By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Matt Robinson of Cabot was inaugurated as chairman of Arkansas Ducks Unlimited on Saturday, the second day of the annual state convention at the Double Tree Hotel in Little Rock.
“It’s a lot of fun being involved in DU, said Robinson. It’s a lot of work too but I believe in the work we’re doing.”
Robinson is The Leader’s publication manager and has been a volunteer for Ducks Unlimited since 1999. DU is the largest wetlands conservation group in the world, and Robinson, at 35, is the youngest-ever Arkansas state chairman.
Robinson went to his first meeting with Bob Johnson, a Jacksonville accountant and now Pulaski County justice of the peace. Since that first meeting, Robinson has become one of the most active volunteers in the state.
“I didn’t know much about duck hunting or conservation at that first meeting,” Robinson said. “But I’ve learned a lot traveling around meeting so many new people.
In 2002, after just four years as a volunteer, Robinson became the Jacksonville area chairman for DU. He held that position until becoming a zone chairman for district 10 in 2008 and in 2010 wasnamed district 10 chairman. Robinson was elected at the 2013 Arkansas convention and has been serving the past months as the Arkansas state chairman elect.
Robinson helps organize numerous fundraisers across the state that contributes hundreds of thousands of dollars for protecting habitats vital to preserving and boosting waterfowl populations. Robinson’s two-year term as state chairman coincides with an Arkansan as national chairman. George Dunklin Jr. of Stuttgart is the second national chairman from Arkansas in the 77-year history of the organization.
“Arkansas is the duck-hunting capital of the world, so it’s a big deal to have an Arkansas native as the national president,” Robinson said.
As state chairman, Robinson will oversee 1,937 volunteers while attending and helping them organize more than 100 fundraising events per year. In 2012, there 85 committees and 128 fundraisers that raised $1,340,280. DU Arkansas has helped conserve 356,203 acres for waterfowl, something Robinson has become passionate about since joining.
“The money we raise and the work we do is very important, if we didn’t do it, our kids and grandkids may not be able to enjoy the great outdoors like we do,” Robinson said. “DU has been protecting Arkansas waterfowl habitat since 1937. When you preserve these wildlife habitats, it’s good for everything living.”
Robinson’s wife Brandy won the Rollie Remmel Award at this year’s convention, honoring the state’s top volunteer of the year.
