Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited February 22, 2013
The Clinton county Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) will host it’s 32nd Annual Wetlands Conservation banquet on Friday February 22, 2013, at Smith Hall on the 4-H Fairgrounds in St Johns.
The banquet date had to be moved from April back to February because Smith Hall will not be available for public use starting March 1st and extending for some six months. The facility will be rented by the St Johns School system who will use the facility while the High school kitchen and cafeteria is undergoing renovations and construction.
Mr. Joe Woodruff, the Clinton County DU committee chairman, extends an invitation to all conservation minded citizens to join him and his fellow committee volunteers for this fun filled event to help alleviate your “winter cabin fever” syndrome and to help an important program.
The evening will include complimentary beverages, and hors d’oeuvres, and a catered dinner. There will be door prizes, a silent and live auction, and raffle tables that will include limited edition art prints, wildlife sculptures, firearms, crafts, collectible items, decoy carvings, and many other special DU and local items. There will also be a special “free” raffle for the youngsters who are under 18.
Chairman Joe Woodruff wants everyone to know that the Clinton County DU banquet is for the entire family. He encourages dads to bring their wives and youngsters, and/or a special friend. Ticket prices are the same as they have been for the past seven years.
For tickets or banquet information, you can contact any of the following committee members: Joe Woodruff at 224-3392, Bob Bertoldi at 224-2856, , Kurt Hebeler at 834-1001, Kurt Hufnagel at 224-2072,Craig Knight at 224-8687, Dr. Bob Jansen at 224-1441, Chris Mikula at 224-3654, or Dale Rennells at 224-6632.
Ducks Unlimited started during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930’s . From it’s beginning, the mission of Ducks Unlimited has been to preserve ecologically important wetlands on both private and public lands, here in Michigan and across North America.
DU has grown into an organization with well over one million members. Collectively, these dedicated men, women and youngsters have raised nearly 4 billion dollars , with these funds being dedicated to restoring or preserving over 12 million acres of wetlands across North America. In Michigan, DU has invested over 25 million dollars to restore and protect over 70,000 acres of wetlands in 78 Michigan counties under the Matching Aid to Restore States Habitats (MARSH) program that was started in 1986.
From it’s beginning, this has been a partnership program that has included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pheasants Forever, and many other conservation groups and individuals. The total investment, by all partners, in wetlands habitat restoration and protection, exceeds 50 million dollars.
Chairman Joe Woodruff wants you to know that “ scientific ecological information accumulated during the past 60 years has clearly identified wetlands as the most productive source of life on earth. No other resource, not even the tropical rain forests, provide as many benefits as do wetlands.”
Join with your friends and neighbors on February 22nd as we celebrate the many conservation achievements of Ducks Unlimited and to also help us continue this great conservation program..