Hello there rhino fans, it has been a busy few months hasn't it? We have been trying to sort out the office so we can all take a few days off over the festive period. This includes all the exciting things like backing up emails, sorting through old action points, and later this week, a proper down and dirty session with the stockroom. The stockroom has got an almost mythical status attached to it at the moment; it currently contains all our precious rhino costumes, as well as back copies of The Horn and all the paraphernalia associated with saving those rhinos. At the moment it is all piled up making it impossible to get in the door, and if you do manage that feat it tends to lead to a krypton factor-style course dodging envelopes, magazines and large plastic rhino heads to find what you need. Going to the storeroom is less of a chore than an expedition. However, we are going to send in a team this friday and brave it together. Save the Rhino; known for its extreme endurance events.
I know it can't get more exciting than hearing about this, but the fun event this week was the delivery of our new lovely merchandise product: stylish logo shopper bags. Unbelievably environmentally friendly, easily folded and, let's face it, pretty cute, they are the new star product of our shop. Watch this space for some more exciting modelling of the bags by our professionals currently displaying wares in the online shop. Email henry@savetherhino.org for an up-to-date portfolio.
Merry Christmas all,
Hx
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Post #90: Thursday 289 November- Whoops...
Hey rhino fans,
Whoops! It has been gently pointed out to me by a big fan of the blog that we have failed to post anything for quite a while now, which is shamefully lax. All I can say is that we have been very busy saving rhinos, and have let it slip somewhat.
This month has actually been a very busy one, with most of us being away at various times on courses, meetings and project visits. There was one day when I was the only one in the office! So lots of dancing round, drinking beer and singing...uh, no. Sadly, I sat and wrote a proposal and then answered all your emails. We are a dedicated lot here, and I know how upset you would have been if we hadn't answered your questions and comments straight away.
I haven't really been participating in these trips away, but I did get a couple of days out of the office at the beginning of this month. Cathy and I went to a Symposium on conservation trade-offs, with lots of different speakers from all over the world. It is good to meet up with other people in the field, and make sure we are up-to-date on all the recent debates and issues. Cathy was also asked to give a presentation at the end of the conference, which meant we were able to talk about the problems facing fundraisers as well as field workers and policy makers. All in all, a good use of a couple of days, and it was at London Zoo so we spent lunchtime wondering round with the animals. No rhinos unfortunately, but not a bad way to spend your day!
Some of you may also have seen us on the BBC News the other night, after the poaching in Zimbabwe. Three rhinos were shot dead at the Imire ranch, which is a worrying development for the wildlife of Zimbabwe, particularly as they were dehorned and the poachers only got away with an inch of horn from each. You can read more about the story on our website, and on the bbc news website. It just goes to show that we are needed more than ever if these amazing animals are to stand any chance of survival.
Keep up the good work!
Hx
Whoops! It has been gently pointed out to me by a big fan of the blog that we have failed to post anything for quite a while now, which is shamefully lax. All I can say is that we have been very busy saving rhinos, and have let it slip somewhat.
This month has actually been a very busy one, with most of us being away at various times on courses, meetings and project visits. There was one day when I was the only one in the office! So lots of dancing round, drinking beer and singing...uh, no. Sadly, I sat and wrote a proposal and then answered all your emails. We are a dedicated lot here, and I know how upset you would have been if we hadn't answered your questions and comments straight away.
I haven't really been participating in these trips away, but I did get a couple of days out of the office at the beginning of this month. Cathy and I went to a Symposium on conservation trade-offs, with lots of different speakers from all over the world. It is good to meet up with other people in the field, and make sure we are up-to-date on all the recent debates and issues. Cathy was also asked to give a presentation at the end of the conference, which meant we were able to talk about the problems facing fundraisers as well as field workers and policy makers. All in all, a good use of a couple of days, and it was at London Zoo so we spent lunchtime wondering round with the animals. No rhinos unfortunately, but not a bad way to spend your day!
Some of you may also have seen us on the BBC News the other night, after the poaching in Zimbabwe. Three rhinos were shot dead at the Imire ranch, which is a worrying development for the wildlife of Zimbabwe, particularly as they were dehorned and the poachers only got away with an inch of horn from each. You can read more about the story on our website, and on the bbc news website. It just goes to show that we are needed more than ever if these amazing animals are to stand any chance of survival.
Keep up the good work!
Hx
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Post #89: Wednesday 31 October- It's been a while...
I've had a busy time since we last spoke. I spent a very productive evening last week at a meeting for all charities who have runners in the London Marathon, and learning about all the new plans for next year, as well as having a bit of a gossip with some other charity workers. Apparently the highest amount raised by a single runner last year was over £29,000! A phenomenally good effort, but if you think you can better it, feel free to sign up for a Gold Bond place on our team. We'd love to have you.
We are all winding down now after the excitement of Horn stuffing days. We stamp, stuff and label every envelope by hand to make sure you lot all get a copy of the magazine, so hopefully you feel it is worth all the effort. Henry and I then have great fun pushing trolleys full of postal sacks through Borough market to the post office, making ourselves really popular with the post office workers there. Despite our best efforts though, some copies do come back with the wrong address on. If you do move house, please remember to let us know. After all, you wouldn't want to miss out, would you?
Hx
We are all winding down now after the excitement of Horn stuffing days. We stamp, stuff and label every envelope by hand to make sure you lot all get a copy of the magazine, so hopefully you feel it is worth all the effort. Henry and I then have great fun pushing trolleys full of postal sacks through Borough market to the post office, making ourselves really popular with the post office workers there. Despite our best efforts though, some copies do come back with the wrong address on. If you do move house, please remember to let us know. After all, you wouldn't want to miss out, would you?
Hx
Friday, 19 October 2007
Post#88: Our new magazine is here
Hello all,
Henry here. The magazine has been printed, and despite some stationery-related mishaps of my own device, we've sent out all the copies. So if you think you should receive it and you haven't by next week, let me know and we'll see what the problem is.
One problem may be that you're no longer a member of Save the Rhino, a benefit of which is subscription to the magazine. Since it's a brilliant issue this time, if I do say so myself, you really do want to receive a copy. Sign up as a member by going to our website and clicking on the 'Support Us' tab - you get tons of benefits, and your money goes to a great cause, and it's a mere £3 per month. Come on.
To all the current members - thanks as ever for your really important, continuing support, and I hope you like the magazine. Let me know what you like about it, or if you have any ideas for next time.
Back soon.
Henry here. The magazine has been printed, and despite some stationery-related mishaps of my own device, we've sent out all the copies. So if you think you should receive it and you haven't by next week, let me know and we'll see what the problem is.
One problem may be that you're no longer a member of Save the Rhino, a benefit of which is subscription to the magazine. Since it's a brilliant issue this time, if I do say so myself, you really do want to receive a copy. Sign up as a member by going to our website and clicking on the 'Support Us' tab - you get tons of benefits, and your money goes to a great cause, and it's a mere £3 per month. Come on.
To all the current members - thanks as ever for your really important, continuing support, and I hope you like the magazine. Let me know what you like about it, or if you have any ideas for next time.
Back soon.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Post #87: Stuffing the Horn
Hi, it's Cathy. Today the new issue of The Horn arrived, our lovely magazine that comes out twice a year, and it's full of great articles from the projects we support. So tomorrow is set aside for stuffing - we'll all be sitting round the table, with piles of labels, stamps and envelopes in front of us, and then Santa-like (yipes, another Christmas reference already) we'll drag sacksful off to the Post Office.
We decided we need some suitable music to accompany The Horn stuffing, and so the challenge was on to find some animal-related tunes. The playlist so far: Gorillaz, Howlin' Wolf, the Leningrad Cowboys, the best of the Eagles, Eek-a-mouse, and Youssou n'Dour's album, "The Lion". That's quite a mix...
If you want to be sure of getting your copy of The Horn, then make us a nice donation, sign up for the London Marathon, or become a member. Our website, www.savetherhino.org has all the details.
We decided we need some suitable music to accompany The Horn stuffing, and so the challenge was on to find some animal-related tunes. The playlist so far: Gorillaz, Howlin' Wolf, the Leningrad Cowboys, the best of the Eagles, Eek-a-mouse, and Youssou n'Dour's album, "The Lion". That's quite a mix...
If you want to be sure of getting your copy of The Horn, then make us a nice donation, sign up for the London Marathon, or become a member. Our website, www.savetherhino.org has all the details.
Monday, 15 October 2007
Post #86 - Christmas already?
Cathy here, a little freaked out because in our fortnightly action points meeting this morning, there were two mentions of Christmas. Blimey, I've got so much to do before the end of October, let alone 25 December, yet we're talking about it already.
Reason being that we've decided to get some sexy new merchandise - some Save the Rhino logo'd recycled fabric shopping bags - perfect for the High Street and even better for New Bond Street. Think I'll be buying a few myself, nothing like being a walking billboard for my favourite charity.
And a kind person has offered us lots of rhino greeting cards to sell and raise money for the cause. How nice!
So it's not quite tinsel round the pc time, but it's all looking a bit real.
Reason being that we've decided to get some sexy new merchandise - some Save the Rhino logo'd recycled fabric shopping bags - perfect for the High Street and even better for New Bond Street. Think I'll be buying a few myself, nothing like being a walking billboard for my favourite charity.
And a kind person has offered us lots of rhino greeting cards to sell and raise money for the cause. How nice!
So it's not quite tinsel round the pc time, but it's all looking a bit real.
Friday, 12 October 2007
Post #85: Friday 12 October - The Good Life
Phew! It's Friday. I have spent the day sorting out our finances and running to the bank, which was terribly exciting. I am contracted to spend every Monday and Friday on admin, which seems to be neverending. Who knows how Henry did it all before the internship came along, but at least now he has more time to be on the phone chatting to the Inland Revenue.
It has been a busy week, as I have been writing my first proposal for funding. We apply to various trusts and charities for funding for projects, and need to get across how important and beautiful these animals are, and why they need saving. It is my job to get funding for one of our projects in Namibia, who need money to look after their camels.
The camels are used by the Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia to patrol the rugged terrain, and track the population of black rhino they are protecting. Unfortunately, the lions in the region appear to have started to view the team as a ready supply of food, and we need to find some secure housing to make sure the camels are safe for the night. At the moment, only the trackers stand between the lion and dinner, which isn't a pleasant situation!
A lot of the projects use innovative methods like these to do their job in sometimes pretty hostile terrain. Although I may have a lot of fighting with our database in this job, at least I have a warm lion-free bed at night...
Hannah x
It has been a busy week, as I have been writing my first proposal for funding. We apply to various trusts and charities for funding for projects, and need to get across how important and beautiful these animals are, and why they need saving. It is my job to get funding for one of our projects in Namibia, who need money to look after their camels.
The camels are used by the Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia to patrol the rugged terrain, and track the population of black rhino they are protecting. Unfortunately, the lions in the region appear to have started to view the team as a ready supply of food, and we need to find some secure housing to make sure the camels are safe for the night. At the moment, only the trackers stand between the lion and dinner, which isn't a pleasant situation!
A lot of the projects use innovative methods like these to do their job in sometimes pretty hostile terrain. Although I may have a lot of fighting with our database in this job, at least I have a warm lion-free bed at night...
Hannah x
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