placed on the Barnes web site and a number of community informational meetings have been called to discuss EWM.

• Monthly informational reports were presented to the Town Board either by the Ad Hoc Committee Chairman or the Coordinator to inform the Town and the public of the EWM situation and/or progress of the project. These monthly reports were conducted both prior to the grant approval and through the project for an entire year.
• Nine concerned citizens including the Town Chairman  elect attended the AIS Workshop at Lakewoods Resort in Cable on April 7 to learn about Aquatic Invasive Species and the associated problems.
• Property Owner's Associations (Barnes/Eau Claire Lakes POA, Potawatomi POA, Sandbar Lake property owners, Beauregard Lake Property Owners, Tomahawk Lake property owners) dedicated a major portion of their annual meetings on the EWM topic.
• Prior to the grant the EWM topic was the theme of a Eau Claire Lakes Breakfast Forum and a Bayfield County Lakes Forum.
• In October of 2005, Dave Thorson Ad Hoc Committee Chair developed a slide presentation (digital) of the results of the EWM Project and presented it to the Bayfield County Lakes Forum annual meeting and also for a Town of Barnes Public Meeting on October 22 at the Barnes Town Hall as a fulfillment of the grant proposal. Another public meeting to present the project findings will be scheduled for 2006.
• Property owners associations are regularly including EWM and AIS stories and messages in their newsletters.
• The Barnes/Eau Claire Lakes POA has been signing local boat landings on the AIS and EWM topic for several years. In addition, they have provided that information to all local resorts and lake related businesses.

• Check all boat landing signs and information boxes on a scheduled basis to insure accuracy and maintenance.
• Keep information boxes full of pertinent materials.
• Maintain a supply of EWM handouts at the town hall.
• Hold periodic community "forums" on exotic species to keep the citizens informed and to solicit help.
• Maintain contact with WDNR personnel to keep abreast of potential problems and courses of action.
• Work closely with the town board to keep them aware of any potential problems.
• Consider developing an "environmental/ecology" action team to address future environmental threats. This would be a group with some expertise that citizens could contact with questions or environmental/ecology concerns. Barnes could be considered an eco-community, friendly to the environment.
• Consider charging a user fee at boat landings to help fund AIS projects and maintenance.