By Bruce Ross, Executive Director
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December Volunteer Newsletter edition.
I committed at the beginning of the year to attend every WWA event this first year. I failed – missing one (West Allis) because of my scheduling error (sorry, I’ll be there next year, Ian!). The “education” I received by attending all those events was invaluable. And that education informed an email I just sent to Mike Alaimo – who hosted the last WWA event of the year (the Waukesha Christmas Bash) just a week ago. I share part of an email I sent him (above), not to pump him up, but because it occurred to me that this is my personal “checklist” defining event success. If we can do each of these things at each event, well, that event will be an unqualified success, we will have on-boarded our new RDs successfully, and WWA’s fundraising year will be phenomenal. Thank you to all who helped me gain these understandings, which will color the rest of my tenure with WWA – and let me know how we can help you in any, or all, of these areas!
Of course, WWA’s year was about more than fundraising:
Snow covers this Jackson County project site WWA completed last month
Habitat: More than 150 acres of habitat restoration throughout the state, impacting small wetlands critical to WI breeding waterfowl. In closing out some older Duck Stamp-funded projects, feedback from the DNR’s habitat ecologist said “… looks like you outdid DNR in the wetland restoration category this year. Keep up the great work!” .
Jackson Marsh AWA disabled accessible blind work completed by the volunteer team.
Our “DIY habitat” program grew in depth and breadth (floating black tern nest success, expanding the AWA concept to private properties and our first pubic municipal wetland (thanks to Appleton) disabled blind rehabs, Abrams habitat renovations, training our clan of chainsaw warriors, etc….
A 2019 LTH participant shows off the result of her hunt
Education: We strengthened our approach to keeping hunters abreast of current issues (refuge changes, zone structure status, habitat funding, ethics, etc.) as well as introducing people to waterfowling – Green Bay celebrated its 10 anniversary LTH!
Organization: Board of Directors restructured to better focus on WWA mission work. Still a work in progress, but it is creating new opportunities for WIWaterfowlers to volunteer in areas of interest to them . We will be developing a WWA action plan to synchronize efforts between Directors, Chapters and staff in the coming month.
In addition to having fun, there’s lots more to be proud of in WWA’s 2019 – but not enough room here to share it. Stay tuned for our 2019 annual report, and come to our annual meeting to learn more about where we are headed!
Tom receives his retirement decoy from Bruce Ross at the Christmas Bash December 5th.
And of course, we allowed Tom Siebert – 20 year WWA veteran – to retire. Or did we? Tom’s already serving as a volunteer to help Bob Kufahl move out smartly (think about trying to inventory the New Berlin storage facility in sub zero temps), and working with his new committee to make their next event a success. Thanks Tom for making my first year so educational.
I’m looking forward to advancing the cause of WIWaterfowlers with you in the new year – and I hope to see you at Lambeau on January 25th for our annual meeting.