Our family has been thinking of ways to help with the disasters the US has experienced. We've done things such as many of you have, like giving blood and helping the Red Cross in other ways. We wanted to make some kind of animal-related donation, and after reading a message posted in our forum, we've come up with a small way we can provide some support, with your help.

As you may know, we just opened a new goat discussion forum. Our goal with the forum is to provide a way for people to share information with one another in an efficient way. The various lists are great for communication, but sometimes it's an overload with the number of messages we receive. Many of them are duplicates (such as this one!) of many multiples to the various groups. Then, many of the questions are asked over and over again as more new people join, and ask the same questions. By having an easily searchable archive of information all in one place, we hope the forum will help provide a ready resource when help is needed. It can help people when looking for some of the information we all see routinely, without having our mailboxes piled full of repeat messages. In addition, it will provide a discussion area for timely topics, whether that be industry-related, or other topics such as the current tragedy.

So how does this apply to raising funds? We pledge to provide $1.00 to the AVMA for every person who signs up at the forum and makes at least one post. This post can be in any area. New subjects can be created, just ask. In addition to monetary support, it will serve to provide valuable information to breeders around the world. Share your knowledge and experience. Find something that you have found helpful in your goat raising efforts, and share it with others. You can post messages or reference resource information on your own sites. You can upload pictures or files to share. Let's come together as a community and show our support of each other by sharing information and contributing to a worthy organization.

"The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMA) equips and prepares emergency teams – such as those in New York – and provides aid to all veterinarians who treat animals injured in natural and man-made disasters. It is a charity that raises and distributes funds in support of disaster relief, animal health studies, veterinary education, and animal care."

For information, GO HERE:

You can also make direct donations, and that information is there as well. Would you like to match this effort with your $1.00? We will be creating a page of information and will try to make it easy for you to contribute easily, and we can make a combined donation on behalf of the goat community. We haven't yet decided how long we will extend this project, but will do our best to make it work as long as we can. As with all of you, we don't have unlimited finances, but it will be our way of giving to an organization who has helped all of us in some direct or indirect way. Let's show our support of the professionals who are there for us and for our animals in time of need.

To sign up for the forum, GO HERE

Please pass on to your goat friends. We'll do our best to provide you with space for a repository for information, but we need your help to make it valuable for others.

Thanks, in advance, for your help,

Linda

Khimaira Luray VA USA