By Bruce Ross, Executive Director

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s May Volunteer Newsletter edition.

There are goslings wandering around my yard, eating the new shoots of grass, and staying within quick escape distance of the Milwaukee River.  Tar “The Wonder Dog” is eyeing them hungrily; she’s been slowed down by age and may be thinking she could catch one of the small one (I doubt it, but won’t chance it).

I feel that I’m still drinking from WWA’s fire hose: I’ve traveled the length and breadth of Wisconsin to attend virtually every WWA event this year, from a snow-stormed Rhinelander banquet, to chainsaw training in Muskego, to the inaugural Lacrosse chapter banquet this past Friday.  All put on by dedicated WWA volunteers.  Which is pretty amazing to me (I do regret to have missed AWA duck box maintenance … next year!).

These events have each had a surprisingly different “flavor” imparted by its volunteer leaders and participants.  All have been fun (even if I’m still winless in the gun department), informative (especially for an executive director getting his feet under him), and generally successful in achieving the goals set out by their leaders.  Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Most of these events have been facilitated in some way by Tom Siebert, our Regional Director of nearly 18 years.  As you know by now, Tom is retiring from, if not entirely leaving, WWA in early fall (just in time for hunting season – nice timing Tom!).  We are beginning our own hunt for who will take his place. Know somebody who may be interested? I can provide more details.

Tom has so much experience, it’ll be tough to sustain the same level of performance as a new RD comes aboard and learns the people and the job.  Chapter leaders who host events in the fall and winter will especially have to be aware of this, and pay particular care to the details of their events.

Special congratulations to co-chairs Todd Schultz and Dennis Nelson (and their team) for pulling off a very successful inaugural La Crosse Chapter event last Friday.  Reestablishing a WWA presence along the Mississippi is critical for WWA if we are to truly represent all WI Waterfowlers in our advocacy role, do habitat projects in that neck of Wisconsin and pass along our waterfowling ethic to kids there.   Feedback from attendees indicates we’ve got our western toehold! Well done!

There’s still two days to sign up for our first-of-the-season golf outing in Sussex.  You don’t have to be a good golfer (it’s a scramble, best ball team event), it offers some of the best odds on first-rate prizes (including some really neat guns), on a wonderful course.  Sign up here now if you want to be included in the fun.

I was north of Green Bay this past Saturday at WWA’s Abrams property for the first time.  It’s a pretty neat operation and offers an example for WWA to consider implementing in other locations around the state.  It’s ideal for waterfowl breeding, engaging the local community, and can really move our Learn-to-Hunt program forward.  Read President Bruce Urben’s article about the potential establishment of a “Friends of Abrams” group to help with all of these things.

There’s a lot going on in your WWA; you can be proud of what your organization is accomplishing.