An historic First Day of Issue and
Signing Ceremony, honoring Jim Hautman, for the 1999-2000 Federal Duck Stamp, was held at
the National Postal Museum on July 1. Bob Lesino, Chief of the Federal Duck Stamp office,
announced the passage of new legislation which would fund an effort to double the sales of
the Federal Duck Stamp over the next five years.
The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Promotion Act of 1998 or Public Law
105-266 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use up to a million dollars a year in
duck stamp revenues to market the stamp. Each year's marketing plan will be approved by
the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Presently, approximately 1.5 million stamps a
year are sold bringing revenues of $23 million. Lesino noted the presence in the audience
of three employees of The Ball Group, a marketing firm which will spearhead
this effort.
Lesino also called up the entire Federal Duck Stamp staff for recognition, especially
Anita Noguera, who is leaving after seven years of service. Anita is the marketing expert
who proposed the self-adhesive duck stamp. This
is the second year that the Federal Duck Stamp is issued in two formats and the
dignitaries signed both the traditional gummed sheets and the new self-adhesive ones. Many
collectors purchased one stamp of each format.
Jim Hautman, designer of this year's stamp, explained how it was a return to a more
traditional motif featuring hunting. This year's design shows a pair of greater scaup in
flight with a hunter in a boat in the distant background. Jim's brother, Bob, was the
model for the hunter in the boat. Hautman studied early Federal Duck Stamp designs to
determine if such a small design element would be visible in the actual stamp. Thanks to
the precision craftmanship at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, it is. Hautman has won
the Federal Duck Stamp contest twice previously, and he noted that collectors
find this year's design strikingly similar to the mallard pair in flight that he created
for the 1995-96 Federal Duck Stamp.
Junior Duck Stamp artist, Ryan Kirby, of Illinois, was also present to talk about his
winning wood duck design. His artwork plus winning artwork of the Federal Junior Duck
Stamp contest in each of the fifty states are on display in the National Postal Museum
through July 28.
See NDSCS Photo Gallery
for additional pictures.
And the Local View
by June Berwald
The Artist's Hometown Ceremony, The Federal Duck Stamp Classic, was held on July 9 at the
Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club, some thirty miles southwest of Minneapolis. It was a
beautiful day - about 75° and sunny. The morning was devoted to viewing the Hautman
brothers' artwork display, the Sporting Clays competition, FDSO Program information and
sales, USPS sales and cancellations, Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club cachet sales, Silent
Auctions and Raffles, duck stamp displays, and a NDSCS table providing information about
the Society. At 12:00 noon a barbecue lunch was served in the big tent outside followed by
the Raffle Prize Give-Away, the announcement of the Sporting Clays competition winners,
and the auction results.
Following these events, the Jim Hautman Award Ceremony was held. Mike McGinty, Co-Chairman
of the event and Executive Director of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association was Master of
Ceremonies. Special remarks were presented by U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht. Marvin
Moriarty, Deputy Regional Director, USF&WS Region Three followed. He explained that
dollars donated to the Lake Matter Wildlife Area would be matched by the USF&WS and
other dollars would be found.
Rick Julian, Wetland District Manager, USF&WS, Detroit Lakes Wetland Management
District talked about the 400 acre Lake Matter area, northwest of Detroit Lakes,
Minnesota. It currently has 200-300 species of wildlife. It is the called the
"Keystone of Wildlife Areas in Becker County, Minnesota." He explained that
USF&WS will plant soybeans to choke out the undesirable, plants and then plant wild
grasses to restore the wetlands. This will reverse processes of the past 50-60 years.
NDSCS member Bill Anderson presented Jim with a check from the Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club
for $300 and announced the profit from the cachet sales that day would also be donated to
the Lake Matter area. Marjorie Hagen, Manager of Retail Operations, Northland District,
U.S. Postal Service presented a special plaque to Jim.
While introducing Bill Webster, CEO of Wild Wings, Mr. McGinty made special mention that
Bill is the only person in the world who has attended all the Federal Duck Stamp contests.
Bill was pleased to say a few words and then presented Jim Hautman who thanked everyone
who was present for the successful event. Mike then closed the program. As is customary,
artists and dignitaries stayed at both locations after the ceremonies signing programs,
posters, and stamps for collectors.
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