Because I promised

I don't often do these things, but:

1. Reply with your name and I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me (maybe/maybe not).
5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal

Cross-Country 'Doggie Relay' Keeps Autistic Child United with Pets

Cross-Country 'Doggie Relay' Keeps Autistic Child United with Pets

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=50892
7/26/2005 2:07:00 PM

PITTSBURGH, 26 July, / U.S. Newswire/ -- The "dog days" of summer took on new meaning for a McDonald, PA, family this week when they found out that they couldn't transport their two Laborador retrievers on their move to Phoenix, AZ, due to the intense heatwave gripping most of the country. The family, who has a child with autism, were forced to find new homes for their pets, that is, until they turned to AutismLink, a nationwide autism support organisation.

"The family contacted us looking for someone to take their pets." said Cindy Waeltermann, AutismLink Director, "They had no means of transporting them because the father had left for his new job with the only family car." That's when AutismLink families jumped into action. Jenny Webster of DuBois, Pa., a mother of an autistic child herself, refused to let the family go without the pets.

"This is a story about an autistic boy who is about to lose most everything familiar to him. He's moving to a new state, new home, new school and will be meeting all new people." Webster said, "Change in routine is very disruptive for someone with autism. It truly is a matter of need, not want, as far as I am concerned."

Webster turned to the autism community for help and has organized a "doggie relay" from Pittsburgh, PA, to Phoenix, AZ, to reunite the family with their pets. "I sent out a plea to the autism community, people who are tapped financially and physically, and still I got offers of money and man power to make this relay possible. It's truly incredible!" Webster said.

Lenore Wossidlo of Pittsburgh, PA, a member of AutismLink and mother of an autistic child, helped to raise funds for the
event. "As an animal lover and a parent of two children, I know the value of the relationship between this special child and his dogs," Wossidlo said, "I got involved because he cannot be without them." Wossidlo is taking the Pittsburgh to Sharon, PA, leg of the relay, where she'll hand the dogs over to Webster.

"Volunteers are still needed," said Waeltermann, "we need someone to take the dogs from Indiana to Missouri, and from Missouri to Oklahoma." If no volunteers are found, Jenny Webster will complete the drive from Sharon, PA, to Oklahoma. The last leg of the journey from Oklahoma to Phoenix is being conducted by Jenn Engle of Albuquerque, NM.

The drive will take place this Friday, 29 July, and AutismLink is hoping to find more volunteers and more financial resources to make this trip a reality. To volunteer as a driver, contact info@autismlink.com or jwebs94@adelphia.net. To donate funds for the journey, visit http://www.autismlink.com/

Cool

Social Change Organizers of Color Invited to Apply for Alston/Bannerman
Fellowship

Deadline: December 1, 2005

The Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program is committed to advancing
progressive social change by helping to sustain long-time activists of
color. The program is designed to give these activists the financial
support and freedom to "take a break and recharge."

Each year, ten organizers of color working for social change on a broad
range of issues are awarded the Alston/Bannerman Fellowship. Fellows
receive $15,000 to take sabbaticals of three months or more. Previous
fellows have worked on issues from environmental justice to fair wages,
from immigrant rights to native sovereignty, from political empowerment
to economic revitalization. Fellows have the freedom to use their
sabbaticals however they think will best re-energize them for the work
ahead.

To qualify for an Alston/Bannerman Fellowship, an applicant must be a
person of color; have more than ten years of community organizing
experience; be committed to continuing to work for social change; and
live in the United States or its territories. Both individuals for whom
organizing is a full-time job and those for whom it is voluntary work
done outside of their employment are eligible to apply.

Visit the program's Web site for complete fellowship guidelines,
application materials, and information on previous recipients.

RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/2820/alston