THE HAIL CALL - Ducks Unlimited

THE HAIL CALL
The Official Volunteer Publication of Georgia Ducks Unlimited
Neely Raper, State Chairman, [email protected]
Volume Seven, Issue Nine
September 2012
VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH
And the winners for August are....
CHAD AND SANDY STEPHENS
WALTON COUNTY DU GREENWINGS
Sharing Duck Camp
Neely Raper, GADU State Chairman
It’s hard to believe it’s “that time of the year”
again. What exactly is the time of the year I am
referring to? It’s Labor Day weekend and the
kick-off to hunting season with the dove opener.
It’s college football (Roll Tide)! It’s waking up in
the mornings anticipating that first time you
walk outside and you can see your breath. It’s
the sound of Canada geese filling the air. But
most importantly, as a volunteer for Ducks
Unlimited, IT’S FALL BANQUET SEASON!
The calendar for the months of September and
October is loaded with events of all types. This is
the time for many DU chapters across the state
and the entire country to show their dedication
to our shared mission of wetlands conservation.
And I know that when the dust settles, Georgia
will be standing proud because we have the
greatest TEAM of dedicated and determined
volunteers this country has to offer!
The “spirit of cooperation” is what defines the
dynamics of a successful team. Willingness to
serve, dedication, unselfishness and the ability
to focus on a shared goal are all key components
in the composition of a winning team. In order
for us to continue to be successful, we must
strive to embrace the spirit of cooperation and
work together hand-in-hand.
This season, and every banquet season from
here on out, take the time to introduce yourself
to people that you do not know that have taken
the time to attend a DU event, and share the
As is usually the case, this year’s Walton
County Greenwing event was a great success.
Around 170 kids had a great day and got to
enjoy presentations by Steve Scruggs (Let’s
Get Wild), Okefenokee Joe and the Georgia
Falconry Association. Depending on their
age, the kids got to try their hand at a BB
gun or archery competition, and no one
left without a smile and a full stomach. The
weather was great, as were the volunteer
efforts by the Walton County Chapter and
the Greenwing event chairs, Chad and
Sandy Stephens. Chad was already talking
about plans for next year to make the event
even better. Wow!
THE GREATEST VOLUNTEERS ARE IN GEORGIA!
BRAGGING RIGHTS
Gwinnett County DU recently held a wine event that was
spearheaded by Gwinnett DU volunteers Danny Strickland and
Susan Fifer. They copied an event they attended earlier this year
in Tennessee. While they hoped for a larger attendence, those
that did attend thoroughly enjoyed the event and told everyone
how much fun they had. Danny and Susan are talking about
doing another one this fiscal year so they can build on the event
foundation they started this year. This was a great job for a
first-time event and they receive “Bragging Rights” for thinking
outside the box!
From the Duck Blind (continued)
DU mission with them. Tell them of all the good that DU has done and explain to
them that there is much more we need to do. Hold your head high when talking
of our successes because YOU have made a difference!
WHY WE VOLUNTEER FOR
GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED
UPCOMING GEORGIA EVENTS
SEE www.ducks.org/georgia FOR MORE DETAILS
09/14/12 - Madison County Banquet
09/18/12 - Cartersville Banquet
09/20/12 - Burke Co.-Waynesboro Banquet
09/20/12 - Pickens County Banquet
09/25/12 - Columbus SNO
09/25/12 - Dalton Banquet
09/27/12 - Gainesville Banquet
10/04/12 - Morgan County Banquet
10/16/12 - Walton County Dinner
10/17/12 - East Cobb Dinner
10/18/12 - Franklin County Dinner
10/18/12 - Thomasville Sponsor
10/20/12 - Flint River-Macon Co. Banquet
10/23/12 - Banks-Jackson County Banquet
10/24/12 - Forsyth County Banquet
10/30/12 - Kennesaw Banquet
11/01/12 - Chattahoochee River Banquet
11/01/12 - Moultrie Banquet
11/01/12 - Newton Co.-Covington Banquet
11/01/12 - Savannah Banquet
11/07/12 - Buckhead Banquet
11/08/12 - Valdosta Banquet
11/13/12 - VSU Banquet
11/15/12 - Columbus Banquet
11/15/12 - Thomasville Banquet
12/06/12 - Okefenokee Banquet
02/28/13 - Adel Banquet
03/12/13 - Hartwell Banquet
04/25/13 - Hahira Banquet
CELEBRATE THE 75th
ANNIVERSARY AT A GEORGIA DU
EVENT NEAR YOU!
GADU STATE INITIATIVES FOR 2012
1) Net 10 new Bronze Sponsors above
the prior year’s number and earn a free
Remington 887.
2) Net three new Life Sponsors for your
chapter and earn a free Stoger 2000 or
equivalent for your next event.
3) Net $3,000 (new SBA) or $5,000 (existing
SBA) in your chapter and GADU will pay for
your D1 banquet dinner gun.
4) Net/Net $2,500 with an additional new
event and earn a free Remington 887 or
equivalent for your next event.
REMEMBERING CECIL DAVIS
On July 30, 2012, Cecil Lamar Davis played his last hand
of cards. In the early-morning hours, he was invited to play
one more game, but after looking at the hand he had been
dealt and scanning the table in front of him, he decided it
was time to fold, so he cashed in his chips and left the game
for good. Cecil may have finally lost a game, but in fact he
has won, because his good works were many and varied
and his reward eternal.
Cecil’s earliest accomplishments were in sports,
particularly football and track. He received multiple
football scholarship offers from universities across the
Southeast and ultimately committed to Georgia Tech. As a
freshman, he played defensive back on Georgia Tech’s 1952
national championship team that went undefeated and won
the Sugar Bowl. A year later, an untimely, but ultimately
fortunate injury led Cecil to transfer to the University of
Georgia where he joined the SAE fraternity, finished his
studies and met Anne Stewart Morris, his devoted wife
who has been by his side for 56 wonderful years.
Cecil was also very involved in his church, serving as
both a Warden and lay reader at St. George’s Episcopal
Church, and was quite active in his community. Most of
all, however, he was a legend in the early days of Georgia
Ducks Unlimited.
DU, especially Georgia DU, was Cecil’s passion. As a
volunteer, he was a member, life sponsor, Georgia state
sponsor chairman, and Georgia state chairman. He was
so passionate about DU and conservation that they finally
hired him and he was the regional director for South
Georgia for many years until he retired and became a
volunteer once again. DU allowed him to contribute his
time and energy to a worthy cause and also to hunt, fish
and spend time with his friends.
SEPTEMBER TIP
OF THE MONTH
GEORGIA DU
STATE OFFICERS
State Chairman - Neely Raper
State Chairman Elect - TBD
State Council Chairman –
Tommy Griffin
State Membership and Recruitment
Chairman - Jason Bailey
State Treasurer – Marc DeMott
SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING REQUIRES
SOME NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR EVENT
THE BASICS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
1) Fill the hall by pre-selling all your tickets.
2) Watch your expenses to increase your efficiency to at least 60
percent.
3) Pursue underwriting for your meal, bar, raffles and auction to
raise your net/net.
4) Build up your chapter’s Bronze Sponsor attendance for
profitable second-event opportunities.
TIP FOR SEPTEMBER - “Call ‘Em In” Ducks Unlimited
Chapter Incentive Program
State Sponsor Chairman –
Frayne Bentley
State Greenwing Co-Chairman –
Louie Maloy and Duane Blair
State Shoot Chairman – TBD
State Campaign Chairman Matt Dubnik
State Marketing and Publicity
Chairman - George Erwin
GA DUCKS UNLIMITED
WILL FILL THE HALLS,
INCREASE OUR EVENT
EFFICIENCY TO 60
PERCENT OR MORE
AND SEEK MORE
UNDERWRITING
IN THE 2012-2013
BANQUET SEASON!
Your chapter now has the chance to earn a handgun with the
official DU logo to use in your 2013 fundraising efforts, with
zero cost to your committee! The members you recruit to DU
are critical to our mission. In addition to their commitment
to wetlands and waterfowl conservation, they increase DU’s
ability to attract advertisers and afford us critical influence with
state and federal legislators.
In order for an event to qualify it must:
· Generate $5,000 net/net for a dinner event or $2,500
net/net for a non-dinner event
· Generate a minimum of 70 members
· Have no net loss of members from the prior year’s
event
· Have 60% member retention from the
prior year’s event members
MAJOR DONORS MAJOR DUCKS
Conservation for Generations
Multipurpose Habitats
Here are some key points to share when
someone asks why you support DU:
Wetlands reduce flooding and protect
against storms.
Wetlands capture and retain water,
reducing the duration and severity
of floods. Coastal wetlands serve
as “horizontal levees” that protect
communities from devastating storm
surges and high winds.
Wetlands improve water quality.
Wetland soils and plants play a significant
role in purifying water by removing
nitrogen, phosphorus and some toxic
chemicals. The purifying effect of a
bottomland hardwood swamp equates
to a $5 million water-treatment-plant
investment.
Wetlands
recharge
groundwater
supplies.
Water that collects in wetland basins
percolates through the soil into the
underlying aquifer, which is an essential
source of drinking and irrigation water
for many communities.
Wetlands are a vital natural resource
and need our help!
Georgia DNR Waterfowl News
At the State Convention in July, John Bowers, assistant
chief of the Game Management Section, had good news
for Georgia duck hunters concerning these vital projects.
Arrowhead WMA - Construction has been started on a
three-tier waterfowl impoundment.
Lake Oconee WMA - Construction continues on
enhancements to Pool 3.
Flint River WMA - Wetland restoration continues on this
WMA.
Di-Lane WMA - Installation of new wells and pumps in
the wetland area.
Rum Creek WMA - The DNR is enhancing the Heron
Pond youth hunt area.
Regional VP Steve Whatley (L) and
Director of Development Shawn Battison
(R)recognize Pam and Tommy Griffin for
completing their Life Sponsor pledge.
Regional VP Steve Whatley (L) and
Director of Development Shawn Battison
(R) recognize Karen and Scott James for
completing their Life Sponsor pledge.
POTENTIAL DUCK SEASONS FOR 2012-2013
EARLY TEAL - September 8 through September 23
EARLY CANADA GOOSE - September 1 through September 30
YOUTH HUNTS - November 11 through November 12
FIRST SEASON - November 17 through November 25
LATE SEASON - December 8 through January 27
Here is one of the real “pro’s” at creating
multipurpose habitats, Larry Neal the
Columbus Sponsor Chairman. Columbus
received the 2012 Sponsor Award.
Make your commitment to SAVE THE BEST for
Georgia ducks. Contact Matt Dubnik at mdubnik@
fullmedia.com to invest for the future of Georgia
ducks and save the prairie breeding areas. It is a
conservation fact that more money in the ground
means more birds in the skies!
The GADU 75th Anniversary Celebration
STATE AWARD WINNERS
Middle Georgia Area Chairman of the Year Taylor
Kinna, of the Carroll County DU Chapter.
South Georgia Area Chairman of the Year
Michael Bellew, of the Flint River DU Chapter.
Middle Georgia Distinguished Service Award
Kirk Nozaki, of the Newnan DU Chapter.
North Georgia Distinguished Service Award
Frayne Bentley, of the Gwinnett DU Chapter.
The GADU 75th Anniversary Celebration
STATE AWARD WINNERS
South Georgia District Chairman of the Year,
Dan Couch.
North Georgia District Chairman of the Year,
David Culp.
Middle Georgia District Chairman of the Year,
Jason Bailey.
Greenwing Award Winners Louie Maloy of
Walton Co. DU and Chad Taylor of Rome DU.
The GADU 75th Anniversary Celebration
STATE AWARD WINNERS
Canada Goose Flight Award Winners Valdosta
DU (2nd place) and North Georgia Mountains
DU (3rd place). Not available for this photo was
1st place University of Georgia DU.
Wood Duck Flight Award Winners Fayette
County DU (3rd place) and Walton County DU
(2nd place). Not available for this photo was 1st
place Emanuel County DU.
Pintail Flight Award Winners Savannah DU (3rd
place), Gainesville DU (1st place) and Macon DU
(2nd place).
Canvasback Flight Award Winners Forsyth
County DU (3rd place), Rome DU (2nd place)
and Okefenokee DU (1st place).
The GADU 75th Anniversary Celebration
STATE AWARDS WINNERS
Mallard Award Winners Moultrie DU (3rd place),
Columbus DU (1st place) and Gwinnett County
DU (2nd place).
The 2012 State Chairman’s Award is presented
to Bill Bouthillier of Columbus DU by SC Neely
Raper (L) and State Council Chairman Tommy
Griffin (R). Bill is also a past State Chairman.
Middle Georgia District Chairman of the Year Jason Bailey gave up his weekend to man the DU
booth at the Perry Buck-A-Rama on August 17-19. Now that’s a dedicated DU volunteer!
GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED
Sponsors the GA State Duck Calling Contest
A new venue and sponsorship from Ducks Unlimited only added to the prestige of Georgia’s best duck-calling
event, which has become known for attracting top callers from across the country. The Georgia State duck-calling
contests were hosted by GON at the Outdoor Blast hunting and fishing show at the Gwinnett Center on August 5.
State champ honors and a ticket to Stuttgart, Arkansas, to blow in the World’s Duck Calling Championship were
on the line in the 2012 Georgia State Duck Calling Contest. Also held during the event were the Georgia State Meat
Calling Championship and the Georgia State Two-Man Meat Calling Championship. Georgia’s new state champ
is Jacob Fortner, 24, of Lawrenceville, who used an Echo call to blow a three-round total score of 774. Two-time
state champion Clint Shipman, of Byron, placed second with a score of 773. The contest has three rounds of calling,
and Clint had the high scores in rounds two and three, but he couldn’t overcome the lead Jacob forged in the first
round.
The 2012 Georgia State Meat Calling Championship went to Brad Neill, of Macon. Second place, by just one point,
went to Zach Raulie, of Green Cove Springs, Fla. The Georgia State Meat contest has become a prestigious title on
the late-summer calling circuit. Last year’s winner was Antonio “Duckman” Jones, of Little Rock, Ark., who went
on to win the World’s Championship in Stuttgart.
Jacob Fortner earned a big Yeti cooler, the state champ trophy and a cash
payout of $300 to help pay for his trip to Stuttgart, AR. Also pictured is
contest director Scott Hodges (left) and Scott James and Stephen Walker
of Ducks Unlimited.
Ducks Unlimited’s sponsorship of the 2012 Georgia State duck-calling
contests added to the 100-percent payback event with trophies and Yeti
coolers to top finishers.
The 2012 Georgia Two-Man Meat Calling Champions are Zach Raulie, of
Green Cove Springs, FL. and Gary Orr, of Chattanooga, TN. (behind the
yeti coolers).
MONTHLY PAY OPTION
YOUR BRONZE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Were you aware that you can fulfill any sponsorship with a monthly pay option? This means any
sponsorship level such as a $250 bronze sponsorship, a $500 silver sponsorship, or a $1,000 gold
sponsorship can be paid via MPO. In fact, you can even use MPO to fund your life sponsorship or
other major donor gift to spread out the payments on a
monthly basis. The way it works is simplicity itself in that
it allows Ducks Unlimited to debit you around the 15th
of each month. The debit can be charged to a credit card,
which is also a great way to rack up rewards points, or it
can be debited from a checking account.
IMAGINE SAVING AN ACRE AS A
BRONZE SPONSOR FOR LESS THAN
ONE DOLLAR PER DAY!
Bronze Sponsor = $20.84 per month
Silver Sponsor = $41.67 per month
Gold Sponsor = $83.34 per month
Life Sponsor = $166.67 per month over five
years
This will allow you to help those ducks that wing their
way in front of your blind. In Georgia, our priority is the
Prairie Pothole Region, since approximately 50 percent of
our ducks breed on the Great Plains.
Here is a great idea for your next banquet
or sponsor function, the Sponsor Thermometer
A Sponsor can have his or her name applied to a line on the thermometer once for every $250 of
sponsorship (Bronze = 1 line, Silver = 2 lines and Gold = 4 lines). You then give something away for
every five lines. The ideal situation here is for 100 percent of the merchandise to be underwritten
or donated, but the total absolute cost for the committee on merchandise should never exceed $200
for every 10 sponsors since this is NOT designed to be a trading-dollars-for-dollars program. When
used correctly, this program will add valuable dollars to the bottom line of your event and add
crucial acres of habitat on the ground.
For more information, contact GADU Sponsor Chairman Frayne
Bentley at (678) 714-3603 or [email protected]
AN EASY GEORGIA DU
ACTION STRATEGY FOR 2012 - 2013
SEALED BID AUCTION FUNDRAISING THIS IS THE ONE SEASON THAT NEVER CLOSES!
The Sealed Bid Auction Program is another fundraising tool available to
Ducks Unlimited chapters. While DU hosts approximately 5,000 dinner
and outdoor events every year, the SBA program provides volunteers
with an opportunity to raise grassroots funds year round. With the ability
to reach a broad audience, participation is sure to benefit your local
chapter. Businesses that choose to participate can demonstrate to the
public their commitment to environmental conservation and proudly
show their DU support. For information about bringing SBA to your
community, please contact your regional director or Ducks Unlimited
national headquarters today.
FOUR RIVERS IS A GREAT FRIEND
OF GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED
If you were at Callaway Gardens last month, you saw the new E.B.A.D.S. with accessories from Four Rivers
Layout Boats. Four Rivers donated this boat to help support the mission of Georgia Ducks Unlimited and
put more money in the ground so we can have more birds in the sky. If you are considering a new layout,
river or marsh boat, you owe it to yourself to check out this boat!
Go to www.fourriverslayoutboats.com
and see why they have been “cancelling flights” for 15 years straight!
THE ULTIMATE SPORTING BANQUET PACKAGE
COMBINED EXCLUSIVELY FOR GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED
Perfect for your silent auction, theme or tiered raffles!
Only $195
Mail your post-dated chapter check to: Over Under
Clothing, 2133 Belote Place, Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Please order four weeks in advance to ensure delivery by your event.
GADU BANQUET PACKAGE INCLUDES:
1 - Cannon’s Point Shotshell belt
1 - Gentleman’s front pocket wallet
1 - Finest In The Field Dog Collar
1 - Shotgun shell Key Fob
1 - Huntington Leash
1 - “The Collection” tee, 1 “Custom”
tee and 1 “Original” tee
1 - Max-4 Over Under hat
1 - Over Under/Ducks Unlimitedkoozies
Bryan D. Horn Over Under Clothing 904-236-3777
www.overunderclothing.com [email protected]