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The WAT Report News and Updates for WAT Trustees Summer 2012

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The WAT Report News and Updates for WAT Trustees Summer 2012 THE WAT REPORT NEWS AND UPDATES FOR WAT TRUSTEES SuMMEr 2012 WETLANDS AMERICA TRUST: BUILDING A LEGACY As Ducks Unlimited celebrates its 75th Anniversary in grand style, it is important to recognize the critical role Wetlands America Trust has played in DU’s storied history. The Ducks Unlimited Foundation was established in 1955 by several of DU’s founders and elder statesmen. The foundation was intended to “insure the perpetuity of Ducks Unlimited operations in the United States and Canada, the objectives of the DU Foundation are similar to those of the DU organization…” From securing the first true major gifts for the restoration of the Hay Lake Complex, to promoting the organization’s first efforts at planned giving, the DU Foundation played a critical role in DU’s conservation mission and the dramatic growth of the organization. Just like the founders of the DU Foundation, our current WAT trustees play a key role in the success of Ducks Unlimited. From political influence in Washington to leading the largest fundraising campaign conducted by a conservation organization, each WAT trustee has created a personal legacy. I hope you take a measure of pride in the role you have played in the 75-year history of Ducks Unlimited and the 57-year history of Wetlands America Trust. As always, thank you for all you do for the ducks! Sincerely, Dan Thiel NEW WAT TRUSTEE ELECTED James “Jim” W. Ayers is a successful west Tennessee businessman who currently serves as President of Ayers Asset Management, Inc. and Founder of the Ayers Foundation. In addition to these positions, he also serves as: President, Ayers & Associates, Inc.; Founder and Chairman, First Bank; Chairman, First South Bancorp, Inc.; President, Tennessee Health Management, Inc.; President and Chairman, Community South Bank; Chairman, Group Data Services, Inc.; Manager, Hawker Aviation Services, LLC; President, Lewis County Manor, Inc.; Chairman, Cookeville Manor, Inc.; and President, Paris Health Care. Ducks Unlimited is currently working with Jim and the Ayers Foundation on a significant 2012 commitment in support of our priority habitats and youth program. Jim is recognized as a current member of the President’s Council, a lifelong waterfowler and one of Tennessee’s leading philanthropists. Jim received his B.B.A. from the University of Memphis in 1965 and honorary doctorate degrees from Freed-Hardeman University and Union University. He and his wife, Janet, split their time between homes in Nashville, Parsons and Johnson City, Tennessee. Jim is a thought-leader, an ardent proponent of education, a duck hunter and a passionate supporter of Ducks Unlimited’s mission to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats. $75 MILLION PLEDGE FROM KENNEDY, CHILDS AND GROHNE HIGHLIGHT OF 75TH DU NATIONAL CONVENTION WAT President John Childs (left) and Trustees Jim Kennedy (right) and David Grohne (pictured right) announced their joint $75 million commitment to Ducks Unlimited’s conservation efforts on the last day of the 75th Anniversary DU National Convention in Nashville. y virtually any standard, the landmark the first-ever DU Family Reunion event, and Tennessee Bcelebration at Ducks Unlimited’s 75th Governor Bill Haslam, part of Friday morning’s business Anniversary National Convention in Nashville was session line-up. Both men spoke about the importance a rousing success. A host of political dignitaries, of conserving Tennessee’s waterfowl and wildlife habitat industry partners and dedicated DU supporters from and other critical natural resources, as well as expressing across North America turned out for the milestone pride that Ducks Unlimited calls their state its home. event, totaling a record attendance of more than 1,400. On Thursday afternoon, President and CEO The biggest highlight of the week came at the Rebecca Rimel of The Pew Charitable Trusts sat very end, as WAT President John Childs and Trustee alongside DU’s Hall to sign a memorandum of Jim Kennedy took the stage. Each man, along with agreement with Ducks Unlimited to extend the Trustee David Grohne, committed a generous $25 organizations’ conservation partnership for another 10 million estate gift to ensure the future of DU’s wetlands years and redouble efforts to safeguard Canada’s boreal and waterfowl conservation mission. The total $75 forest, the largest intact forest on earth, after a decade of million commitment was the perfect crescendo to an unprecedented progress. The work is based on a “50-50” unforgettable 75th anniversary celebration for the concept that provides strict protections for half of the organization. boreal forest, with sustainable standards applied to “It was an amazing thing to stand among the core of the rest. DU and Pew’s partnership is part of a century the DU family and witness this outpouring of generosity of U.S.-Canadian collaboration to safeguard North on behalf of not only waterfowl, but also our sons and America’s natural resources. daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” said A large crowd of DU volunteers, staff and supporters, DU CEO Dale Hall. “Even though Ducks Unlimited’s as well as several members of the local media, gathered 75th anniversary year lasts until December, we are as Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed the 2012 starting the next 75 years right now. Jim Kennedy, John Revision of the North American Waterfowl Management Childs and Dave Grohne ensured a successful and Plan on behalf of the United States. He then engaged memorable beginning to this new era for DU.” DU supporters in a Q&A session about the plan and WAT Trustee Doug Oberhelman also spoke on the future of waterfowl and wetlands conservation in Friday morning about the strength of DU’s brand and the Washington, D.C., and beyond. important relationship DU and Caterpillar share through During the final business session on Saturday their commitment to conservation and environmental morning, Discover was announced as DU’s new sustainability to benefit future generations. financial services partner, offering a new line of DU Among the political dignitaries in attendance were credit cards that benefit DU and the opportunity for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), who spoke to all cardholders to donate their Cashback Bonus dollars convention attendees on Wednesday evening as part of directly to the organization’s conservation work. 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENT: DAVIS ISLAND, MISSISSIPPI In December 2011, the Dale family and its heirs contribute to accomplishing DU’s land protection donated a 6,090-acre tract of land known as the Davis goals in the Lower Mississippi River priority area. Island conservation easement in Warren County, Davis Island is part of a corridor of frequently flooded, Mississippi. The easement permanently protects more largely natural habitat that exists along the unprotected than 380 acres of emergent wetlands and 4,958 acres batture lands inside the Mississippi River levee system. of forested wetlands, 4,658 of which are bottomland The landowners’ goal is to protect and maintain hardwood timber – prime waterfowl habitat. The the important wildlife habitat of the property in its property is well known for being owned by the current state. The forest, which is currently managed in Confederate States of America President Jefferson a manner that benefits wildlife and waterfowl habitat, Davis and his brother Joseph. Numerous historical will be managed pursuant to a forest management plan. artifacts remain on the property, including the columns Water control structures, impoundments and food plots of Davis’ home, which was burned by federal troops also exist on the property to enhance wildlife habitat. All during the Civil War. future buildings will be restricted to a limited area where A good portion of the island was farmed until the existing camp facilities are currently located. Roads early 1980s, then most of the farmland was enrolled in and other infrastructure will be minimized to limit CRP and either used for permanent herbaceous cover or the impact on the property. This perpetual easement planted to the bottomland hardwoods that remain today. through DU/WAT will ensure the natural habitat of the Davis Island is home to an unusual number of Davis Island property is protected for generations. oak trees (mostly water oak), along with bitter pecan, WAT Trustee Bruce Lewis grew up in Woodville, persimmon and sycamore. The natural habitat on Mississippi, about a mile from Jefferson Davis’ the island remains largely unchanged from the pre- boyhood home, and spent his youth out in the woods settlement era and warrants protection by providing surrounding the property. It is especially significant the same type of habitat waterfowl depended on then. and satisfying for Bruce to be able to assist in The combination of natural wetland habitats and preserving the conservation value of this land tied to the frequently flooded bottomland hardwoods will Davis and his boyhood. The property is well known for being owned by the Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis and his brother Joseph. Numerous historical artifacts remain on the property, including the columns of Davis’ home, which was burned by federal troops during the Civil War. 3 75TH ANNIVERSARY 1937-2012 The crowd at the New York 75th anniversary event. NEW YORk – FEBRUary 2, 2012 Ducks Unlimited supporters celebrated the first 75th anniversary gala event of the year at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, acknowledging the storied past of the conservation organization while setting their sights on an even greater future. Before event festivities began, the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Anada Tiéga, silent counterpart, featured trips and guns not seen on met with DU CEO Dale Hall to sign a memorandum the regular circuit. The crowd was engaged and excited, of cooperation between the two organizations. The and the items generated thousands of dollars for Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that wetlands conservation.
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