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Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thank You
Between my last posting and now, a huge outpouring of support has surrounded the Lake Superior Zoo. Both monetary and volunteer help have shown up in droves. I decided between then and now to simply set up my own fundraiser. I set a goal of $500 and I now wish it had been much more! I have posted a tally to the right to show what it is at, as well as a place to easily click and donate. I realize it is partial, and am not computer literate enough to fix it. As I write this, it has gone up to $625 in the 24 hours it has existed. THANK YOU to anyone that is donating.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A Zoo in Need
Whether you read my explanation below or not, please click this link:
http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Please-Help-Us-Rebuild-After-The-Devastating-Flood
I know, it's been a long while since I've posted. But on mornings like this when I can't sleep anyway, not only because of the caffeine in my migraine relief pills but with so much on my mind, I might as well write for a good cause.
Yesterday (and the night before), a huge flooding occurred in Duluth and the surrounding areas. One might think, how does a city on a hill flood? Nine inches of rainfall in a short amount of time will do that when there are large bowl-like areas to be filled and the ground can only be saturated to a point. It will also happen when culverts and water mains are overloaded and cease to function as they should. It happens.
Two parts of this are close to my heart. One of these is that the houses of my soon to be sisters were affected, one worse than the other. I keep them in my thoughts and prayers as they try to sort out the mess that used to be the bedrooms of their children.
The other is Lake Superior Zoo (LSZ). While still in college at UMD, I began volunteering there, thinking I would get experience in animal science and zoo keeping. It ended up completely changing my career. LSZ has such a wonderfully organized and easy to follow training program for their docent volunteers, that it was easy to be convinced that I should get involved in more and more activities until I realized it was also a job possibility. The animals, youth, staff, and other devoted volunteers drew me in and unknowingly showed me that Environmental Education was the route for me. Three years later, I reluctantly left to pursue a higher degree in Minneapolis. I have since missed the place, and tried to keep in touch with the education department. I was admittedly better at that during the first few moves I've made over the years.
The Zoo has been through changes, both good and bad. They had attained AZA accredidation, they later lost it. They have been on budget cuts and hiring freezes, lost long loved animals to natural causes, and now more than ever, they are devastated. Having lost most of their barnyard animals (if not all? I can't get a good read from the news) and their snowy owl to this flood, there is a need for help. This zoo has been underfunded for so long as it is, and to just have gotten their AZA accredidation back fairly recently after all their struggle to do so, hearts are breaking today. If you live close, volunteer. If you don't, you can donate. I have donated, but also plan on doing some fundraising with Keep Them in Stitches as well in the near future. I will post more later.
Take care and may all your families and homes be intact,
Jolen
http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Please-Help-Us-Rebuild-After-The-Devastating-Flood
I know, it's been a long while since I've posted. But on mornings like this when I can't sleep anyway, not only because of the caffeine in my migraine relief pills but with so much on my mind, I might as well write for a good cause.
Yesterday (and the night before), a huge flooding occurred in Duluth and the surrounding areas. One might think, how does a city on a hill flood? Nine inches of rainfall in a short amount of time will do that when there are large bowl-like areas to be filled and the ground can only be saturated to a point. It will also happen when culverts and water mains are overloaded and cease to function as they should. It happens.
Two parts of this are close to my heart. One of these is that the houses of my soon to be sisters were affected, one worse than the other. I keep them in my thoughts and prayers as they try to sort out the mess that used to be the bedrooms of their children.
The other is Lake Superior Zoo (LSZ). While still in college at UMD, I began volunteering there, thinking I would get experience in animal science and zoo keeping. It ended up completely changing my career. LSZ has such a wonderfully organized and easy to follow training program for their docent volunteers, that it was easy to be convinced that I should get involved in more and more activities until I realized it was also a job possibility. The animals, youth, staff, and other devoted volunteers drew me in and unknowingly showed me that Environmental Education was the route for me. Three years later, I reluctantly left to pursue a higher degree in Minneapolis. I have since missed the place, and tried to keep in touch with the education department. I was admittedly better at that during the first few moves I've made over the years.
The Zoo has been through changes, both good and bad. They had attained AZA accredidation, they later lost it. They have been on budget cuts and hiring freezes, lost long loved animals to natural causes, and now more than ever, they are devastated. Having lost most of their barnyard animals (if not all? I can't get a good read from the news) and their snowy owl to this flood, there is a need for help. This zoo has been underfunded for so long as it is, and to just have gotten their AZA accredidation back fairly recently after all their struggle to do so, hearts are breaking today. If you live close, volunteer. If you don't, you can donate. I have donated, but also plan on doing some fundraising with Keep Them in Stitches as well in the near future. I will post more later.
Take care and may all your families and homes be intact,
Jolen
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
New Hope
Well, a quick update here.
First of all I've managed to get myself into a new job as a contracted grant writer in the Soil and Water Conservation District. Finally, a position in my field that will hopefully turn into something full time! Fingers are crossed. Just gotta be good at my job and find some money. Moving home wasn't a horrible career move after all.
And also...drumroll....we're getting a puppy! Meet Birdi, our new baby beagle.
We get to pick her up in a week and a half and are so excited, just as if we were new human parents! We have new dishes for her, a couple different collars (one that's bigger for when she's older) and an engraved name tag. I even went all crafty mom on it and made her a blanket! I'll soon have one for Bogey as well. :)
I'll of course keep you all updated when we get her with our very own pics of her and her progress. Send sleep-filled thoughts to Sevon and I!
Oh, and on a green note, I'm beginning to recycle more again now that I have this new job. And hey, I get to do some real work to help my LOCAL environment! Pretty cool.
Last but not least (hard to put them in an order of priority actually), I've been doing the community market and have been doing well. I'll soon be attending the Bass Tournament as well as the Holiday Market on Black Friday. I'm pretty excited that it's been going over well, and once I'm not working 6-7 days a week, I plan on expanding my line to cooling items (those ones with beads in them that get cold when wet) and possibly some custom blankets like Birdi's!
Hopefully you are all doing well, and if I haven't heard from you in a while, feel free to update me!
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