The Anchorage Spring BBQ, held at Anchorage's new Denaina Convention Center on Saturday, April 25, was the largest DU event ever held in Alaska, and perhaps will be the largest in the nation in 2009.
The event, under the leadership of 4th year Area Chairman Marlin Scoby, attracted 930 attendees and netted nearly $200,000 for DU's conservation mission. In a year when the economy is being blamed for reductions in grass roots income, the Spring BBQ committee maintained its vision with spectacular results.
The 2009 numbers represent a whopping 67% ($80,000) increase in net/net income and a 33% attendance increase over the previous year, five successive years of event growth, and performance that will beyond doubt earn a third consecutive year on the President's List of the top 100 events in the nation. The 2008 event ranked #9 on the President's List, and helped Alaska lead the nation with a 15% increase in grass roots income.
The 2009 Spring BBQ featured a raffle for a Toyota Tundra pick-up truck, sponsored by Kendall Auto Group. The event committee included 40 DU volunteers, who did all of the planning, promotion, solicition, and ticket sales. Volunteer employees of Sportsman's Warehouse handled the transactions for over 150 firearms that were auctioned or raffled on the evening. Volunteer support was also provided by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game "Becoming and Outdoors Woman" (BOW) group, and by the Boy Scouts of America.
Corey Doil, the former Area Chairman of this event (2004-2006) had this to say: "When I recruited Marlin Scoby to this committee, he kept telling me about all the ideas he had. I said 'Show me, don't tell me'. Well, he did!".
Marlin also recieved a personally-signed letter from DU president, Bruce Lewis, thanking him and the committee for demonstrating what a "determined group of DU volunteers can accomplish", and for setting an example for others to follow. Full halls equals full skies! Way to go, Anchorage Spring BBQ committee!
Anchorage Spring BBQ Area Chairman, Marlin Scoby and Corey Doil, previous Area Chairman, are all smiles on the banquet day: the planning is done, now its fime for the fun.