Update:

Went down to Citrus Park and picked up the forms. Reviewed it and may be too extensive with all the legalities behind it. May just pick a park in Moreno Valley and host one here.

I'm in the process of organizing a huge event at the Southern Ca Fair. I am gathering a group of rescues and we will be able to do an adoption event! Pretty neato! This will give me the experience I need to make our 1st Annual Take Me Home Pet Adoption Event successful!

Thanks,
Angela

Special Event Permit

Tomorrow I am planning on driving down to Citrus Park to pick up the special event forms. I was having the hardest time trying to open up the document on my computer. This way, I can map out everything and get an idea of what I want.

I talked to the KONG company and they do not do any type of sponsorships, but donate some toys and items to the event. This will make excellent raffle items or possibly prizes for the contests.

I am also in the process of writing my sponsorship letter. It has the West Coast Mastiff Rescue letterhead, this way, every sponsor knows who this event is for. I want to throw the best possible event for them! They deserve it!

If anyone can think of anything, it would be wonderful. After I get my sponsorship letters written out, I'm going to seriously need some volunteers to help distribute. Does anyone know of anyone that would be willing to donate printing, banners, etc? I can have WCM fill out a tax receipt! Please let me know!

Thank you!!!!
Angela

Good News everybody...

Well I received an email from John. He now directed me to Joanne. I guess she is in charge of the special permits needed for the event. Sheesh! It's just going from one person to the next. Life I guess?!?

Anyhoo, I received the paperwork needed to fill out, here's the thing, it's all scrambled up. SOooo...I emailed Joanne and I am waiting for her to resend me the folder zip download.

Anna, if I still can't open it, do you think I can send it to you? That way you can open it for me?
You have a fast computer. Lol! If not, no worries, I will figure a way.

I looked into getting PetCo as a sponsor and it is a huge possibility, but I seriously need someone who understands how to read all the legalities behind it. I just do not understand. Lol! I'll learn as I go, I guess.

I'm thinking of having one HUGE sponsor: Petco, and then two or three little ones, like a dog food company and maybe dog toy company: KONG? Love Kongs!!!

I'll probably need to get banners made, but I need to wait and see how much money and budget will go into this thing.

So that is all I got so far!

Update

Howdy Y'all!

Well it's been a waiting game with renting the Citrus Park open grass area. I just emailed John again and am still waiting on his reply and paperwork. I'd like to start getting sponsors set up. I'm hoping to get big enough sponsors, to where we can have adoption goodie bags for all the dogs that get adopted out. In August, I will be helping West Coast Mastiff rescue with their BIG DOG ROCKS event out in San Diego. Last year they were able to hand out cool adoption goodie bags. All the rescues got the left over goodie bags. And talk about cool stuff. We got Kong Wubbas, toys, treats, coupons for free vet checks, and grooming. Pretty neat. I definitely want something like this with the event!

Also, I spoke to President Elaine Hudson of West Coast Mastiffs Rescue, and she has plenty of hook-ups for radio stations, and tons of vendors. She said she would help me get them there. WOO HOO! Just another step closer to having a super, sweet, successful event!

Angela

Calling all Volunteers...

Anyone good with typing up beg letters? My main goal now is to start begging sponsors for support. I need a professional sounding letter, but I am by no means a professional person. I'm too laid back for the most part.

Also if you can, please introduce yourselves as a volunteer. I am going to build a wonderful team, and I don't want anyone to feel left out.

I will go first...
As you all know...my name is Angela! Lol! I love dogs and have been doing rescue work for about 2 to 3 years now. Gosh, how time flies! My experiences with rescuing is not only with 5 out of 7 dogs here at my home, but also with volunteering with West Coast Mastiffs and then with a couple other rescues. I also began dog training at that time and have been passionately obsessing with it for 3 years as well. My goal is to become a good trainer that can help the less fortunate dogs. I hope that I will be blessed in that sense. Rescue work is so expensive and I am amazed at the people who throw themselves into it with such perseverance and dedication! I am also very lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people who support me and who help in any way they can. I truly love you girls for it and I so appreciate each and every one of you!!!! Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

Much love,
Angela

Sorry Gang...

Okay so here's the scoop. I've heard back from John the superindendant for "the Place!" The "place" is Citrus Park in Riverside. It is where you see the orange groves and that orange stand off of Dufferin on Van Buren. If you've never been there, it is absolutely beautiful. Tons of trees and a huge open grassy area. This is where I want to have the event! Here are the problems... John says they will be renovating this area in August this year and it will not be completed until mid November sometime. So my idea of having it in October is out. However, he will be faxing me all the forms, so that I may have an adoption event in January 2010. I think this is better, so that I will be able to organize myself, alot better. Here are the logistics for this event:

Name of event: 1st Annual “Take Me Home” Pet Adoption Event

Date of Event: January 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Purpose of Event: Help raise funds for a non profit organization called West Coast Mastiffs and Large Breed Rescue. (WCMastiffRescue.com) And also to spread awareness of pet overpopulation and to find loving fur-ever homes for pets with other rescues.

Event Agenda: Would like to have 25 + rescues with well mannered pets available for adoption present. Also 20 + vendors that sell food, drinks and pet-related items for sale. During the event, I would like to have a raffle, dog contests, seminars from trainers, and possibly agility trainers, live music, pet entertainers, and maybe even a hot dog eating contest?

Total Attendees: I plan to have anywhere from 200 to 400 attendees. I will be advertising all over. Having flyers made to post at grocery stores, pet stores and possibly even getting some media coverage.

Estimated Budget: I would like to keep my budget within $1000 to $1200 for renting the open grass area, so that the rest of the proceeds will benefit West Coast Mastiffs Rescue. The vendors will have to rent their space to sell their products. The rental space for the vendors will be as follows: 10’ x 10’ will be $50, 10’ x 20’ will be $75.00. I may have to up the fee, if renting the open grass area is higher than my estimated budget. The remaining proceeds will go to a 501 (c)(3) rescue called West Coast Mastiffs and Large Breed Rescue. No rescues are asked to pay for a spot.

New Update:

Okie Dokie...well I submitted the logistics for the event. I am now waiting for the reply from "the place!" Hehehe! Will probably hear back sometime this coming week.

I've been in contact with about 5 vendors. One is a clown/face painter, one is a hot dog vendor, the other a taco vendor and some pet boutique type vendors. I even had a dog trainer ask. LOL!!! Is it mean to turn them away? Well I saved his information. Oh and a kettle corn vendor. Mmmm. Gotta have Kettle Corn at any event!

So I will update you as soon as I hear the word...YES, the place is yours!

This is something I am going to need help with...
*Rules for Volunteers/Vendors
*Writing a professional sounding beg/sponsorship letter

If you want to throw ideas or suggestions at me, I am ready!
Thank you so much!!!! Much love to you all!

Oh...

And a date too. I'm not sure when I want to plan this. Anytime in the fall is good, but people are always looking for back to school stuff and not so much looking to adopt a pet. I was thinking Halloween, because how cute would that be?

Maybe next February or March sometime....I don't know! I'm lost!!!!

My thoughts...

Okay, so I've been sitting on my rump, thinking I'll get to it...eventually. Well while everyone around me is getting things done, I'm sitting here twittling my thumbs. So I decided to finally call "the place" that I'm thinking of hosting this event. Shannon directed me to a gentlemen that I need to sit down and write out a logistics type of email, stating everything that I want to do at this event, how many people I hope to get in, etc.

I also received an email from Justin Rudd. He says this is a fantastic opportunity and to go for it. He said it's best if I side with an organization that has their 501 (c)(3). Of course I will ask West Coast Mastiffs. I would like to have half the money generated to go to them!

Okay, so let me write my logistics down, quick.
Thoughts....

• I would like roughly 200 to 300 people to attend this.
• I want at least 20 rescues
• I want at least 20 vendors. Vendors will be paying for a spot.
• I want to rent the entire open grass area. (I have a map)
• I would like to partner up with Save a pet and possibly PetCo.

So this is what I have for now. I'm going to write a more professional proposal to him and hope that everything goes as planned. I will need to look into special event permits. Especially if it's for dogs.

The latest...

Well I visited the OC pet fair and obtained some cards from various rescues, that I could possibly call to see if they would like to attend.

I talked with Lorie-a wonderful friend of mine. who recently started her own rescue. www.LLAR.weebly.com. Her and her husband do Cub scouts and said that she would probably be able to get the boys to volunteer with directing traffic and picking up after the event!! AWESOME!!!!! I just need to find out, how I'd be able to sign off their volunteer sheets. Hmm....

This is where a 501 (c) 3 would come in handy. Maybe this is where I need to start first....

I also contacted Justin Rudd. Amazing person, who has done alot for the rescue community. I'm waiting to hear back from him and get an idea of where to start. So this is all I have for now. Will post as it comes.

Fairmont Park

I recently visited a Pet Adoption in Fairmont Park this weekend. It had tons of vendors and rescues out, along with some free handout goodies.

This is very similar in what I hope to accomplish, but on a much larger scale.

I did get some cards and hope to call them in the future to join my 1st Annual Pet Adoption!

On April 17th, 2009, I will be going to the OC Pet Expo. It is the biggest pet expo of the year in Southern California. I will be obtaining more information there as well.

Another thing I was thinking of, was what time of the year would be a good time to plan this? Summer is too hot for the dogs and winter too cold. Fall is a bad idea, as most parents are looking to buy school supplies and not so much adopt. Maybe next spring?

Scheming

I have so many ideas, that have been swarming my head. I've been wanting to plan a huge pet adoption faire/event for a couple of years now. I've kept putting it past me and ignoring it, and now I've reached a point, where I just want to start planning it, and hopefully the outcome will be an awesome pet adoption event. My main goal is to fundraise money to begin a rehabilitation center for aggressive dogs. Aggressive dogs have virtually no chance of survival in the shelter system. Alot of rescue organizations deem aggressive dogs as unadoptable and not able to be rehabilitated. I believe otherwise. I want to prove it, and start it, but first the money thing. My other goal is to raise awareness in my county about pet rescuing and adoption. I want other rescues to benefit too! I want this to be a win-win situation for us all and to save some lives that need saving!

So, I've been researching the net, and have concluded these are the key factors to producing and having a great event.

1. Location! It is the key. I have a place in mind, that I think will work perfectly. It has plush landscaping, nice grassy fields for the dogs. Excellent bathrooms and plenty of space for vendors and dogs to sprawl out. Not telling where just yet, until I can get final details of what we will need.
2. Vendors. To provide food and other sorts of entertainment. Of course this will be where some of our donation will come from. This donation will probably go toward paying the rental fee of the location. I'm thinking I could have between 25 to 35 vendors. So let's do some math. Okay, so let's just say, I have 25 vendors signed up. I would charge $50 for a 10' x 10' or $75 for a 10' x 20' space. So let's say half want one size and the other half wants the bigger size. I would guesstimate: $1,562.50. Hmmm, maybe I should up the fee?
3. Sponsorships. This would be the tough part, but I may have a few tricks up my sleeves. I will get back on this topic later.
4. Volunteers. Essential to any successful fundraiser. We need these people to direct, promote, sale, and provide for rescues. i.e. water, trash bags, poop clean-up.
5. Raffle prizes and contests. 50/50, best trick, best owner/pet look-alikes.
6. Rules. Needing to write out a list of rules for rescue orgs, and for volunteers.
7. Permits, insurance. Of course, I will be very adament on any rescue attending to only bring well socialized and friendly animals. But you know there is always one or two that can get crazy with all the stimulation going on. Will need to see what the location recommends in permits and see about insurance. Maybe all rescues attending will need to have insurance.
8. Promoting. I'm thinking calling radio stations, newspapers, craig'slist, pennysaver, etc. Making up flyers and handing them to everyone. Maybe even asking grocery stores to put into their grocery bags.

So this is what I have for now. Here is a list of items that rescues will need to bring to the event:

1. Crates & Cages for every animal.
2. Water/Water Bowls
3. The Animals needing homes. Only friendly ones
4. Tables & Chairs
5. Adoption contracts, paperwork
6. Extra bags of Dog Food
7. Business Cards &/or Brochures
8. EZ-up tents
9. Donation Jars
10. Tape/Scissors
11. Pens/ Pencils
12. Banners or posters for their rescue
13. Collars/Leashes
14. Items to sale for donations
15. Exercise Pens
16. Beds for dogs to lay on
17. Folder with other animals available for adoption, but not with them
18. Volunteer applications
19. Volunteers
20. Tablecloths

Anything else?