Following the 2002 Ferret Symposium in Las Vegas, NV, the IFC founders decided to add a few coordinators to help with the rapidly expanding vision. Alicia Drakiotes was invited to become the Education Coordinator, Danee DeVore became the Health Issues Coordinator and Renee Downs became the Publicity Coordinator. Alicia and her husband Dino run FerretWise Shelter and Rescue (http://www.ferretwise.org) in New Hampshire. Alicia has fought for legislation to help ferrets in New England. She offers her experience and insight to help people work in their own areas. Alicia sews quality bedding and is an accomplished artist. She has won scholarships to help develop this skill. Alicias home-based shelter has suffered calamities, surviving a fire last year and water damage from ruptured pipes this winter, but the indomitable spirit keeps on. Alicia will host a Friday evening get-together for shelter moms at the Symposium. We hope that there will be room for many more next time as it looks to become a popular event. Danee DeVores signature says it all. *ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!* (http://www.ferretadv.com) Known throughout the ferret community for her work on ADV education, Danee is also an accomplished photographer. We can thank her for many of the wonderful pictures we find on the IFC website. Danee also enjoys ceramics and has some beautiful ceramic mugs that will be available at the Symposium as door prizes! She lives in Virginia and works in Washington, DC and has been instrumental in making it possible for the vets to get CEUs! There is always something exciting happening in Danees life. Come meet this fascinating woman! Renee Downs joined the IFC as the Publicity Coordinator. Having lived in numerous states, she currently resides in Connecticut with The Poop-in-the-Corner Gang. Renee, the resident audiologist, is interested in hearing and deafness in ferrets. She has been a foster mom for Ferret Guardian Rescue Haven in North Carolina, and enjoys working with special needs ferrets. She also enjoys cooking, baking and writing not to mention traveling!, but does not like the cold weather! Renee will once again host a table to make sock puppet ferrets at the Symposium. Come join the fun and take home a new ferret! The coordinators hope to see you this week. Come meet us as we would love to put a face with a name! Meet Me in St. Louis! April 29 - May 1, 2005 International Ferret Congress http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 4859]