THE HAIL CALL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH. And the winner for January is... From the Duck Blind GEORGIA DU NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

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THE HAIL CALL The Official Volunteer Publication of Georgia Ducks Unlimited Tommy Griffin, State Chairman, ptgriffin@windstream.

1 THE HAIL CALL The Official Volunteer Publication of Georgia Ducks Unlimited Tommy Griffin, State Chairman, Volume Seven, Issue Two February 2012 From the Duck Blind Tommy Griffin, GADU State Chairman As we head into 2012, we have a lot to be proud of in Georgia Ducks Unlimited was a great year, as we continued to build upon our success and grow despite the economy. We have a rich heritage in Georgia of being one of the top States in Ducks Unlimited without as rich a waterfowling heritage as other states. Our accomplishments are only achieved thru the efforts of the countless dedicated volunteers we have in Georgia promises to be a special year in Georgia and Ducks Unlimited nationally as we celebrate Ducks Unlimited s anniversary and 75 years as the number one wetlands and waterfowl organization. DU has some unique items among this year s merchandise along with some new membership incentives at both the individual and the committee levels to celebrate this achievement. Also, the first weekend in June, everyone should make plans to attend the greatest anniversary party in DU s history at the national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. In celebrating DU s 75th anniversary, I would ask each of you to take some extra time and ask what you and your local committee can do to make this one of the greatest years in Georgia Ducks Unlimited history. The state officers are meeting on February 12 to come up with ideas on how to help you, your local committee, and the state to make this a special year for the ducks. Each officer has been asked to bring a business plan on how to achieve VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH And the winner for January is... STATE CHAIRMAN ELECT NEELY RAPER What do you do when shoulder surgery causes you to miss the duck season? Some of us might curse our bad luck, but not this Volunteer of the Month. He decided that if he couldn t hunt ducks then he would help the ducks. Grabbing his son s ipad, Neely proceeded to a solicitation letter to 150 of the biggest names in the outdoor industry. His goal was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited with a state convention that Georgia DU would talk about for years, while raising big bucks for the ducks. You have to see pages 7 through 10 in this newsletter to truly comprehend his salesmanship and the ensuing fruits of his success. His committment to Georgia DU will guarantee that if you miss Callaway Gardens in July, you are missing the GADU event of 2012! THE GREATEST VOLUNTEERS ARE IN GEORGIA! GEORGIA DU NEEDS YOUR HELP!!! We need help in the following communities, so if you know someone in these communities or can help yourself, please contact GADU State Recruiting Chairman Martin Anderson at feetdown@bellsouth.net to volunteer or refer a prospective volunteer for the ducks. Buford, Cairo, Calhoun, DeKalb County, Douglas, Dublin, LaGrange, Statesboro and Tifton SUPPORT TEAM DU IN 2012! From the Duck Blind (continued) their organizational goals and help GADU make 2012 the great year that it can be. Remember, the Regional Directors, District Chairman, and State Officers are here to help. Many thanks for all you have done and will do for the ducks. Happy 75th, Ducks Unlimited!

Banquet 3/22/12 - Rockdale County Banquet 4/5/12 - Ocmulgee River Banquet 4/26/12 - Hahira Banquet 5/30-6/3/12 - DU National Convention 7/20-7/22/12 - GADU State Convention WHY WE VOLUNTEER FOR

2 UPCOMING GEORGIA EVENTS SEE FOR MORE DETAILS 2/9/12 - Coastal Georgia Banquet 2/11/12 - Fayette County Pheasant Shoot 2/23/12 - Adel Banquet 3/1/12 - Winder Banquet 3/2/12 - Dalton Pheasant Shoot 3/6/12 - Hartwell Banquet 3/22/12 - Rockdale County Banquet 4/5/12 - Ocmulgee River Banquet 4/26/12 - Hahira Banquet 5/30-6/3/12 - DU National Convention 7/20-7/22/12 - GADU State Convention WHY WE VOLUNTEER FOR GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED GEORGIA QUICK FACTS Total DU Membership: 15,750 General Members: 13,730 Greenwings: 947 Legacy Greenwings: 74 Sponsor Members: 678 Major Sponsors: 335 Grassroots dollars raised last year: $962,658 Total acres conserved: 22,949 National Membership Committee volunteer Bill Bennett presents Governor Nathan Deal with a DU veteran s challenge coin at the 75th anniversary proclamation ceremony at the state capitol in Atlanta. GADU STATE INITIATIVES FOR ) Net five (<25 existing sponsors) or 10 new Bronze Sponsors (25 or > existing sponsors) and earn a free Remington 887 or equivalent and be entered in a drawing for an Arkansas duck hunt. 2) Net one new Life Sponsor in your chapter and earn a free Stoger 2000 or equivalent for your next event. 3) Net $3,000 (new SBA) or $5,000 (existing SBA) in your chapter and GADU will pay for your D1 banquet dinner gun. 4) Net/Net $2,500 with an additional new event and earn a free Remington 887 or equivalent for your next event. Georgia Ducks Unlimited was well represented by volunteers from around the state during the 75th anniversary proclamation ceremony at the state capitol in Atlanta. VOLUNTEER FOR DU THIS YEAR AND PUT MORE BIRDS IN THE SKY!

FEBRUARY TIP OF THE MONTH GEORGIA DU STATE OFFICERS State Chairman - Tommy Griffin State Chairman Elect - Neely Raper State Council Chairman Bill Bouthillier State Membership and Recruitment Chairman

Anderson State Treasurer Jeff Hutcheson State Sponsor Chairman Tracy Green SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING REQUIRES SOME NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR EVENT THE BASICS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT 1) Fill the hall by

3 FEBRUARY TIP OF THE MONTH GEORGIA DU STATE OFFICERS State Chairman - Tommy Griffin State Chairman Elect - Neely Raper State Council Chairman Bill Bouthillier State Membership and Recruitment Chairman - Martin C. Anderson State Treasurer Jeff Hutcheson State Sponsor Chairman Tracy Green SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING REQUIRES SOME NEW IDEAS FOR YOUR EVENT THE BASICS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EVENT 1) Fill the hall by pre-selling all your tickets. 2) Watch your expenses to increase your efficiency to at least 60 percent. 3) Pursue underwriting for your meal, bar, raffles, and auction to raise your net/net. 4) Build up your chapter s Bronze Sponsor attendance for profitable second-event opportunities. BANQUET IDEA FOR FEBRUARY - Celebrate the 75th Anniversary State Feather Society Chairman Marc DeMott State Greenwing Chairman Louie Maloy State Shoot Chairman Barry Zuckerman Life Sponsor Cumulative Giving Chairman Open State Campaign Chairman - Kel Long State Marketing and Publicity Chairman - George Erwin GA DUCKS UNLIMITED WILL FILL THE HALLS, INCREASE OUR EVENT EFFICIENCY TO 60 PERCENT OR MORE AND SEEK MORE UNDERWRITING IN THE 2012 BANQUET SEASON! This 208-page coffee-table book features never-before-seen photographs and documents unearthed from the DU archives, as well as information you won t find anywhere else firsthand accounts, our lineage of dedicated volunteers and everything you need to know about DU s more recent history. There s also a special full-color catalog of every single DU dinner gun and Artist of the Year print perfect for the avid DU collector! Here is a fundraising idea for your event. Order a copy at ducks.org and have it personalized by your former area chairman, district chairman or any former state chairman in your area. This makes for a special auction bid! There will be a special leather bound edition available for at least some events this year too. HAPPY 75th ANNIVERSARY DUCKS UNLIMITED!

MAJOR DONORS MAJOR DUCKS Investing in the Atlantic Flyway How Much is the Prairie Pothole Region Worth? Canada is the continent s most important waterfowl nursery.

4 MAJOR DONORS MAJOR DUCKS Investing in the Atlantic Flyway How Much is the Prairie Pothole Region Worth? Canada is the continent s most important waterfowl nursery. In 1935, the darkest days of the Dust Bowl, the Canadian Parliament adopted the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act to help landowners in southern Canada re-establish grass on overgrazed pastureland. Unfortunately, most of the Canadian migratory sanctuaries lie in the subarctic, so significant duck production has shifted to the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota. In the United States, the USDA Conservation Reserve Program has provided significant habitat for waterfowl even though its primary purpose is erosion control. The scoring system federal officials use to rank potential CRP contracts leans toward land that is unusually susceptible to soil erosion. This is a huge benefit for slowing run-off, decreasing flood severity, improving water quality, recharging aquifers, and trapping carbon. So what is the PPR actually worth in dollars and cents to us as DU members and volunteers? A 1997 study at the Universary of Maryland calculated that an acre of grasslands provided $94 a year of ecological services, an acre of forest provided $392 and an acre of wetlands provided $6,000. The question that continues to challenge us remains the same, how much are we willing to invest in the land that sustains us? Stretching from the Arctic tundra of Baffin Island to the Caribbean, the Atlantic Flyway spans more than 3,000 miles. This easternmost flyway is composed of the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia; the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec; and the territory of Nunavut. The Atlantic Flyway is the most densely populated of the four flyways and many waterfowl habitats in this region are threatened by development and urban sprawl. DU and its partners have conserved almost 500,000 acres of waterfowl habitat in the Atlantic Flyway to date. SOME REPRESENTATIVE GEORGIA DU PROJECTS: - DNR-managed wetlands complex in Floyd County - Silver Lake WMA in Decatur County - Cordele Fish Hatchery in Crisp County - Penholoway Swamp WMA in Wayne County - Altamaha WMA in McIntosh County - Blanton Creek WMA in Harris County - Mayhaw WMA in Miller County - B.F. Grant WMA in Putnam County - Fishing Creek WMA in Wilkes County - West Point WMA in Troup County - Grand Bay WMA in Lanier County - Horse Creek WMA in Telfair County - Joe Kurz WMA in Meriwether County - Oconee WMA in Putnam and Hancock counties - Rum Creek WMA in Monroe County Make your commitment to SAVE THE BEST for Georgia ducks. Contact Kel Long at AKL3PC@mindspring. com to invest for the future of Georgia ducks and save the prairie breeding areas. It is a conservation fact that more money in the ground means more birds in the skies!

5 Sharing Duck Camp with Neely Raper Georgia DU State Chairman Elect WHAT IS A VOLUNTEER? What is a volunteer? The definition says that a volunteer is a person that has a spirit of service, creativity, sensitivity for a cause or belief, strong moral values, and, most importantly, the ability to work in a team. The definition goes on to state that a volunteer practices solidarity, leadership, good interpersonal skills, discipline, communication skills, and care for themselves and others. A volunteer s heart is pure and free from selfish agendas. Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle said it best before he led the improbable raid that took the fight during WWII to the heart of the Japanese mainland when he said Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer. This is evident when you look back at the first 75 years of Ducks Unlimited. The men who volunteered to fly with Col. Doolittle knew the sacrifices they were making, including great odds against surviving the mission, were necessary for the cause they believed in. Their spirit of service was greater than their spirit of self. The same can be said, albeit in a different situation than that of the Doolittle Raiders, of the men and women that overcame great hardships to make Ducks Unlimited the successful organization it is today. They recognized the fact that something must be done in order to protect wetlands and waterfowl from continued devastation. The volunteer is the lifeblood of Ducks Unlimited. You are the heartbeat and pulse that continue to drive the incredible machine forward. The DU volunteer understands that the secret to success is rolling up your sleeves, pounding the proverbial pavement, and checking your ego at the door. You understand that DU is bigger than any one person. We are a team of people that share a common goal: wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. Thank you for all you continue to do and sacrifice. You truly make a difference and you can take great pride in knowing you are the driving force leading DU towards another successful 75 years! I heard it best put in a movie I saw recently: I fight, you fight, we fight! WE ARE DU! Happy Anniversary, Ducks Unlimited!

CELEBRATE THE 75th ANNIVERSARY Join Georgia DU for the 2012 State Convention Callaway Gardens, July 20-22 It will be a 75th anniversary to remember, with plenty of activities for the whole family at

There are also 27 holes of championship golf and fantastic bass fishing at Callaway Gardens for the sportsman.

6 CELEBRATE THE 75th ANNIVERSARY Join Georgia DU for the 2012 State Convention Callaway Gardens, July It will be a 75th anniversary to remember, with plenty of activities for the whole family at Callaway Gardens this summer. Your children and grandchildren will enjoy the Cecil B. Day butterfly garden, Robin Lake beach and the Tree Top Adventure. There are also 27 holes of championship golf and fantastic bass fishing at Callaway Gardens for the sportsman. If you like shopping, there are antique shops galore in the nearby hamlets of Pine Mountain and Warm Springs. Columbus is just down the road and home to the regional Peachtree Mall. If you are a student of history then you have come to the right place. Here you can see FDR s Little White House, confederate ironclads at the National Civil War Naval Museum and military history at the National Infantry Museum on Fort Benning. Columbus is also home to a vibrant art museum and a museum chronicling the rise of local industrial technology. It will be a state convention to remember, so save the date and watch for further details in the future. See you at Callaway Gardens in July!

7 GADU STATE CONVENTION An Outdoors Superstore at Callaway The weekend of July 20-22, 2012, Georgia Ducks Unlimited will host its annual state convention at the beautiful Callaway Gardens Resort in Pine Mountain. This year s convention will truly be one for the ages as we celebrate Ducks Unlimited s 75th anniversary! We will kick off the weekend with the Waterfowl Hunters Party on Friday night. This will be a great time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Saturday will begin with a waterfowler s breakfast featuring several informative speakers. Following breakfast you will have the opportunity to enjoy all that Callaway Gardens and the surrounding area have to offer. Saturday evening will be highlighted with an awards banquet and auction featuring exclusive items you won t find at a traditional Ducks Unlimited dinner. Take a peek at what will be available from our exclusive sponsors: Refuge Runner Layout Boat from Four Rivers Layout Boats 14 Canoe from Mohawk Canoes Complete Predator Package from FOXPRO Complete Fly Fishing Outfit from Orvis 2 Handheld GPS Units from Lowrance Fly Fishing Reel from Solitude Reels Gift Certificate from MidwayUSA Gift Certificate from Gun Dog Supply Dog Training Equipment from Zinger Custom Acrylic Duck Call from Buck Gardner 2 Duck Calls from Illinois River Calls Shooting Glasses from Pilla Choke Tubes from Kicks Chokes Choke Tubes from Briley Chokes Gift Certificate for Boots from Lacrosse Fly Reel from Tibor Reels Compound Bow from Mathews Smoker from Smokehouse Products Binoculars from Vortex Optics Fly Rod from Hexagraph Flotation Jacket from Absolute Outdoor 4 Man, 2 Day Arkansas Snow Goose Hunt from Three Rivers Hunting Gear Package from Drake Waterfowl Systems Exclusive 75th Anniversary Ducks Unlimited Merchandise This is just the beginning! As you can see this is truly going to be an event to remember. So please mark your calendars and plan on bringing the entire family to Callaway Gardens Resort the weekend of July 20-22, 2012, and let s celebrate 75 successful years of Ducks Unlimited together.

8 Georgia Ducks Unlimited State Convention Sponsors

9 PRO DRIVE BOATS Georgia Ducks Unlimited State Convention Sponsors

10 Georgia Ducks Unlimited State Convention Contributors

12 MONTHLY PAY OPTION YOUR BRONZE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY Were you aware that you can fulfill any sponsorship with a monthly pay option? This means any sponsorship level such as a $250 bronze sponsorship, a $500 silver sponsorship, or a $1,000 gold sponsorship can be paid via MPO. In fact, you can even use MPO to fund your life sponsorship or other major donor gift to spread out the payments on a monthly basis. The way it works is simplicity itself in that it allows Ducks Unlimited to debit you around the 15th of each month. The debit can be charged to a credit card, which is also a great way to rack up rewards points, or it can be debited from a checking account. IMAGINE SAVING AN ACRE AS A BRONZE SPONSOR FOR LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR PER DAY! Bronze Sponsor = $20.84 per month Silver Sponsor = $41.67 per month Gold Sponsor = $83.34 per month Life Sponsor = $ per month over five years This will allow you to help those ducks that wing their way in front of your blind. In Georgia, our priority is the Prairie Pothole Region, since approximately 50 percent of our ducks breed on the Great Plains. Here is a great idea for your next banquet or sponsor function, the Sponsor Thermometer A Sponsor can have his or her name applied to a line on the thermometer once for every $250 of sponsorship (Bronze = 1 line, Silver = 2 lines and Gold = 4 lines). You then give something away for every five lines. The ideal situation here is for 100 percent of the merchandise to be underwritten or donated, but the total absolute cost for the committee on merchandise should never exceed $200 for every 10 sponsors since this is NOT designed to be a trading-dollars-for-dollars program. When used correctly, this program will add valuable dollars to the bottom line of your event and add crucial acres of habitat on the ground. For more information, contact GADU Sponsor Chairman Tracey Green at (478) or wtgreen@gfb.org

AN EASY GEORGIA DU ACTION STRATEGY FOR 2012-2013 SEALED BID AUCTION FUNDRAISING - THIS IS THE ONE SEASON THAT NEVER CLOSES!

While DU hosts approximately 5,000 dinner and outdoor events every year, the SBA program provides volunteers with an opportunity

With the ability to reach a broad audience, participation is sure to benefit your local chapter.

13 AN EASY GEORGIA DU ACTION STRATEGY FOR SEALED BID AUCTION FUNDRAISING - THIS IS THE ONE SEASON THAT NEVER CLOSES! The Sealed Bid Auction Program is another fundraising tool available to Ducks Unlimited chapters. While DU hosts approximately 5,000 dinner and outdoor events every year, the SBA program provides volunteers with an opportunity to raise grassroots funds year round. With the ability to reach a broad audience, participation is sure to benefit your local chapter. Businesses that choose to participate can demonstrate to the public their commitment to environmental conservation and proudly show their DU support. For information about bringing SBA to your community, please contact your regional director or Ducks Unlimited national headquarters today.

15 GEORGIA DUCKS UNLIMITED SAVE AN ACRE RAFFLE Celebrating 10 years of partnership between Anheuser-Busch and Georgia Ducks Unlimited One lucky person will win the first 10 #1 Budweiser Decoys and a 75th Anniversary DU Gun of the Year, a specially engraved Browning Maxus. Only 75 chances will be sold so buy your chance and help conserve an acre of wetlands, forever. The Save an Acre raffle drawing will be held at the GADU state convention in July 2012 and you need not be present to win.

THE HAIL CALL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH. And the winner for February is... From the Duck Blind BRAGGING RIGHTS GEORGIA DU NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

THE HAIL CALL VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH. And the winner for February is... From the Duck Blind BRAGGING RIGHTS GEORGIA DU NEEDS YOUR HELP!!! THE HAIL CALL The Official Volunteer Publication of Georgia Ducks Unlimited Tommy Griffin, State Chairman, ptgriffin@windstream.net Volume Seven, Issue Three March 2012 From the Duck Blind Tommy Griffin,