Published: March 04, 2009 12:04 pm      

Stelly nabs Ducks Unlimited post

KILGORE — Billie Rae Stelly of Orange was recently named state trustee/national delegate for Texas Ducks Unlimited. Elections were held at Texas DU's recent Winter Council meeting.

"I'm really happy that Billie Rae has accepted this position," Texas Ducks

Unlimited state chairperson Pat Arthur said. "With increased funding available and new conservation projects on the horizon, these are exciting times for Ducks Unlimited."

State trustees and national delegates are elected to one-year terms with a tenure limit of four consecutive terms.

Trustees are a primary strength of Ducks Unlimited. They are individuals dedicated to DU's purpose and goals. They form the important bond between the vital State Committee level and the national leadership of DU. The trustees annually elect the national officers, directors, trustees emeriti and honorary trustees of Ducks Unlimited.

As a trustee, Stellywill attend and participate in the annual meeting of the Council of state trustees and national delegates at the Ducks Unlimited national convention in Denver, Colo.

She will also assist in fund-raising programs in Texas by assisting the regional vice president and the district and area chairmen within their region. In addition, trustees attend and participate in the annual Texas Ducks Unlimited statewide conference, assist in securing sponsorship for DU, assist with the solicitation of foundations and other development efforts and provide assistance and support to the staff of DU.

Through local events held throughout the United States in 2008, Ducks Unlimited raised more than $212 million to use in wetland conservation and celebrated its completion of more than 12 million acres of wetlands conservation.

Still, each year, the United States loses some 80,000 acres of wetland habitat. In many areas in the U.S., fewer than 20 percent of the original wetlands remain, relative to 100 years ago. Besides supporting ducks and geese, these wetlands provide habitat for more than 900 wildlife species, including songbirds, deer, moose, bear and endangered species like thewhooping crane and the bald eagle.

For more information about Ducks Unlimited, visit the organization’s Website at www.ducks.org. For information about DU activities or projects inTexas, visit www.tx.ducks.org.