High Desert News
September/October 2007
Mike Laughter, MDF Regional Director
The Northern Utah Region MDF Workshop was
held in
Huntsville, UT, on July 14.
As I write, the majority of banquets in my region are over for this year. To say that my region had a fantastic year would be an understatement. We were up in attendance, net dollars and banquet efficiency. This year in my region we had seven banquets make it into the 60% net club.
As we move into summer, things are really heating up here in Utah. With record high temperatures and below average snow pack, things are very dry. The outlook for Utah’s fire season is grim. With the monies raised in Utah, there will be ample opportunity to help with fire rehabilitation on some of the critical mule deer winter range throughout the state.
Other things that heated up as we have moved into early summer were the Red Rock Chapter of MDF in St. George, UT. On June 9th they completed their Third Annual Banquet, which was a huge success due to the efforts of Lynn and Georgette Haas and their crew. They raised almost $15,000 dollars net for mule deer habitat and were the sixth 60% net banquet of the year in my region. Awesome job guys!
On June 23rd we were in Boise, ID, for the Second Annual Banquet for the Bennett Hills Chapter of MDF, and needless to say things hadn’t cooled off a bit. When we rolled into town the night before the banquet to meet up with the committee, the temperature was 104 degrees. We visited with the committee and got the layout for their pre-banquet golf tournament scheduled to take place the next day prior to the evening banquet. It was evident that things were going well, with corporate sponsorship for every hole on the golf course! After the golf tournament ended and prizes were given to the winners, it was banquet time. The Bennett Hills Chapter completed a big day of fund-raising with over $17,000 dollars net and became the seventh banquet in my region to join the 60% net club with an amazing 62.3% net. Special thanks to Steve and Amy Alderman and their group for all the extra effort in pulling off two events in one day.
I closed out my schedule for this year with the Northern Utah Region MDF Workshop held in Huntsville, UT, on July 14. It was great to see all in attendance and the enthusiasm with which we discussed everything from next year’s banquet dates and local projects to MDF merchandise. There were 28 people in attendance representing five different chapters. The day, as well as the barbeque, was a big success. Special thanks to Gary Dobyns and his wife Cindy for the wonderful Dutch Oven desert they prepared for the group.
At this time, I would also like to thank Daren Tuttle, MDF State Chairman for Utah, for all of his effort and support throughout this banquet season. His passion and commitment to mule deer and this organization are immeasurable. Thank You Daren.