Want to know about our Social Nights and shows we are attending? Check out our listings for our events plus any other important dates in the bird world!
Due to Covid-19 restrictions and for the safety of our members, we are not currently holding our normal social nights. Please check out our Facebook page and join one of our online Zoom meetings (starting in September 2020).
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SOCIAL NIGHTS:
Typically our Social Nights are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (from 6pm to 8pm).
The events are hosted by Exotic Wings & Pet Things and we thank them for allowing us to get together there.
Social Nights are the time for you to ask questions and get support. We usually have a topic as a focus for the evening but feel free to bring up any thing that you may have questions on.
We are people helping people making life easier living with parrots so don't be shy and pop in. Our participants include people with large birds, small birds, new bird owners and people just thinking about becoming bird owners. It is a great time to mingle with people who love to talk about birds and share their experiences. Please join us.
LOCATION: Exotic Wings (3561 Lobsinger Line, St Clements, ON)
DIRECTIONS: Click here to get driving directions
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHOWS:
Our participation takes us all over southern Ontario, which means that our members not only give their time but they have to be willing to absorb the costs of this participation, i.e gas, food and lodging. At the larger expos we encourage members to solicit donations from the patrons who want to get a picture with one of our parrots. This is just one example of our 'fundraising' that is meant to help defray the costs associated with participation. Depending on the needs of a particular show, we will also take monies raised and put it towards the mandatory insurance that we must obtain to be involved.
We have a core group of 'members' who attend most shows and visits, like-minded people who work well together and understand our mission. As we represent Ethical Parrot Owners, we have developed some rules and guidelines for attendance, to help keep everyone safe and on topic. And we have a great time interacting with members of the public, sharing our mission statement and educating!
EPO GUIDE TO GROUP STRUCTURE AND FINANCES:
We are all unpaid volunteers and no one is paid for the work they do on behalf of EPO - this includes pet shows and expos, outreach opportunities (library visits, requests from pet or animal welfare organizations) and visits to retirement/nursing homes or for any of the organization involved for our participation in the above events. We have spent the money raised thus far on posters, pamphlets, handouts and booth improvements/maintenance.
This is the structure of EPO going forward:
Carol and Tracey form the administrators of the group. They will administer the email, share the responsibility of the FB page with the current administrators and appoint someone to update the website. When needed, they will ask for assistance with show organization, parrot outreach programs (visits to libraries, retirement, and nursing homes), website, Facebook, and email administration. They will also oversee the financial administration.
In the event of a dispute or disagreement that cannot be resolved, Mark will be asked to act as an arbiter to help settle any issues. As a founding member of EPO, Mark is not involved in the day to day activity of EPO and can be called upon to hear both sides of an issue. He can help work towards a resolution that is fair to all involved. We all know Mark to be blunt and no nonsense - traits that will ensure equitable resolutions as needed.
Regarding money, EPO will keep $500 which is to be used to help offset vet or medical expenses resulting from a documented/witnessed injury at a show. In addition to this EPO will maintain a $200 operating budget to be used for printing of materials, insurance and other show related expenses. Donated money at the shows will be tallied up at the end of each day by the designated EPO member (with that day's volunteers present) and divided as follows:
#1 - Booth set up and maintenance* - $50 (to be split between the number of show days)
#2 - Top up the operating expenses (if required - to $200) - will be divided between show days and taken out before the rest of the money is divided (receipts to be presented)
#3 - Remaining funds will be equally divided amongst the registered drivers attending that day. This amount will vary from show to show and day to day, depending on the days donations.
*Booth set-up and maintenance - we are very grateful for the storage, maintenance and set-up "crew" (aka Mike) who stores the fencing, tables and bins of supplies between shows, takes time off work to do set-up (based on the schedule provided by the show organizers) and has not received any compensation to help offset the cost for the delivery, set-up, and tear down of our booth.
Should the group dissolve or disband, any money held in reserve will be donated to the Farley Foundation (https://www.farleyfoundation.org - they help low income families with vet bills).
Money from other outreach endeavours will be divided among the drivers on the day. As we do not maintain a bank account, we can only accept cash and that cash will be divided among the drivers attending. We do not always receive a donation for these programs.
We have settled upon providing money to the drivers to each show to help off-set the cost of fuel - as we are all volunteers, we are not compensating individuals for participation but hoping to reduce the cost of getting/to from the shows. We actively encourage car-pooling and ride-sharing but as we all come from a wide geographic area and due to the size of cages etc, it isn't always possible or practical to do so.
When arriving at the booth each booth volunteer will be expected to sign in on a sign in sheet. This acknowledges the EPO show waiver and acknowledges the booth rules which will be printed on the sign in sheet. Drivers will identify themselves in the sign in sheet - this will allow us to track show attendance, and allow the proper division of the donations received. Once signed, you are acknowledging the rules and expectations (whether you actually read them or not).
We would appreciate any feedback to be brought forward in this forum so that all active members can understand the issues, our thought processes and the resolutions.
NEED A REMINDER FOR THE MEETINGS? Please be sure to join our Facebook group to receive reminders about upcoming events!
Typically our Social Nights are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (from 6pm to 8pm).
The events are hosted by Exotic Wings & Pet Things and we thank them for allowing us to get together there.
Social Nights are the time for you to ask questions and get support. We usually have a topic as a focus for the evening but feel free to bring up any thing that you may have questions on.
We are people helping people making life easier living with parrots so don't be shy and pop in. Our participants include people with large birds, small birds, new bird owners and people just thinking about becoming bird owners. It is a great time to mingle with people who love to talk about birds and share their experiences. Please join us.
LOCATION: Exotic Wings (3561 Lobsinger Line, St Clements, ON)
DIRECTIONS: Click here to get driving directions
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SHOWS:
Our participation takes us all over southern Ontario, which means that our members not only give their time but they have to be willing to absorb the costs of this participation, i.e gas, food and lodging. At the larger expos we encourage members to solicit donations from the patrons who want to get a picture with one of our parrots. This is just one example of our 'fundraising' that is meant to help defray the costs associated with participation. Depending on the needs of a particular show, we will also take monies raised and put it towards the mandatory insurance that we must obtain to be involved.
We have a core group of 'members' who attend most shows and visits, like-minded people who work well together and understand our mission. As we represent Ethical Parrot Owners, we have developed some rules and guidelines for attendance, to help keep everyone safe and on topic. And we have a great time interacting with members of the public, sharing our mission statement and educating!
EPO GUIDE TO GROUP STRUCTURE AND FINANCES:
We are all unpaid volunteers and no one is paid for the work they do on behalf of EPO - this includes pet shows and expos, outreach opportunities (library visits, requests from pet or animal welfare organizations) and visits to retirement/nursing homes or for any of the organization involved for our participation in the above events. We have spent the money raised thus far on posters, pamphlets, handouts and booth improvements/maintenance.
This is the structure of EPO going forward:
Carol and Tracey form the administrators of the group. They will administer the email, share the responsibility of the FB page with the current administrators and appoint someone to update the website. When needed, they will ask for assistance with show organization, parrot outreach programs (visits to libraries, retirement, and nursing homes), website, Facebook, and email administration. They will also oversee the financial administration.
In the event of a dispute or disagreement that cannot be resolved, Mark will be asked to act as an arbiter to help settle any issues. As a founding member of EPO, Mark is not involved in the day to day activity of EPO and can be called upon to hear both sides of an issue. He can help work towards a resolution that is fair to all involved. We all know Mark to be blunt and no nonsense - traits that will ensure equitable resolutions as needed.
Regarding money, EPO will keep $500 which is to be used to help offset vet or medical expenses resulting from a documented/witnessed injury at a show. In addition to this EPO will maintain a $200 operating budget to be used for printing of materials, insurance and other show related expenses. Donated money at the shows will be tallied up at the end of each day by the designated EPO member (with that day's volunteers present) and divided as follows:
#1 - Booth set up and maintenance* - $50 (to be split between the number of show days)
#2 - Top up the operating expenses (if required - to $200) - will be divided between show days and taken out before the rest of the money is divided (receipts to be presented)
#3 - Remaining funds will be equally divided amongst the registered drivers attending that day. This amount will vary from show to show and day to day, depending on the days donations.
*Booth set-up and maintenance - we are very grateful for the storage, maintenance and set-up "crew" (aka Mike) who stores the fencing, tables and bins of supplies between shows, takes time off work to do set-up (based on the schedule provided by the show organizers) and has not received any compensation to help offset the cost for the delivery, set-up, and tear down of our booth.
Should the group dissolve or disband, any money held in reserve will be donated to the Farley Foundation (https://www.farleyfoundation.org - they help low income families with vet bills).
Money from other outreach endeavours will be divided among the drivers on the day. As we do not maintain a bank account, we can only accept cash and that cash will be divided among the drivers attending. We do not always receive a donation for these programs.
We have settled upon providing money to the drivers to each show to help off-set the cost of fuel - as we are all volunteers, we are not compensating individuals for participation but hoping to reduce the cost of getting/to from the shows. We actively encourage car-pooling and ride-sharing but as we all come from a wide geographic area and due to the size of cages etc, it isn't always possible or practical to do so.
When arriving at the booth each booth volunteer will be expected to sign in on a sign in sheet. This acknowledges the EPO show waiver and acknowledges the booth rules which will be printed on the sign in sheet. Drivers will identify themselves in the sign in sheet - this will allow us to track show attendance, and allow the proper division of the donations received. Once signed, you are acknowledging the rules and expectations (whether you actually read them or not).
We would appreciate any feedback to be brought forward in this forum so that all active members can understand the issues, our thought processes and the resolutions.
NEED A REMINDER FOR THE MEETINGS? Please be sure to join our Facebook group to receive reminders about upcoming events!