Nicole, Kelly and The Nevada Waterfowl Assocation

Monday, March 19, 2007

Karma This communication clearly belongs in the "over share" category, but thanks to the wonders of red wine and the best of times, I offer the following.... Nevada Waterfowl Association was conceived by a few Wetlands idealists in 1987. John and I were executive committee for Ducks Unlimited, Nevada. We had just completed the third largest DU dinner in the nation, netting $104,000.00. Ducks Unlimited at that time gave 5% back to the state for their efforts. John Rogers, Rick Heaney, Alan Maiss, Tom Wilkins, Ken Taber, Norm Sakke  and I decided to form The Nevada Waterfowl Association.  John, Tom and I were Executive Committee members of DU and continued in that post. For the first three years, it was driven and funded by us. We dealt with much adversity, even though we remained as driving forces of Ducks unlimited. People just couldn't understand we were a compliment to the conservation effort, not competition. Long story short, we overcame this friction by founding The Nevada Wetlands Coalition, comprised of a very diverse group, including The Nevada Trappers Association, Ducks Unlimited, The Sierra Club and The nature Conservancy, to name a few. This was a gathering and a political force never before assembled. I am not certain that this effort has been duplicated. I nicknamed John Rogers,  "McGyver" because he could and can fix or arrange ANYTHING! We (John's idea) invited General Stormin Norman Schwarzkoph to The Silver Dollar Shoot, a DU Event in Reno. It was his first public appearance after Desert Storm.    As a Thank You, We took him Chukar hunting! Enough for the history lesson, this evening was the second installment of "good deeds are just that and Karma is ALWAYS watching." At the original meetings, I didn't have a Babysitter, so the girls came with me and sat (bored) but quietly through the board meetings and our events. I took Kelly to a Banquet many years ago. We spent some of that evening with some guy named Harry Reid. It is apparent he didn't listen very well, but he did help us get the $32,000,000.00 funding for the Lahontan Valley Wetlands project. It was a great night for me as a father. Kelly shined and I beamed with pride. This year the assoc wanted to honor the founding fathers. This was Nicole's turn. She was my date. As we walked around the party, Nicole was remembered as the four year old that attended more meetings than most of the board members!  I couldn't have been more proud. Willie Mollini, head of Nevada Dept of Wildlife for many years told Nicole that he remembered her and commented to her about my contribution to Nevada Wildlife, stating that" John Rogers and your Dad take a back seat to NO One in the State when it comes to conservation and habitat restoration."  Norm Saake, director of the Lahontan Valley Wetlands told Nicole that he remembered her when the oldest living chief of the Paiute tribe invited Kelly, Nicole and I to his tent for a ceremony prior to the presentation by John Turner, Secretary of the Interior, Harry Reid, Governor List etc. We were received very well! That's another story though. The Paiute Cheif, Harry Reid and Governor Bryan at the Dedication Ceremony after Kelly, Nicole and I had a private pow wow in his tent, seen in the background. The Chief showed the kids how Indians start a day, thanking the appropriate gods for fire, water etc.  Not even Harry Reid was invited! Everyone was so gracious and kind to us. I had told Nicole that at a Buffet with over 500 people that we would wait until the line was gone and then get our food. Nicole was more than paid back for all those boring evenings. As everyone took their seats, the master of ceremonies told the crowd That there was a table of 8 people that had done so much for the organization that they should lead off the food line. We were remembered as the winners of the 1991 National Conservation Organization in the nation. As Nicole thought, Lucky People, our table was announced. I can't tell you how proud I was to follow Nicole through the 482 people that weren't us! Good deeds do not get punished, they always remember. Thank you Nevada Waterfowl Association, thank You Kelly and Nicole for your patience and understanding, when you were far too young to understand what was going on. In life, good deeds are their own rewards, but occasionally, you get a little more. And to those of you that will understand, Thank You to my Grandfather, Boppa for helping make me the kind of man that understand the rewards of "Unselfish Living." I am truly Blessed.