By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s May, 2022 Newsletter edition.
It’s cold and rainy as I write this – 20 degrees below normal for this time of year – and I’m wearing a sweater and light jacket as I sit at my desk! Pam (my wife) reminds me that I consciously chose to live in Wisconsin after retiring from the military two decades ago. I’m beginning to re-think that decision, but I can take some solace that the wet weather is beginning to address the state’s drought conditions that we ended the winter with. Which, if it ever warms, will be good for duck broods. So there’s that.
I am working on WWA’s 2021 annual report, which should be published later this month. There’s so much good to report that I’m having a problem staying within my self-imposed page limit. And there’s a lot of good to report abut this year so far, too; revenues are above budget, new initiatives offer expansion opportunities, and EXPO planning is marching along very nicely. It’s a good time to be a part of TEAM WWA.
The Board of Directors has re-looked at how our grassroots chapters can be re-structured to evolve with the changing interests of volunteers. And the Board has also created a program that allows chapters to retain some of the funds they raised for local projects and initiatives. Both initiatives are a sign that WWA is looking to grow as an organization. Want to play a role?
We have identified a list of unique volunteer opportunities that go well beyond traditional fundraising…. Check out that list in the next article. And the Waterfowl Hunters EXPO continues to bring new and exciting opportunities to the state and its organizers.
Since the beginning of the EXPO, organizers were committed to the idea that this would be sustainable for the long haul, and that profit was not going to be the motivator. Last month, the Steering team agreed to use all proceeds from the EXPO to further pursuits that are important to the state’s waterfowlers: R3 (recruit, retain and reactive) activities, habitat restoration and support of wetland and duck-related scholarships and research. And we created an Education Committee to establish and accomplish important waterfowl-related educational goals. These are important steps as we move forward with an increasingly successful and larger EXPO.
We have EXPO opportunities for leaders who want to move this phenomenal event forward; call me to get involved. And in any case, mark your calendars for Saturday 27 August.
Enjoy this month’s newsletter – there are articles on decoy carvers, award-winning wardens, raffle opportunities, project work and more. Make sure to click through into each article – there are interesting surprises to be found!