Contact: Todd Spence, Publicity Chairman
Email: info@morgancountywaterfowlers.org

 McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio, September 29, 2005— The cause of North American wetlands and waterfowl conservation was given a boost this week when the Morgan County Waterfowlers Ducks Unlimited committee raised more than $20,000 at its first annual banquet held at the Morgan County Fairgrounds on September 22nd.
         "It’s great and exciting to see such an enthusiastic turnout for our first year’s fund-raiser," said Donny Strader, Jr., DU committee chairman. "It is also reassuring to know that nearly 86 percent of every dollar we raise is funneled directly into DU’s wetland habitat restoration programs throughout North America."
 Strader continued, "I would like to congratulate the members of the committee who put together this event, and I would like to thank the individuals and businesses that donated their time and merchandise to make this event a success."
         Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest private sector waterfowl, wetlands, and wildlife conservation organization, with one million supporters and members in the U.S. Since its inception in 1937, DU has raised nearly $2 billion and conserved nearly 11 million acres of habitat throughout North America.
         “Mark your calendars for next year’s banquet event! It will be held on September 21, 2006 at a location to be determined later”, said Todd Spence, the DU Chapter’s Publicity Chairman. Spence added, “You can check our website for updated information about other events as well.”
         For more information about Ducks Unlimited, contact Donny Strader at 962-4787, visit the chapter’s website: www.morgancountywaterfowlers.org, or contact DU’s National Headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., at (901) 758-DUCK (3825).
         Watch for additional detailed banquet information, information about donors and sponsors, and pictures from the event in future editions of the Morgan County Herald.