MACHIAS – A roast beef and salmon dinner, live auction and raffle drawings will mark the annual meeting of the Sunrise chapter of Ducks Unlimited on March 31 at the University of Maine at Machias.

Chairman Joe McBrine said the event is open to all conservation-minded people, including children.

“There are a lot of people out there with good intentions who would really like to make a positive difference to help wildlife,” McBrine said. “The members of the Sunrise chapter have volunteered to help raise funds for Ducks Unlimited because of the organization’s impressive track record.”

Ducks Unlimited is a private nonprofit organization that was founded in 1937. Since then, the program has constructed more than 15,000 wetland conservation projects throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico – providing 9.4 million acres of habitat for some 600 wildlife species, including waterfowl, whooping cranes and bald eagles.

Washington County projects include the acquisition of Browney Island, restoration of Meadow Brook and Touse Meadow, protection of Little Kennebec Bay-Mill Pond and the rehabilitation of Howard Mill and Tyler Bridge in the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

The banquet and auction will take place in the University of Maine at Machias dining hall. Social time and fund-raising events will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.. The live auction and raffle drawings will follow the meal.

For tickets or information, call McBrine at 726-5172, Jane Bell at 733-7591 or Cathy Dent at 733-2107.