Benton County DU Wins National Award
by August 30, 2004 12:00 am 75 views
Duck’s Unlimited state Chairman Steve Cook and Jeff Lawrence, DU’s senior regional director for Arkansas, were on hand in August to present the organization’s Benton County Chapter with a national award for innovative fund-raising. The Wings of Innovation Award, officially bestowed during DU’s recent national convention, is given annually to seven individuals or DU chapters in America.
Scoring country music artist Tracy Bird for last October’s membership banquet, and its success managing the state barbecue championships in July, are apparently what earned the Benton County chapter its honor.
Of the 100 DU Chapters in Arkansas, Lawrence said Benton County’s is always among the most active. Since 1981, he said, that chapter has been solely responsible for raising enough funds to enhance or restore 17,000 acres of waterfowl habitats. That’s about $425,000 worth.
“No other chapter in Arkansas does as much as Benton County,” Lawrence said. “They have five annual events, and I just can’t emphasize enough what a contribution they make. Locally, the Fayetteville and Siloam Springs chapters are strong, too, and the University of Arkansas chapter was the No. 1 college chapter in America last year.”
The Fayetteville chapter’s membership banquet is Sept. 17, and the Benton County chapter’s is Oct. 4.