It was a night of fine dining, happy children, and people that just wouldn't sit down. With so many beautiful items on display and up for grabs though, you couldn't blame them.
The Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) banquet was another success this year. The Humboldt Uniplex was packed with business people, their families, and items for auction on the evening of March 8.
"It was probably our best night ever. It was incredible," said Dave Atamanchuk, a conservation specialist with DUC. "We grossed about $50,000. That's a record for us."
Lambert Stumborg hosted the event and included quite a few jokes throughout the night. While the evening began with his multiple humour-laced pleas for people to sit down, it continued with a light tone and the more-than-occasional chuckle. Alongside Stumborg, Bob Burletoff was the auctioneer and Todd Holmquist was the fundraising manager.
"Stumborg did a great job of keeping it entertaining and exciting for the crowd," said Atamanchuk. "It was great getting to see people having fund and it was exciting to see some of the project owners."
Besides the record amount of fundraising, it was the first time gender equality leveled the event. For the first time ever, DUC held a men's raffle that included approximately $1,600 worth of items such as a new BBQ, tools, a saw, and range finders.
"I've been screaming discrimination for years. It was only the ladies' raffle for so long," said Atamanchuk jokingly. "When you have a raffle for men, guys take notice really fast. No one knew we were doing this since we had never done it before."
Of the items available, 17 were sold in the live auction, 32 were sold in the silent auction, and many others were given away in raffles. As usual, they had some unique items for auction such as a Bobby Orr jersey, a $500 Cabella's gift certificate, a kids' leather chair and ottoman, and two golf packages. There was also a unique fire pit built by Ron Scott of R S Welding & Radiator Repair Ltd.
"The items for auction can vary from year to year, there a lot of different types of merchandise sent from Ducks Unlimited," said Charles Kiefer, committee chairperson for DU Humboldt. "Some of it really intrigues people. Sometimes it fits their décor one year, but doesn't the next."
Also present at the banquet were MP Kelly Block and MLA Donna Harpauer. Block opened the night with a speech expressing her strong support for Ducks Unlimited and their conservations efforts.
"I'm just amazed at the number of projects within a 100km radius of Humboldt and dollars that the Humboldt committee has raised," said Block during her speech. "You are to be congratulated for all that you have done. Fundraisers like this banquet support the spirit of cooperation as it provides the funds for Ducks Unlimited to continue its work."
Over the past 29 years, the annual banquet has brought in more than $600,000. The money from these events goes into local programs and partnerships. DUC Humboldt has over 500 programs happening locally alone."It seems like every year it gets better and better," said Atamanchuk. "There were a lot of new faces this year and that's what you need."
The DU banquet is held annually to raise funds and public awareness for the preservation and restoration of wetlands.
These objectives in turn have multiple benefits, such as saving the waterfowl and other wildlife.
"On the project web front, Humboldt has blown western - and sometimes eastern - sponsorship out of the water," said Kiefer.
All in all, DU Humboldt can check the banquet off their list as another resounding success.
