I recently attended an event in an area that was not the typical market demographics for a Ducks Unlimited event, although the attendees were all avid outdoorsmen and women in their chosen passions. It was this commonality among ALL outdoors people -- be it waterfowlers, hikers, runners, canoers, or campers -- that helped me convey how important conservation should be to everyone in the room that evening. And no one disagreed with me (a first!). This was my very first State Chairman's address at an event but, to quote a young lady who approached me afterward, "It just felt right."
As we are all prepping our layouts, blinds, boats, and decoys for the upcoming season, it is this common thread with ALL outdoors enthusiasts I hope you all appeal to when talking with your family, friends, neighbors, and business associates. We always talk about it with our hunting buddies, but conservation is an important enough message that eveyone should be told about it. Hey, its' their future, too.
Happy Waterfowling!
Carla Hopp
Oregon DU State Chair