HISTORY OF THE “DING” DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Hatched out of necessity

They built it, and they came. They came to the first “Ding” Darling Visitor Center, completed circa 1982, in droves — 11,000 in the first month after the center opened. They came so eager to learn what the Refuge was about that they overwhelmed a staff unused to dealing with the inquisitive public.
That’s how “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS) came to be, born of sheer desperation. Bud Ryckman, as president of the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society, stepped up to the challenge of soliciting $800 in donations to kick off the establishment of a cooperating friends association to organize and train volunteers for the Refuge. On October 20, 1982, when the founding Board of Directors met to sign the articles of incorporation, Bud sat at the helm. With him were William Frey, vice-president; Milena Eskew, secretary; Dan Kimpel, treasurer; Millie Ford, volunteer drive coordinator; Reed Toomey, legal counsel; and Reed Palmer, accounting consultant.
The main topic of business at that first meeting was naming the group, according to Milena Eskew. “ We thought ‘Ding Darling Wildlife Society’ gave us some class.”
By the next meeting in February 1983, volunteers had responded to the need in great numbers and with great enthusiasm, reported Millie Ford.

Spreading its wings

By 1999, DDWS had grown strong enough to build its own Education Center. It raised $3.3 million to finance the new building and its state-of-the-art exhibits. In the meantime, the volunteer corps has grown to 230 and has been recognized nationwide as the model for other refuge cooperating associations. The Society has won two prestigious awards: The National Voluntary Service Award in 1991 from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Friends Group of the Year in 1999 from the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
Our membership ranks have swelled from that original board of seven in 1982 to some 1,400 today. The Society’s support role for the Refuge has grown to include the financial support of interns, furthering the legacy of Jay N. “Ding” Darling by administering a historic traveling exhibit of his Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoons, and advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. In 2007, Board Member John McCabe met directly with federal representatives and appropriations officials to heighten awareness about the plight of the refuge system due to deep budget cuts. His efforts are achieving great strides in righting budget wrongs.

The Society’s work continues in big and small ways to keep the Refuge running despite financial woes. To help in our important work and to become a member and a Friend of the Refuge, click on “How You Can Support the Refuge.”

Society contributions

• Spearheaded and financed the new $3.3million Education Center and exhibits
• Established radio information system for visitors
• Assisted Refuge with plans and pilings for new observation tower
• Purchased computer and other office equipment for Refuge staff
• Built the Education Pavilion on the Cross Dike Trail
• Supports education and biology intern programs
• Operates “Ding” Darling Bookstore
• Organizes and funds the annual “Ding” Darling Days
• Provides the Refuge manager a discretionary fund for emergency use
• Supplies materials to area teachers for field trips
• Provides informational materials for Refuge visitors
• Provides and replaces interpretative signage and outdoor kiosk displays
• Contributes tens of thousands of dollars each year for special Refuge projects
• Funds research projects
• Administers historic traveling exhibits of “Ding” Darling political cartoons
  
• Represents the refuge system and its budget needs at a national political level