I am very excited today!  I received the application from Save the Rhino for the Virgin London Marathon 2014 – woo hoo!  I am going to fill it out tonight, scan it at work tomorrow and e-mail it immediately.  I really, really, really hope I am accepted as one of their 50 “Golden Bond places.”   There are a few questions that make me glad I have experienced some  recent events.  One question asks about previous experience with marathons.  Well, I have only run one half marathon, but the director of Save the Rhino (the lovely Cathy Dean) with whom I spoke at the recent International Rhino Keeper Association (IRKA) workshop in San Diego (more to come on that!) knows that London will be my first – it is the Virgin London Marathon after all…hehe.

 “Why do you want to run for Save the Rhino?” is the easiest question on the application – to help save rhinos, of course!  They are a huge part of my life, and treating this planet as gently as I can is something I live every day.  Anything extra I  can do to help wild rhinos is an unfathomable bonus. 
(insert digression here)
I’ve recently applied for a Conservation Ambassadorship at work.  The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund allows several SEA employees the opportunity to apply to travel internationally to one of the Fund's supported projects and help out.  I completed several essays and filmed a two minute video (which ended up being a satirical political advertisement to elect me as Conservation Ambassador)  as part of the application to help Painted Dog Conservation – an organization that deals with educating children about the importance of conservation of animals and their habitat, stopping poaching in Hwange National Park including dismantling snares, and rehabilitating injured painted dogs.  Snares affect rhinos too, so that was a part of my angle.  ;)
(end of digression)

 Lastly, they ask about your previous fundraising experience.  Well…I am the Fundraising Chair of
Tampa Bay AAZK and I just finished coordinating our largest fundraiser of the  year – Bowling for Rhinos!  It raised over $6,300 – a record for our chapter – and while I didn’t do it alone, I did a good deal of work for it, so that should definitely help me out.  Cross your fingers, please...and I’ll keep y’all posted.  :)

Annually, participating chapters of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) hold a fundraiser called Bowling for Rhinos (BFR), the proceeds from which benefit wild rhinos - namely, those at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Action for Cheetah Kenya in Africa, and Ujung Kulon, Way Kambas, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Parks in Indonesia.  Tampa Bay AAZK  held its 24th Annual Bowling for Rhinos on May 31 at Pin Chasers in Tampa, FL.  While AAZK is an organization focused on professional development, it also cares about conservation.  It is with this in mind that the members of Tampa Bay AAZK volunteered their time, energy, and in some cases, artistry, to make this year's BFR the most successful Tampa has ever had.  We have raised, to this date, over $6,100, surpassing last year's record amount!

As the fundraising chair for Tampa Bay AAZK, I was automatically (and happily) the BFR coordinator this year.  This involved planning the event, negotiating with the bowling alley to secure a good deal and raising awareness.  Most importantly, I did not do this alone.  I had a dedicated cadre of zookeeper-helpers that solicited local businesses for donations for the silent auction and raffle, helped set up the night of the event, got the word out on social media and on local news and radio stations, and worked with their animals to get some paintings to auction off as well.  That's right - animals can paint!  We also had ticket and tour packages from Busch Gardens, Sea World Orlando, Lowry Park Zoo, Adventure Island, Discovery Cove, MOSI, The Dali Museum, and Dinosaur World, signed sports items from the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and lots of animal-related photographs and artwork.

Traditionally, Tampa Bay AAZK hosts Bowling for Rhinos on the last Friday of May every year.  You can go to our website - http://www.tampabayaazk.com - for updated information.  We hope to see you next year!