>On 4/22/2011 5:56 PM, Joanne wrote: [via other list] >I finally got my registration done for the International Ferret >Symposium 2011!!! I can't believe it's just right around the corner - >June 3-5th! Thursday night (June 2) they normally have an informal >dinner for the people that have arrived early. Things kick off bright >and early Friday morning! Hello, all! And, thank you for bringing up the Shelter Dinner. I keep meaning to do that and keep procrastinating. Although I have not posted, I have been busy preparing for it. Yes, we can't let a Thursday night before the Symposium go by without a shelter dinner! Since there is no shelter in the Phoenix area, I need to hear from the Arizona people as to who is there. I don't really "research" too much, just try to interact with the locals for this info. What ferret stuff is happening in the Phoenix area? For those who don't know about the shelter dinner, it is FREE and we GIVE AWAY door prizes. I will unashamedly place a donation jar out and ask people who can afford to do so to fill it with cash - $$$$ are easier to carry, but change sounds good, too. I usually leave all the money with the local shelter. Totals collected have ranged from around $100 or so at our first one in Las Vegas (CJ's 24 KT shelter) to more than $1000 in St. Louis (SOS - a freezing park!) Other hosts have been A Ferret Business of GA (Atlanta), Cascade Ferret Network & Oregon Ferret Shelter (Portland) & Hide-E-Hole Ferret Rescue (Pittsburgh). This year, since I am unable to find a local selter, the $$$ goes to SOS (supportourshelters.org) and F.E.R.R.E.T. (ferretemergency.org). Details will follow on the dinner. As usual, there will be food for both veggies and carnies (take that any way you want!). Are you coming? Please send me an email at [log in to unmask] with the subject SHELTER DINNER. Let me know if you are vegan, veggie (what you DO eat - dairy, eggs, etc) or assault weapon. Are any of you going to have vehicles there? Does anyone who lives around there want to donate the use of their home? We will be in Tempe at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center. It is very close to the airport, transportation wise. Contact me privately if you are interested. Also, phone messages can be left at (907) 644-5655. I live in Alaska for those who don't know. Right now (since AZ does NOT do DST, we are an hour behind them) it is 4 hours behind eastern, 3 hours behind central, 2 hours behind mountain and an hour behind pacific. Look forward to seeing you in Tempe in a few short weeks! -- Renee Downs "Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem we destroy ourselves." Jonas Salk "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [Posted in FML 7042]