November 2012
Dear Birds, Elephants and those Humans who can read..............
Today is Tuesday, November 7th, election day. Please vote! I would tell you who to vote for, but that is not my job, just please vote.
The hurricane dubbed "Sandy" did so much damage and many people and many animals are still suffering from its devastating effects. Help wherever and whomever you can. Many of our own members are still out of power in their homes and their lives have been made very difficult. I know that everybody was preparing as much as they could for the onset of this disaster, but I don't think anyone realized just how terrible it would be. I hear horror story after horror story. I know that things will get better, but for those still involved, this is a nightmare. We were lucky. We lost cable, which means no TV, no computer and no phone, for about 5 days. This was an inconvenience, to be sure, but when we consider what other people have lost or suffered, it was nothing. My heart goes out to everyone involved and I wish we could help more.
On the positive side, we had a great show. According to Barry Cohen, our "door monitor"and official greeter, we had more people and more birds than we have seen in many years. I want to thank everyone who participated and helped in making this one of the best shows we have ever had. Mark Spina did a yeoman's job at the education table, and he wants to thank Marc McLewin, AnnMarie McKeon and Mary Lewis for helping him there. Dr. Rick Stein checked each bird that was entered in the show; Dr. Joe D'abbracchio showed up later on to help in any way he could. Jackie Chiger did her usual wonderful work running the kitchen with Francine Garber and Barnaby Frumess there to help her. Debbie Napalitano-Lovett supervised our terrific stewards, Jenna Blank, Matthew Festa, Alli Hemmer and Megan Brockner as they ushered the birds from the entrance door to the place where they were kept safely sequestered and then to the judging table and back. Ann Marie Mckeon, our favorite treasurer in the world, and Pat Bennett worked enthusiastically at setting up the show. Renee' Crespo and her family manned the raffle tables. Marc McLewin escorted Push-up around the firehouse and worked very hard at cleaning up after the show. Our new judges, Ellen Kalish and Lisa Acton, did an excellent job because they judged with their eyes and with their hearts....my kind of judges.......... I want to send the biggest "thank you" of all to our own vice president and show chairperson, Little Matthew B. Frumess, for putting this whole show together.
If I left anyone out who feels they have not been recognized for their contribution, I apologize in advance and just let me know and I will put it next month's newsletter................................ I am doing this purely from memory and my memory is not the best because I am old and I get older every day. Oh, I wanted to say how nice it was to finally meet Shelly Orloff in person. Shelly is the man who puts together and sends us The Flapping Feathers Newsletter that I forward to all our members each month.
On my own bird front, things are going well. Aristophanes, Emma and Zeke are all doing fine. Emma, my most delightful yellow naped Amazon has very specific body language that I should, after 25 years of living with that bird, recognize....but I don't always and Emma took a lovely bite out of my hand. Emma becomes very excited when he runs around on the floor and there are definite signs of aggression that I look for but sometimes do not see and then I suffer for it. Not his fault, but mine.
Several adoptions took place this month including, 2 blue and gold macaws, a sun conure and a red lored Amazon. They all seem like great homes too......Let's just hope they are "forever"..... The Amazon went to Alice Chanampa, and you can't get a better or more loving home than Alice provides. We just got several other birds that need homes.......Talk to me or Pat Bennett if you are interested in adopting a bird. By the way, I have to acknowledge the incredible amount of work Pat is doing in the area of adoptions....Thanks so much, Pat, you are the BEST.
Our program this month should be superbly interesting. Lisa Acton, one of our show judges and an authority on parrots and softbills (and a rehabber who has a gorgeous pet owl named Zena) is presenting a program on phobic parrots and how to help them. I sent Lisa's email out to all our members incase anyone wanted their specific issue dealt with at this meeting.
December brings us to our annual covered dish holiday party and penny social. That meeting is always fun, our people make great food and we all "eat like animals".... Also, bring NICE stuff for the penny social. PLEASE don't use the evening to get rid of junk you were going to otherwise throw away. Make a delicious main dish or dessert that we can all share. Also, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bird) Many of our birds love to share the food and evening...........Our December meeting starts at 7:00.
Take care people. Be well, be happy, love your birds and give them everything they need to be happy and healthy.......
Program ideas are still and always needed... I am going to try to arrange our trip to the American Museum of Natural History.......... Please make sure you dues are current.
With Love,
Richie
Today is Tuesday, November 7th, election day. Please vote! I would tell you who to vote for, but that is not my job, just please vote.
The hurricane dubbed "Sandy" did so much damage and many people and many animals are still suffering from its devastating effects. Help wherever and whomever you can. Many of our own members are still out of power in their homes and their lives have been made very difficult. I know that everybody was preparing as much as they could for the onset of this disaster, but I don't think anyone realized just how terrible it would be. I hear horror story after horror story. I know that things will get better, but for those still involved, this is a nightmare. We were lucky. We lost cable, which means no TV, no computer and no phone, for about 5 days. This was an inconvenience, to be sure, but when we consider what other people have lost or suffered, it was nothing. My heart goes out to everyone involved and I wish we could help more.
On the positive side, we had a great show. According to Barry Cohen, our "door monitor"and official greeter, we had more people and more birds than we have seen in many years. I want to thank everyone who participated and helped in making this one of the best shows we have ever had. Mark Spina did a yeoman's job at the education table, and he wants to thank Marc McLewin, AnnMarie McKeon and Mary Lewis for helping him there. Dr. Rick Stein checked each bird that was entered in the show; Dr. Joe D'abbracchio showed up later on to help in any way he could. Jackie Chiger did her usual wonderful work running the kitchen with Francine Garber and Barnaby Frumess there to help her. Debbie Napalitano-Lovett supervised our terrific stewards, Jenna Blank, Matthew Festa, Alli Hemmer and Megan Brockner as they ushered the birds from the entrance door to the place where they were kept safely sequestered and then to the judging table and back. Ann Marie Mckeon, our favorite treasurer in the world, and Pat Bennett worked enthusiastically at setting up the show. Renee' Crespo and her family manned the raffle tables. Marc McLewin escorted Push-up around the firehouse and worked very hard at cleaning up after the show. Our new judges, Ellen Kalish and Lisa Acton, did an excellent job because they judged with their eyes and with their hearts....my kind of judges.......... I want to send the biggest "thank you" of all to our own vice president and show chairperson, Little Matthew B. Frumess, for putting this whole show together.
If I left anyone out who feels they have not been recognized for their contribution, I apologize in advance and just let me know and I will put it next month's newsletter................................ I am doing this purely from memory and my memory is not the best because I am old and I get older every day. Oh, I wanted to say how nice it was to finally meet Shelly Orloff in person. Shelly is the man who puts together and sends us The Flapping Feathers Newsletter that I forward to all our members each month.
On my own bird front, things are going well. Aristophanes, Emma and Zeke are all doing fine. Emma, my most delightful yellow naped Amazon has very specific body language that I should, after 25 years of living with that bird, recognize....but I don't always and Emma took a lovely bite out of my hand. Emma becomes very excited when he runs around on the floor and there are definite signs of aggression that I look for but sometimes do not see and then I suffer for it. Not his fault, but mine.
Several adoptions took place this month including, 2 blue and gold macaws, a sun conure and a red lored Amazon. They all seem like great homes too......Let's just hope they are "forever"..... The Amazon went to Alice Chanampa, and you can't get a better or more loving home than Alice provides. We just got several other birds that need homes.......Talk to me or Pat Bennett if you are interested in adopting a bird. By the way, I have to acknowledge the incredible amount of work Pat is doing in the area of adoptions....Thanks so much, Pat, you are the BEST.
Our program this month should be superbly interesting. Lisa Acton, one of our show judges and an authority on parrots and softbills (and a rehabber who has a gorgeous pet owl named Zena) is presenting a program on phobic parrots and how to help them. I sent Lisa's email out to all our members incase anyone wanted their specific issue dealt with at this meeting.
December brings us to our annual covered dish holiday party and penny social. That meeting is always fun, our people make great food and we all "eat like animals".... Also, bring NICE stuff for the penny social. PLEASE don't use the evening to get rid of junk you were going to otherwise throw away. Make a delicious main dish or dessert that we can all share. Also, BYOB (Bring Your Own Bird) Many of our birds love to share the food and evening...........Our December meeting starts at 7:00.
Take care people. Be well, be happy, love your birds and give them everything they need to be happy and healthy.......
Program ideas are still and always needed... I am going to try to arrange our trip to the American Museum of Natural History.......... Please make sure you dues are current.
With Love,
Richie