Some groups come and go, and others go on and on.
Place Centre Wellington’s Duck’s Unlimited Canada chapter in that latter bunch.
The group is holding its 25th annual fundraising dinner on March 26 this year at the Fergus community centre.
Since this is a particular celebration, the regular dinner and auction will be preceded with a wine and cheese reception starting at 5pm, and there are a number of other special events being planned throughout the evening.
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a registered charity and was founded in 1938. It works with governments, conservation authorities, and private landowners to improve critical wetland breeding areas for waterfowl and other wildlife.
Agricultural and urban development have drastically reduced such breeding areas, causing significant declines in waterfowl populations. Money raised at the banquet will help build, on private or public lands, control structures that improve and stabilize water conditions, thereby increasing wildlife breeding areas.
The Centre Wellington Chapter is one of more than 300 local groups across Canada that raise funds for the work of DUC. The main attractions at the DUC dinners have been the auction and raffle of high quality items contributed or sponsored by local or national business organizations.
All contributions are given full recognition in the dinner program and during the auction or raffle. For example, a cash contribution of $125 or more will sponsor the framing of a Ducks Unlimited exclusive wildlife print, and the contributor’s name will be attached to that item. Those who donate $250 or more received a beautiful print.
Harvey Miller has been soliciting donations for the banquet for years, and is quite proud of Centre Wellington’s success with its event.
He said the average profit from the dinner over the years has been $12,000, but that has jumped recently to closer to $15,000. “We do really good,” he said, adding that the guests will come from as far away as Hamilton, Orangeville, and Creemore.
“We’ve always had a really good crowd,” he said.
Contacts for the club include treasurer Stan Whiston at 519-469-9606 or whistrob@hotmail.com, Davin Ciglen, at 519-855-9876, or Miller, at 519-843-3431.
There are a number of types of tickets available:
– a couple’s ticket, $75, which includes two dinners, and one DUC membership and Conservator subscription, and two entries in the door prize raffle;
– single ticket, $50, includes dinner, a DUC membership and Conservator subscription, and door prize entry;
– table ticket, $300, includes eight dinners, four DUC memberships and subscriptions, a reserved table, and entry into a special raffle;
– a DUC member ticket is $25, for one dinner and entry in the door prize raffle. To qualify, present a currently-active DUC membership number; and
– DUC member and guest ticket, $50, or, as a member, buy a ticket covering the cost of two dinners and entries in the door prize raffle. Present the DUC currently active member number to qualify.
In all cases, ticket stubs are to be presented at the door will be placed in the mail before the banquet.
