N. Cook
04-25-2005, 08:49 AM
Thanks to Pat Saunders, Gus King and Capt. Jeff for an enjoyable and informative convention.
The DU staff obviously wanted to address the standing issue of expenditures of funds raised in Florida and made a reasonable presentation, including a few carrots for the future.
The most important evidence supporting the ten to one ratio of money raised versus money spent in Florida was the report on the source of bands collected in Florida on teal and ringers...... the Missouri Couetrou and the upper reaches of the prairies. These areas are a target area for vast sums of DU contributions and the ducks raised there winter in Florida....there can be no doubt.....as the banded birds fly a route right to mostly central and southern Florida where their bands were collected by Florida hunters.
That being said, the only really massive expenditure of funds in Florida was the Goodwin/Broadmoor project....a great success story. Other projects are very important and DU uses leverage to greatly increase the DU impact. Overall, Florida is an important source for DU funds and we should support the programs and mission of the most important conservation organizaton working for all of us.
I was gratified to note that many of the attendees were members of UW-F. Just by chance I picked a table for the dinner event and was soon surrounded by a few folks I knew, but most I did not recognize......and soon discovered that everyone at the table was a UW-F member!!!!!
Gone are the days when I knew all the names, if not the faces!!! UW-F is growing a real presence in the duck hunting fraternity.
As usual at these meetings, when topics arose that were outside the comfort zone of the DU mission, UW-F was mentioned as a source for help and information. I try to keep a low profile for UW-F at these meetings....it is a DU meeting and I am a DU member....but when called on, was able to stress the importance of the DU mission and the complimentary UW-F mission to all Florida waterfowlers.
Diane Eggeman made a presentation on the FUTURE OF HUNTING IN FLORIDA seminar to be held in August, to which I was able to add comments....DU had decided the seminar was too political and hunting based to directly join the Steering Committee (UW-F has a position on the committee). Obviously, the seminar will have the support of DU members as individuals and many of the leadership will be invited by the Committee.
DU has several thousand members in FL. Many of these members do not even know of UW-F. We need the current UW-F members who are also DU members to recruit their brethren. UW-F has made a conscious decision to add members by personal contact and word of mouth regarding DU in a very careful effort to never seem to be a rival for money. UW-F offers the DU member a way to stand up and speak to important issues under the UW-F umbrella.
I always am amazed that our entire UWF annual budget is less than a single good DU fundraising dinner! We have a great story to tell.....UW-F is the best $25 investment any Florida duck hunter ever made!
The DU staff and local leaders made an eloquent case for Florida DU members attending the National Convention in Orlando next month......You can attend at very low cost the daytime presentations and the Florida DU people have single day/evening "tickets" available as well that are reasonably priced.
The DU staff obviously wanted to address the standing issue of expenditures of funds raised in Florida and made a reasonable presentation, including a few carrots for the future.
The most important evidence supporting the ten to one ratio of money raised versus money spent in Florida was the report on the source of bands collected in Florida on teal and ringers...... the Missouri Couetrou and the upper reaches of the prairies. These areas are a target area for vast sums of DU contributions and the ducks raised there winter in Florida....there can be no doubt.....as the banded birds fly a route right to mostly central and southern Florida where their bands were collected by Florida hunters.
That being said, the only really massive expenditure of funds in Florida was the Goodwin/Broadmoor project....a great success story. Other projects are very important and DU uses leverage to greatly increase the DU impact. Overall, Florida is an important source for DU funds and we should support the programs and mission of the most important conservation organizaton working for all of us.
I was gratified to note that many of the attendees were members of UW-F. Just by chance I picked a table for the dinner event and was soon surrounded by a few folks I knew, but most I did not recognize......and soon discovered that everyone at the table was a UW-F member!!!!!
Gone are the days when I knew all the names, if not the faces!!! UW-F is growing a real presence in the duck hunting fraternity.
As usual at these meetings, when topics arose that were outside the comfort zone of the DU mission, UW-F was mentioned as a source for help and information. I try to keep a low profile for UW-F at these meetings....it is a DU meeting and I am a DU member....but when called on, was able to stress the importance of the DU mission and the complimentary UW-F mission to all Florida waterfowlers.
Diane Eggeman made a presentation on the FUTURE OF HUNTING IN FLORIDA seminar to be held in August, to which I was able to add comments....DU had decided the seminar was too political and hunting based to directly join the Steering Committee (UW-F has a position on the committee). Obviously, the seminar will have the support of DU members as individuals and many of the leadership will be invited by the Committee.
DU has several thousand members in FL. Many of these members do not even know of UW-F. We need the current UW-F members who are also DU members to recruit their brethren. UW-F has made a conscious decision to add members by personal contact and word of mouth regarding DU in a very careful effort to never seem to be a rival for money. UW-F offers the DU member a way to stand up and speak to important issues under the UW-F umbrella.
I always am amazed that our entire UWF annual budget is less than a single good DU fundraising dinner! We have a great story to tell.....UW-F is the best $25 investment any Florida duck hunter ever made!
The DU staff and local leaders made an eloquent case for Florida DU members attending the National Convention in Orlando next month......You can attend at very low cost the daytime presentations and the Florida DU people have single day/evening "tickets" available as well that are reasonably priced.