I am so grateful for the assistance of friends and family, especially as I travel across the country to network and fundraise. This fundraising trip has also been the chance to catch up with many people that I have not seen in several years. Wendy and Guy Debbas graciously hosted my family and I while we spent several days in central California. It was such a joy to spend time with my neice Brenda, great-niece Kenzie and Kenzie’s friend Allie “A”. Our visit with Dale and the staff/volunteers at Cat Haven was a highlight for my family after assisting with the fundraising in the previous week.

We met up with another niece, Cherie, whom I had not seen in over 15 years. After spending a couple of hours catching up, I dropped the girls at the Sacramento airport and picked up my sister Phyllis who would join me for the next week. Phyllis has been of great help to me many times by assisting me with fundraisers and by keeping up with the calendar posting. We made a brief stop in Auburn for me to work with Cindy Wheeler who has taken over the job of upgrading the ACK website (www.actionforcheetahs.org)

The final stop on the travel with Phyllis was in Salt Lake City. My friend Kayla has been living in my old home town for the last several years, so it is an added bonus to catch up with her while on a working trip. Kayla graciously hosted us and drove us back and forth to Utah’s Hogle Zoo. It was good to be in my old stomping ground. I met up with several of the keepers, most of whom are either members of the AAZK chapter or are influential in the zoo’s conservation committee, and are thus not only friends, but are a part of the support ACK gets through the zoo. Hogle Zoo also provides additional in-kind support to ACK by allowing Liz Larsen to work with ACK as our volunteer correspondent. Even while working, raising two kids and volunteering in conservation activities within Utah, Liz manages to keep up with our ever changing schedules and to help screen volunteer applications.

Thank you everyone!