Vol 5 No 3 - January 17th, 2010

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Show your support for ferret legalization by joining the 3000 Club. We formed as a way for people to publicly support our efforts. Do it for the little guy!

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Ten Newest Members of the 3000 Club

884. Phyllis H, Crescent City CA
883. Lisa E, Long Beach CA
882. Bill and Donna, Soquel CA
881. Judy Y, Saratoga CA
880. AsyiaFerret, Beavercreek OH

879. Aaron Conwell, King city CA
878. Beverly Daugherty, El Cajon CA
877. Tasia A, Glendora CA
876. Karen P, Hayward CA
875. plaid, Benicia CA

Six new members this week

Readers Column

Hi Joe,

I was wondering in the next issue of CLIFFNotes or on Facebook you could see if anyone in the Ferret community knows of a good pet sitter? We live in the Los Angeles area and I was hoping someone may have a sitter they can recommend. Thanks so much!"

I just wanted to thank everyone who wrote in about their experiences on Insulinoma. I got a lot of great advice and alternative Vets.

He has been positively diagnosed with Insulinoma. He gets 6ml once a day and less than a week later, is already showing signs of improvement. So, I hope that means I caught it early.

I'm always open to advice on what to do and what not to do. I have read up on this, but sometimes what you read and what you actually experience can be two different things.

Thanks again,

Leanne

Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital - Mention CLIFFNotes and get $ 15.00 off your next visit,
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What We Need To Do in 2010

To be honest, it isn't always easy to fill up CLIFFNotes each week. I know from the amount of emails opened week to week and links visited that readers of CLIFFNotes are more interested in ferrets than ferret legalization. But our march towards ferret legalization is going well and this is what I'd like to accomplish this year in chronological order.

Education

America's Family Expo at the Orange County fairgrounds is April 16-18th this year. This is the biggest Pet Event in California. Last year we had a sign up sheet with the LA Chapter of Ferrets Anonymous. We didn't get as many people signed up as in years past and those who signed up didn't join the 3000 Club or become active in very big numbers.

But if education is our goal we need to be there. A table is only $200 for a non-profit organization, or should we share with the LA people again? (if they let us) Are there people who would be willing to work our booth? Is there someone who could take the lead and do set up?

We have a spare computer and monitor. Could we get an internet connection and have people sign up so the information doesn't have to be re-keyed? (see our sign up sheet on the web) A new brochure is being produced "Test Your Ferret Knowledge"

Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.

Elections: 2010

The time is coming to introduce ourselves to people running for state assembly, state senate, Governor, Lt Governor and Attorney General. This year I'd like to send every candidate the "test your ferret knowledge" quiz and let them know we are not concerned about their answers but about them taking the time to interact with us. Then, I'd like to send them a serious candidate questionnaire. Responses would be on our website and perhaps we could even get a little press coverage out of it.

What is the "Test Your Ferret Knowledge" Quiz

It is a simple outreach piece of literature I'm trying to write. If you'd like to help here is a very rough draft in Word 2000 format. Please make any suggestions and send it my way. Of course the answers will be included with the questionnaire. I know there are good writers out there - and I am having trouble finding official bite statistics.

YouTube

Get ready for another YouTube contest. Submissions will be accepted after Memorial Day and the vote concludes on Labor Day. Maximum length is five minutes. Think of how you can make your video go viral. $500 cash prize for best video.

Last year's winning video. Click on it to play

Legalize Ferrets Revival

Last year, we didn't have a Revival because all efforts were on the Environmental Impact Report. Normally it is held in September - and by September our EIR study should be concluded and we should be ready to file the actual EIR. Yippee!

So let's have another statewide event. Most ferret events have been in Southern California this year. I'd like to hold it in the Bay Area or Sacramento. A lot of people seemed to like the Walnut Creek location - does anyone have suggestions? Does anyone have suggestions regarding the program. It could be a very happy time!

2010 Ferrets Anonymous Round Up Info:

We're just starting to get things finalized for the 2010 FA Round Up in March, but this information was posted today at OCFerrets.org, the home site of the President of Ferrets Anonymous. The information will be carried over to the FA website shortly.

When: Saturday, March 20, 2010

Where: Brea, CA

Location: Brea Veterans Club

Address: 735 South Brea Blvd., Brea, CA 92821-5310

Veterans' Club Tel: (714) 529-4874

Time: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All Ferrets Anonymous members are invited to attend Round Up. If you have an interest in joining Ferrets Anonymous, you are also welcome to attend.

The Annual meeting of FA includes:

2010 FA Officer Elections

Sales tables - offering wonderful products for sale

Raffles - benefiting FA

Guest Speakers - to further educate our members

Potluck Luncheon

& More!

Entry Fee: $10/person

Table Hosting Fee: $25/table

Reaction to the Environmentalist Material from last week:

Last week's CLIFFNotes had two articles. One was from a group of Bay Area citizens who kind of objected the "environmentalist" label I put on them. Fair enough. They are planning to come up with better documented cases why they think domestic ferrets should remain illegal in California. Here is the comment they sent over:

First of all, we are not really a "Bay Area Group" as you said - we are merely a group of friends who met through a group that is in the bay area and decided to help when this whole "challenge" thing appeared. We just kind of threw in tidbits of what we knew, or did a quick bit of googling and such - it wasn't really a big collaboration.

Second, we are not "environmentalists" in the sense that we are official at all, and I feel your title was a bit misleading. (By the way, thank you for keeping your promise of anonymity for us - I would appreciate it if you would continue that for me, if you'll allow me to send you more information, which I'll explain a little later on.)

As for the other person, Joshua Kinch - please don't even bother with this person. He is either a moron or just mean-spirited. I'm just surprised a real estate agent would use his work email to send us insults.

Lastly on this subject, Aaron S. sent us his opinion:

Before we decide to unanimously and unnecessarily disregard "environmentalists" as a group, I would just like to say that they do not all share the opinions stated in this week's cliff notes. Anyone can claim to be an environmentalist but that does not require any sort of skills or knowledge. Speaking as an environmental scientist, by profession and training, I both support the legalization of domestic ferrets in California and can point to no credible literature that would persuade me otherwise. The article written this week, served no purpose but to irritate readers and belittle my field. It was obviously not written by a professional.

This is really not about one side versus the other, just differing opinions based upon possession of knowledge and a lot of emotion. CLIFFNotes readers already know this but "environmentalists" are not against ferret ownership in California, specific interest groups are. I look forward to reading the completed EIR.

-Aaron

Personally I think this points out to a perception problem we have with people who consider themselves environmentally conscious as evidenced by opposition to ferret legalization by both the Sierra Club and the Audobon Society. Unlike our friends in the bay area - both of these organization refuse to discuss the issue.

In Conclusion

First and foremost I get to share a photo of the new babies!

Big ferret is Fausto, dark baby is Tiger and light baby is Bailey.

Also pictured is my old ferret Quito. And our corgi Shorty making a fuss because he wasn't the center of attention. (wish I could include the audio file.)

The dogs, ferrets and cat really liven up the house, and like most people reading this it would be such a sad house without their antics and companionship.

So a big thank you to everyone who has helped to get them legalized. We still live in fear of confiscation. An animal control officer lives four doors down, but the only recent contact I've received from local animal control is asking for help to pick up a found ferret.

Look for good things in the year ahead. We're half way through the pre-EIR study. That's a real accomplishment we can feel good about. We'll keep building our ranks and making friends (and a few enemies - ask Joshua Kinch (actually please don't)).

Pat Wright

CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

(619) 303-0645

Lance M., Ferrets Anonymous
FA Phone: (949) 303-8481
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LanceM_FA
Web: www.ferretsanonymous.org

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