When I was a boy, one of the ways we could make a little extra spending money was to ride around on our bikes picking up soft drink bottles and returning them to the store for one or two cents apiece. At that time, a small deposit was paid on each drink bottle purchased and you'd get your deposit back when the bottle was returned. The deposit requirement all but disappeared—at least in most states—in the late 1960s or early 1970s, with the advent of plastic bottles and containers. I, for one, lament the loss of this practice.

You see, when something extra is given in order to enjoy a pleasure in life, we tend to appreciate it more. The mere act of returning the bottles for their deposit bestowed a worth that is not appreciated today with the plastic recycling process. In many places, recycling is seen as an extra burden because the participants really don't see a material gain for themselves as individuals. In other words, it doesn't fit in with their value system because no commitment was made and no individual benefit is perceived.

A very dear friend of mine, Mamie Parker, once told me that her mother lectured her about the importance of giving and self-sacrifice. She taught that in order to appreciate an accomplishment, a deposit of ourselves was required. That wise lady told her daughter that in life "no deposit, no return" dictated both self-esteem and pride of accomplishment.

At Ducks Unlimited, we are humbled by the incredible commitment to conservation made by those who came before us. As I travel around the country and meet our volunteers and employees, my soul is renewed by the visible manifestation of that same commitment today. Our volunteers and employees make "deposits" every day in order to ensure that future generations will realize a "return" by enjoying the beauty of wetlands and waterfowl conserved today.

This fall I visited the Prairie Pothole Region and observed firsthand the wonderful bounty of wildlife and wetlands we have been given. They aren't ours to own, but rather ours to enjoy, improve, and pass along to future generations. I had the privilege of holding a young male pintail while a band was placed around its leg to help us understand more about its life cycle and movements. I can't explain the sense of humility and gratitude I felt at that moment.

At more than 4,500 fund-raising events held by Team DU across the country each year, there are always auctions and prizes that have become the hallmark of DU. People that don't know the passion of the DU family tend to think this is just "fundraising." In my opinion, it is far, far more important than that. At each event, unnamed volunteers and staff have worked hard behind the scenes to make a personal deposit of themselves—of yourselves. Everyone at DU knows that the money raised goes to conserving, protecting, or restoring essential wetland and grassland habitat so the resources that are of such a tremendous value to us can be assured the longevity they deserve. These volunteers ask little in return for this labor of love. They know that their work today will be appreciated by generations to come, even if those in future generations don't ever know their names. But they will know we were here.

Ducks Unlimited has done nothing short of phenomenal work for the past 74 years. Now it's our turn to make the essential deposits necessary to ensure that return we all so fervently want. Future generations are depending on us. We will not let them down.