Meeting with organization
I met this morning with my organizations, the F-M Humane Society. I met with Nukhet Headricks, she is the organizations Executive Director, and she will also be my contact for the organization.
1.) Describe the organization in which you are working.
My organization is involved in making sure animals within the community are properly taken care of and treated humanely. The organization has a board of directors that Mrs. Headricks may have to sometime consult as to the content of the blog, but mostly she will have final approval on any of my posts. I go to her with content and questions, if she needs to she will go to the board. The organization houses about 300-500 animals normally. There are a number of full time employees, as well as many volunteers. The organization is totally funded through F-M donations, and is not linked to the USHS (united states humane society) for any funding. The organization has a very good website, with frequent visiting I would think. The organization has a person who does its technical work. Mrs. Headricks simply submits content she wants on the site, and the tech. person published it. I am not sure if this tech. person is volunteer, or payed.
2.) What is the mission of the organization?
Formally the mission is: "to care for, protect and place animals for adoption in lifelong homes, and to prevent cruelty to animals by educating our community in the proper and humane care of all animals." The focus is on domestic animals, but the humane treatment of all animals is a concern. I will be working mainly with the educating part of the mission.
3.) What programs of activities does the organization undertake to fulfill its mission?
One specific program that Mrs. Headricks was working at this time was a fund raising event for the coming weekend. It is called "the paws walk". We also discussed a focus of my blog starting with October being "national adopt a dog month." The society does work in conjunction with the pound as well. The pound contacts them when an animal has not been claimed within a set time period.
4.) Who benefits from the activities of the organization?
The animals probably get some of the main benefits. They need a place to stay when they don't have homes yet, and a group of people to actively search out home for them. The community also benefits. They provide a place for citizens to turn when they are looking to adopt a pet, also they provide advise as to pet care.
5.) What groups of people help the organization accomplish its mission?
Lots of people are involved. Obviously the paid staff starting with Mrs. Headricks. She did also mention there is a waiting list to be a volunteer because so many people volunteer and there are only so many animals to be walked. The business community is also involved, especially in the fund raising department.
6.) What is the "community the organization serves?"
The community is Cass and Clay counties.
7.) What is the organization's role in the community?
They work to make sure animals (dogs and cats) are treated properly and provide a home for them until a permanent one can be found. They also work to educate the community as to proper animal care.
8.) How dependent is the community of the organization?
The community is very dependent. Pets are obviously a large part of our world today, and they serve to look out for the best interest of all pets (cats and dogs). Without the organization people search to adopt a pet would have only much less attractive offers to choose from, mainly because the society looks out for the medical issues even before the animal is adopted.
I am very happy and excited about the thought the organization has put in thus far. I feel they know what they want to do, and I am happy to take part. The main focus Mrs. Headricks would like is to be able to communicate with the general pet owning or pet wanting public on a daily or weekly basis rather than their current 3 times a year. They send out a newsletter every 4 months. She would like to address issues that need to be addressed within a couple days of the event. For instance cold weather, and what kind of precautions one might need to take with your pet in the next couple of days. Or other topics that effect pets due to a change in weather or season.
The blog can also be a place to remind people of activities or events happening. The fundraiser she was working on could have been a subject to blog upon as well as for the community to communicate about. Which brings me to her first proposed idea. The board told her they are very worried about comments, and for now she didn't think we would allow any. But I was able to use my technical expertise to advise her that we could try moderated comments. And she agreed to give it a go. I think the ability of people reading this blog to comment will be very important and useful. For instance, one may have a question about how to care for an animal, or what to do in a specific situation. Without comments I would have no idea what my readers need help with out want addressed. With moderated comments, I will first read them, and categorize them as "I don't see any problems at all" and "might have an issue". Then I will send all comments to Mrs. Headricks before anything is posted. She said it will be no problem for her to respond to me within 24-48 hours at all times for comment posting.
I foresee readers posting comments that I haven't addressed or thought of yet. Once Mrs. Headricks oks them, I would post a message addressing the issue (which will also be approved by Mrs. Headricks). Then all other readers who may have experience with the topic can comment. (of course I will moderate these comments again, making sure that bad advise isn't published). This way we are able to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge our readership will posses.
As I have already said, the organization has a great web site, and Mrs. Headricks thinks creating a blog on "blogger.com" will work great and then putting a link to it on their website. This is great because I think I can manage this technical process. I am to inform her of the address for the blog by Friday (9/22). She will be very busy this weekend, but we hope to have a link on their website by Monday or Tuesday (9/25, 9/26) And my first blog introducing what is happening should be by Wed. (9/27).
As far as blog topics, for right now they will mostly come from Mrs. Headricks. She has some ideas she would like to get addressed. First on the list is that October is National Adopt a Dog month. I am going to start researching this topic asap, and be ready to post something substantial before Oct. 1. She will continue to give me other topic to consider and address, also any ideas I have are very welcome. Likely the readership will also put forth many issues to be addressed.
As for one audience I thought we could potentially blog to (volunteers), I don't' think this will be the direction we go. I'll be in contact with Jarrett making sure I'm doing things correctly. And yes, she did mention having me over for some Turkish food once she finishes her thesis for you Dr. Baumann.
1.) Describe the organization in which you are working.
My organization is involved in making sure animals within the community are properly taken care of and treated humanely. The organization has a board of directors that Mrs. Headricks may have to sometime consult as to the content of the blog, but mostly she will have final approval on any of my posts. I go to her with content and questions, if she needs to she will go to the board. The organization houses about 300-500 animals normally. There are a number of full time employees, as well as many volunteers. The organization is totally funded through F-M donations, and is not linked to the USHS (united states humane society) for any funding. The organization has a very good website, with frequent visiting I would think. The organization has a person who does its technical work. Mrs. Headricks simply submits content she wants on the site, and the tech. person published it. I am not sure if this tech. person is volunteer, or payed.
2.) What is the mission of the organization?
Formally the mission is: "to care for, protect and place animals for adoption in lifelong homes, and to prevent cruelty to animals by educating our community in the proper and humane care of all animals." The focus is on domestic animals, but the humane treatment of all animals is a concern. I will be working mainly with the educating part of the mission.
3.) What programs of activities does the organization undertake to fulfill its mission?
One specific program that Mrs. Headricks was working at this time was a fund raising event for the coming weekend. It is called "the paws walk". We also discussed a focus of my blog starting with October being "national adopt a dog month." The society does work in conjunction with the pound as well. The pound contacts them when an animal has not been claimed within a set time period.
4.) Who benefits from the activities of the organization?
The animals probably get some of the main benefits. They need a place to stay when they don't have homes yet, and a group of people to actively search out home for them. The community also benefits. They provide a place for citizens to turn when they are looking to adopt a pet, also they provide advise as to pet care.
5.) What groups of people help the organization accomplish its mission?
Lots of people are involved. Obviously the paid staff starting with Mrs. Headricks. She did also mention there is a waiting list to be a volunteer because so many people volunteer and there are only so many animals to be walked. The business community is also involved, especially in the fund raising department.
6.) What is the "community the organization serves?"
The community is Cass and Clay counties.
7.) What is the organization's role in the community?
They work to make sure animals (dogs and cats) are treated properly and provide a home for them until a permanent one can be found. They also work to educate the community as to proper animal care.
8.) How dependent is the community of the organization?
The community is very dependent. Pets are obviously a large part of our world today, and they serve to look out for the best interest of all pets (cats and dogs). Without the organization people search to adopt a pet would have only much less attractive offers to choose from, mainly because the society looks out for the medical issues even before the animal is adopted.
I am very happy and excited about the thought the organization has put in thus far. I feel they know what they want to do, and I am happy to take part. The main focus Mrs. Headricks would like is to be able to communicate with the general pet owning or pet wanting public on a daily or weekly basis rather than their current 3 times a year. They send out a newsletter every 4 months. She would like to address issues that need to be addressed within a couple days of the event. For instance cold weather, and what kind of precautions one might need to take with your pet in the next couple of days. Or other topics that effect pets due to a change in weather or season.
The blog can also be a place to remind people of activities or events happening. The fundraiser she was working on could have been a subject to blog upon as well as for the community to communicate about. Which brings me to her first proposed idea. The board told her they are very worried about comments, and for now she didn't think we would allow any. But I was able to use my technical expertise to advise her that we could try moderated comments. And she agreed to give it a go. I think the ability of people reading this blog to comment will be very important and useful. For instance, one may have a question about how to care for an animal, or what to do in a specific situation. Without comments I would have no idea what my readers need help with out want addressed. With moderated comments, I will first read them, and categorize them as "I don't see any problems at all" and "might have an issue". Then I will send all comments to Mrs. Headricks before anything is posted. She said it will be no problem for her to respond to me within 24-48 hours at all times for comment posting.
I foresee readers posting comments that I haven't addressed or thought of yet. Once Mrs. Headricks oks them, I would post a message addressing the issue (which will also be approved by Mrs. Headricks). Then all other readers who may have experience with the topic can comment. (of course I will moderate these comments again, making sure that bad advise isn't published). This way we are able to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge our readership will posses.
As I have already said, the organization has a great web site, and Mrs. Headricks thinks creating a blog on "blogger.com" will work great and then putting a link to it on their website. This is great because I think I can manage this technical process. I am to inform her of the address for the blog by Friday (9/22). She will be very busy this weekend, but we hope to have a link on their website by Monday or Tuesday (9/25, 9/26) And my first blog introducing what is happening should be by Wed. (9/27).
As far as blog topics, for right now they will mostly come from Mrs. Headricks. She has some ideas she would like to get addressed. First on the list is that October is National Adopt a Dog month. I am going to start researching this topic asap, and be ready to post something substantial before Oct. 1. She will continue to give me other topic to consider and address, also any ideas I have are very welcome. Likely the readership will also put forth many issues to be addressed.
As for one audience I thought we could potentially blog to (volunteers), I don't' think this will be the direction we go. I'll be in contact with Jarrett making sure I'm doing things correctly. And yes, she did mention having me over for some Turkish food once she finishes her thesis for you Dr. Baumann.
posted by Brent at
9/19/2006 10:31:00 AM
1 Comments:
A very nice discussion of the issues. Please keep us posted on the range of comments you get. I do think it's likely you'll get ideas for posts from the comments, as well as references to useful materials. You could even request them, which might be a motivating factor for readers.
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By
Philip Baumann, at 10:07 AM
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