Getting Organized

I'm having a hard time deciding what to write about. I have what seems like a billion ideas beaming around wildly in my head just waiting for an opportunity to escape and be useful.
I hope to discuss one idea at a time, sometimes thoroughly, sometimes briefly, just to start getting ideas down on paper.

Today I met with the dean of the college of public health (where I am doing my Master's) to discuss postponing my graduation by an entire year. There are several reasons why John and I decided to make this choice, primarily so that we can get his ill mother situated and hopefully living with us. Once personal drama settles down, I will be able to focus more on my education. I tried to take a grant writing class last semester but it was canceled at the last minute.I'm sure something just as good or better will open up.
So for now I have the summer to work on the farm, continue working at Earth Vets on Saturdays and at the UF Vet School in the wee hours of the mornings several days a week. I also applied for a temporary position as an event coordinator for a non-profit bat sanctuary coordinating their yearly event.

I'm just going to list topics of the thoughts buzzing around my brain and as the days pass I will pick from this pool to elaborate on.

• Board - Who is on a board of directors? How many? Purpose?
• Grant writing - Who are the big players who give out money? 
• Fund raising - What has been shown to work and what is a waste of time? Besides donations, how else do you measure the success of a fund raiser event?
• Land - Ideally this will be donated. How much is too much? How much is too small? Needs?
• SOPs - How we operate at an individual level.
• Policies - How we operate at a broader level. Which animals do we accept? Who do we deny, if any?
• Mission and goals - What are we going to accomplish?
• Education & outreach - What programs will we incorporate?

I will elabrate on each topic as time allows. How exciting!

This is it!

I've been plotting and planning in my head for years how I will run my sanctuary. And with each passing year, I've gained skills necessary to operate a smooth-functioning happy-place for farm animals and I feel my dreams becoming more tangible. It's really happening!

Last year, 2009, we moved onto a piece of land large enough to sustain our "rescue calling." Our 15 cats thrived in our large cat yard. Our two pot bellied pigs had room to graze and the dogs had their very own dog park. Little by little animals fell into our lap or limped across our path. Each animal brought with them their own personal story, an untold history, and that amazing innocence that all animals posses. And each animal has taught me something special.

In 2010, I took a job doing research with a UF DVM on a modern dairy factory farm. The study required full-time hours for 4 weeks. The horrors that I witnessed on this dairy "farm" was what really pushed me to pursue my dream of operating a sanctuary. I kept asking myself, "Why wait?" And my rationale brain would reply, "Because there will always be animals in need. Don't rush."

I'm not giving up on my education. I will finish my Master's in Public Health by 2011, and maybe, depending on what doors open along the way, maybe I will go to vet school. In the mean time, my passion is directed towards this sanctuary goal. I need to put my thoughts to paper, so to speak, and start this thing from scratch.