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Anyone who thinks activities like waterfowling, fishing and exploring the great outdoors are reserved for the rough and tough manly type obviously hasn’t met Cindy Alexander. This Clandeboye wife and mother of two is proving Manitoba women are active by nature and committed to conserving the natural areas where they work and play every day.

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Cindy Alexander – Clandeboye, Man.

DUC star volunteer leads flock of dedicated outdoorswomen

By gathering up a group of other conservation-minded women in her area, Cindy helped establish a special Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) women’s volunteer chapter in the nearby community of Selkirk four years ago. They call themselves the Gander Girls, and Cindy and the flock of females who make up this chapter are drawing outdoorswomen from near and far to their annual fundraising event in support of wetland conservation.

“Several ladies, including myself, were regular attendees at a DUC women’s dinner in the neighbouring community of Stonewall,” she says. “After a while we decided that we could put on a similar event of our own in Selkirk. We recruited a few more ladies to help with organizing the event – and the Gander Girls were born!”

This year will be the Gander Girls’ fourth annual fundraising dinner, and word is travelling fast about the good times and good cause. Cindy says a group of women will be making the trip from Churchill, Man. – approximately 1,500 kilometres north – just to take in the event.

The concept of women as conservationists is catching on and the rewards of volunteering to support DUC’s mission is attracting women of all ages to get involved. Cindy says her 18-year-old daughter joined the committee this year, and together they are doing their part to help conserve wetlands now and into the future.

“Wetland habitat is important to our family. We live in the country near a waterway that has been getting dirtier and sicker over the years,” Cindy says. “We volunteer to help bring awareness about the plight of our waterways and help raise much-needed money that will allow DUC to make a difference. DUC is not just for waterfowlers, but for all who enjoy the outdoors. It’s something that’s really important to me – and also a lot of fun!”

Brent Richards is DUC’s fundraising manager in Manitoba and says Cindy and her fellow Gander Girls have established an extremely successful event that’s a good model other DUC supporters can follow and tailor to fit their own community.

“The work Cindy and the chapter do plays an instrumental role in funding DUC projects within the province,” says Richards. “We are extremely fortunate to have such an enthusiastic and motivated group of women supporting the wetland conservation cause. Cindy is a great ambassador for DUC and has recruited a number of people to join the local chapter and experience the rewards of volunteering.”

National volunteer week, April 19-25, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the work of volunteers like Cindy. Perry McCormick, DUC’s national manager of events, says evidence of the outstanding work of volunteers can be seen across the country.

“We have volunteers to thank for the waterfowl flying overhead and the healthy wetland areas below our feet,” McCormick says. “I’d like to personally thank every one of our 7,400 volunteers. It’s your efforts that make DUC’s wetland conservation work possible.”

Man or woman, young or old, Cindy says there’s a volunteer opportunity with DUC that’s a fit for you.

“If you want to make a difference, get involved. Every year I learn something new about DUC and have the opportunity to meet many people who care about the same things. Being a volunteer absolutely validates my passion for nature and the environment.”