CAMBRIDGE — Dorchester Ducks Unlimited will be holding its 44th Annual Banquet and Auction on Oct. 24 at Minnette Dick Hall in Cambridge. “Our committee has been working very hard in these economic hard times to acquire donations” says Terry Robbins, chapter chairman. “Not only do we have to worry about the economy, we have to compete with several other functions and fundraisers on the same day. It seems that every year there are more and more fall functions that we compete with” adds Mrs. Robbins. The Dorchester Chapter has repeatedly received the Maryland Award for Best Net to Gross Dinner. “We do that by getting everything that we auction donated or underwritten” says Mrs. Robbins. Donations are still needed though to insure a successful dinner. We have guns, many handmade items including a custom bicycle that holds a bottle of wine and wine glasses, hunting trips in our auction and silent auction. This year’s dinner will see the return of Old Salty’s from Fishing Creek as the caterer. The buffet dinner will include their famous crab cakes, fried chicken and roast pork and of course lots of sides and their fabulous pies. Ducks Unlimited is a bona fide 501-c3 nonprofit organization that depends largely upon donations from individuals and corporations. The money made at the banquet will provide valuable funding for wetland conservation. Last year’s Dorchester Banquet netted $35,000 for Ducks Unlimited. Dorchester DU received the “President’s Elite” status for 2014. This distinction is given to chapters that raise $100,000.This was done through several fundraisers and Major Donor Sponsorship donations. The chapter also received the “President’s Elite” status for 2013 also. Most of the money raised at Maryland events comes back to Maryland for waterfowl projects on private and public land. In Maryland alone, over 56,000 acres have been restored to provide winter feeding grounds for wild ducks and geese and all sorts of waterfowl and wild game. “Ducks Unlimited is not just an organization so that hunters can have more ducks to shoot,” says Mrs. Robbins. “They truly care about the land and habitat and trying to find a long term cure to the declining waterfowl and wildlife populations.” Ducks Unlimited has over one million supporters. There is currently money available in Maryland to place ponds and impoundments on private property through various programs. Ducks Unlimited is the largest and most effective waterfowl conservation organization in the world. Since the inception of D.U. in 1937, their projects have been responsible for nearly 11 million acres of restored, protected and enhanced wetlands and other wildlife habitats. Wetlands are nature’s most productive eco-systems, but the United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands and continues to lose more than 100,000 wetland acres every year. For more information about Ducks Unlimited or for tickets to attend the Annual Banquet, contact Terry Robbins at 410-228-8372.