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Rev. February 27, 2008

 


Island paradise,
civic spirit

Charlie Brummer '93
Major: Regional Analysis
Occupation: Businessperson, community volunteer
Hometown: La Pointe, Wis.

Like many UW-Green Bay alumni, Charlie Brummer ’93 returned home after graduation, but in his case the journey required a ferry ride.
      He works and lives on Madeline Island, part of Lake Superior’s Apostle chain.
      “If you love nature, geology and geography, as I do, it’s paradise,” he says. “I’m blessed to wake up to a place where people from all over come to vacation.”
      An island native, Brummer studied through eighth grade at a two-room schoolhouse before his record graduating class, five kids in all, moved on to Bayfield High School. Their daily commute across the three-mile channel varied with the season: ferry, ice road or “wind sled” airboat when the ice was bad.
He went away to UW-Green Bay and excelled at cartography, planning, cultural geography and GIS with professors Bill Laatsch, Bill Niedzwiedz, Don Gandre, Joe Moran and others.
      ”Without a doubt, in 41 years, the single best student I have had the pleasure of teaching,” says Laatsch, describing Brummer. “Exceptionally bright.”
      Brummer graduated and was drawn back to Madeline. The 225 year-round residents there include his twin brother, Paul, and their parents. Their Brummer Company is an essential, propane-supply business, and the brothers also do a little caretaking for second homes.
      Laatsch says his star pupil exemplifies the many alumni who return to help their communities. What’s more, his quiet island is actually a busy intersection for globally important land-use issues.
      The only inhabited Apostle, Madeline is a gateway to blue-water sailing and the 20 wilderness jewels that make up the federal National Lakeshore district. Its 40 square miles are subject to intense development pressure. Last year Brummer finished his eighth year on the local zoning board. The board has to balance growth and nature, and the wishes of both the 2,500 summer residents and the proudly independent locals.
      “I’m happy to help out where I can,” Brummer says. “Everyone here pitches in. They serve on boards and committees, they work as EMTs and firefighters. You have to, to keep things working.”
Memorable advice, from Prof. Niedzwiedz
“If nothing else, once you get your college degree, go back and make your home a better place. Make a difference.”

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