Conservationists
Enjoy Get-Together

By Rob Potter
ELDRED — June 16, 2000 -- Over 100 members of the Sullivan County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited gathered at the Eldred Preserve last Saturday evening for the organization’s annual banquet.
In addition to enjoying a great meal and a chance to talk with fellow members who are concerned with wetland conservation, attendees had the chance to win door prizes and bid on auction items. The prizes and items up for bid all featured a nature theme and ranged from official Ducks Unlimited (D.U.) items like pocket watches and mallard decoys to rifles to beautiful paintings and photographs of nature scenes.
Formed in 1937 in Lew Beach, Ducks Unlimited has grown into a national non-profit organization dedicated to waterfowl and wetlands conservation. The voluntary, tax-deductible contributions the organization receives are used to enhance and restore habitat in the United States Canada and Mexico. To date, Ducks Unlimited has conserved approximately 5.3 million acres in North America.
The D.U. Sullivan County Chapter Committee members – Chairperson Debra Steingart, Prize Chairpersons Charles and Gloria Dill, Treasurer Lori Schmitz and Jane Witthohn – joined special guests New York State D.U. Chairman Tom Humberstone and D.U. Regional Director Craig Kessler in thanking all of the members who attended the 63rd annual banquet.
“Ducks Unlimited is the people in this room,” Humberstone said. “Without all of your time and dedication, we would be losing more of our precious wetland habitats.”
Humberstone added that D.U. is very special orginazation because 83 cents of every dollar that is donated is used for conservation and enhancement of wetlands.
While the dedicated members of D.U. helped the organization raise several thousand dollars from Saturday evening’s auction, the committee members also noted the importance of sponsors to the Sullivan County D.U. chapter.
Those sponsors include: Schrade Cutlery, Buddenhagen’s Ford, Inc., Eggler Automatic, Inc., Agway Pet Center, Frank Stratton’s Service Center, Crawford Framing & Art Gallery, Love On A Leash, Riverside Cafe & Lodge, D & L Enterprises, Joe McFadden’s Fly Shop, Grey’s Woodworks, Nancy Crawford, Rowley Building Products, Trading Post - Monticello, Best Western Paramount Hotel, Zanetti’s Service Center, Shaver’s Beaverkill Fish Hatchery, Steingart Associates, Sullivan Diner, Ed Lundquist, Gene Weinstein, Dave Hoag, VideoMania, Mowers & More, Inc., Century 21 Lanza, Eldred Preserve, Gloria & Charlie Dill, Village Wine & Liquors, Leisure Time Ice & Springwater, First National Bank of Jeffersonville, Ellenville National Bank, Superior Building Supply, Elliott’s Office Furniture and Royal Wulff Products.
For more information on Ducks Unlimited, contact Debra Steingart at 295-0313 or Lori Schmitz at 985-0530.