[va-bird] Wildlife Rescue League Help Needed

From: "Barbara Farron" <bfarron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "VAbirdList" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 15:30:30 -0400

Following is a copy of a letter sent to Wildlife Rescue League members.
This was posted on the Washington Area Butterfly Club listserv, and I'm
passing it along. I personally have had occasion to call the WRL for advice
and have found them quick to respond and very helpful.

Barbara Farron
Springfield, VA
*************************
----- Original Message -----

The Wildlife Rescue League
P.O. Box 704
Falls Church, VA 22040
(703) 391-8625
Email: wrl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.wildliferescueleague.org

August 2003

URGENT NOTICE - PLEASE READ!!!

Dear WRL Member:

The Wildlife Rescue League is facing a real crisis and we need your help.
We currently have approximately 400 members with more than 80% located in
the Northern Virginia area.  Unfortunately less than 50 of our members
actively volunteer their time to help the league in its various public
services.  Of utmost importance is our wildlife assistance Hotline that is
staffed totally by volunteers.  The Hotline takes calls from the public,
along with veterinary hospitals and local shelters, about wildlife

problems.

It is up to the volunteer to either give the necessary advice to resolve a
wildlife issue or, in many cases, arrange for an injured or orphaned

animal

to go to a rehabilitator for care. During the summer months the Hotline

available seven days a week from 8am-9pm.  Each volunteer shift is three
hours and is operated from the individual's home.  So far, this year over
13,000 calls have been received.

This year we are experiencing a decline in the number of volunteers
available to staff the Hotline.  This is putting an undue burden on the
small number of committed WRL members and volunteers managing the Hotline
activities.  If more volunteers cannot be recruited to help run the

Hotline

we may be faced with the possibility of shutting down its operation. We
have prided ourselves on providing a very valuable service to our

community

since 1998 and truly believe the Hotline has been instrumental in saving

the

lives of thousands of our Virginia native wildlife. To lose this service
would be a major loss for the community and especially the animals.

We desperately need Hotline volunteers for training. Even if you can only
give six hours a month (two shifts) we would appreciate the help.

We are also recruiting for a Hotline Chair who would perform non-daily
duties such as keeping the rehabilitator list current, focal point for

local

authorities/veterinarians, setting up and teaching training classes,

problem

solving for Hotliners and rehabilitators, contacting new recruits and
disbursing timely information to Hotliners.

Another position that is needed is the Hotline Scheduler who would set-up
the Hotline calendar, update the Hotline phone list, records the
rehabilitator updates and updates the messages on the Hotline phone system
seasonally.

The Hotline Chair and Hotline Scheduler are paid league positions. If you
are not able to participate, but know if someone else that can, please

pass

this letter along.

You are invited to call us at (703) 391-8625 and we will arrange for your
training. Detailed information about the League and our activities can be
found on our website- www.wildliferescueleague.org
<http://www.wildliferescueleague.org/> . If you have any questions please
call the number above.

As always, we are grateful for the many generous donations we have

received

this year.

Sincerely,
The Board of Directors- Wildlife Rescue League

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[va-bird] Wildlife Rescue League Help Needed

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