By Bruce Urben, WWA President
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September Newsletter edition.
I remember my mother getting in heated discussions with our neighbor lady when she was complaining about her high taxes, especially that steep school tax! My mother always responded that our schools and education are the best investment we could make for our future. Granted, we lived in a small town in northern Wisconsin and there wasn’t much to talk about in the early 70’s; but now I can reflect on her thoughts, she was sure on the mark.
A youth caller participating in WWA’s 2019 Duck & Goose Calling Contest
The same is true for your Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. Our founders included education as one of our fundamental goals and legs of our three legged stool (education, habitat, legislation). While specific youth education has been a priority from year one, we have evolved to include not only youth education, but young adult, adult and historical waterfowling traditions and techniques. This includes our past involvement with the Green Charter Schools in environmental education, Learn to Hunt Waterfowl programs for first time youth to adult students, Wingshooting courses to minimize wounded game, waterfowl banding support to engage hunters and non-hunters alike, decoy carving contests to support our carving and waterfowling traditions of yesteryear, as well as the State Duck and Goose calling contests where you can hear some of the best callers in the state. In fact, I was recently told that in 1993, our Wisconsin Duck Calling Champion went on to win the World Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Arkansas!
The youth winners from the 2019 Duck & Goose Calling Contest
We have recently reorganized our Board and committed to several stand-alone Committees to further develop our organizational goals. You heard from Ian Bartelmez, our education Chair, last month and his request to hear from you, our members, to see what is on the radar screen for education in your world.
We believe that education is the building block to a better environment, not just for youth but for all, in making decisions that may impact our environment.
Aldo Leopold, Wisconsin’s greatest environmentalist, reminds us in his “Sand County Almanac” that it is better to educate than to condemn. Leopold remained convinced that most environmental mistakes are due, not to some inherent baseness in human nature, but to ignorance.
I don’t think my mother ever read Aldo Leopold but she sure had her ideals correct on this one, God Bless her.
Help us to provide the environmental and conservation/educational needs for your WWA. We need your input!
Thanks for your continued support!