MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 6, 2006 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) volunteers from Tennessee took home a Bronze State Award from DU’s annual convention in Phoenix, Ariz. DU’s State Awards recognize states whose volunteers excelled at growing and improving their fund-raising and conservation efforts on behalf of DU.

“It’s a real pleasure to recognize Tennessee’s volunteers for their exceptional work last year,” said Jim West, executive secretary of Ducks Unlimited. “In 2005, Tennessee posted a 16 percent increase in new chapter startups, enabling DU to conserve more habitat for waterfowl across North America.”

State Chairman Don McCrory from Germantown was on hand to accept the award for Tennessee’s DU volunteers.Tennessee was one of 12 states to take home the Bronze State Award. To receive this award, a state must demonstrate at least a three percent increase in grassroots income. In addition, each state must meet certain criteria in other categories such as new volunteer recruitment, adult membership increases and major goal achievement.

“Clearly, we have some truly exceptional volunteers working for Ducks Unlimited in Tennessee,” said West.

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