Hi all!

This year, the International Reptile Conservation Foundation (IRCF) is sponsoring the auction at the National Reptile Breeder's Expo in Daytona Beach, Florida on August 20th, Saturday evening. The proceeds from the auction will benefit conservation efforts for the Rock Iguanas of the West Indies.

At the auction’s helm is Joe Wasilewski who conceived the plan a few years ago. To facilitate, support, and truly make this event a success we need help from people who are able to volunteer a minimal portion of their Saturday to become part of the IRCF support team.

Volunteer tasks are simple and involve soliciting and gathering donations from the show’s vendors. The auction is held every year to benefit a different reptile species; vendors are accustomed to donating and will be primed and ready to receive solicitations from our volunteers. The IRCF is committed to making the auction a success, breaking all auction receipt records, and sending a clear message that we want to help prevent the extinction of these magnificent creatures.

Here’s how it works: depending on the response we receive, we’ll organize teams of two or three people (preferred). Teams can be couples, family, or friends. One person will be the donation solicitor and the other will generate the vendor donation receipt (supplied) that identifies the donation and serves as the tax-deductible document for the vendor. The donated items will then be placed in large polyethylene bags (supplied), along with one copy of the receipt, and sealed. If a third team member is present then that person will quickly carry the donation to auction headquarters and return to pick up the next item. If we’re limited to two-person teams, then we’ll have an alternate method of transporting the donations. Teams will be assigned to specific aisles and we’ll systematically cover the entire show.

Auction headquarters is a designated room near the show entry point off the main hall. This is where we’ll all gather, receive team assignments, and disseminate information and status reports.

It's a great way to meet new folks and to assist with reptile conservation. A little bit of your time and dedication will make a genuine contribution towards Rock Iguana preservation. As a token of appreciation, the IRCF will issue each volunteer a special Certificate of Appreciation. The names of the volunteers will also be published on the web and in the journal IGUANA (with permission of course).

We seriously need your help, folks, to make the best of this unique opportunity. If you are interested, please contact me directly at the email address below to sign up or at least let us know you are interested. We need your name, email address, and a contact phone number (used only for this event). Once you’re signed up, we’ll include you on our team emailing to ensure you have the latest information. With the show only a month away, we encourage you to act now to assist us in our planning efforts. Any individual responding to this call for assistance who can assist in networking other groups or friends, please let us know.

Lastly, if you have items to donate for the auction, or want to see some of the special items already donated, please visit www.ircf.org/Auction/auction.html.

Please feel free to forward this email and thanks in advance for your help!

Des
des@ircf.org

OK everyone, start praying that I sell a house so I can afford to go help!

__________________
~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

I'm praying for you!

Wish I could go too, but there's no way....*sigh*

__________________
~Juliane~

Just wanted to let you know that, thanks to a terrific team of volunteers and donations from vendors and other folks, the auction raised 20K for cyclura conservation!

BTW, Thanks Steph -- sheesh! That was a HUGE poster!

des
des@ircf.org
http://www.IRCF.org