N. Cook
04-19-2004, 07:55 AM
Congratulations to Gus King and Pat Saunders for hosting an informative, fun and fund raising meeting in Orlando this weekend. As would be expected, several UW-F members were in attendance as most our members also support DU and/or other national groups. Capt. Jeff led an informative Marsh Committee meeting and some topics there will need UW-F attention.
DU is a fund raising machine! Although almost everyone at this meeting has no doubt gave generously at many local events, the auctions and raffles during the Saturday nite dinner raised thousands of dollars "for the ducks". At least 95% of the meeting, including awards, was on the topic of FUND RAISING for the national organizations very important work on conservation.
The contrast between this DU meeting and the UW-F meeting held in Sebastin recently sharply defines the different missions of the organizations and the need for both to work SIDE BY SIDE in Florida. The UW-F meeting was 95% FLORIDA ISSUES DIRECTLY EFFECTING FLORIDA DUCK HUNTING. Issues of hunter access, excessive regulations, opening of new lands for hunters, improved management of WMAs for hunting, daily limits, etc. Issues DU often cannot touch within their mission. Let there be no mistaken impression...UW-F TOTALLY SUPPORTS THE DU CONSERVATION MISSION AS CRUTIAL TO OUR SPORT.
The fact that UW-F does not compete with DU or other national groups for funds is crutial to this partnership.....DU members who first hear of UW-F are always amazed to learn that the UW-F total annual budget is less than $10,000. FUND RAISING IS ABOUT 5% OF UW-F'S WORK. UW-F does need a growing memberships' $25 dues and renewals, and two shotgun raffles a year help cover the newsletters' costs, but there is no activity which could be conceived as taking away from DU's hard work for conservation.
WHAT UW-F DOES WANT TO DO IS GIVE DU MEMBERS A WAY TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR BETTER HUNTING IN FLORIDA under the UW-F umbrella. DU/UW-F members can STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT freely on hunting issus as UW-F representatives without compromising the DU mission.
DU is a fund raising machine! Although almost everyone at this meeting has no doubt gave generously at many local events, the auctions and raffles during the Saturday nite dinner raised thousands of dollars "for the ducks". At least 95% of the meeting, including awards, was on the topic of FUND RAISING for the national organizations very important work on conservation.
The contrast between this DU meeting and the UW-F meeting held in Sebastin recently sharply defines the different missions of the organizations and the need for both to work SIDE BY SIDE in Florida. The UW-F meeting was 95% FLORIDA ISSUES DIRECTLY EFFECTING FLORIDA DUCK HUNTING. Issues of hunter access, excessive regulations, opening of new lands for hunters, improved management of WMAs for hunting, daily limits, etc. Issues DU often cannot touch within their mission. Let there be no mistaken impression...UW-F TOTALLY SUPPORTS THE DU CONSERVATION MISSION AS CRUTIAL TO OUR SPORT.
The fact that UW-F does not compete with DU or other national groups for funds is crutial to this partnership.....DU members who first hear of UW-F are always amazed to learn that the UW-F total annual budget is less than $10,000. FUND RAISING IS ABOUT 5% OF UW-F'S WORK. UW-F does need a growing memberships' $25 dues and renewals, and two shotgun raffles a year help cover the newsletters' costs, but there is no activity which could be conceived as taking away from DU's hard work for conservation.
WHAT UW-F DOES WANT TO DO IS GIVE DU MEMBERS A WAY TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR BETTER HUNTING IN FLORIDA under the UW-F umbrella. DU/UW-F members can STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT freely on hunting issus as UW-F representatives without compromising the DU mission.