President's Message

For this 40th anniversary Bulletin I would like to pay homage to a VIP of the Wisconsin Natural Food Associate's past. My first impression of Paul Whyte was that of a large and imposing man. Paul didn't take “no” for an answer; he assumed you were equal for the task. At first I didn't know he was grooming me for a leadership position in WNFA until I was in that position as a vice president. No one that I knew epitomized the goals and ideals of MNFA more than Paul Whyte did. He lived WNFA, seemingly driven to spread the word of WNFA. He was its best cheerleader.

I remember a trip to Oshkosh to Paul's house with John Hoeting, our treasurer and Don Plier, our executive director of Trautmann-Lee Natural Foods Fund. We were to pick up some materials that Paul was going to hand off to us. After about an hour of meeting with Paul in his office he showed us the materials he had for each of us. John Hoeting had the biggest load by far - at least a pick up truck full: books, tapes, videos and assorted educational materials that Paul had been storing for some 30 years. Don and I were a bit luckier; we only had a few boxes each.

Another visit with Paul was at his invitation to address his local Rotary Club. We met at a local Oshkosh hotel and after lunch I talked about health and nutrition.

I knew Paul wasn't feeling the best the past several years because he no longer sent me notes and newspaper clippings on items of interest to WNFA. Paul was indefatigable in sending information out to all of the directors and officers over the years.

Paul also helped the Trautmann-Lee Fund grow to a level that wasn't thought possible in its early years. Through the work of Paul and Carl Webster, also a past president and director, the fund grew slowly but steadily. At different times some of our early directors challenge themselves by donating $1,000 of their own money to jump-start the Trautmann-Lee Fund. This fund is a reserve savings account of sorts. It can provide WNFA with resources to help publish the Bulletin, develop our website, or cover a conference shortfall. The TL Fund gives the WNFA the ability to provide financial assistance to other organizations for special projects or speakers' costs.

Paul Whyte was and is Mr. Wisconsin Natural Food Associates and we are all greatly indebted to him for his many years of leadership! May Paul rest in peace. (See “In Memory” elsewhere in this Bulletin. - Ed.)

Keep in touch.

Mike