Organization celebrates 71st anniversary with NDDOT and Gov. Hoeven

Bismarck, N.D., January 29, 2008 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) supporters in North Dakota have a new way to contribute to wetland and waterfowl conservation by putting the duck on their cars and trucks. Gov. John Hoeven announced today that the North Dakota Department of Transportation has approved a new license plate featuring DU.

N.D. Dept. of Transportation Director Francis Ziegler (left), N.D. Governor John Hoeven, N.D. DU Regional Director Jeff Essler and N.D. Volunteer State Chairman Charlie Franzen launch the North Dakota Ducks Unlimited license plates.

The plates are one of the first 2 organizational plates to be approved under new legislation that was passed in 2007 that changed the number of pre-applicants needed to have the plates from 400 to 50. The other organizational plate with its own logo is the North Dakota State University Alumni Association.

“Both the Ducks Unlimited and NDSU plates are great ways for people to show their support for exceptional North Dakota organizations,” said Gov. John Hoeven. “Specialty plates are a way citizens can showcase their pride in our state while contributing funds to causes they support.”

With a $1,500 fee paid up-front and a minimum of 50 buyers, any public and non-profit organization recognized by the internal revenue service as tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) is able to apply for the new organizational plate. The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) approved the plates and will now offer them at transportation offices throughout the state.

The plate costs $25, with $15 going to the eligible organization. After the initial purchase, drivers will pay an annual $25 fee for the specialized plate in addition to the regular tag renewal fees with $15 going to the organization with each renewal.

“With the initial run of the plates, we hope that fellow North Dakotans will see them on the road and inquire about getting one for their vehicle,” said Charles Franzen, DU volunteer state chairman. Franzen also thanked the DU supporters who submitted the initial 50 applications that made the creation of the plate possible. 

“This is a great way to celebrate DU’s 71st anniversary by being the first conservation organization in North Dakota to offer a specialty license plate,” said Jeff Essler, North Dakota DU regional director. “Having these license plates is a natural fit for North Dakota because some of the most productive waterfowl breeding habitats occur in this state and conservation on the breeding grounds is one of DU’s top priorities.”

Funds raised by the plate program go directly to DU’s conservation mission. Through this mission, DU is committed to conserving waterfowl habitats and filling the sky with ducks now and into the future. Individuals and businesses in North Dakota can easily show their support and contribute to waterfowl conservation by purchasing these specialty plates at local NDOT offices.

“The NDDOT worked quickly to implement the legislation that enables these new plates to be displayed on motor vehicles,” said NDDOT Director Francis Ziegler. “We are pleased to offer this new option.”

Visit the ND-DOT website, or go to the nearest office to get a specialty plate application for the North Dakota Ducks Unlimited license plate. Those interested can also download the application from the DU website.

“I am a supporter of Ducks Unlimited and their mission of wetlands conservation, so sporting a new license plate like this is a perfect way to display my support,” Essler said.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.