FOX..lets just frequently remind everyone its all just silly fiction like the yellow tabloids and to enjoy the idiot creations..fun! they will either suffer a total loss of all credibility or get their act together..either way its all the same for me.. I was immensely flattered and honored by Paw Paws post about me... I am framing that page of the fml for all time.. After all I cannot think of a greater compliment than to have Paw Paw describe one of my letters as STRANGE..high praise from the Master himself!! :D It all comes from answering messages in pieces and out of context..after a review, the evidence of this deplorable habit was clear indeed.. and strange was a kindness... I will try to do better..its this living a hermits existence for so many years... gums up the thinking machine from time to time.. Sorry Paw Paw!! And thanks for the great Moniker..MMOMM that you put together for me... Strangers and sharing your fuzzy without giving offense..A. carry hand wash towelettes, like handi wipes, inexpensive, and insist anyone handling you fuzzy carefully clean their hands and then restrict the time of contact..who knows what they have ben handling..I did a lab slide from a wipe of two square inches of the push bar on a grocery cart once.. the variety of micro organisms was phenomenal...B. Tell them that any pets etc. will have to short as its stressful for any critter to be handled by a lot of strangers..C. Or if your uneasy about someone..just smile and tell them it'll have to be another time..that the fuzzy has had his/her quota of new people for the day...sorry.. that she gets pooped like anybody else..and smile and walk on! No one who is decent will be offended by any of those approaches and any creeps will be either very controlled or eliminated without giving offense..and if someone is offended they are no body you want near you fur kid anyhow, so, no great loss.. Shelter bits... Have a very nice, high quality but limited line of offerings for sale thru the shelter at a modest markup..all proceeds to go to the shelter/rescue fund..this gets fuzzys great goodies and helps pay the bills..very acceptable in a non-profit outfit. Ask for donations of any new item from any source you can think of..small or large..then do a bunch of public announcements with posters and flyers and have a Silent Suction afternoon of all the things you have accumulated...all proceeds to the shelter fund.. Ask TF and your local or even not so local vets to give a talk on some aspect of ferret having.. and publicize the daylights out of it...then have a prominent donation can front and center..and do a very short bit asking for any donations anyone would care to give to help keep the facility doing its public service... this is great exposure for vet or TF rep. [Dr. W I imagine..he gave a great talk when I heard him] Or a short series of little presentations, like one a week, on everything from bathing to nail trims to ferret proofing to whatever..no admission...just part of your education efforts..but any donation..etc. etc. and be sue someone is there with your shelter line set up to offer it for sale as well..with a prominent sign talking of what your shelter does and that all proceeds go to help it do those things.. Do an article a week on some aspect of ferretry...and send it in to the editor to be used as a filler in times of little news that day..they will give you length and format data and be glad of the filler stuff..and this can develop into a ferret column in a heartbeat if you are witty and informative and give great advice and info... remember..if it boosts circulation..sells papers...it will be a hit.. no problem! Fix up containers with a simple clear label...that you can request pet stores and vets and anybody you think of including supermarket check out stands put by the registers that discretely solicits donations to contribute to the funding of your rescue/shelter...with adorable picture of a ferret of course and a little text..like 'Won't you help us to help this sweet little girl/boy find a home of his/her own?'''Any donations a gift of life." and the shelter name etc. below in small print... I spent a solid week putting together, with a willing teenage crew, over a hundred cans and then turned them loose to place them..those kids were more creative than I ever could have been [who would have thought of the local gun stores..not I!] and the cans brought in over a thousand dollars in the first month alone..and that was for a sanctuary [no kill] that was endangered. and fuzzys are cuter any time..not to mention smarter, and better tempered..oops, there I go again...Me Prejudiced??? You bet! as to non-profit status....first and most critical,,keep detailed and accurate books.. ask your local chamber of commerce for help in getting the necessary paper work together..they might not have it but they know who does and can give you invaluable free help.. and remember..non-profit status can be awarded retroactively..so those books will be critical when the time comes...then hop around the net and drop questions till someone notices and sends you the sites where you can learn all the perks and privileges of non-profit status..and they are many and very valuable in hundreds of ways.. TTYL..dayna :] dayna frazier 102046,3162 [Posted in FML issue 1589]