Hello FMLers!=20 It's been a while since I posted about Ferrets Across America, and I'd like to take a moment to do so again. In a nutshell, Ferrets Across America is a program that I have come up with to help ferrets get from one place to another. Oftentimes on the FML, I've seen that a ferret needs to get from one state to another, whether it is an adoption, or someone had to temporarily leave their ferrets behind when they moved, etc. Whatever the reason, a ferret needs to be transported. Shipping by air is costly and in my opinion, not the best means of travel. I figured that there are enough people in the U.S. that love ferrets enough that they'd be willing to help out by driving the ferret part way. It sort of forms a chain of volunteers that can get the ferret to his or her destination safely. We've done several transports very successfully. However, it has turned out to be a much larger job than I'd expected, and I wind up with many requests for transport and not enough volunteers who'd be willing to drive. It can be stressful! As a result, FAA has been "on hold" lately because I can't cover the transports. So where each of you comes in is this. I'm once again asking for volunteers to help drive in Ferrets Across America. Each transport is done on a voluntary basis, meaning if you sign up to transport, and we contact you to do a run and you're not available, you're not obliged. We try to give as much notice as possible before doing a transport. Another thing worth mentioning is that your information will remain confidential with the exception of during a transport, obviously the people who you will have to meet to "hand off" the ferret will have to know who you are. However, I will not disclose addresses or telephone numbers without consent, and I won't sign you up to any mailing lists (or send you any bulk e-mail virus notices or unsolicited chain mail <g>). We need volunteers from EVERYWHERE in the U.S. I would also like to spread out to Canada, as I'm told that there is a need for Ferrets Across Canada as well... however I would need a Canadian volunteer to "head up" that part of the project. Doing this in the U.S. is hard enough! I am also looking for a few people who would be willing to help Co-Coordinate Ferrets Across America. In this capacity you'd need to keep the same list of volunteers that I have, and when a transport comes up, help me to find people to cover it, coordinate times and meeting places, etc. To qualify as a co-coordinator, you must check e-mail regularly, and be home more weekends than you are away so that you can be available during a transport as the contact point if any problems arise. I can provide more info if you think you'd be interested. At this moment, I am in great need of volunteers in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and also in the west, as we have a VERY dire shortage of volunteers anywhere off of the East Coast. I *do* still need more volunteers from every state, though, so even if you do not live in these states I still need you. PLEASE NOTE: If you have previously signed up for Ferrets Across America, *please* sign up again. I have created a form on our website for volunteers to fill out that has more information on it that I must have. To save me the trouble of e-mailing every existing volunteer, please simply fill out the form on the FAA website. If you are interested in volunteering or being a co-coordinator, I ask that you fill out the form on the FAA website rather than e-mailing me directly, however if you do have a problem with the FAA form, or do not have access to the internet, we don't want to lose you so e-mail me. To get to the FAA website, please visit the PFRA website at http://www.ferretrescue.com and on the main page, click on the Ferrets Across America logo. Thank you ... your help is GREATLY appreciated!!!!! Kymberlie Barone Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association Montgomery County Branch http://www.ferretrescue.com "Forget Puppy Love... There's nothing greater than Ferret Love!"tm Don't miss the Three Rivers Ferret Show!!!!!!!!! March 13, 1999 in Oakmont, PA More info: http://trfn.clpgh.org/trfc/Show.shtml Show proceeds help PFRA ferrets get a second chance!!! [Posted in FML issue 2501]