DU banquet another hit

It’s a night for people to give big bucks to help the ducks.
More than 170 turned out for the 23rd-annual Ducks Unlimited banquet Friday night at La Place Rendez-Vous, with local committee chairman Barney Maher saying the dinner alone raised upwards of $30,000.
That figure more than likely will approach $40,000 once ticket sales and cash donations are factored into the equation.
Maher was happy with the turnout despite the fact the number of people attending the event was down slightly from years past.
“I think it went very well,” he remarked.
“We had a good crowd. There were a lot of new people and younger people, which is a good sign,” he added. “I gather they all had a good time.”
Along with the dinner, those on hand could bid on donated items in silent and live auctions.
Most of the prizes made available for the live auction were provided by Ducks Unlimited, but sponsored by local businesses.
Local artisans, including Todd Dolk, also donated several paintings and carvings to be auctioned off Friday night. Dolk’s painting, entitled “Blue Bill,” was a popular item, bringing in roughly $400.
All told, the 33 items available in the live auction brought in more than $13,000 while the silent auction raised just over $7,000.
In addition to the auctions, numerous prizes, including a DeWalt prize pack, a flatware set, and the ever-popular wheelbarrel full of cheer, were raffled off throughout the evening.
All the proceeds from Ducks Unlimited banquet and auctions are sent to the organization’s head office in Winnipeg, where a decision is made concerning how best to spend the money.
The Fort Frances chapter of Ducks Unlimited has donated in excess of $550,000 since its inception in 1984.