bear lake enhancement

Summer/Fall 2012
Special points of interest:
• Win Mitchell Tribute Event
• Greenwings in Minnesota
• DU Canada’s Research in
the Saskatchewan Delta
• Feather Society Info
• Minnesota at the 75th DU
National Convention
TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING
BEAR LAKE
ENHANCEMENT
Ducks Unlimited in cooperation with
the Minnesota DNR constructed a new
water control structure at the outlet to
Bear Lake in Freeborn County. The
photo to the left shows construction of
part of the new control structure.
Inside this issue:
Chairman’s
Chatter
2
Greenwings in
Minnesota
3
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Win Mitchell
4
Tribute Weekend
Wadena’s Return
Event
5
Bear Lake Dam
Project
6
Project Hall of
Fame
8
Minnesota Artist’s 9
Corner
Summerberry
Marsh Research
10
National Conven- 11
tion Photos
Feather Society
Form
Cattails
13
The Bear Lake
enhancement structure
replaces the old dam
that was deteriorating
and allowed carp to
migrate into the lake
from downstream.
More on about the Bear Lake Enhancement on Page 6.
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 2
Summer/Fall 2012
State Chairman’s Chatter
Early in August, I hopped into my 1975 Lund Snipe powered by a 1958 3-hp Evinrude and took a spin
around the lake behind my house. My dog sat in her usual command post at the bow, making certain
there weren’t any missed retrieves as we skipped along. Every once in awhile, she would look back
at me wondering what we were doing, if as to say, “I’m ready if you need me to go for a swim.”
After a 30-minute ride around the lake, I headed back to my makeshift landing. I was taken aback by
the light green brilliance of the willows hugging the shoreline. They were in stark contrast to the
oaks. The oaks were beginning to show a tattered look from the heat and wind of this summer,
maybe the first visible sign that summer is starting to wind down.
Dave Flink, State Chair
Your Minnesota DU
State Committee
State Chair
Dave Flink
Hutchinson, MN
320-587-4246
[email protected]
State Council Chair
Less Ness
Chisago City, MN
651-257-6413
[email protected]
State Chair Elect
Tim Roble
Frazee, MN
218-334-4701
[email protected]
State Treasurer
Dan Scheffler
Northfield, MN
507-291-0311
[email protected]
State Volunteer
Recruitment Coord.
Dale Lusti
Buffalo, MN
763-682-3468
[email protected]
State Convention Chairs
Myron and Kathy Stevens
Garrison, MN
218-764-3447
[email protected]
State Major Gift Chair
Russ Klint
Benson, MN
320-239-4322
[email protected]
Cattails
As I pulled my boat back on the trailer, I started to create a mental checklist of things I need to get
done before the opener. I have the usual list of things to do: Replace decoy weights lost last season.
There are a few decoys that need a splash of paint or are in need of reflocking. Somehow all of my
motors have been run this summer so I know they are in good shape. Most of my duck boat blinds
need a once over. I need to contact my U.S. senators and representative. What? How did that
make it on to my list?
Ducks Unlimited’s success in achieving it’s vision; “Filling the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow
and forever,” is critically linked to policy. There are two very important pieces of legislation that will
have a profound impact on the future of waterfowl: the Farm Bill and reauthorizing the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act, also known as NAWCA.
The Farm Bill contains conservation components like the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP) that are critical to fulfilling
the life cycle of waterfowl. These conservation components are needed to help drive conservation in
a time when significant pressure is being placed on the landscape.
To learn more about the Farm Bill, please visit:: www.ducks.org/conservation/farm-bill/du-fights-forfull-fiveyear-farm-bill-with-conservation-funding-intact?poe=8-3wa
Since its inception 25 years ago, NAWCA has contributed to over 2,000 projects conserving 25 million acres across North America. Just before NAWCA was set to expire in September, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government (and,
as a result, NAWCA) for six months, which
will run out in March 2013. This is a critical
time to impress upon your legislators the
importance of reauthorizing NWCA this
spring. To learn more about NAWCA,
visit DU's Public Policy homepage at: http://
www.ducks.org/conservation/public-policy
The time to act is now: get up to speed on
the specifics and contact your U.S. legislators today. DU provides online resources
to help you find and contact your representative. DU needs an additional 15 minutes
of your time, so you can help make a legislative difference for the future of the sport
we all enjoy and love so much.
Thank you for all that you do for the ducks.
Dave’s dog Gabby
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Summer/Fall 2012
Page 3
Greenwings in Minnesota
By Jason Evans, Minnesota Greenwing Chair
Waterfowl opener 1994, I was 22 years old and heading out to a marsh in Southern Minnesota with a 12
year old kid who had recently completed firearms safety training. Earlier in the week a family friend said
his son had been talking about duck hunting and asked if I would mind taking him along.
Back then the opener started at noon but we wanted to get out early and secure our spot. It started raining
not long after we arrived and let’s just say sitting in the rain for hours on end can put any waterfowler to
the test, especially for a 12 year old on his first hunt. But he was a trooper and sat there asking me questions about guns, ducks, decoys, and dogs. I just listened and hoped I had the answers.
Shooting time arrived and so did the ducks. Mallards and wood ducks, but mostly teal came to visit us.
We didn’t quite shoot our limit that day but I knew he was hooked when he asked, “Can I come again
tomorrow?” Not long after he joined Ducks Unlimited as a Greenwing, eventually became a local committee member, and then a bronze sponsor - which he still is today.
Understanding that youth are the future of conservation, Ducks Unlimited's Greenwing program is designed to introduce kids to the outdoors and waterfowling. Greenwings are members of Ducks Unlimited
who are age 17 and younger. Cost of membership is $15 per year. Benefits include membership card and
certificate, decals and magazine subscription. Currently Minnesota leads the nation with approximately
4400 Greenwing members. This accomplishment has been attained in large part due to the strong volunteer base the organization has acquired.
A number of events happen each year around the state specifically geared toward Greenwings. These
generally consist of youth banquets where games, raffles, and conservation ideas are introduced. Many
adult banquets are now starting to have youth activities and raffles. Greenwing memberships can be purchased at these dinner events also.
Mentor hunts are another great way to introduce kids to the outdoors. Ducks Unlimited has teamed up
with Minnesota DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other national and local organizations to
give kids a unique hunting experience at different locations around the state. This hunt is available to all
youth ages 12-15 that have completed a firearms safety course. Parents and guardians, along with a mentor, must accompany the youth at all times. After applying, participants will be selected by lottery. More
information will be available on the Minnesota DNR website.
Ducks Unlimited committees are always looking for volunteers who have an interest in promoting Greenwing activities. This could be anything from volunteering at a youth hunt to helping with a Greenwing
banquet. All volunteers are welcome.
Hunt with
your son or
daughter
today, and
you won’t
have to
hunt for
them
tomorrow.
As legendary sportsman Herb Parsons once said, “Hunt with your son or daughter today, and you won’t
have to hunt for them tomorrow.”
2011 Greenwing hunters at the Youth Waterfowl Opener
Greenwing event at the Northwest Sportsmen
Show in Minneapolis in March 2012
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 4
Summer/Fall 2012
The Win Mitchell Tribute Weekend
Win Mitchell
has been
involved with
Minnesota DU
for over 30
The Win Mitchell Tribute Weekend actually consisted of three separate fund-raising
events. The first event was the Northfield 25th Annual Golf Tournament on July 19, 2012.
Nearly 72 golfers in four-person teams participated in a scramble golf tournament for fun
and prizes. The event included special games like trying to land a golf ball in a duckboat
on one of the water hazard ponds and pitching a ball onto a green filled with full-body
Canada Goose decoys. The event was held at the Northfield Golf Club and included a
fund-raising dinner with golf awards, games, silent and live auctions after golfing.
The second event was Fun Shoot and Hog/Win Roast at the Minnesota Horse and Hunt
Club. This event was held on Friday
afternoon and evening of July 20,
2012. Several shooting teams competed for awards and prizes and then
an outdoor hog roast was held, raising more funds.
The last event was a Tribute Dinner
event again at the Minnesota Horse
and Hunt Club. This event was held
Saturday evening after a DU project
tour earlier in the day.
years.
Bill Aldinger presents Win
with an engraved DU automatic shotgun.
The three-event tribute qualified as a
75th Diamond Anniversary Event for
The tribute Minnesota and raised $58,000 for
qualified as the ducks. In addition, pledges in
honor of Win are at $225,000 and
a 75th
counting. The funds raised and
pledged will support DU’s Living
Anniversary Lakes Initiative, with major donors
Diamond recognized on a cairn at the Win
Mitchell Family Tribute Project—the
Event.
DU Cory Lake project in Lac qui
Parle County.
DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr shares stories of Win with
attendees of the Tribute Dinner on Saturday evening.
Wins thanks everyone who attended
the Tribute Dinner.
Win shows off
his new gun!
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Summer/Fall 2012
Page 5
Wadena County has First Event in 15 Years
Wadena County had been one of the few counties in Minnesota without a DU event. That
all changed this past spring when a core of waterfowlers got together to start the Wadena
committee. The group started small, but had their first event with a Sportsmen’s Night Out
(SNO) on May 3, 2012. The event raised nearly $2,500; an auspicious start for the fledgling
chapter.
This past summer the committee continued to organize and strengthen, while planning for a
standard dinner event. The event was held September 27, 2012, at The Cove restaurant just
north of Wadena. Fifty-six people attended the event and nearly $4,000 was raised for the
ducks. The committee continues to grow and look for new help for next year’s event. If
interested in helping, contact Frank Bond at or 218-482-1181
or [email protected]
Frank and Cindy Bond pose at
the registration table for the
SNO Event.
After a
15- Year
hiatus,
DU has
two
events in
one year.
Todd Larson, Justin
Roggenkamp, Cody
Fields, Steve Pinella,
and Frank Bond display
the DU banner at their
first event.
Volunteer Spotlight—Kyle Thaemlitz
I was born in 1962 in Lakefield, MN. I went to college at Hamline
University in St. Paul, MN, where I met my wife of 24 years Donna.
I have a daughter, Allison, a sophomore at U of M Morris and a
son, Mark, a senior at Jackson County Central. He signed up to go
into the Marines in 2013 on their delayed entry program. My hunting career started when I was 5 years old. I started duck hunting
with my father with a single shot .410. We would hunt a small
slough next to South Heron Lake in Jackson County. I looked forward to every fall. I loved 30 mph wind, snow, 30-degree temps
(except when I would find a hole in my waders). I have been able
to experience many incredible moments while duck hunting. I've
been in fields being circled by 5000 mallards and not firing a shot
because I was awed listening to the whistling of the wings. I have
seen incredible sunrises and am left speechless by God's work. I
have hunted for 45 years in southwest Minnesota, pursuing almost
everything except moose and elk.
I have also been able to sea duck hunt in Blaine, Wash., and in Boston Harbor, Mass. I've been caribou hunting in Canada’s Northwest Terrtiories and elk hunting in Montana. Of all the hunting I’ve
done, I love duck hunting the best. My passion for duck hunting has led me to be a member of DU. I became a sponsor
in 2000, a life sponsor in 2004, and a diamond sponsor in 2012. I became a zone chair in 2009 and area chair in 2012. I
believe in DU and what they stand for. I will always be doing something for DU.
December strategic planning session
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 6
Summer/Fall 2012
Bear Lake Enhancement—Ten Years in the Making
Bear Lake, southwest of Albert Lea, is one of the premier waterfowl lakes of southern Minnesota. According to the DNR, the 1,560-acre lake has been recognized for its wildlife benefits
and managed to protect its resources for over a century. The lake was designated a Wildlife
Management Lake in 1972 and is also designated as a Waterfowl Resting and Feeding Area.
These designations recognize the lake’s special value for waterfowl production and migration
habitat. The topographic map from the 1970s, at left, shows the amount of emergent vegetation
creating a hemi-marsh condition, ideal for waterfowl. Submerged vegetation was also abundant
during this period.
Recently, however, the lake has become so severely degraded that is has not provided the waterfowl production and migration value that it should and has in the past. Although the lake
does receive significant farmland runoff, the primary problem is too many carp and other rough
fish. As in many southern Minnesota lakes, the carp root around in the sediments, uprooting
plants, resuspending nutrients, and stirring up mud, resulting in turbid open water that further
limits growth of plants and invertebrates for waterfowl. In June 2010, the Wildlife Lake Survey
showed only eight percent of the lake having submerged vegetation (see figure below). Emergent vegetation was nonexistent except for cattail mats along the margin of the lake. The August 2011 survey found the only waterfowl using the lake was one Canada goose.
The dam
needed to
be fixed so
it didn’t
wash out!
Aerial view of the Bear
Lake outlet at the south of
end of the lake
Cattails
In 2004 and 2005,
the DNR tried to
manage the lake with
drawdowns, but the
deteriorated control
structure made management difficult and
the lack of fish
screens allowed carp
to quickly swim into
the lake from the
downstream creek.
The DNR went to
legislators to get
funds to fix the outlet structure. In
2008, the legislature
approved dam repair
funds in the bonding
bill.
DNR staff called on
DU to design and
built the new water
control structure.
The structure is big
even by DU standards, with six large
flow-through bays,
each divided into
two smaller bays.
The entire structure
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Summer/Fall 2012
Page 7
DU specializes
Bear Lake Enhancement (Continued)
is near 100 feet long and includes a steel walkway across the dam. The dam, channel improvements, and other auxiliary outlet structures cost $446,000.
Construction work started in January of 2012 with the building of a temporary coffer dam and
bypass culverts. The old dam was
then demolished except for some
of the original foundation. Concrete forms and concrete were
placed in February and most of the
concrete had been poured by the
middle of March. The warm, dry
winter helped construction proceed through winter and the lack of
runoff from snowmelt allowed the
work to continue through the
spring. The steel walkway and fish
screens were installed by early
April. The improvements to the
outlet channel, including cleanout,
Building a coffer dam and demolishing the old
installation of a trash fence, and
dam were the first steps during construction.
riprap installation were done in
May and June. By early July, high
water overflow depressions along the access road were also completed and the project was
finished.
in the
construction of
these
complicated
water control
structures.
The contractors pouring
concrete last February.
The next step is to get a management plan finalized for operation of the newly reconstructed dam. DNR is taking the lead
on obtaining input on the management plan. A June 2012 draft
can be found at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/wildlife/
shallowlakes/bear-lake-dmp.pdf The goal of the plan is to restore and maintain waterfowl and wildlife habitat. This will be
accomplished by different types of drawdowns to improve vegetation abundance and drastically reduce the carp populations.
A closeup of the dam showing the walkway, fish
screens, and outlet bays
Photos courtesy of Josh Kavanaugh
of DU. Information for this article
came from DNR reports and plans
and the Albert Lea Tribune.
The finished structure ready for operation
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 8
Summer/Fall 2012
PROJECT HALL OF FAME—SUGAR LAKE IMPOUNDMENT
The Sugar Lake Impoundment is on Sugar Lake Wildlife Management Area.
Ducks Unlimited has been
conserving habitat in Minnesota since 1985. There are
literally hundreds of DU
projects scattered across
Minnesota. In fact, many of
the water control structures
on federal waterfowl production areas (WPAs) and
state wildlife management
areas (WMAs) were designed and built as Ducks
Unlimited projects. This
column is a regular feature
devoted to describing some
of these older projects.
The Sugar Lake Impoundment was one of Ducks
Unlimited’s earliest projects
in Minnesota. It was built in
1990 in cooperation with the
Minnesota DNR and the
U.S. Forest Service. It is
located near Sugar Lake,
just west of Lake Winnibigoshish, in the central
part of Chippewa National
Forest. It is one of several
impoundments DU worked
on about that time within the
national forest boundary.
The watercontrol structure
consists of a drop structure
on a large dike along the
northeast portion of the impoundment.
The basin is surrounded by a
DNR-owned WMA and is
open to public hunting. The
access road comes in off
Forest Road 2171 north of
the impoundment. The access road follows a portion
of the dike and allows carryin boat access at a couple of
locations.
The project was visited in
July and was in drawdown
status. Even with the wet
early summer, the impoundment was down two feet.
Wild rice was abundant and
was shaping up to be a good
crop for waterfowl.
The control structure at the
east end of the impoundment
The impoundment contains a
lot of old timber snags and has
extensive wild rice beds in the
bays, around the islands, and
along the margin. The wild
rice is visible in the photograph
above.
This aerial photograph
shows the extent of the
Sugar Lake Impoundment
with the access road coming
in on the north end.
(Source: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s WPA
Mapper website)
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Summer/Fall 2012
Page 9
Minnesota Artists’ Corner—Jim Kasper
For Jim Kasper, choosing a career as a wildlife artist was both a victory and a process of
honest self-examination. When it came to that crucial crossroads, Jim says, “Art was the
only choice that stood up to the criteria of what I wanted. It was just part of my being. So
the creative process won out over other interests.”
It was his love of the outdoors, however, that compelled Jim to focus on wildlife art.
Growing up in the lake country region of central Minnesota, Jim developed a keen interest
and knowledge of the region’s bountiful wildlife. Capturing his environment on canvas, he
admits was, “a natural direction for somebody who just loves nature.”
Following high school, Jim attended the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, where he
earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After graduating, Jim began his professional career
working as an artist in the Kansas City, Missouri headquarters of Hallmark greeting cards.
Although he counts his time at Hallmark as among the most valuable of learning opportunities, his love of the lake country eventually drew him back to Minnesota.
Working in acrylics, Jim explains the creative process begins with extensive field experience. “Usually it is spurred on by some event during my travels that inspires me to paint a
specific incident. Then I filter the event through my life experiences to create an artwork
that is accurate and exciting. I believe that the more vast my experience with the subject,
the greater the flexibility and potential I have to create a painting that is more focused,
authentic and enthusiastically presented.”
With each new artwork, Jim strives to communicate a clear message while advancing the
mastery of his craft. In viewing his art, Jim reflects, “I want the viewer to be moved emotionally to the extent that they have a clear view that nature provides this rich diversity of
wildlife and habitats–an unlimited resource of beauty and the opportunity to enjoy it.” The
great challenge, he says, is to continue improving the quality of his art, to grow artistically
and become the best artist possible.
Jim is an active conservationist who has supported many organizations and received numerous awards of distinction. He has been honored as the Featured Artist at the Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin Deer Classics. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
chose Jim as its Artist of the Year three times. Jim was commissioned twice to create the
design for the Illinois Habitat Stamp. He was recognized by the Wildlife Heritage Association and Geese Unlimited as Artist of the Year, and has received an Award of Merit at the
Wildlife & Western Art Collectors Society Show in Minneapolis. Jim has created fundraising art prints for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, National
Wild Turkey Federation and The Ruffed Grouse Society. His
works have also been featured in numerous magazines and
on many nature-themed products.
One of Jim’s common subjects is
loons, such as these in “Seasons of the
Lake—Fall Loons”.
Jim counts himself as one of those blessed to work in a field
they truly enjoy. “I am very fortunate to have a profession
that allows me to make a living and is something I love to
do,” he says. “It’s the core of who I am.”
Artwork provided courtesy of the artist and Wild Wings.
800-445-4833 www.wildwings.com
One of Jim’s newest paintings is titled
“Brief Pose – Ruffed Grouse”.
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 10
Summer/Fall 2012
Summerberry Marsh Research Project—The Pas, Manitoba
Lest we forget, DU spends millions of dollars in Canada to produce ducks that migrate south through
Minnesota. This article highlights research work DU Canada has done in Manitoba.
An aerial view of the
Saskatchewan River Delta
The Summerberry Marsh Complex is located at the Lower Saskatchewan River Delta (SRD) just
southeast of The Pas, Manitoba. The marsh complex consists of 37,050 acres between the Saskatchewan and Summerberry rivers. From 1979 to 1981, DU installed 28 water control structures within
the complex to allow for impounding and drawing down water in the basins. Because management
efforts for the structures were experiencing mixed results, DU Canada took on a massive research
project to assess the effects of different water level treatments on the ecology in six wetland basins.
The research was comprehensive and complicated and had four main elements:
One of the water control
structure managed by DU
Canada
Summerberry
research has
provided many
insights into DU’s
management in
the Saskatchewan
River Delta.
1.
Effects of water-level management on water chemistry and algal production: Baseline water
quality and chemistry data was gathered and then again after the partial drawdowns were initiated. The water chemistry testing consisted of nitrogen and phosphorus analyses. In addition,
nutrient-diffusing substrata were used to determine which nutrients were lacking.
2.
Response of vegetation to water-level management: This required detailed mapping of several
types of vegetation in each basin and recurring mapping each year of the four-year study.
3.
Effects of water-level management on waterfowl and marsh birds: Historical data showed a
drop in waterfowl numbers since the early years after the control structures were built. In addition to ducks, the study also looked at populations of herons, grebes, rails, and coots.
4.
Effects of water-level management on muskrats: Muskrats were live-trapped and fitted with an
ear tag and leg band so they could be recaptured to provide population data for statistical analysis. Blood samples and other health data were gathered to understand the muskrat’s response
to drawdown. No significant reductions in muskrat populations were seen.
The research has provided a lot of insight, but has also identified the need for more research to see
how the habitat and wildlife elements respond to reflooding. This project shows the effort that DU
expends to gather the best data to make the best decisions for managing wetlands to increase waterfowl. One of DU’s core values is to make science-based decisions to guide our programs and ensure
credibility. This research shows that DU is doing that and, hopefully, it will provide information to
ensure more waterfowl make the trip from Manitoba to Minnesota each fall. Minnesotans support
this research through the DNR’s Annual State Grant for the SRD (see photo below).
This article only skims the surface of this amazing research. For the full report and more information,
please go to: http://www.ducks.ca/assets/2012/06/summerberryfinalreport.pdf?9d7bd4
Former
MNDNR
Commissioner Mark
Holsten
(left) and
current
Asst. Commissioner
Dave Schad
at the dedication ceremony thanking Minnesotans and the MNDNR for their contributions to work in the SRD
Cattails
Study Wetland 14R
with the control structure in the bottom left.
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Summer/Fall 2012
Page 11
Photographs from the 75th DU National Convention in Nashville, TN
The 75th DU
National
Convention was
held at the
Gaylord
Opryland
Convention
Center.
The Gaylord Opryland Convention
Center is really
three large hotels,
each grouped
around a covered
atrium area with
trees, waterfalls,
restaurants, shops,
patios, rides, and
fountains.
The 75th DU Convention started out with a packed ballroom for the DU Family Reunion.
DU convention attendees took over the Grand Ole Opry
for a country music show featuring Diamond Rio.
One of the highlights of the convention was the country
music bands with stunning laser light shows.
The 75th DU Convention Banquet raised $250,000, including $25,000 for this original David Maass painting of canvasbacks over a DU project cairn.
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
Page 12
Summer/Fall 2012
Minnesota DU at the National Convention in Nashville
Most of the Minnesota contingent attended dinner at a local night club, a National Convention tradition on Friday night. Here they pose for a group
photo on the front porch of the house-turned-restaurant-and-night-club.
Over 50
Minnesotans
attended the
75th DU
National
Convention in
Nashville.
Another Minnesota table at the convention banquet with (from left)
Ruth Hoefs, Linda & Jerry Weltzin, Greg & Michelle Erickson, Deb &
Rob Eisenmenger, John Marks, Karen Gaasvig, and Kevin Thoma.
Cattails
Minnesotans (from left) Lee Ness, Tim Roble, Carrie Roble, Bonnie
Durdahl, Ken Durdahl, Dave Flink, Shari Flink, Kris Ross, and Brian Ross
Shari Flink (center) and Dave Flink (right) present DU President John
Newman with 75th anniversary quilts handmade by Shari.
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
t h e F e at h e r S o c i e t y
What is the Feather Society?
When you joined Ducks Unlimited, you demonstrated your care and concern for wetlands and
waterfowl conservation. Now, you can help DU ensure the future of these beloved resources for your
children and your grandchildren by joining the Feather Society. The members of this prestigious
group of DU supporters choose to include Ducks Unlimited in their estate plans. Careful planning
often allows Feather Society members to enjoy substantial tax advantages while supporting DU’s vital
conservation mission. Feather Society members proudly wear distinctive lapel pins and are acknowledged each year in the
Ducks Unlimited Annual Report.
Ways of Giving to the Feather Society:
Wills – an excellent way to provide not only for your loved ones, but also by donating to Ducks Unlimited a specific
dollar amount, specific property, or a percentage or all of “what’s left.”
Life Insurance – one of the simplest ways to make a significant gift in the future is by naming Ducks Unlimited as
beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the proceeds of an existing or new policy.
Retirement Plan – offers a variety of tax-advantaged ways to use IRA/401k or other tax-qualified retirement plan assets
in charitable gift planning.
Trusts – facilitate the giving of property, consolidate assets for estate administration, create control, provide tax-planning
alternatives and deal with issues of mental or physical incapacity. (Examples: Revocable living trust, Irrevocable trust,
Credit shelter trust, and Charitable remainder trust.)
Land/Real Estate – Do you own a home or other property you no longer want? Make a charitable gift of it to DU and
you could avoid capital gains, yet provide tax favorable income.
Charitable Gift Annuity – fund with cash or appreciated assets and benefit from immediate charitable tax deduction and
immediate or deferred payments. In most cases, the payments are substantially higher than what current CDs or money
markets are generating and not subject to market risk or fluctuations. The payments are for life or lives (if a joint account),
meaning you cannot outlive the income. The residual will be used by DU to continue its conservation programs.
Endowment: How and Why?
When your gift matures, the principal of your gift is left intact, while the income generated by your gift provides
permanent funding for DU’s vital conservation programs. The sustained base of income that the endowment provides is
essential to the continued success of DU on conserving critical habitat for waterfowl, other wildlife and mankind.
Make a Commitment to
Future Generations.
Join the Feather Society.
For additional Information call:
Sarah McCallum
Director of Gift Planning
734-623-2031
[email protected]
www.ducksgift.org
You are Ducks Unlimited
MINNESOTA DUCKS
UNLIMITED
6101 Kaymar Drive
Edina, MN 55436
Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to
conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres,
thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today,
tomorrow and forever.
Phone: 952-820-8174
Email: [email protected]
ducks.org
For articles and inserts, please
send to Cattails Editor:
Brian Ross
14380 Memorywood Drive
Baxter, MN 56425
The Roseau Greenwings display the decoys donated to the chapter at the Roseau event
this past spring. In case you need to know how many, there are 47 Greenwings.
Phone: 218-825-0996
E-mail:
[email protected]
www.ducks.org/how-to-help/volunteer/signup
VOLUNTEERVOLUNTEER
www.ducks.org/NeedDucks
Cattails
Official Newsletter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited