Western Region Public Policy Roundup – July 2018
Nevada: Ducks Unlimited was represented well at the recent Nevada Bighorn’s Unlimited annual dinner. DU Region 1 Vice President/Public Policy Committee member Tom Enos and Western Region Director of Public Policy Gary Link spent a great evening helping discussing conservation issues with Nevada’s Attorney General and candidate for Governor, Adam Laxalt. Paul Enos, who recently assisted DU on a Nevada tax-exempt issue, was also seated with the group in what was a great evening for the ducks and DU conservation policy efforts in Nevada.
Utah: U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke met with some hard working members of DU’s Utah delegation at the DU National Convention in June. The conversations circled around wetland conservation, the Great Salt Lake, and how Ducks Unlimited and Interior are partnering nationwide for waterfowl. Utah State Chair Rob Fehr discussed the value of the Great Salt Lake to migratory birds, and was joined by Utah Public Policy Chair Joe Trujillo, Lora Trujillo, and Regional Director Kyle Green in chatting with Secretary Zinke.
Secretary Zinke and Utah State Chair Rob Fehr.
DU Regional Director Kyle Green, UT State Chair Rob Fehr, Dept. of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Lora Trujillo, UT State Policy Chair Joe Trujillo at the 2018 Ducks Unlimited National Convention in Indianapolis.
California: The Placerville Ducks Unlimited Chapter recently received an award from Congressman Tom McClintock for 40 years of raising money for conservation. Congressman McClintock, who understands the value of raising money for the ducks, highlighted the importance of conservation while presenting the award to Placerville Chapter Chair Jeff Thompson. California State Chair Jon Wills was also on hand to support the chapter, which annually hosts one of the top President’s Elite events in the country.
CA State Chair Jon Wills, Placerville DU Chair Jeff Thompson, CA Congressman Tom McClintock.
National: DU’s Directors of Policy came together as a group at the DU National Convention to share best practices, discuss methodologies on approaching legislators effectively, and work with state policy chairs and state chairs to further DU President Rogers Hoyt’s volunteer public-policy push. Over breakfast, the group highlighted the growth of state public policy, discussed policy programs in differing states, and illustrated the value each volunteer can offer to help achieve Ducks Unlimited’s wetland conservation goals.
SRO Director of Public Policy Ed Penny, GRPO Director of Public Policy Carmen Miller, GLARO Director of Public Policy Gildo Tori, WRO Director of Public Policy Gary Link
