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Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited encouraged by passage of HR5764
Great Lakes Initiative Act of 2014 headed to the senate
Ducks Unlimited is encouraged by the passage of house resolution 5764, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014. The resolution would fund the Great Lakes Restoration Act for five years, allowing better planning and resource disposition.
"We're grateful for the continued leadership of Rep. David Joyce (OH) and also Reps. Dingell (MI), Levin (MI) and Slaughter (NY)," said David Brakhage, director of DU's Great Lakes and Atlantic office. "Carefully planned legislation to continue support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative lets stakeholders make better, more productive plans, and we all reap the benefits through better habitat for waterfowl, improved recreation and clean drinking water."
The bill now heads to the senate.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a federal program designed to target the most significant problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem, including habitat conservation, invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution and contaminated sediment.
"Projects to achieve those GLRI-desired outcomes are programmatically aligned with Ducks Unlimited's goals to improve habitat for waterfowl." Brakhage said. "This legislation is a vital piece of conservation in the Great Lakes for Ducks Unlimited and our members."
DU completes Construction to Help Bismarck-area Shooting Enthusiasts
Ducks Unlimited (DU) has completed construction on an improved shooting range at MacLean Bottoms Wildlife Management Area (WMA) south of Bismarck. In partnership with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department(NDGF), DU engineers surveyed, designed and managed construction of the shooting range in accordance with National Rifle Association guidelines.
"This is an unconventional project for DU. We have skilled engineers and were looking to expand our services to one of our long time partners beyond creating waterfowl habitat," said Roger Smith, DU director of engineering. "NDGF needed engineering services for this project and we had the resources to help."
The range now has seven shooting stations at 200 yards, 15 shooting stations at 100 yards and nine shooting stations at 25 yards for rifle and pistol target shooting. Each station has a handicap access ramp and construction crews laid concrete and asphalt to improve the parking lot and road.
"We conducted a topographic survey of the area and oriented the range to eliminate sun glare from the shooting areas," said Brad Karel, DU engineer and manager of the project. "Everything on the range is meant to serve people who not only hunt, but also enjoy shooting sports and marksmanship."
Other features of the range include a 12-foot high berm around each range to eliminate ricochet, new concrete tables with seats for left-handed and right-handed shooters, and the entire shooting area was moved closer to the roadway for easier access.
"This is the public's range and we want people to take ownership of the range, enjoy and appreciate it and abide by the rules to keep it safe so we can keep it open into the future," said Bill Haase, NDGF Wildlife Resource Management area supervisor.
Haase stated 75 percent of the funding for the range came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through Pitman-Robertson Act funds and 25 percent was state funding from NDGF generated by hunting license sales. Ducks Unlimited provided in-kind services.
Part of DU's core values is to support activities that promote hunting and shooting sports. The McLean Bottoms shooting range is a valuable asset to anyone who wants to practice and perfect their shooting.
Media Contact:
Jennifer P. Kross
701-202-8896
jkross@ducks.org
Margaret Everson appointed Chief Policy Officer for Ducks Unlimited
– Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced today that Margaret Everson, a former assistant attorney general of Kentucky and general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, has been named Chief Policy Officer (CPO) of the organization. Everson will begin her career with DU on Dec. 15.
"Margaret has helped design and implement conservation advocacy efforts with governmental bodies and non-governmental stakeholders," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "Her deep connections in the conservation community will help her keep Ducks Unlimited members and staff informed about proposed policies and legislation and advocate for results that benefit DU's mission."
Everson is currently the principal at Everson Consulting in Alexandria, Va., where she advises state agencies, nongovernmental entities, and industry on wildlife, conservation, and natural resource matters. While working in Kentucky, she was involved with numerous natural resource issues, including coal mining, wind power, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act.
From 2006 to 2008, Everson was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve as counselor to Dale Hall, then director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prior to joining the FWS, Everson was with the Department of the Interior's solicitor's office for four years, where she provided legal analysis and policy recommendations for the department and its agencies in matters pertaining to restoration of the South Florida ecosystem and the Everglades.
From 1996 to 1998, Everson worked with International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on national fish and wildlife resource management, conservation, and legislative issues on behalf of state fish and wildlife agencies.
"Thanks to its dedicated volunteers and staff, Ducks Unlimited has been at the forefront of wetlands and waterfowl conservation for more than 75 years," Everson said. "Habitat conservation is an increasingly important part of the national conversation and I am excited for the opportunity to work alongside DU's talented staff, volunteers, and other members of the conservation community to advocate for improved wetlands and other habitat that will benefit wildlife and people."
DU's CPO plans, directs and oversees the policies relating to all phases of government relations in DU's conservation efforts, and provides analysis on proposed legislation and regulations for possible impacts and effects on the organization. Along with keeping her finger on the pulse inside the Beltway, Everson will also plan and direct public policy conservation campaigns in support of DU's organizational goals.
Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
(901) 758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org
Pheasants Forver
Charity Navigator Names Pheasants Forever 4-Star Charity for 3rd Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, Pheasants Forever has been recognized with a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest charity evaluator. The wildlife habitat conservation organization is now categorized among a select group of American charities – just 12 percent – that have received three consecutive 4-star ratings.
According to Charity Navigator, Pheasants Forever outperforms most other charities in the United States. Standing as one of the "exceptional" charities in America, the recognition differentiates Pheasants Forever from its peers and demonstrates a high level of fiscal responsibility to members and donors.
• Charity Navigator rating: Pheasants Forever
"We are proud to have a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for a third consecutive year," explained Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's President and CEO. "Transparency of how we use donations and membership dollars is important for the public and individuals who support our mission. As a top charity in the nation, this evaluation is further proof that our sound fiscal management, commitment to accountability, and operational transparency drive our effectiveness. With crucial donor and member support, we'll continue to be the leader in wildlife habitat conservation." Last year, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever wildlife habitat projects impacted pheasants, quail and other upland wildlife on 1.46 million acres, the highest annual acreage total in Pheasants Forever's 32-year history.
Pheasants Forever continues to operate very efficiently by directing more than 90 cents out of every dollar directly into the organization's mission of wildlife habitat conservation. Since forming in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent more than $500 million on wildlife habitat projects and conservation education. Those funds have translated into 475,000 habitat projects benefiting more than 10 million acres across the country.
About Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator has become the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. In their quest to help donors, a team of professional analysts has examined tens of thousands of non-profit financial documents. They've used this knowledge to develop an unbiased, objective, numbers-based rating system to assess over 7,000 of America's best-known and some lesser known, but worthy, charities. Ratings show givers how efficiently a charity will use their support today, how well it has sustained its programs and services over time and their level of commitment to good governance, best practices and openness with information.
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org
Pheasants Forever Promotes Christensen to Western Minnesota Regional Representative
Pheasants Forever has named Matt Christensen as the organization's Western Minnesota Regional Representative. Previously, Christensen served as a Pheasants Forever habitat specialist. In his new position, Christensen will support and promote the conservation work of Pheasants Forever chapters in southwest, west-central and northwest Minnesota.
"Christensen has been a strong addition to the Pheasants Forever team and we are excited about the direction he will take the organization in this new role," stated Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever's north region director. "His passion and commitment to our mission is highlighted by his volunteerism with multiple chapters and the work he has accomplished thus far for Pheasants Forever."
Originally from Elk River, Minn., Christensen has been employed with Pheasants Forever since 2007, having served as a habitat specialist working in the prairie region of the state. In addition to this role, he volunteers his time as an active committee member for both the Stevens County and Glacial Ridge Chapters of Pheasants Forever near his current residence of Kensington, Minn.
"I am excited to be starting in my new role as regional representative and supporting the great chapters we have in the state of Minnesota," explained Christensen. "With the upcoming Pheasant Summit being hosted in December as well as the numerous habitat programs available in the state, I look forward to working with chapters to make habitat conservation a continued priority for Minnesota."
Christensen earned a B.S. in Wildlife Management in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever in 2007, Christensen was a research technician for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, responsible for monitoring the movements of sage grouse in western Colorado and maintaining landowner relationships in the area. Supporting him during this transition is his wife, Erin, and their two children, Jake and Avery. Christensen will officially start as the Western Minnesota Regional Representative on November 18, 2014.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org
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