Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited
The Clinton county Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) will host it’s 33nd Annual Wetlands Conservation banquet on Friday April 25,2014, at Smith Hall on the 4-H Fairgrounds in St Johns.
The mission of Ducks Unlimited is to preserve ecologically important wetlands, on both private and public lands, here in Michigan and across North America. The Clinton County Wetlands Conservation banquet is the way for our local community to help this important conservation program.
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 an evening of fun and to help an important resource conservation 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 craft items. There will also be a special “free” raffle for the youngsters who are under 18.
Chairman 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 eight years. For tickets, banquet information, or volunteering to become a part of the local committee, you can contact any of the following committee members: Joe Woodruff at 989-224-3392, Bob Bertoldi at 989-224-2856, , Kurt Hebeler at 517-719-5148, Kurt Hufnagel at 989-224-2072, Craig Knight at 989-224-8687, Dr. Bob Jansen at 989-224-1441, Edward Mikula at 989-224-3654, Dale Rennells at 989-224-6632 or Dennis Koenigsknecht at 989-224-4120.
Ducks Unlimited was organized during the “Dust Bowl” era of the 1930’s to help reverse the impacts of drought and mans impact on our wetlands ecosystem. Over the past three quarters of a century, DU has grown throughout North America into an organization of volunteers with over one million members. Collectively, these dedicated men, women and youngsters have raised over 4 billion dollars , with these funds being dedicated to restoring or preserving over 13 million acres of wetlands across North America.
In Michigan, DU has invested over 31 million dollars to restore and protect 72,657 acres of wetlands in 79 Michigan counties under the Matching Aid to Restore States Habitats ( MARSH ) program that was started in 1986. Partnering with other private and public conservation groups and agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Service, the USDA Natural Re-sources Conservation Service, Pheasants Forever, and many other conservation groups and individuals, has enabled the organization to restore or protect more wetlands habitat in our state. The total investment, by all partners, in wetlands habitat restoration and protection, exceeds 50 million dollars.
Local DU Chairman Joe Woodruff says that “ scientific ecological data collected during the past 50 years clearly identifies 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 April 25th as we celebrate the many conservation achievements of Ducks Unlimited , and to also help us continue this great conservation program.
For additional information about the Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, or about the April 25th banquet, log onto the internet and check the organization’s new Facebook page at: Clinton County Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.