I would like to invite everyone in the Chicagoland area to the Greater Chicago Ferret Association (GCFA) annual walk-a-thon and picnic. Please take a walk on the not-so-wild side to benefit the GCFA in our "Footwork for Ferrets". The walk-a-thon will take place Saturday, September 18th, 2004, rain or shine. Check in time to turn in your pledge sheets is at 10:00 a.m. We usually get underway around 10:30 a.m. The 5K walk follows a very nice trail through the woods, shaded by nature s canopy. The location is in Bemis Woods, grove #1, which is in Western Springs, IL. You can access the grove from Wolf Road, which is north of the intersection of Ogden Ave. and Wolf Road. Look for the GCFA PICNIC signs. You can print out a sponsor/pledge sheet from our website www.GCFA.com. Even if you only have one pledge on the sheet or just want to walk yourself, please come and join us. You can also pledge someone who is already walking, if you cannot attend. This year we will be awarding first, second and third place prizes for the most money brought in from the pledge forms. All the ferrets at the shelter will be very happy for your support. Please plan on attending the picnic, even if you can t participate in "Footwork for Ferrets". The picnic will begin right around 12:00 noon and usually lasts until we are too full of food or we have had enough fun and exercise for the day, which is usually 4:00pm. Please feel free to come at anytime during the day. The GCFA will supply roasted/buttered corn, hot dogs and juicy watermelon. If you do not like hot dogs, please bring a grilling item of your own choosing. There will be a large grill provided by GCFA and Norm Stilson the shelter director is happy to play "cook of the day", or you can cook your own grilling items. If you can supply a dish to be passed around, that would be very welcome, but not necessary. We have a few games planned, like "Pin the Tail on the Ferret" and a ferret ring toss game. No live ferrets will be used in the games. Just thought I would mention that, so we don t get flamed. If you love to talk about your fuzzie kids, please come and share your stories and have fun!! For more information about this please visit our website, www.GCFA.com Hope to see you there. [Posted in FML issue 4635]