Illinois Ducks Unlimited Ill When it s time to review think DU! Editor: Bill Sarafin In This Issue Illinois DU License Plate 2 Volunteers 2 Champaing-Urbana DU Chapter 3 A Word From Our Chairman Another year, and another waterfowl season, has ended in Illinois. I hope you were able to make it out hunting this year. It was reported to be one of the better seasons we have seen in recent years. I guess that is due mostly to Mother Nature s effect on the migration here in Illinois. But don t forget, the number of ducks we have seen is directly related to the amount of activity from your local chapters. The regional district meetings are underway for the spring season. Please take advantage of these opportunities to attend and learn about the latest programs and see the new merchandise package offered by DU. Remember, two important keys to improving your bottom line at this year s events;get merchandise items underwritten and increase the number of sponsor memberships. Of course, we also need to focus on the first three DU goals of recruiting more volunteers, filling the halls through increased ticket sales and improving net/net growth. By focusing on these points I know you will have a successful event. And don t forget to make it fun at the event so the members will return next year. That s all for now Don t forget to register for the state convention in February, it will be better than ever! I hope you and your families had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please also remember our men and women in the armed forces as they continue to protect our freedom. Illinois State Convention Ticket Order Form 4 State Convention YouTube Video 4 Earn-A-Gun Promotion 5 Upcoming Events 6 State Facts 6 Help Wanted 7 IL State Chairman 8 National Officers 8 Galen L. Johnson Illinois State Chairman
Illinois DU License Plate DU president George Dunklin presents life sponsor pin to Area Chairman Steve Worth at the Lake Forest dinner. After completing the requirements of the State of Illinois, the DU license plate is finally available for purchase. To order one of these license plates, please visit: cyberdriveillinois.com and select Pick-a-Plate, your vehicle type, Specialty, and Ducks Unlimited. For every DU license plate ordered, $25 goes directly to IL DU. Thank you to all those who were involved in making this dream a reality. A special thanks goes out to Doug Oberhelman, CEO, Caterpillar, INC and Jim King, Senior RD, Central Illinois. Volunteers: Things to remember *Recruit your replacement *Coach, mentor, support. *Build committee strength and promote growth. *Ticket sales in advance are your committee s primary focus. *You cannot hope for walk-in business. NEW VOLUNTEERS Make sure your volunteers are engaged in your committee. Think of a POST event raffle. Schedule meet and greets with your committee. Encourage participation for ALL volunteers! They too will become great contributors to your events. Each committee member plays a role no matter how small or large in providing for the future of waterfowling, wetlands and pure water. Be proud of your efforts! *SELL, SELL, SELL Be a Sponsor Save an acre - $250 annual donation or just $20.84 a month. Check out the Sponsor Link on www.ducks.org/illinois II
Champaign-Urbana DU Chapter Father and son owners of MD Calls, custom waterfowl calls in Danville, IL created a 56" duck call. Mark Hillary and son Damen handcrafted the call and are waiting for the results of their application to Guinness World. Alan Lovell from the Champaign-Urbana DU Chapter writes I made contact with Mark and Damen and they agreed to display the call at our DU banquet on September 12. The call created a lot of interest, and is actually a real, working call. Danville does not have a local DU Chapter so both Mark and Damen renewed their DU membership and donated two calls for our auction. III
Illinois State Convention 2014.ildu.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvjocz5ilos IV
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Upcoming Events Illinois State Convention Welcome Party Embassy Suites, East Peoria Friday, February 07, 2014 Illinois State Convention Embassy Suites, East Peoria Saturday, February 08, 2014 Chain-O-Lakes / Fox Lake Dinner Friday, February 28, 2014 South Suburban Dinner Friday, March 14, 2014 DU National Convention May 28 June 1, 2014 St Louis, MO State Facts Based on numbers Available as of 01/01/13 Total Membership 27,887 Greenwings 1,968 Legacy Greenwings 647 Sponsor Members 2,026 Major Sponsors 445 2012 Grassroots Total $2,852.096 Total Acres Conserved 45,545 VI
Just as ducks need us to help provide adequate habitat for their migration, IL DU needs chapters in the following areas. If you know anyone or have friends in these areas, please contact the state chairman or your local Regional Director. Chapter Bloomington Carlinville Danville Contact Jim King jking@ducks.org Robinson O Fallon Olney Jon Sturgill jsturgill@ducks.org Monmouth Galena Galesburg Waukegan Elgin Yorkville Brett Brown Bbrown2@ducks.org We are also looking for additional volunteers for the following chapters: Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Streamwood, IL Grundy County Naperville, IL West Suburban Area Aurora VII
Illinois Ducks Unlimited Il.du.org Illinois State Chairman Galen Johnson gjohnson7555@yahoo.com Illinois State Chairman Elect Bill Sarafin wjsarafin@gmail.com State Treasurer Bob Burton burtonrs@aol.com State Secretary Bill Sarafin wjsarafin@gmail.com State Greenwing Chairman Pat Killian pkillian@eastsidesupply.net State Webmaster Jonathan Fields jfields@jfields.com State Convention Chairman Frank Lempke Frank.Lemcke@carefusion.com State Convention Co-Chairman Bill Harrter archmasonryinc@comcast.net State enewsletter Editor Bill Sarafin wjsarafin@gmail.com Ducks Unlimited National Officers Senior Vice President Rex Schulz At-Large Member Diane Oberhelman Ducks Unlimited Staff Senior Regional Director-NW Illinois Brett Brown bbrown2@ducks.org Senior Regional Director- Central Illinois Jim King jking@ducks.org Regional Director-Southern Illinois Jon Sturgill jsturgill@ducks.org Regional Biologist-Illinois Eric Schenck eschenck@ducks.org Regional Biologist-Indiana (Leading Projects in Southern Illinois) Mike Sertle msertle@ducks.org Director of Fundraising & Volunteer Relations Troy LaRue tlarue@ducks.org Directors of Development Steve Kass skass@ducks.org James Roberts jroberts@ducks.org VIII