Happy March Everyone!
Here we are on the third month of the year already. Time is sure going by fast. I have great news. We have filled our final board positions and renewed our charter with ARBA. Carin Sorisio has stepped in to our President position. Welcome Carin! So far she has really stepped in and been a wonderful driving force getting our club advertised! I am really happy with the momentum our group is finally taking. On May 5th, is a small animal event in Ferndale. We have plans to set up a table to talk about our group and hopefully obtain new members. We are also discussing our first show, tentatively scheduled for March of 2014 and the bunny extravaganza. Another topic of discussion is holding a genetics workshop. Sounds like we are going to have a great year.
If you have any suggestions for events or fundraisers, or you would like to volunteer and help us out, please let us know!
Happy
Happy New Year to all! Here we are in 2013 and it is once again time to renew our charter with ARBA. A lot of our previous board members have experienced major life changing events and are unable to continue on our Board of Directors. Currently, we are working to fill our vacant positions.
At this time I would love to welcome Stacey Dalton and Shaunda Hrynkiewicz to our board. We still need to fill the position of president.
I have also added two new positions, marketing director and fundraising committee. I have envisioned the marketing director as taking over the newsletter and handling any and all advertising for the club and our events. Fundraising committee could be handled by one person or several. If anyone feels they would be suited to these positions please contact the club and let us know.
We also have a low balance in our checking account so fundraising will be really important in the coming months as we work to plan a show.
As a reminder, our finances would be helped tremendously if we could receive annual dues from those wishing to be a part of organization. Remember those dues help us to fund our activities. More money will give us a great opportunity to provide more events for the community.
I look forward to working with everyone this coming year and seeing our club become a success.
Heather Ponsano
Secretary/Treasurer
We have been hard at work planning our very first youth event. The Bunny Extravaganza will be held May 19th at the Bayside Grange in Arcata. This event will feature an all breed rabbit show (non-ARBA sanctioned), showmanship competition, bunny portraits, knowledge contest, breed ID, pet contests, and much more. The plans are coming together but help is still needed. Please contact us if you would like to help or donate an item for our raffle/silent auction.
Recently we discovered that the State of California has issue with our name due to its similarity to the California State Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association. A motion has been presented to the board of directors to amend our legal name to the Humboldt County RCBA. This solution allows us to continue operations as we are known but make the changes necessary to continue our pursuit of obtaining full nonprofit status.
Current communications with the Humboldt County 4-H office has led to development of a working relationship to help develop our youth events. The next GRAM newsletter will contain a short article detailing our group and our search for co-chairs to help run our youth show to held next summer. This is a great step forward for our organization, which will hopefully get us the youth support needed to successfully promote the youth aspect of our vision.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Kathryn Saria, President
Humboldt County Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association, Inc.
707-616-6363
Kathryn.Saria@hcrcba.org
http://www.HCRCBA.org
Rabbit and cavy club working to bring ARBA-sanctioned rabbit show to Humboldt County
Humboldt County, CA – June 6, 2011 – Local youth and adult rabbit/cavy breeders alike are no strangers to having to travel hours to show their animals. Heather Ponsano, 4-H leader, banker, business doctoral student, and rabbit breeder, hopes to change that. Her solution: provide a new opportunity for breeders to show their animals at an ARBA-sanctioned show in their own county. Thus, Humboldt County Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association, Inc. (HCRCBA) was born. Ponsano (who serves as Treasurer/Secretary of the association), along with the other executive officers and the club’s board of directors, have united in this vision. Beyond the core group, any community member has the opportunity to support their efforts by joining the club via the club’s website at http://www.HCRCBA.org.
Members will receive a membership card, monthly newsletter containing event updates (including updates regarding the planned local show), rabbit/cavy-related articles, membership directory, automatic participation in the club’s annual sweepstakes points contest (launched soon), and an opportunity to advertise their rabbitry or caviary on the HCRCBA for a nominal investment.
In the words of one of the club’s directors, Ben Brower, “As a rabbit breeder and exhibitor, the more shows we have in our area, or nearby, the better. We have, many times, driven six hours or longer, one way, to get to a show,” he continues, “but, as serious breeders, it’s what we have had to do to get comments, get our rabbits registered, and earn legs. A local show will help out not only us, but every other serious rabbit breeder.”
In addition to Brower’s statement about benefiting the rabbit community, HCRCBA also hopes to benefit the community at large through the addition of this new rabbit show. Think about it: 4-H and other youth breeders with a show to look forward to become more motivated and focused on their projects, while building self-esteem. These youth are the generation of tomorrow, and motivation and self-esteem are important qualities in leaders of any age. Residents of other areas, traveling to Humboldt County for an annual show, need to buy gas, food, find lodging, and purchase any supplies they may have forgotten. This potentially benefits the Humboldt County economy. Although HCRCBA officers, directors, and members focus on the rabbit community, they also hope to benefit the community at large, HCRCBA President, Kathryn Saria, says on the website’s blog.
In May of 2011 the HCRCBA began formation. The group is currently working on organizing. We have submitted incorporation paperwork to the State of California. Currently we are waiting to receive our paperwork from the state so that we can make our next steps to fully forming as a non-profit organization and an ARBA chartered club. We welcome any and all people who are interested in joining our group and helping us to achieve success in developing shows and educational opportunities.
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