Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc. (MAARS) - Bird adoption, sanctuary, rescue, and care education services for parrots and other captive exotic 'pet' birds. News and Events

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MAARSianChronicles

Issue 8: March 2004

In This Issue:

• MAARS Turns Five!

• 2003 Was a Very Busy Year…

• 2004 Will Be Better Than Ever!

MAARS Turns Five!

In April 1999, seven people concerned about the increasing number of birds needing new homes got together to figure out what they could do about the problem. They had little idea that the issue of "homeless" parrots would be so overwhelming. Almost five years later, Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS) now has a 60–90 day waiting list for intakes, and receives 2–5 phone calls or e-mails each day from people looking to give up their birds. MAARS Volunteers have cared for over 1,400 birds in our short history, and have placed over 1,000 birds in homes. Although an increasing number of larger birds have been surrendered to MAARS in the last 24 months, especially cockatoos, 70% of the birds placed by MAARS have been conure size or smaller.

On any given day, a flock of 200–250 birds call The Landing home. MAARS and the birds are fortunate enough to have more than 70 active Volunteers performing the day-to-day operations and behind-the-scenes work who have allowed us to grow and thrive these past years. From direct bird care to adoption home visits, MAARS Volunteers put in well over 450 hours per week! This teamwork and commitment is unheard of in most organizations.

In July 2004, MAARS will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of our incorporation. Please watch your e-mail box for announcements about our birthday celebration!

2003 Was a Very Busy Year…

February

MAARS representatives drove down to Texas to place 80 birds at the ASA-accredited Primarily Primates sanctuary with the help of Mark Johnson, founder and director of Foster Parrots.

May

MAARS hosted the 3rd Annual Avian Welfare Round Table and the "Wild At Heart: Understanding Parrot Behavior" seminar in Minneapolis.

July

Animal Planet aired an episode of "A Pet Story" featuring MAARS' Angel, a cockatoo with a prosthetic beak.

July–August

MAARS Directors had speaking engagements at three out-of-state bird clubs.

September

MAARS began the "Gimme Shelter" e-mail fundraising campaign, which raised almost $4,000.

October

MAARS attended H.H. Backer 37th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show & Educational Conference in Chicago to bring more and better products to the MAARS store and to the birds at The Landing.

November

MAARS held its 3rd Annual Silent Auction Benefit & Buffet, which was the most successful to date!

December

MAARS participated in the Best Friends No More Homeless Pets on-line forum discussing the needs of birds in shelter settings. During the holidays, our friends, families and supporters out-did themselves by donating more toys and gifts for the birds than in any previous year!

In Addition…

MAARS has continued its ongoing educational programs for Veterinary students at the University of Minnesota, Vet Tech students at Argosy University, local humane society staff, metro-area elementary schools, and the "Basic Bird Care" class through the St. Louis Park Community Education Program.

2004 Will Be Better Than Ever!

We have big plans and exciting news for 2004!

The MAARS leadership team will be working with Tom Jorgens, father of MAARS Managers, Amber Jorgens and Gwen Jorgens, on strategic initiatives and organizational development. Tom brings 30 years experience developing and strengthening non-profit organizations including serving as Chairman of the Board of Riverview Health and Northwest Minnesota Foundation. In addition, we are working to expand the depth and experience of the MAARS leadership team. Towards this end, we are enlisting the aid of the Minnesota Assistance Program for Non-Profits to identify potential new Board Members. If you know of someone with expertise in non-profit development who would be interested in serving on the MAARS Board of Directors, please contact Eileen McCarthy at eileen@maars2.org.

MAARS is proud to announce that we have been able to formally hire two of our Directors, Eileen McCarthy, Executive Director, and Alayne Rueber, Placement and Volunteer Director. Both have worked for several years for MAARS as Volunteers, and have provided invaluable leadership to the organization. Eileen and Alayne will be working full-time for MAARS, each with a monthly salary of $400, funded in part by grants and large gift donations MAARS received during the last year.

The problem of displaced and unwanted captive birds continues to rise as their popularity increases and domestic breeding programs continue to turn out hundreds of thousands of baby birds for the pet trade each year. As MAARS looks to the future, it is clear we will need more space to house all the birds who need our help. We have begun, with the assistance of Wendy VanKerkhove, to search for a suitable space in the Twin Cities for the future home of The Landing. We will be launching a capital campaign later this year to help raise money to purchase a new facility. One of MAARS' long-time benefactors, James McCarthy, has added 100 shares of stock to our building fund.

MAARS is currently working with Michelle Casper, a graduate student in communications at Metropolitan State University, to develop a printed newsletter and materials for our upcoming donor/membership program.

On April 24, 2004, we will be hosting an informational table at the upcoming Avian Behavior Conference featuring Dr. Susan Friedman, Professor, Utah State University. We hope to see you there!

Thank You for Your Help!

At this significant milestone, the MAARS Board of Directors would like to offer our Volunteers, adopters, and supporters our most heartfelt thanks for your ongoing support. This has been an incredible journey for all of us at MAARS. We look forward to continuing to serve displaced birds in our region with your generous help!

Click here to learn how you can help MAARS help parrots and other captive birds.

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal ID# 41-1944074) and is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Office of the Attorney General of Minnesota as a charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS)

P.O. Box 821, Stillwater, MN 55082

Phone: (651) 275-0568

Fax: (651) 275-0457

E-mail: birds@maars2.org

Website: http://www.maars2.org