Alabama Resident Elected to Ducks Unlimited’s National Board of Directors

Steve Whatley named to DU board

Steve Whatley, of Anniston, Alabama, was elected to Ducks Unlimited Inc.’s national board of directors during the organization’s annual convention in St. Louis.

“The leadership of our board of directors ensures we are fulfilling our mission to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl,” said DU CEO Dale Hall. “Our board members are not paid for their work. They volunteer their time and resources because they feel so strongly about conservation. I welcome each new member and look forward to working with them in the years to come.”

Whatley is a successful business owner and long-time Ducks Unlimited volunteer. In the late 1970s, he became a committee member of an “upstart Auburn Chapter,” where he eventually served as chairman. During his time with DU, Whatley helped found the East Alabama Sponsor Chapter, served as state treasurer and chairman, at-large national board member, regional vice-president and chairman of the budget committee.

While serving in these various volunteer positions for the organization, Whatley focused on the proper way to do business. By cutting costs, being efficient with funds and increasing volunteer and member numbers while showing fundraising event attendees a good time, DU volunteers in Alabama raised more money for DU’s conservation mission under Whatley’s guidance.

Whatley’s most inspiring observation for those around him is, “DU for life,” and he exempli­fies that. In addition to his continued commitment of his personal time, Whatley and his wife, Lucy, are Diamond Benefactor Sponsors. In June 2013, a tribute event held in Whatley’s honor netted about $60,000 and brought in $175,000 in new commitments. The funds supported habitat conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region waterfowl breeding grounds where a project will be dedicated to Whatley.

Visit www.ducks.org for a complete list of DU’s volunteer board of directors.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.