Rikki's Refuge

Friday, June 17, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 17, 2011

I’m Vincent D. Cat and here to make you happy! You are HEROES! You work hard every day and you deserve to smile every day! Those of you working to save us animals hear so very many very sad things. And there’s lots of very glad things too and that’s what we talk about here! All pawsitive all the time! I want my friends to be happy and smile and know there’s a lot of good - including YOU - in this world!! Be kind and pass it on! Please send me your Good New and Fun Stuff to share, personal or global. Let’s keep it fun and interactive!! After all, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane! Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org

If we made it to Cheezburger are we famous ????

SO CLOSE ......

http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/healthy-kitty-fund

Jan, Alyce and Kent have challenged you - open your wallets to help the kitties and they’ll open theirs big time Sunday - Matching $1,500 --- wowee, we’re almost there, if a few of you could just add one $ .... please !!!!!

Sorry, this isn’t formatted well

Having trouble learning the new format on this blog. Seems they took away all my functionality. HELP - what’s the best blogging system to use? Most flexibility? Please tell me. I think I need to switch off Blogger here.

Time is running out!

Do you need the perfect Father's Day gift?

Check out the paintings by father and son pot-bellied pigs on e-bay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Surfing-painting-father-and-son-pigs-Rikkis-Refuge-/320713167481?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabfe9279#ht_500wt_1156

http://cgi.ebay.com/Oceans-and-Glaciers-painting-dad-son-pigs-Rikkis-/320713169816?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabfe9b98#ht_500wt_1156

The auctions end on Sunday at 1:00 est, so hurry and get in your bid! 100% of the monies raised from these paintings go directly to the animals. Well, not like they have their own checking accounts, but you know what I mean -- it will help with food, medical expenses, or what ever other needs they have.

Do you like the paintings,

but would prefer one painted by Vincent?

Or Duke? Or Candy the horse?

Or Rockstar the guinea pig? Or Nanny the goat?

Well, then come out to First Friday in Fredericksburg on Friday, July 1! All of the paintings by the animals will be on display, and for sale, at Dog Krazy! Their address is 1011 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Va., 22401.

First Friday's are very popular in Fredericksburg

-- during the summer, on the first Friday of every month, art comes to life in downtown Fredericksburg. Many stores and art galleries stay open late (until 9:00) and display the works of local artists. This town is full of talent, and the animals have now joined them!

The art show will begin at 6:00 p.m. But come early and shop the store! Dog Krazy is donating 20% of their sales for the entire day to Rikki's! Customers are already saying "what? 20%? You always donate 10%."

Nancy Guinn, the owner, says that she loves Rikki's because they take the animals that no one else will, so she wants to do something that she has never done before, and she is giving us more. The paintings have even inspired her own bulldog, Piglet, to paint! And Piglet is donating her very own first painting to the effort!

To see Piglet's painting early, check out Dog Krazy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dog-Krazy/146655838194.

So, come down to Dog Krazy, have some light refreshments, and view and purchase a painting for yourself! They make great gifts, too! And if a painting is "not your thing", then check out the Christmas ornaments! Priced at only $5 each, they make great gifts, and would also look great as part of the wrapping of a present!

Can't make it on the 1st? Don't worry. Mary and Melissa are busy finding other locations to show and sell the art. Currently, a library in the Fredericksburg area and an art gallery in Orange are considering showing the paintings.

Do you drink Coca Cola products?

Rikki's is collecting the Rewards codes from their 12-packs. If you would like to give your rewards codes to Rikki's, simply e-mail the codes to Melissa at dogslife24@comcast.net. Rikki's will use the points to receive items that can be used for fundraisers, or for trying to win some of their many gift card giveaways. Every little bit helps!

We’re so almost there

http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/healthy-kitty-fund please help us meet the challengs so Jan can get out that check book on Sunday!!!!

Hello! From Petco

I just wanted to remind all of you pet enthusiasts, rescuers, and working dog handlers that the Fredericksburg Petco (5717 Plank Road) is now offering Pet Nutrition Seminars for free in the store! Our special "Size Matters" canine seminar is tonight at 7pm!

The upcoming seminars include:

*Friday, June 17th at 7pm "Size Matters" - a canine nutrition seminar about specific dietary requirements of large vs small breed dogs.

*Friday, July 15th at 7pm "Senior Special" - a canine nutrition seminar about the metabolic changes and specific dietary needs of older dogs.

*Friday, August 19th at 7pm "Upset About Digestive Upset?" - a nutrition seminar for both cat and dog enthusiasts, interested in learning more about what makes a sensitive stomach formula special, the difference between prebiotics and probiotics, and the benefits of fiber in a pet's diet.

*Friday, September 23rd at 7pm "From the Inside Out" - a nutrition seminar about foods to support your pet's skin and coat.

This free, informal customer-education opportunity may be benefical to pet owners/handlers who feed a commerical diet, like the one's sold at our local Petco store or are interested in more information about pet supplements. I hope you take advantage of this free opportunity and look forward to answering your questions at our seminar tonight!

If you have any questions, you may reply to this email or call the store at 540-785-0137.

Thank you for your time!

Stephanie Holmes

snderr8459@aol.com

DESPERATELY NEED TIEMS FOR YEARD SALE

JUNE 18^th and June 25^th

Contact Kathy KDoucette@wri.org or Kim kidoujs@gmail.com or by phone 703-350-3957 if you have items they can sell to benefit Rikki’s Refuge. Their home is off Rt 3 not far from the new shopping center with Giant, Petco and Home Depot. They have a great garage for storing things. Unfortunately it’s enough off the beaten path and without adequate parking to make it a good site to sell from.

Some things they’d like to get:

baked goods (no icing or other melt in the sun items)

potted plants

home accent pieces

furniture that is easily carried

chairs would be good, small tables or plant stands

decorative mirrors

anything you can put on the wall

kitchen items

camping items

anything for outdoor entertaining and living

Vincent Guest Appearance

from 10 am - noon on June 25^th at the Lake of the Woods Flea Market. And I better not got no fleas!!

FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL

Prince and Pop list two of their original Pig Paintings for Father’s Day!!! If you’ve got that dad that has it all .... well here’s something unique!!! Click on photo for more details.

Love,

Vincent

Help me keep this wonderful Refuge running!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

PPS You tell me what you want! Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications! Subscriptions: Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved. Scheduled as needed. Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us! Scheduled daily. Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s! Scheduled weekly.

Rikki's Refuge, supported solely by private donations, houses over 1200 animals of 22 species. On line at http://bit.ly/Give-a-gift-to-Rikkis Checks, money orders, cash, items at Rikki's Refuge, PO Box 1357, Orange VA 22960

Rikki's Refuge is owned and operated by Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc., an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Virginia Corporation, tax-id 54-1911042. Combined Federal Campaigns #77674, Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign #3163, PetsMart Charities #1377. A financial statement is available upon written request from the State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Vincent Alert !!!! June 15, 2011

SPECIAL VINCENT ALERT

Our beloved friend Jan just lost two of her kitties within two days of each other. Peter a lovely black kitty who’d only lived with her for four years had sudden acute kidney failure. No amount of money and no amount of doctors could save him and he went to Rainbow Bridge. Jan had found Peter, thin, hungry, beat up and alone begging for a hand out at her vet’s parking lot four years ago. Nobody claimed him. But he claimed Jan’s heart very quickly. He was a older gentleman and very dignified.

Topsy had been Jan’s companion for many many years. He’d been thru all kinds of problems and illnesses while his vets mended him and patched him up. But last week, at the age of 21, there was no more mending possible and Topsy crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with Peter.

Jan was devastated at the loss of her boys, especially so close together, so she came out to Rikki’s for some good fur loving. I, good old Vincent D. Cat, hugged her and purred for her and she loved and hugged the hospital patients. She saw how many here are being helped and how much money it takes to patch them up and mend them.

Later, back at work, Jan was telling friend and co-worker Alyce how no amount of money could keep Peter and Topsy from crossing the Rainbow Bridge.

PS. This photo is from last Halloween!

Soon Kent joined in the conversation and the proverbial light bulb burned bright. Let’s help save animals at Rikki’s Refuge! Jan told the story of three kitties who’ve needed a lot of medical care lately. Weekly visits to the doctors, expensive medicines, and all are purrfect candidates to be restored to full health and tough they may need extra medical attention all their lives, they can be happy and have wonderful lives at Rikki’s Refuge.

So Jan, Alyce and Kent pooled $1,500 together in a challenge to help pay Boo’s, Princess Orange’s and Mystique’s medical bills.

YOU donate what ever is comfortable for you, $1, $5, $20 or $100, and they will match it, up to $1,500!!! The result? HEROES like YOU and Jan and Alyce and Kent will be raising $3,000 to help Rikki’s cover medical expenses!!!

http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/healthy-kitty-fund

Here’s who you’ll be helping. And if there are extra funds they will be used for medical expenses for some of the other animals. Hushey and Lucky, two elderly doggies who’ve had rough pasts and who’ve been living happily at Rikki’s for years, are really getting on in age and need lots of care and medications for their arthritis. Paul Pigeon has an eye infection. Percy a leukemia kitty is being treated for a skin problem. Candy and Gretta, horses, are ready for their annual vaccinations and check up. These and many many more animals need your help.

Mystique

Mystique has been with Rikki’s Refuge since she was about 4 weeks old. Tiny and sick, she arrived with her siblings. They have genetic problems, probably caused from a mom that was too young (Speutering would have prevented this), malnourished and sick. They’ve been lovingly cared for by our doctors who work many miracles. But sometimes their magic wand runs out of power. Over the last year, all of Mystique’s siblings have been called to the Rainbow Bridge. Mystique is doing very well and is recovering from an eye condition that caused her to suddenly lose her sight. Thanks to quick and expert treatment at Culpeper Animal Hospital, on her second check up for her eyes, she jumped to the doc’s shoulders and across the room to the counter. Well, that was proof her eye sight was coming back. She’s still under treatment for several more weeks. Help us, help her to recover 100% of her sight!

Boo

Boo had been a world traveler and outdoor kitty when his folks came to lie in the DC area. Being older and getting injured, their new home was no place for him to roam. He joined us at Rikki’s and we’ve been watching an old stable injury in one eye. Recently there have been some changes in that eye requiring medical attention. There’s no way to restore sight in that eye, but we can keep it comfortable. It’s being monitored closely by experts and if it becomes painful will have to be removed. Boo has also suffered some rough allergies this season and needed treatment for that. Even tough his life in the past was that of a fast outdoor tom boy, he now prefers to lounge on a soft quilt in the sun inside the 9^th Life Center. He has a kitty door letting him out to the day run for fresh air and weather, though he hardly ever ventures outside!

Princess Orange

Princess Orange and her brothers joined us late last summer after their hooman dad died. They were totally terrified. All alone in the big world without their daddy they didn’t know what to do. A kind neighbor felt sorry for them and trapped them and brought them to Rikki’s. They were outside at their house and too afraid to even come in. The kindly neighbor and their daddy’s family didn’t want them to be split up, and at Rikki’s Refuge we never never split up families. We think that family bond is a very important thing and could not imagine doing more emotional damage to an animal family who’s just gone thru the trauma of losing their human family. Not long after the family had been here, Princess Orange’s eyes were blood filled one morning. Not like being bloodshot, not the whites of the eyes. It looked like the eyeballs had blood sloshing around in them, like you could see it thru the iris. Very odd. Mom yelled YIKES and called Culepper Animal Hospital and said emergency, I’m on the way. Turns out it was high blood pressure. She was put on medication which immediately fixed the eyes. Her blood pressure is now stable. On a routine check a few weeks ago we discovered that she’s quite anemic. We’re working on fixing that and so far lab work and tests haven’t turned up the reason for it. In this picture she’s thinking about coming out of her carrier after her last visit to the doc. When she does, she’ll run straight to her brother’s side and cuddle.

Please join Jan, Alyce and Kent in the race to save the kitties!!!! And their friends!!!

http://rikkisrefuge.chipin.com/healthy-kitty-fund

DO YOU HAVE ITEMS TO SELL?

Please see yesterday’s Good Morning Good News to see how Kathy and Kim are helping out with yard sales.

http://rikkisrefuge.blogspot.com/2011/06/good-morning-good-news-june-13-2011.html

Items needed, location, dates, times and contact information is there.

Also we CAN SELL BAKED GOODS. Please no icing or things that melt in the heat.

Thanks for helping us help the animals.

FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL

Melissa has helped Prince and Pop list two of their original Pig Paintings for Father’s Day!!! If you’ve got that dad that has it all .... well I bet he doesn’t have a picture painted by pigs!!!! Really truly painted by these piggies. And you’ll get a certificate of authenticity!!! Please bid. All the funds from these auctions, 100%, go to help the animals of Rikki’s Refuge. June is turning out to be a tough month and we need your financial help!!!

Surfing Painting by Father and Son Pigs

Just in time for Father's Day! What father would not want such a beautiful and unique gift? It's much better than a tie!

Vincent, the spokescat for Rikki's Refuge in Orange, Va., has gotten together with his friends, and had a day of painting!

This painting was painted by Martha and Prince, father and son Pot-bellied pigs.

I know, Martha is a girl's name, but Rikki's had a name the pig contest, and the winner chose the name Martha. What can I say? We never stated that it had to be a boy's name.

Anyway, the painting is titled "Surfing". The colors are purple and hot pink, on a green background. They used acrylic paints on a 12"x16" stretched canvas. The back has screw eyes for hanging. This is a one-of-a-kind painting. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.

There are many pot-bellied pigs at Rikki's Refuge. Why? Because people get the baby pigs as pets, not realizing that they can grow to be over 200 pounds. Also, they root, and that will destroy a beautiful garden in no time. They also have hooves, not soft, padded feet, and they can do plenty of damage inside a home. The pigs at Rikki's want to remind people to think very hard before adopting any animal as a pet. Think of your life several years from now, and will the animal still fit in? If not, don't get one now. Wait until you have the time, the money, and the appropriate home, for the particular animal.

Look for more paintings by Vincent and his friends! Make Rikkisthings one of your e-bay favorites, and never miss out on another chance to help Rikki's Refuge!

Oceans and Glaciers painting by Dad and Son Pigs

This painting is titled "Oceans and Glaciers". The colors are green and blue, with an iridescent glimmer (and a little mud) mixed in.. They used acrylic paints on a 11x14 canvas board. The back has been stabilized with a "frame" and has a hanger for hanging.. This is a one-of-a-kind painting. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Proceeds from the piggy paintings will be used to care for the animals of Rikki’s Refuge. 100%

DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNDRAISING IDEAS?

Please help us with these and other ideas you have for raising money to pay our bills and keep our animals happy and healthy. Pick one of these ideas or come up with your own. We’ll share your success story here!!! Yard sales, bake sales, tabling at events and at shopping centers, plant sales, these are ideas that can be done anywhere in the world and the proceeds sent to help the animals of Rikki’s.

Donations were terribly short for June and we’re struggling to get thru this stack of bills for medical care, medicines, preventative medicine, especially with flea and tick season here, food, shade tarps and umbrellas, electricity to keep the fans running, gas and diesel to keep the grass short .... Really in need of your generosity this June!!!

Love,

Vincent

Help me keep the wonderful refuge running!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 13, 2011

Special

WE LOVE YOU David and Christine

Edition

Have YOU heard the news?

Miss Pitty Pat is swimming in her new pool -

deep enough so her feet don’t bang on the bottom!

Mickey and Maverick have luscious new quarters!

Rabbits are romping!

Pigeons are playing!

Rabbit Rotunda II is OPEN !!!!!

Come, take a tour of this wonderful new Neighborhood at Rikki’s Refuge!!

Meet some of the happy animals who have moved into their new fancy diggs!! This fabulous facility, the most professional Neighborhood Building at Rikki’s Refuge, has been in the making for a year!!! David and Christine Skinner, contributed this wonderful new home to the animals of Rikki’s Refuge. They contributed thousands of hours of love and labor to make it happen. And thousands and thousands of hard earned dollars to buy all the materials.

A great big huge thank you and a million miles of Purrrs to all the volunteers who worked to make this dram come true over the last year. Some of you worked hours and hours, week after week, in the cold and in the heat. Others contributed a few hours. Without each of you - we would not be were we are today!!

THANK YOU !!!

AND A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID

FOR A ZILLION HOURS OF LOVE AND LABOR!!!!!

I’ve got a big important meeting with a Litter Company today - I’m doing the demonstrations - so I’ve only got a few minutes.

I’m in trouble, I’ve been letting all the critters go see the doc, and lots of them needed help this month, I’ve bought them all medicine, and I’ve let them use the air conditioning in the 9^th Life Center and Hospital on some of these really hot days, I’ve made sure everybody had their get rid of flea and tick medicine, I’ve gotten gas and diesel for all the grass cutting so my friends don’t get lost in the long grass, I let my friends be warm and used the propane this spring and I haven’t paid that last bill, I’ve run up bills buying cracked corn for the chickens and pigeon food and gravel and pig food, lots of pig food. It’s been really bad cuz most of our produce supply has dried up. Some stores stopped giving it to us. Others won’t let us pick up anymore cuz our volunteers couldn’t meet their specific schedules. Dennis has been bringing the food from the school cafeterias and we’ve seen our last of that for a few months.

I need to pay all these bills and I need tarps, not heavy ones, I need them for shade, I need 10 x 12 or bigger, I need bleach, lots of bleach, lots and lots in the summer, gotta scrub all the water bowls everyday and clean in bleach to keep the algae from growing - you wondered why my paws are white didn’t you? I need scrub brushes, laundry detergent and always, lots and lots of paper towels.

The pile of bills on my desk is so high. I’ve got people calling me and saying they’ll do bad things to me if I don’t pay my bills. But I’m out of that green stuff. I stole mom’s ATM card and got all her green paper too. And still it’s not enough. This is the first month in 2011 that it’s been this bad. I’m afraid I’m in serious trouble if I don’t get some help with fundraisng.

Would you please help me? How about a yard sale, a bake sale, do a table-ing event in a shopping center, help us at festivals. If every body on the planet just gave me a quarter, I could do it all.

Please help me. If you have a spare $ or two or even a penny, it can go towards helping the animals. Please help me now!

Help me keep the wonderful refuge running!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

YARD SALES

Kathy and Kim are helping with yard sales. There’s a flea market set up near Lake of the Woods on Route 3. If you’re coming from Fredericksburg, it’s on the left after the glass office building and the Ace Hardware and before Lake of the Woods light. Saturdays 8 am - 3 pm. Kathy and Kim set up this Saturday and made a few hundred bucks for Rikki’s Refuge with things they had.

If they had more things they could make more money for Rikki’s. They’ll sell your things for Rikki’s. What do you have that you no longer use or need or want? Things need to be in reasonably good shape and need to be clean and in working order. Rikki’s Refuge has a reputation to uphold after all you know!!!!

Some things they’d like to get:

potted plants

home accent pieces

furniture that is easily carried

chairs would be good, small tables or plant stands

decorative mirrors

anything you can put on the wall

kitchen items

camping items

anything for outdoor entertaining and living

Help us collect nice, clean usable items that will be hot sellers. Kathy and Kim have one suv to transport in. Could use help getting items to and from the flea market site. Also could use help on Saturdays at the sale.

Saturday the 18^th, this coming Saturday they’ll be at the sale

Saturday the 25^th, they’ll be at the sale. And so will I !!! Guest appearance by World Famous Spokes Cat Vincent D. Cat, handing out his purrs and loves from 10-12.

Please help us with this and other ideas you have for raising money to pay our bills and keep our animals happy and healthy. Pick one of these ideas or come up with your own. We’ll share your success story here!!! Yard sales, bake sales, tabling at events and at shopping centers, plant sales, these are ideas that can be done anywhere in the world and the proceeds sent to help the animals of Rikki’s.

Love,

Vincent

Help me keep the wonderful refuge running!

http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

PS I’m using Blogger to write this to you. I had gotten pretty good at figuring out how to format things. It wasn’t WYSIWYG but they did give me a preview option and pretty much what I wrote and formatted in Microsoft word was coming thru ---- well it looks like they new and improved blogger and not my formatting is all messed up and not looking anything like in my word document POOOO and they took away preview .... Booooooo.

So my question to you is - do you use a blog? Which one do you like? Which is the easiest for WYSIWYG formatting? Easiest to move from word to blog?? Any suggestions for this poor technologically challenged kitty???

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Good Morning Good News !!!! June 11, 2011

Special Vincent The Artist Edition

Have you checked us on ebay lately????

Do a search for seller “rikkisthings” and see what you get!

http://shop.ebay.com/rikkisthings/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1

Remember when we were doing paintings back in April? Well I became a real star. I took right to this painting thing!!!

Check it out!!! I did a Self Portrait!!! These paintings are available on ebay for only a few hours more - so hurry quick and look and bid!!!! Wouldn’t you like an original Vincent VanCat on your mantel?

Self Portrait in Black and White

THE ARTIST

Vincent VanCat

A deep and philosophical self study of how the artist perceives himself.

CLICK TO BID: http://cgi.ebay.com/Self-Portrait-painting-Vincent-Cat-Rikkis-/320709779873?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabcae1a1

Vincent’s Secret Cabin in the Woods

THE ARTIST

Vincent VanCat

Vincent’s Secret Cabin in the Woods where he finds solitude to paint.

CLICK TO BID: http://cgi.ebay.com/Cabin-Woods-painting-Vincent-Cat-Rikkis-/320709778524?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabcadc5c

Eggplant Gone Wild

THE ARTIST

Vincent VanCat

Vincent has spent many hours pondering why one would eat an eggplant

when so many flavors of Fancy Feast are available.

CLICK TO BID: http://cgi.ebay.com/Eggplant-Gone-Wild-painting-Vincent-Cat-Rikkis-/320709775790?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabcad1ae

HAWAIIAN FLOWERS

THE ARTISTS

Katty Piggough

Peeppers Monet

Katty and Peppers spend many afternoons together painting and

sharing their memories of delicious plants of Hawaii.

CLICK TO BID: http://cgi.ebay.com/Hawaiian-Flower-painting-pig-and-emu-Rikkis-/320709788436?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabcb0314

TROPICAL DOGWOOD FLOWERS

THE ARTIST

Flash O’Picasso

Flash has spent a lifetime studying worldwide varities of Dogwood blossoms.

CLICK TO BID: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tropical-Flowers-painting-beagle-dog-Rikkis-Refuge-/320709795907?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item4aabcb2043

Love,

Vincent

Help me run the refuge! http://www.rikkisrefuge.org/donate.php

PS You tell me what you want! Email me at Vincent@RikkisRefuge.org with instructions to change your subscription: additions, deletions or modifications! Subscriptions: Vincent’s VIPs - up to the second alerts about issues at Rikki’s Refuge for those who care and want to be intimately involved. Scheduled as needed. Good Morning Good News - a little something to get you going in the mornings, for those of you who want to keep smiling with us! Scheduled daily. Hairballs - so you know what’s coming up at Rikki’s! Scheduled weekly.

Learn more www.RikkisRefuge.org and help spread the good word, tell everyone you know about Rikki’s Refuge

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Rikki's Refuge Vegan Meetup Day!

UPDATE June 9, 2011

I’m sorry everyone in the Meetup Group. I've never used this kind of sign up / format. I feel like a moron for not knowing how to contact any one in this group except Doug.

I posted a comment but the length of comments is very limited. So I’m doing it here on my blog for that reason.

I’m used to working on group activities thru RSVP and collective emailing to make the plans.

I don't know how to pull off a day of events without firm planning. I needed RSVP’s by June 6^th to line up any projects, tour guides, volunteers etc to be able to offer you a day of fun. I haven’t seemed to be able to get that level of planning going between us.

This is the problem I’m having with the scheduling, that I'm not sure how to work out, maybe some of you can help me since you have experience with these kind of events. I'm used to doing events with very rigid timelines / activities.

We can't have people unaccompanied on the property for both their safety and the safety of the animals. This is why we keep in groups, unless there are several volunteers running several groups.

For each different event I was proposing there needs to be planning and lining up the right volunteer and it needs to be done group wise.

To date I don't have any volunteers available since I haven't had any head counts for specific times and specific number of people, etc.

That was my reasoning for needing it all figured out by June 6th and why I proposed some different ideas.

For example working on the boundary markings requires not only guides very familiar with the survey lines, but also once a group goes out to the woods, finding them to add another member would be a problem - we're scattered on almost 400 acres.

There may be some way to do a day where people arrive at different times and are doing different things, but I've never set up something like that. Jan does run open houses that usually require 30-50 volunteers around the property to interact with the visitors. Yet I don’t have that kind of volunteer support line up for this Saturday.

I'm not sure I can put together anything that does not have specific arrival times, scheduling, etc.

Unless we can somehow really get everyone arriving together and get settled on what activities we're doing - and then I can see if I can line up the volunteer support - I think we should reschedule.

I'm so sorry but I'm lacking the volunteer power to have it open arrival or even to have some one sitting at the gate waiting for arrivals so they can let them in. The gate is ½ a mile from the complex and we can’t hear anyone up there.

I guess this is more complicated that I'd thought, I'm sorry.

If any of you want to try and do this Saturday please be in touch via email so we can work out details - otherwise maybe it’d be best to cancel.

Kerry

Saturday, June 11, 2011

10:00 AM

Selected By: Doug Gellman

Who's hosting? Doug Gellman

How to find us: http://rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Directions.html

Hi Everyone!
This is an all day event and a Farm Animal Sanctuary, but you can come for only part of the day or evening if that is all the time you have available.

Here's all the pertinent details from Kerry Hilliard of the sanctuary:
Directions: http://rikkisrefuge.org/Rikkis/Directions.html
More info about Rikki's

Put 6/11 on YOUR calendar. It's a special Vegan Meetup Day!
Schedule for the Day

Farm Animal Day of Service - from 10 am throughout the day , volunteer to help the farm animals, pigs, chickens, cows, goats and sheep. To early to know for sure what the chores of the day will be (if we knew well in advance how many and there were several skilled folks raising a new barn would be a possibility) building / improving / repairing Bovine Boulevard, Chicken City, Piggy Paradise or another animal neighborhood, hoof trimming, feeding, muck out, painting (any artists who'd like to sketch and paint a mural? Chicken City, Horsey Haven and Rabbit Rotunda have giant blank canvases), planting trees (possible if we have confirmed head count and fences can be built around them to protect them too), washing up and so much more.

1 pm, special Nature Hike just for your group thru the woods and wetlands of our 297 acres of preserved land.
3 pm, special tour of all the animal Neighborhoods of Rikki's Refuge just for your group.

Approaching evening, vegan bar-b-que and potluck. We'll have a grill available and a bonfire to light. Please make sure you RSVP by 6/6, so that we have an approximate head-count and we'll have vegan patties, buns and condiments available and our special Chef Ron, Director of Serving Cats (oh no, not at the bar-b-que!! That's not what I mean. Ron's our man in charge of Feline Fields and our cook out Chef) Bring your favorite vegan dishes to share and veggies to grill.

Dark - we'll light the bonfire. Bring vegan marshmallows if you like!

After Dark and Moon Rise - we'll take a Full Moon Walk and see the critters of the night. Listen to the emus boom, the geese honk, the roosters crow, the dogs howl and the wildlife call.

Other items:

Depending on the collective braveness of the group the walk could be around the Animal Neighborhoods or off into the woods.
Bring small flashlights and learn how to spot eye shine. Have YOU ever seen a spider's eyes glowing bright blue in the dark night?
Camp out - those who wish to pitch a tent or sleep under the stars for the night are welcome to stay.
Make a weekend of it - if you wish to stay over and volunteer on Sunday or hike (unescorted) in the woods, we'd love your company.
VEGAN - means no milk or egg products or derivatives. Those of you used to any vegetarian events, please check all labeling carefully and ask me if you have any questions. This day will be strictly vegan.

Thank you, and look forward to seeing all of you!
Kerry

Kerry@RikkisRefuge.org