SHELTER SHORTS

October 2010
SHELTER SHORTS is a monthly newsletter intended to keep Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter
volunteers and supporters connected. With everyone’s hectic schedules, we know it is often difficult, if not
impossible to attend monthly meetings or to work at all of our fundraisers.
Everyone is invited to submit articles for the newsletter. To do so, please call Bev at 608-326-2914 or
email her at lilnicki@live.com.
Monthly meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Prairie du Chien City Hall.
Meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. Please use the back door. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The next meeting is Thursday, October 21.
Fundraising Update
Phoneraisers
Please continue to save your old cell phones and ink jet cartridges. Drop them off at Tender Care Animal
Hospital, or bring them to the monthly meeting. Jill will now take over the shipping of the phones and ink
jet cartridges. Julie brought a large box of ink jet cartridges to the October meeting.
Tee Shirts and Sweatshirts
The tee shirts have been picked up. We have 4 colors in 3 sizes to pick from – sand, light blue, yellow and
pink in medium, large and XL. The RABAS logo will be on the front in color. For an additional $15,
individualized pictures or text can be added to the back. Shirts will sell for $14 each with an additional $5
for the personalized pictures or text on the back being donated to RABAS from McGregorville Mall. Tee
shirt purchasers will take their shirts to McGregorville Mall for the personalization on the back.
Dog Obedience Classes
We have 5 classes under our belt. With the wonderful fall weather, we were able to work outside for the
first 4 classes. This past Sunday, we worked on getting our dogs to come to us when they are running at
large or loose in our yards. It is apparent that the people in this class are committed to working with their
dogs. Due to Halloween, we decided not to have class this coming Sunday.
USBones.com
Please continue ordering cat and dog treats from USBones.com. They donate 25% of each order placed to
RABAS.
Dr. Donna Higgins’ Wildlife Photo Gallery
Dr. Donna Higgins continues to support RABAS through her beautiful wildlife prints on display at her
office downtown PdC. The framed and matted prints, sell for $85, of which Donna donates $50 to
RABAS. If you are looking for an attractive addition to your home or office, or a unique gift idea, please
consider a print from Donna Higgins. Donna’s wildlife prints range from humming birds to bald eagles,
deer, egrets and pelicans.
The prints can be viewed on line at our website (www.riversandbluffsanimalshelter.org) or at her office on
Blackhawk Avenue (next to Stark’s). To date, Donna has sold 8 prints, including 2 of the 3 that we took to
the wine tasting. One sold for $85 and the other for $100, with a profit of $115.
Donna’s beautiful and always popular wildlife calendars have returned for 2011. Calendars sell for $5 each
and for each calendar that RABAS sells, Donna donates $2.50 to the shelter. Calendars are available at
Tender Care Animal Hospital and at all upcoming fund raisers.
Halloween Pet/Owner Costume Contest – The Halloween Costume Contest will be held on Sunday,
October 31 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Tractor Supply. There will be 3 types of contests – best pet and their
person costume, best pet costume and best carved pet-o-lantern (pumpkin carved in the shape of a pet or
pet’s face). There are pet stencils online for copying. Tractor Supply employees will vote and Tractor
Supply will award one prize for each contest. People attending the event will have the opportunity to vote
for their favorite entry in each of the 3 contests by placing a monetary donation in a container with the
contestant’s number on it. The contestant in each category whose container has the most money will be
awarded prizes from Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter. Allison offered to donate a decorated cake as a
prize. Bev will make dog biscuits for dog treats as well as prizes. RABAS will donate a RABAS tee shirt
as another prize. Shihata’s Orchard will be contacted by Bev for a donation of apple cider and possibly a
bag of apples for another prize. Stuckey’s produce will let us borrow some corn stocks to add a “fall-like”
atmosphere. If anyone would like to bake dog treats, please let me know. A “trick for treat” contest will be
held prior to the costume contest. If anyone would like to help decorate, please meet at Tractor Supply at
10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The more the merrier. We will use the backroom for the costume parade and games.
If you have Halloween decorations or Halloween music that we can use, please reply to this email if you
need me to pick it up or bring it to Tractor Supply on Sunday at 10:30. We will also have our raffle items
on display as well as raffle tickets for sale at this event. We will not have a bake sale on Sunday, but if
anyone wanted to bake some Halloween cookies or cupcakes for refreshments, they will be graciously
accepted. Entry fees for each contest will be a donation to RABAS. We will not make much money at this
event, so it was decided not to pay for advertising. Gloria from Courier Press donated $15 towards an ad
for this event and Bev donated the rest. She did not want this event to be a “non-event”. Please help
promote this event to your pet friends. Also, consider dressing up your pet for the holiday and participating
in the contest.
McGregor Arts and Craft Fair – Weather for both weekends at McGregor was sunny, with cool temps on
the first weekend and much warmer temps on the 2nd weekend. Lots of traffic at the craft fair. It seemed
that there were lots of lookers at all of the stands, but many kept on walking and not buying. Last year we
sold 100 pounds of cheese curds in one day at McGregor. This year we sold about 50 pounds on each
weekend, with 50 pounds left over. Bird Skemp donated 50 fresh apple turnovers that sold very well. Deb
Cross contributed 15 beaded bracelets which sold for $8 each. We sold 13 of these I believe. Donna
Higgin’s wild life calendars were also popular at McGregor – I believe we sold 37 calendars. For each
calendar we sell, we make $2.50. We had 6 different flavors of Rural Route 1 Popcorn – caramel, cheddar,
White Gold, White Ruby, MudPuddles and Jalapeno. We ordered just one case of Jalapeno, as we did not
know how it would sell. It sold very well, so if we do this next year, we will order more Jalapeno. Thanks
to those who baked as well as those who helped prepare for the craft fair as well as those who worked at the
sale. We made about $1,400.00 at McGregor on both weekends.

Raffle – Thanks to Sandy Kittle for printing the raffle tickets. Raffle prizes are: Anchor Bank: $25 gift
bag, Tractor Supply - $50 gift card, Peoples’ State Bank – 3 piece knife set, Halpin Tire – 1 free oil change,
Bill Batson – wishing well planter, Kemble’s Green House - $20 gift cert that will go with the wishing well
planter. We did not sell tickets at McGregor, but I hope to have them for this Sunday at Tractor Supply. If
you would like any to sell, please contact Julie Whyte at 306-0499. The drawing will take place on
December 19 at TSC, bake sale and gift wrapping. Tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5.

Wake Up Santa is scheduled for Saturday, December 4th. A sign up sheet will be available at the
November meeting – (is it that time already?) This event, much like the PPPP is now our 3rd Annual. And
just like the PPPP, I believe it will come together just as easily. We have pancake mix and syrup left over
from last year. Jill and I will take care of purchasing any necessary supplies and food as well as the
advertising. Randy, Jill and I will take care of advance registrations, ads, posters, etc.
Tractor Supply Gift Wrapping and Bake Sale is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 17, 18,
and 19. A sign up sheet will also be available at the November meeting. After talking to Alexis about a
cookie contest the Lady Luck Casino is sponsoring for food and beverage employees, Bev suggested a
Christmas Cookie Bake Off at the gift wrapping and bake sale. People could drop off samples of their
favorite Christmas treats along with the recipe. A small amount would be charged to enter the contest.
Tractor Supply employees would do a “taste test” (it would be a rough job, but someone has to do it) and a
prize would be awarded to the winner. Allison added that instead of a Cookie Bake Off, we change it to a
Cupcake War. Contestants will decorate a minimum of 6 cupcakes and not more than 12 in a holiday
theme. The public will be invited to vote for their favorite cupcake by making a monetary donation in a
container corresponding to the cupcakes. The winner of the Cupcake War will be the one with the most
money in their container. We will then offer the cupcakes for sale for a donation to RABAS.
Santa Visits will be a go this year. We have one visit booked already and it is not even October!! To date,
I believe this is the only booking we have. But it is still only October, so hopefully Santa will have a busy
holiday season. Santa will be available for hire for Christmas parties at private residences or restaurants,
businesses, nursing homes, etc. For more info, contact the Santa Hotline at 1-262-388-2654 or Mrs. Santa
at 1 – 262-388-2649.
November Fund Raiser – we have decided that we work hard enough during the other 11 months so we
will not have one in December. Enjoy the well deserved and much needed month off.
Princess for the Evening – a tentative date has been picked. Last month we said it would be either April 9
or April 30. But Jill realized that April 9 is the date for the Home and Garden Show. So this leaves April
30 for Princess. Hopefully, Huckleberry’s, Brian Cipra and the DJ will all be available. We do have the
Community Room also reserved for April 30 th in case Huckleberry’s book a wedding for that day. We will
know more in mid January. I have not yet contacted the DJ from last year.
Other Hot Topics
Pounds Off People and Pooches (POPPS) is most likely over for 2010. Tomorrow’s forecast calls for
rain and very high winds. By Tuesday, November 2, we feel it will most likely be too dark to walk at 6
p.m. I hope that we can now replace POPPs with regularly scheduled visits to area nursing homes on
Tuesday evenings.
Property and Building Committee and Board of Directors Meeting will meet on the 2nd Thursday of
each month. Property and Building Committee will meet at 6 p.m. and Board of Directors will follow at 7
p.m. Meetings will take place at the City Hall.
Property/Building Committee is discussing ways to use the planned “event” room to fund the shelter. Had
previously talked about renting it out for banquets, receptions etc. We will use it for our own events –
Wake Up Santa, Princess, etc. At the October meeting, it was brought up that there may not be much of a
market for a banquet facility in an animal shelter. We will try to come up with some pet events that will
bring people to the shelter as well as to the area. Committee hopes to talk to city officials about how this
will impact visitors to the area, increasing business for local motels and restaurants.
Board of Directors meeting – accepted the resignation of Kim Pinkham as a board member. Kim will still
help us with fund raisers when she can. Kim will not be replaced as a board member as it was decided that
we would like an odd number of members to prevent ties in voting. The board also accepted the resignation
of Bev Pozega as treasurer. Jami nominated Jill as treasurer. Jill accepted, no other nominees. Jill and I
will work together on the transition.
Jill will make an excellent treasurer. For the last few months, Jill has been helping Bev immensely with
treasurer jobs. Jill nominated Bev for vice president to replace Donna Heilmann who resigned last month.
Julie Whyte was also nominated at the September meeting by John Ryan for vice president. A close vote
resulted in Bev as the new vice president. Bev will continue to do the monthly Shelter Shorts news letter,
write the thank you notes, take care of advertising and articles for upcoming events, purchase supplies for
fund raisers and continue in an active role in all fund raisers. Congratulations to both Jill and Bev.
RABAS Merchandise – It was suggested at the April meeting that we sell some smaller items with our
logo on. Jami, Julie and Peggy are narrowing these items down and will possibly present them at the
November meeting.
Please take the time to check out our website – riversandbluffsanimalshelter.org. Information on it
changes sometimes daily. This website is awesome!!! Thanks, Randy for constantly updating our website.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs International teams remain active in the community. Kathy and Digger visit Bluff Haven
every Tuesday. Deb and Jasmine visit the Walter Schmitt Home every Tuesday. Paula Gutzmer and
Maggie will “shadow” Kathy and Digger this week at Bluff Haven to learn the ropes of therapy dog visits.
Deb Cross and Jas and Vegas and Nicki and I are in the process of setting up a reading program at
B A Kennedy and Bluffview Schools. Hopefully, Paula will join us. Deb contacted one of the teachers a
few weeks ago, but has not had any response. I contacted another teacher today to see if they would like us
to visit. So hopefully we will hear back from them this week. I hope to contact St. Gabriel’s School also to
see if they would be interested. As mentioned above, I also hope to set up regular group visits to Bluff
Haven and Great River Care Center now that the dog walks are through for the year.
Volunteer hours – Please keep track of your volunteer hours each month and get them to Jill. Volunteer
hours can include any of the following and probably some things that are not mentioned: meetings, baking,
working at fund raisers, hanging posters, phone calls and all the things it takes to make this organization as
great as it is.
RABAS Christmas Party has been set for the regular Thursday RABAS meeting on Dec. 16. It will be
held at Huckleberry’s Restaurant and we will order off the menu. More details will follow as we get a bit
closer to the date.
Gourds as a fund raiser? Deb Cross attended the Cranberry Fest this fall and purchased a dried gourd as
a fall decoration for her house. She suggested that RABAS do something similar to these dried gourd
decorations to sell at McGregor Arts and Crafts Fair. She sent for an order form and catalog. I brought the
catalog to the October meeting. Many of those in attendance thought the gourds were beautiful as well as
unique and that they would be good sellers at McGregor if we don’t overprice them. Deb volunteered to
plant gourds for RABAS to be used for this purpose. She believes that in order for the gourds to dry
properly, they need to be “wintered” – allowed to freeze- before they can be used. So that means if she
plants them this spring, they would winter over in 2011/2012 winter and be ready for decorating and sale
by fall 2012. Deb offered to research the process further. It is hoped that once the gourds are ready for
harvesting, RABAS members will help pick, clean, dry and decorate them. I hope that some of the very
talented and artistic members will help with the decorating. Deb and I hope to meet this week to plan an
order. Deb would like to order gourd seeds from the company she has been gathering information from.
The company does offer wholesale as well as fund raising prices, but it is the policy at McGregor that crafts
must be hand made.

Membership Renewals
Memberships are good for one year from the month the member joined. Jill will send out renewal
applications to those whose membership has expired. Please consider renewing your membership as
memberships are an important part of our income. There are 5 different levels of membership:
$5.00 student; $15 Individual; $25 Family; $50 Sponsor; $100 Patron; $500 Benefactor. Some members
choose to donate a fixed amount every month. Thanks to everyone for your financial support. Watch us
grow!!

RABAS Wish List

Wish List Items include:
Land
Gift certificates to either the Courier Press or WPRE Radio Station to pay for ads for upcoming fund
raisers
postage stamps, paper, envelopes, labels, napkins, paper towels, hand sanitizer, ketchup, mustard. Contact
Bev at 326-2914 or reply to this email if you have any kitchen or paper supplies. If you have information
on land, please contact Jami at 412-0052 or Bev at the above number.

Shelter Spotlight will focus on one member, business or organization each month to recognize that
member/business/organization for their dedication and support of Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter. If you
know someone you would like featured in “Shelter Spotlight”, please let Bev know.
The October Spotlight shines on Jill Cipra. In the years since Jill has joined RABAS and we have become
friends, I have watched Jill emerge from the person who could not even stuff envelopes if we were asking
for any type of donation to someone who now applies for grants, and who can even approach strangers
to ask them if they are interested in purchasing something to raise money for RABAS. She has secured a
number of very nice donations – Green Bay Packer autographed football and a night at a local motel to
name a few for auction items. Jill spends countless hours on the phone talking to other shelters about how
they raised money to purchase land and erect a building, talking to her brother about the correct way to
complete grant applications as well as doing behind the scene work on the many events that we hold. Her
attention to detail is important to adding the finishing touch to all that is involved with successful fund
raisers. Her home-made cookies have a reputation of their own and are usually the first ones to sell out. I
believe that she has baked for every bake sale we have had since she joined RABAS. She is already baking
and freezing for the bake sale in December.
Donations and Memberships
David Fanning – LaCrescent Animal Shelter - $100 – Thank you to Randy Paske for the website David
purchased at the Wine Tasting in LaCrosse this spring. He said Randy went “above and beyond” in
website design.
Cynthia and James Prindle - $100 – Thank you to Bev who gave them a ride to town from Wyalusing State
Park after their motor home broke down in the office parking lot and needed to be towed to Bob’s Towing.
We discovered on the way into town from the park – after my apologizing for white dog hair on the seats-
that we were mutual animal lovers.
Linda Craig - $20 in honor of Paula Gutzmer’s retirement from 3M.
Laura Chamberlain - $25 in honor of Richard Kalkhoff Family birthdays – 4 birthdays in October.
Irma Koonce - $25 Donation
Arvilla Hicks - $40 in honor of Paula Gutzmer’s retirement from 3M

All donations are recognized in the Shelter Shorts and a thank you note is written.
Current and New Members
Allison Roberts and Angelica Dayrit $25 Family Membership
Ron Stark $100 Patron Membership
Betty and Eric Frydenlund $25 Family Membership
Mike & Mary Jane Faas $25 Family Membership
Kristin Helgerson Kriegal $15 Single Membership
Randy and Kathy Paske $25 Family Membership - renewal
Jennifer Clements $50 Sponsor Membership
Janice Hein $15 Single Membership
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Powers $25 Family Membership – renewal
Georgia Hutchinson $15 Single Membership – new
Shirley Wegmuller $15 Single Membership – renewal
Jami & Ken Quick $25 Family Membership – renewal
Donna & Dale Cipra $25 Family Membership – renewal
Marty Leeman $15 Single Membership – renewal
June Burns $15 Single Membership – new
Brian & Jill Cipra $25 Family Membership – renewal
Sharon Boylen - $15 Single Membership – renewql
Lynn Moris $15 Single Membership – renewal
Julie and Mollee White $15 Single Membership; $5 Student Membership - renewal
Olive Burmeister $50 Sponsor – new
Jeff & Christine Panka $25 Family Membership –w
Marilu Bintz $50 Sponsor - new
Linda & Randy Bedward $25 Family Membership – renewal
John & Judy Ryan $25 Family Membership - renewal
Gary & Kathy Koch $50 Sponsor Membership – renewal
Randi Kluesner $25 Family Membership – renewal
Sue Rider $15 Single Membership – renewal
Bonnie Olson $50 Sponsor Membership - renewal
Janet Lueck $15 Single Membership – new
Peggy Johnson $25 Family Membership –
Paula Gutzmer $15 – Single Membership
Jane Howe $15 - Single Membership
Kim Pinkham $15 – Single Membership
Donna Heilmann $15 – Single Membership
Donna Hamm $15 - Single Membership
Deb Cross $25 – Family Membership
Sarah Bartash & Don $25 - Family Membership
Linda Munson $50 – Sponsor Membership -
Lu De Guzman $100 Patron Membership
Vicki Mueller $50 Sponsor Membership -
L LaMarr Kappmeyer $15 Single Membership –
Kelly Fishler $15 Single Membership –
Rosemary Reese $15 Single Membership –
Jeff Lenhart $15 Single Membership
Tractor Supply $25 Family Membership
Hillary Bark $5 Student Membership
Jan Burnhard $15 Single Membership
Candace Miller $15 Single Membership
Debbie Mason $25 Family Membership
Phil & Deb Dwornik $50 Sponsor Membership
Mike and Shelly Rider $25 Family Membership
Bill Hamm $15 Single Membership
Mike and Mary Jane Faas $25 Family Membership –
Allison Roberts/Angelica Tablizo $25 Family Membership
Sharon Boylen $15 Individual Membership
Joe and Susan Van Metre $25 Family Membership
Lisa Parello $15 Family Membership
Alexis Burns Honorary Membership
Ray Wrobel $15 Individual Membership
Reminder: Annual memberships should be renewed 1 year from the month in which you joined.
Continued Monthly Pledges
Don and Eileen Klatt $25 Monthly Pledge
Bev Pozega $25 Monthly Pledge
Sandy Kittle $10 Monthly Pledge
(Paid $60 at August meeting for 6 months) October, November, December, Jan. Feb. March 2011
Thanks to everyone who volunteered this month in any way. Thanks to everyone who supported us
through donations, and memberships. There are many jobs that continue to get done without recognition.
Membership and volunteer listings are current through September 2. If I missed your name, I apologize.
Please let me know and I will include it next month. We appreciate your support.

River and Bluffs Animal Shelter Membership Form

Student - $5.00 ____ Sponsor - $50.00 _____

Individual - $15.00 ____ Patron - $100.00 _____
Family - $25.00 ____ Benefactor - $500.00
I would like to make a monthly pledge of : ________ per month for a total of
$_______ per year.

Name:___________________________________
Address:_________________________________
City/State/Zip_____________________________
Email:____________________________________ Phone Number:______________________

Please mail membership form to: River and Bluffs Animal Shelter
PO Box 421, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821