Mule Deer Foundation

Ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitats


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Regional Banquets and Events

Listed by State

To obtain information about a banquet or chapter near you, contact the Contact person at the phone number listed. If you need additional information, please contact the Regional Director by clicking on the e-mail link provided.

MDF currently has chapters in the following states:


MDF's North Willamette Valley Chapter 2009 Banquet in Oregon City, Ore.

If your state is not listed, contact Bob Meulengracht and start a chapter today!

Strengthen Your Local Committee

By Bob Meulengracht

It goes without saying that committee growth and stability are key to the success of MDF especially during tough economic times. Members, volunteers and staff must keep our eye on the goal and the mission. It should be understood that in order for MDF to continue our mission the Foundation relies on funds that are raised through a variety of sources. One of the primary sources of funding is successful banquets put on by local chapters and committees. So, it goes without saying that one of the easiest ways help make MDF successful is to strengthen/grow your local committee and fundraiser.

Having been in the conservation and fundraising business for almost 20 years (first as a volunteer for Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) for around 10 years and then approaching my 10th anniversary on staff with MDF I have come to understand the need for constant renewal/recommitment of a committee. I have seen many committees and chapters from all organizations come and go (unfortunately) over the years. I have come to the conclusion that most of this chapter/committee loss can be overcome by everyone on a committee agreeing to complete one simple task. That being that we need to enlist new committee members each and every year. This sounds relatively simple and in truth it is as most of our friends are probably hunters or conservationists and are usually willing to help out. The problem is that nobody has asked them … Yet! I encourage every committee member to make it their personal goal to recruit a new committee member in 2010. All you have to do is ask!

Remember that your new committee member(s) may have done fundraising in the past or may have no experience at all. Each one of them will bring new skills and a different perspective. Most will bring a new set of contacts that can be used for donations and ticket sales.

Once you get your friend to attend a meeting, make sure they are welcomed into the group. Have them introduce themselves and tell a little about themselves (find out what skills they may have and how that can be of value to the group). Additionally take the time to introduce the members of the committee to all the newcomers. Put all the newcomers on your committee list (including telephone numbers) and make sure that the list is distributed to the entire committee. Have the chapter chair describe the banquet/fundraiser and the tasks associated with putting the banquet together. Find out your new committee members strengths. If the are an accountant/bookkeeper maybe they could help with the finances. Are they a computer whiz? If so maybe they could keep track of ticket sales or merchandise/donations and so forth.

Whatever you decide make sure that all/new committee members have an assignment. I have watched committees over my time in fundraising and cannot count the people who have showed up to help and leave frustrated because no one has asked them to do anything for the organization or cause. Remember that the number one function of the committee is to have a successful banquet/fundraiser and the number one task for a committee is to get people to attend the banquet/fundraiser. Therefore it is imperative that the number one task for a committee is to sell tickets.

Over the years statistics have shown that each member of you committee is responsible for 10-20 people attending your event. And again statistically every attendee will bring $100-$150 to your banquet net. That means that every committee member results in $1,000-$3,000 to the net of a banquet. It should be noted that most committees rely on a mailing and posters to sell tickets well I am here to tell you that personal contacts sell banquet tickets. If mailings worked then I would get a lot less “junk mail.” The average return on a mailing is probably less than 5%.

Start new committee members off with a simple task like selling 10 tickets and soliciting three donations. I can tell you by experience that if you let a committee member attend three meetings and do not give that person something to do the odds of them being at a fourth meeting decrease dramatically! Spend some time with each new member instructing them on how to fill out a ticket or ticket order and a donation form. Set aside the part of one meeting for instruction on how to solicit a donation or sell a ticket. Remember, “people do business with people they know!” Ask your new committee member to go to businesses they associate with (don’t forget doctors, dentists, realtors, insurance agents, and maybe even lawyers (we all need a will). Just because someone does not sell a product does not mean that they won’t make a cash donation or underwrite a banquet item.

Make sure each committee member (old and new) are knowledgeable about MDF and have the proper paperwork for the assigned task (solicitation letter, banquet ticket flier, tickets, donation forms, list of current projects completed in the area or state, etc.). Remember knowledge is power and all committee members should be able to tell the public what the committee has done i.e. funds raised at last banquet, number of attendees, goals for this year (revenue and attendance), etc. If you don’t have the information, request it from your Regional Director.

Recruit a new committee member and have the satisfaction of knowing that you are not only helping MDF but you are also helping the deer of the west!

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