Conservation Dinner charity auction went online, in 2022, for second year, raising more than $30,000 for community projects
The Conservation Dinner charitable auction was virtual in 2022, the second year the community fundraiser went online. The online auction ran from March 31 to April 7 and estimates are that it has raised more than $30,000 for needed projects in local communities.
The Conservation Dinner is a fundraising partnership of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club. Dave Frayne is Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee. He thanked all the generous donors and bidders who made this year’s event another successful fundraiser. He also thanked the volunteers who make it happen.
“I want to thank everyone who donated to the Virtual Conservation Dinner and everyone who bid in the online auction,” he said. “Your donations and your bids will benefit young people and the entire community.”
The #VirtualConservationDinner supports community work by the Lions Club and the Conservation Foundation. These projects, supported by sponsors, donors, bidders and volunteers, are many. They include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; outdoor recreation including a family-friendly fishing derby; a $1,000 student environmental bursary for local students; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; outdoor nature education; and other local projects that could not happen otherwise.
The estimated amount of funds raised does not include additional donations expected through the Dine for Your Community program. The following six restaurants are donating some proceeds, from restaurant meals which were ordered on specific dates, to the community projects of the Dinner: Eddington’s of Exeter; Hessenland Inn; Dublin’s Family Restaurant; The Lake Hound of Grand Bend; The Lake House of Bayfield; and Robinson Fresh Café. The Conservation Dinner Committee Chair thanked all the participating restaurants. In addition to these restaurants, many other restaurants generously donated gift certificates or dining experiences to the charitable auction fundraiser. Many other generous businesses and individuals also donated to the online auction.
The Dinner Committee Chair said he hopes the Conservation Dinner will be in person in 2023 but he thanked everyone who made it possible to support important community projects online even when planning large gatherings has not been possible over the past two years.
Over the 32-year history of the Conservation Dinner, it has raised more than $1.285 million for projects in local communities. To learn more about the Conservation Dinner visit conservationdinner.com and abca.ca
Virtual Conservation Dinner names Diane Carson, of Exeter, as Feature Artist of 2022 online charity auction fundraiser
The Conservation Dinner Committee has announced the Feature Artist, of the 2022 charitable online auction event, is Diane Carson, of Exeter. She is the first quilter to receive this honour.
Diane is known as The Electric Quilter. She is a longarm quilter. A longarm quilter uses a longarm sewing machine to sew together pieces (such as quilt tops and batting and backing) into a finished quilt. As a longarm quilter she “takes an idea that is inside a client’s imagination and makes it a reality.”
This year’s feature art piece is a beautiful quilt of a lion’s face. Diane is a member of the Exeter Lions Club and the Lions Club nominated her as this year’s feature artist. She took a Violet Craft pattern and expanded upon it to create a visually impressive finished product that is a stunning example of her artistry and workmanship.
“I am honoured to be named as the 2022 Feature Artist,” Diane said. “I also feel it is wonderful that this year’s Feature Art is a quilt that honours the Lions Club and its service to the community.”
The Exeter Lions Club has been a partner in the Conservation Dinner for more than three decades. Exeter Lions Club was chartered in 1937. It is part of Lions Clubs International, known as “the largest service club organization in the world.”
The Lions Club is a group of service-minded men and women banded together to do things which cannot be done by individuals working alone. Exeter Lions Club has actively fundraised for projects including development and maintenance of South Huron Trail, MacNaughton Park, and other nature and conservation projects. These are just some of the examples of their service in action.
The 2022 Feature Artist has been quilting since 1999 and she is one of Ontario’s first longarm quilters. Since then, Diane has quilted more than 4,000 quilts for clients and patrons. She is Chair of the Southern Ontario Longarm Operators Guild and a founding member of the Canadian Machine Quilters’ Association (CMQA).
This year’s Feature Artist has received many awards throughout Canada and the United States. Her quilt called Blueberry Cheddar received the Best Workmanship ribbon from the World Quilt Competition in 2014. That quilt also received first place in the MQX show in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2014. It also received a first-place award in Longarm Quilting at Quilt Canada in Halifax in 2015.
Diane loves her quilting enterprise. “I love my job,” she said. She gets to realize and enhance the pride and vision of her clients and she gets to be a part of important celebrations in people’s lives, making wedding quilts, baby quilts, heirlooms, and quilts to mark other important milestones. It is gratifying, she said, to see people’s pride in the finished work and even, in some cases, tears of joy.
“My job is to take a pieced top, enhance the design using only thread and ingenuity, and create a finished quilt,” she said. “My designs and placement of them is unique, and one-of-a-kind. I try to augment and complement the designs of the tops and I like to think a part of me is infused into every quilt that comes my way.”
Diane and her husband Bill have five children and seven grandchildren. “I have a wonderful husband who supports me in what I do with never a complaint,” she said.
Net profits are split evenly between community conservation projects of the Foundation and community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club. The event has raised more than $1.255 million for the community over more than 30 years.
Diane works collaboratively with her friend Anne Beaudoin and calls Anne “the best quilt piecer in the world.” Diane and Anne received a Viewer’s Choice ribbon at the Heritage Celebration Show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2004. Diane was sole quilter for Anne’s ‘Fabrications’ show at Homer Watson House and Gallery in Kitchener, Ontario in 2006. The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club. This dinner and auction charitable fundraising event started in 1990.
Projects supported by the Dinner include community work by the Lions Club and community work by the Conservation Foundation. These projects, supported by auction sponsors and donors and bidders and volunteers, are many. They include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental bursary for students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; recreation opportunities such as a family fishing derby; and other projects.
The Dinner Committee plans to host two live TV and Internet broadcasts to kick off and cap off the auction week: The broadcasts are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022 and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2022 (the last day of auction week). A video featuring this year’s Feature Artist is scheduled for the March 31 broadcast.
The #VirtualConservationDinner online auction begins on Thursday, March 31, 2022 and ends on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 9 p.m. You may find out more at abca.ca and conservationdinner.com or phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610.
To learn more about the online auction, or the feature fundraising dinners of participating local partner restaurants, visit the Conservation Dinner website:
A link to the online auction will be posted on the online auction page when the online auction begins March 31.
Diane Carson, The Electric Quilter, of Exeter, is the first quilter to be Dinner Feature Artist.This is the beautiful Lions Quilt Feature Art by Diane Carson.
Week-long #VirtualConservationDinner online auction in 2022 begins March 31 and ends on April 7 at 9 p.m.
The Conservation Dinner Committee is bringing back the online auction for the second year in a row.
The charitable fundraiser went virtual for the first time in 2021 and it was a success in raising $40,000 for conservation projects in local communities.
The Committee has decided to return to the online format for 2022.
The 2022 #VirtualConservationDinner online auction is to begin on Thursday, March 31, 2022 and ends on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 9 p.m.
Dave Frayne is Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee. He says the committee had hoped to hold the dinner and auction in person this year but there is uncertainty during the current pandemic about whether a large in-person event could take place in April. He says the committee decided unanimously that it is prudent to return to the online auction format for 2022.
“We were so pleased by the community’s support of our first online auction last year and we hope donors and bidders will be just as generous in 2022,” he says. “We did look forward to meeting in person but since we don’t know what things will look like in April it’s safer to join together virtually this year in support of projects in our local communities.”
The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club. This dinner and auction charitable fundraising event started in 1990
Even when large in-person events are not possible the need to raise funds remains, according to the Dinner Committee Chair. The Conservation Dinner fundraiser supports needed projects, by Exeter Lions Club and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, in local communities.
The Exeter Lions Club has been a partner for more than three decades in the Conservation Dinner. The Exeter Lions Club, chartered in 1937, is part of the world’s largest and most active service organization. It is a group of service-minded men and women banded together to do things which cannot be done by individuals working alone. The club has actively fundraised for projects including development and maintenance of South Huron Trail, MacNaughton Park, and other nature and conservation projects. These are just some of the examples of their service in action.
Projects supported by the Dinner include community work by the Lions Club and community work by the Conservation Foundation. These projects, supported by auction sponsors and donors and bidders and volunteers, are many.
These projects include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental bursary for students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; and others.
The Exeter Lions Club plans to bring back the popular 50-50 draw in 2022 for the fourth year. When tickets are available for this fundraising activity, the website link to purchase tickets online will be posted here:
Last year, the Dinner Committee partnered with participating local restaurants, for the first time, in a Dining for Your Community effort. Families could purchase their own ‘conservation dinners’ from participating restaurants during the week of the auction. This allowed them to support community projects, and their local businesses, in the process.
Organizers hope to bring back this dining venture for 2022.
The committee invites local restaurants to take part.
To learn about Dining for Your Community and to watch for 2022 restaurant partners visit this web page:
Last year, for the first time, the Dinner Committee hosted two live TV broadcasts to kick off and cap off the auction week. The Committee plans to bring back these popular livestream broadcasts in 2022.
Virtual Conservation Dinner online auction activities, including 50-50 draw, set to raise around $40,000 for community projects
The Conservation Dinner, of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club, was online in 2021 for the first time. The Virtual Conservation Dinner committee said online auction bidding, along with funds raised from the Exeter Lions Club’s 50-50 raffle draw and donations and restaurant dinner proceeds, is set to raise a combined total of approximately $40,000, in net proceeds, for projects in the community.
The Exeter Lions Club’s 50-50 Raffle Draw was also online this year. It had a record prize of $6,300.00 and the winner’s name was drawn on Earth Day, Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. The winner was Jeanette Parker (winning ticket number 99396823144).
Dave Frayne is Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee. He thanked the community for their generous bids and donations, raffle draw ticket purchases, and support of restaurants taking part in the first Dine for Your Community program. He also thanked all the businesses and donors who donated funds or items to the auction. The Conservation Dinner partners had to find new ways to raise funds this year instead of a large in-person event.
“I would like to congratulate everyone who made the first Virtual Conservation Dinner such a success,” the Chair said. “Your generosity will make it possible to continue important projects in your community.”
The online charity auction took place over a full week from April 15 until Earth Day (April 22). The organizers hosted, for the first time, two live cable TV broadcasts, one to launch the week and one to cap it off. The shows included appearances by local political representatives, Conservation Foundation and Lions Club members, trail users, a best-selling author and Conservation Dinner donor, and young people who have benefitted from projects of the Dinner.
The committee thanked FauxPop Media Inc. for preparing the livestream shows and thanked the cable TV providers (Hay Communications; HuronTel; and Tuckersmith Communications Co-operative TCC) for broadcasting the shows.
The Conservation Dinner, over more than 30 years, has raised more than $1.25 million for local community conservation projects such as parks, trails, conservation areas, job opportunities and bursaries for youth, conservation education, commemorative woods, turtle habitat enhancement and monitoring projects, recreation opportunities for the young and young at heart, and more.
To learn more visit abca.ca and conservationdinner.com.
Participating local restaurants support Virtual Conservation Dinner by donating some proceeds to local community projects
Virtual Conservation Dinner and Online Auction Committee invites public to support participating local restaurants and support community conservation projects at same time in April 2021
The Conservation Dinner auction event is online this year (2021) but people can still enjoy fine dining while supporting their community this year.
Some participating local restaurants are donating some proceeds from special entreés during specific dates in April.
The Conservation Dinner has created a new web page at conservationdinner.com to list the restaurants which are offering these special fundraising meals.
The Dinner Committee is asking you to ‘dine for your community’ in order to ‘support local projects one meal at a time.’
More restaurants are expected to join the campaign in time for the April 15-22 online bidding period for this year’s Dinner, which is online for the first time.
The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of Exeter Lions Club, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and other community partners. It has raised more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities over 30 years.
This year, because it’s not safe to have a large in-person event, the committee is hosting an online auction and is inviting people to consider purchases of these special dinners, whether take-out or dine-in, at the participating restaurants.
Dave Frayne is Chair of the Virtual Conservation Dinner and Online Auction Committee. He says people can support conservation projects by bidding on the online auction between April 15 and 22. They can also support local conservation through purchase of these special restaurant ‘conservation dinners.’
“I would like to thank the restaurants which have generously offered to take part and I invite other restaurants to take part as well,” the Chair says. “This is a way people can support their local restaurants and also support projects in their community.”
The Committee invites the public to order these special meals and take them home to enjoy their home-version ‘Conservation Dinner’ while bidding on great items at the online auction. Visit conservationdinner.com and abca.ca to find out more about the online auction, the #VirtualConservationDinner entreés and other ways to support your community. The online auction offers a chance to “get some great deals, amazing items and experiences, and support your local community.”
There are several ways people can support #VirtualConservationDinner community conservation projects.
2) Order designated restaurant meals on designated dates at participating local restaurants through the restaurants page;
3) Bid online at the online auction between April 15 and 22;
4) Support restaurants and other local businesses that generously donate to the Dinner each year; and
5) Donate directly to the Dinner.
This fundraiser supports projects in local communities. Projects include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental bursary for students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; and other projects.
Support for community conservation projects is still needed but committee developing innovative ways to fundraise in place of in-person dinner; Conservation Dinner public event is cancelled for 2021 but online auction, other fundraising activities to replace dinner event during pandemic
The Conservation Dinner Committee is asking for public support of community conservation projects in 2021. The committee has met by video conference to develop innovative new fundraising ideas, including an online auction, to replace – for 2021 – the in-person dinner and auction event. The committee has cancelled an in-person dinner for 2021 and postponed it until 2022. The committee will host an online auction and other fundraising events in 2021, as alternatives, to make it possible to support needed community conservation projects.
Dinner Committee Chair Dave Frayne said it’s disappointing not to have the fellowship of a dinner in person this upcoming year but he said the committee is excited to develop other ways to engage the community and support projects in the community. “The Conservation Dinner has been a wonderful event for 30 years but it is the right thing to do to postpone the 2021 event and replace it with other ways for people to be part of this community enhancement effort,” he said.
When the Conservation Dinner is held in person there are more than 400 people present so that is not appropriate during a pandemic, he said. That’s why the committee is strategizing other ways for community members to join an auction event ‘virtually’ through an online auction with bidding from April 15 to April 22 (Earth Day). The committee also hopes to announce other engaging fundraising activities to take place during the 2021 year including a 50-50 draw, on April 15, in support of community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation. Other planned activities include special take-out ‘conservation dinners,’ at participating local restaurants, in support of needed community conservation projects.
The Conservation Dinner fundraising initiative supports projects in local communities. Projects include parks and conservation areas; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; outdoor nature education programs; a $1,000 student environmental bursary benefitting students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel at Grand Bend; and other projects.
Organizers say they hope the Conservation Dinner in-person event will return in 2022 when it is safe to do so.
The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of Exeter Lions Club, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and other community partners. It has raised more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities over 30 years.
To receive announcements of new fundraising activities, to replace the Dinner in 2021, visit conservationdinner.com and abca.ca.
Charitable auction event postponed for first time in more than 30 years
The Conservation Dinner Committee has announced the 2020 charitable auction is postponed until Thursday, April 15, 2021. The committee made the decision on June 15 at a video conference meeting.
The Chair of the Dinner Committee is Dave Frayne.
“It is a tough decision to postpone this wonderful event but it is the right thing to do,” he said.
“More than 400 people attend the Dinner each year. It is not feasible to practise social physical distancing, at this time, with that many people. We plan to return in 2021 with another great Conservation Dinner and continue our support of needed projects in our local communities.”
The Conservation Dinner Committee will contact those who have already donated money or items in 2020 to the charitable auction. The committee hopes to carry forward 2020 donations of auction items to the rescheduled event in 2021. The Chair thanked all who have donated auction items already. The committee will also contact people who had already purchased their ticket for the Conservation Dinner.
“We look forward to 2021 and hope we can once again share fellowship together, in support of our community, at the Conservation Dinner,” said Chair Dave Frayne. “I thank all the volunteers who worked so hard to prepare for the event planned for this year. I also want to thank everyone who has donated and are donating to this important community fundraiser. We look forward to welcoming you back next year.”
Donations are still needed to support community projects. If you want to donate to the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation or Exeter Lions Club, you can contact them directly.
In the month of June, if you donate to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation at givingchallenge.ca (or go directly to this web page:
You can mention the projects you want to support. You may make a donation to Conservation Dinner 2020 – to support projects of the Exeter Lions Club and the Conservation Foundation.
This is the first time in the event’s three-decade history that it has been postponed to the next year. The Conservation Dinner is a partnership of Exeter Lions Club, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, and other community partners. It has raised more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities over 30 years.
Winning ticket to be drawn on April 16, 2020; You can also purchase your ticket through electronic transfer this year
The Exeter Lions Club held its first 50-50 draw, for community projects supported by the Conservation Dinner, last year (2019). The raffle was such a success the club is bringing the idea back in 2020.
Raffle tickets are available now. There are only 1,000 tickets printed and they are only $10 each. If all tickets are sold, the cash prize could be as high as $5,000.
For the first time, people will also be able can buy 50-50 tickets through e-transfers as well as from Lions Club members. If you would like to buy your ticket this way, contact Lion Paul Anstett at panstett@hay.net. Buying a 50-50 ticket by e-transfer is a way to support community projects while still practicing safe social distancing.
“We are pleased to bring back the 50-50 draw as one more way we can help our local communities,” said Craig Glavin, President of the Exeter Lions Club. “The chance to win a big prize and be able to help your community at the same time makes this truly a win-win.”
The Conservation Dinner Committee has decided to postpone the 2020 Dinner until autumn but this will not affect the 50-50 draw. The Exeter Lions Club will continue to draw a 50-50 winner on April 16, 2020 as previously scheduled.
Conservation Dinner Committee Chair Dave Frayne thanked the Exeter Lions Club for bringing back this additional way to support parks and recreation and conservation projects in the community. “The Lions Club has been Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation’s partner on the Conservation Dinner for 30 years and in addition to their hard work on the Dinner they are also helping support community improvements with the 50-50 raffle draw was well,” he said.
The Conservation Dinner is a community success story that has raised more than $1.2 million in net proceeds in support of parks and recreation, trails, family-friendly fishing derby, nature education, and other projects in local communities in an area from Exeter to Port Franks to Bayfield and all points in between.
For updates on the Conservation Dinner, such as a new date this fall, visit abca.ca and conservationdinner.com.
Conservation Dinner 2020 Early Bird Prize Draw winner to get limousine ride courtesy of Wave Limo and Tours
The Conservation Dinner Committee has drawn the winning ticket for the 2020 Early Bird Prize.
Seree Wainman, of London, purchased her ticket early and with the picking of her ticket she wins a limousine ride for up to 10 people, to and from the charity auction event, courtesy of Bradley Oke and Wave Limo and Tours (Wave.limo), of Grand Bend.
Conservation Dinner Committee members Charles Miner and Marcy Merner drew the winning ticket at the February 10, 2020 Dinner Committee meeting.
The Exeter Lions Club has been co-partner, with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the watershed community, on the Dinner since 1991. Net profits are split evenly between community conservation projects of the Conservation Foundation and community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club. To find out more visit conservationdinner.com.
This gala charitable auction and dinner event, of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club and other community partners, has raised more than $1.2 million over three decades for projects in local communities. These projects include accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; busing for students to experience outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental bursary benefitting students in local communities; a summer job at Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring and events in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel, Grand Bend; and projects like nature day camps, fishing derby and Owl Prowl, and parks and conservation areas.
The 31st Conservation Dinner takes place on Thursday, April 16, 2020. To buy a ticket or to donate to the 2020 Conservation Dinner, visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office east of Exeter at 71108 Morrison Line (just south of Highway 83) or phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca. Find out more at abca.ca and conservationdinner.com.
The Conservation Dinner takes place at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter. Tickets are $85 each. Patrons receive a charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, for a portion of that amount.
The annual charitable event, of the Exeter Lions Club and Ausable Bayfield Conservation and other community partners (including donors; guests; volunteers; and artists) features live and silent auctions of art and other distinctive items including travel packages and sports and entertainment memorabilia. The Dinner also includes special raffles, general raffles, appetizers, wine tasting, a wonderful meal, and a chance to visit with neighbours. The Conservation Dinner Committee thanks all the donors and sponsors, patrons and guests, and volunteers who make the event a success. The committee also thanks all the creative people who have been feature artists over the years in media ranging from paintings to ice sculptures to metal art to culinary arts to other creative disciplines.
PHOTO INFORMATION:
CONSERVATION DINNER COMMITTEE DRAWS WINNING NAME FOR EARLY BIRD PRIZE: Conservation Dinner Committee members Charles Miner and Marcy Merner draw the winning ticket for the Early Bird Prize for 2020. The winning ticket this year was from Seree Wainman, of London. As this year’s winning early ticket purchaser, she will win a limousine ride, for up to 10 people, to and from the Thursday, April 16, 2020 charity auction event, courtesy of Bradley Oke and Wave Limo and Tours (Wave.limo), of Grand Bend.
Exeter Lions Club, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation have worked together for three decades on charity auction event, having raised $1.2 million for community
The Conservation Dinner has raised more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities and it would never have been possible without the support of the Exeter Lions Club, according to the Conservation Dinner Committee.
The Conservation Dinner is Thursday, April 16, 2020. This year’s charitable auction marks the 30th consecutive year that the Exeter Lions Club has been the major co-partner, with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, on the event. Net proceeds are split evenly between community conservation projects of the Conservation Foundation and community conservation projects of the Exeter Lions Club. The Lions Club first joined the Foundation as co-partner in 1991.
Dave Frayne is Chair of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF). He is also this year’s Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee. He says the community fundraising event would never have lasted 30 years if it were not for the tireless work and dedication of the Lions Club:
“The Conservation Dinner partnership with the Exeter Lions Club is really one of a kind. It would be incredible to see this kind of partnership last five or ten or 15 years, but 30 years – that’s really special. Local communities and local people, including youth, benefit from this event. It’s donors, guests, and volunteers who make it happen and the Exeter Lions Club volunteers are at the forefront each and every year. I would like to commend the Lions for their community spirit and their years of service to this cause. The Dinner has been a lot of hard work from everyone involved but it’s also been a lot of fun working with the Lions Club members. The Lions Club volunteers work all year on this event and when the week of the Conservation Dinner comes they really kick it into high gear and it’s really amazing to see them at work. I would like to thank President Craig, the current Lions members, and all the past Lions members who have been part of this successful event for the past 30 years.”
– Dave Frayne, Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee (2020) and Chair of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation (ABCF)
Craig Glavin is President of the Exeter Lions Club. He said working with the Conservation Foundation, and other community volunteers, has been enjoyable and has benefitted the community. Lions President Craig thanks all the current and past Lions members who have helped the Conservation Dinner raise more than $1.2 million for projects in local communities:
“I would like to personally thank all the Exeter Lions Club members, past and present. Exeter Lions Club members have spent thousands of hours organizing a great community event in support of needed community projects such as parks and trails and education, recreation, and job opportunities for young people. We enjoy working with Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and the other community volunteers on the Dinner Committee. The volunteers should be very proud of what they have accomplished over the past three decades and I look forward to another successful evening in 2020. I would also like to thank our neighbouring Lions Clubs that also support the work of this community event.”
– Craig Glavin, President, Exeter Lions Club
Exeter Lions Club members have served as Conservation Dinner chairpersons over the years including:
Tom Hartai and Mac MacDougall (1992)
Peter Raymond (1994)
George Godbolt (1996; 1998; 2000; 2002)
Rob Reid (2005)
Bob Gehan (2008; 2009; 2011)
Bob Laye (2013)
Paul Anstett (2015; 2016)
Jim Beckett and Larry Taylor (2018; 2019).
Projects made possible by the auction event include community parks and conservation areas; fishing derby, nature day camps, and Owl Prowl events; accessible nature trails in Bayfield, Clinton, Parkhill, Lucan, Arkona, Exeter, and Varna; busing for students to experience outdoor nature education; a $1,000 student environmental bursary benefitting students in local communities; a summer job in conservation for a senior secondary school student; turtle monitoring and events in Port Franks and Ailsa Craig; aquatic habitat studies in Old Ausable Channel, Grand Bend; and other community projects.
The annual charitable event features live and silent auctions of art and other distinctive items including travel packages and sports and entertainment memorabilia. The Dinner includes special raffles, general raffles, appetizers, wine tasting, a wonderful meal, and a chance to visit with neighbours. The Dinner Committee thanks all the donors and sponsors, patrons and guests, and volunteers who make the event a success. The committee also thanks all the creative people who have been feature artists over the years in media ranging from paintings to ice sculptures to metal art to culinary arts.
The Conservation Dinner takes place at South Huron Recreation Centre at 94 Victoria Street East in Exeter. Tickets are $85 each. Patrons receive a charitable gift receipt, for income tax purposes, for a portion of that amount. To buy a ticket or to donate, visit the Ausable Bayfield Conservation office east of Exeter at 71108 Morrison Line (south of Highway 83) or phone 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or email info@abca.ca. Find out more at abca.ca and conservationdinner.com.
