Deciphering Both Sides of Sexism

“Sexism Hurts Us All”, an article written by Ira Horowitz, discusses how sexism hurts men as well as women and how by reversing the conditioning of sexism and unlearning the teachings that young men are taught from the beginning, it can help men to be able to feel comfortable expressing their emotions and creating close relationships with other men and women. The audience is clearly targeted towards men, but I think it is also targeted towards women so that they have a better understanding of what gender roles men are subjected to. Women are starting to come out of the gender roles, and starting to stand against the gender stereotypes, but men haven’t done so just yet.

For Dr. Horowitz argument that men will benefit from unlearning the conditioning of gender roles is beyond helpful for the future. Women have benefited so much from this situation of learning to step out of their gender roles and have been able to develop relationships with women and men greater than what they had before. Though the argument is sound, and I find it insightful, there are few sources that can back up his point, more studies might have been more helpful, and there are logical follicles and cognitive biases that can be noted through the paper. Although extremely effective, the article could have used a few extra things to help push it further to make it a great article the main thing being more studies from other countries that can help to support his point.

Throughout this article, Horowitz mentions a study that he uses as an example to explain theories he has on what can help men with gender roles, describing them through the activities that were done in the study. Such study is, “Integrating the Other Half: Gender Training for Men”, which was conducted in South Africa, co-sponsored by Gender Education and Training Network. This workshop was held in Durban in South Africa, Horowitz sponsored this study himself along with others and wrote the first rough draft of this. Horowitz knows this study inside and out, which I think both helps and hurts his case since he is so involved in the study. It hits every one of his points that he makes in the article of how men are oppressed and the different ways that can help them move past this to have a better life and better relationships. This study is a great source to have and helps to further his argument as Horowitz continues to discuss how the activities that are performed in the study will help men now and boys growing in the future.

Dr. Horowitz has sources in this article that are very credible. Source one was the study done in South Africa, “Integrating the Other Half: Gender Training for Men”. This study was held in 1996 from November 13^th to the 15^thh at the Beach Hotel In Durban (Horowitz). There were fifteen male participants that came from five different provinces with three from COSATU, one from NUMSA and three who work for a provincial government, one a lecturer and one a residence counselor at a University and the rest from NGOs (Horowitz). Another credible source is “Learning to Kill? Masculinity, the Family and Violence in Natal” Journal of Southern African Studies by Catherine Campbell, and it supports Horowitz’s argument (Horowitz). This article discusses how gender roles connect to men’s destructive behavior and how it’s caused by when men have failed to live up to their expectations, this is discussed as a reference to the activities the men partake in. And although these are great sources and do a great job of tying the article together, I felt that he could have deciphered into other studies that have been conducted in other countries to help diverse the article. Some could argue that these studies might just apply to men in South Africa, since there is a culture difference, though that is something that Dr. Horowitz mentions in a different way and discounts for this, stating that the only difference between the two is the cultural differences. While I understand why Horowitz focused on mainly this study so that he could discuss his points that line up with the activates that the men went through in the study to meet up with what he had to say, I do think it would have helped to have other sources backing him up in the matter. Overall, Horowitz’s sources are credible considering the sources come from a scholar journal, but it would have helped his argument if he had more.

In the article, Horowitz does a great job using evidence and verifies that evidence through his examples, the only fault he has when he does this is he doesn’t bring enough evidence to the table with his examples. He gives us his theory, “I believe that neither role is freely chosen, and because both are learned, they can be unlearned” after he discusses how men and women are placed into these gender roles. With evidence, Horowitz uses the study done in South Africa to help explain how this can be possible, with the activities that the men did demonstrate their own oppression for their gender. By using this example to explain his theory it helps to focus on the main point throughout the article and to follow how the activities in the study can help men. His example is relevant towards the subject matter of how sexism hurts us all clearly because it discusses the oppression and pain that sexism causes on both sexes. This is accurate information because these studies have been performed around the world giving exact same feedback, according to Horowitz, just different variations of stories based on the cultural environment that those studies had been set in like the one he conducts in South Africa. What makes the context of this piece relevant is that these problems for men are universal; they are not just stressed towards men in South Africa. He uses this example to make a point, though the cultural context will obviously be different from those who are from different countries.

Although there are many ways that Horowitz has great evidence to back him up there are some cognitive biases that can be noted if one was really looking for them. One of those would be hindsight bias. Hindsight bias is once a decision is made, people often come to think it was inevitable (Pullman). By using the studies as an example, people might come to see every masculine course of action as inevitable because of the stereotype that men use physical force when they feel their masculinity is being threatened. People will see these actions only as a cause of pride and shame, not because they are violent. It is seen as he feels out of control and feels the loss of authority and can cause discredit towards men. Anchoring is another form of cognitive bias that can be used against Horowitz theory that he states in the article. Anchoring is fixing quickly or even unconsciously on a single interpretation or explanation or expectation, anchoring will expedite decision making, but the quick decision isn’t always the best answer (Pullman). By this one can find that, yes, sexism hurts us all, but in the article, there is not counter argument that makes his argument plausible. He anchors on to only one interpretation of the outcome. Giving a counterargument to his theory may help to credit him, and so that he isn’t avoiding the counterargument because it goes against his theory too much. By having a counterargument it gives the readers a thought of how he is not

In this article, there can be logical fallacies noted throughout the piece as well that can hurt the piece and make it discreditable. Generalization is the major one that can be found in here. Generalization is saying that all members of a group exhibit the characteristics of many or even of only some (Pullman). Obviously, we can make note that the group being generalized in the article is men, and by only having the studies show from South Africa, we can make note that Horowitz is generalizing that men all over the world can relate to what is happening in South Africa. Even though there is a lot of information to back up that this is true, Horowitz does not show this in his article with sources, but only with his word against others. This can lead into the logical fallacy of incomplete. Incomplete is leaving out information or including information you want people to see, also known as cherry-picking the evidence (Pullman). Horowitz may have found a study done in the U.S. or from the U.K. and didn’t like the information and shielded it from his audience by showing us a study that he felt was relevant to his theory alone. By having other studies, he could have avoided the suspicion of incomplete information given to the readers. The common practice could be another that is used against the article to discredit it. Common practice is saying something is the right thing to do because it is the thing most commonly done (Pullman). This could be demonstrated again in the studies that were reviewed in the article. What if some of the men that were in the study just followed what everyone else was saying to not seem different from everyone else? Maybe having another study that performed a different tactic, but still held the similar matter study would have done a good comparison to the article itself, but maybe there are no articles to back this up. But by mentioning different ways they could have updated the study to do different tactics would have helped.

Looking at it now it all seems so simple to divulge from this article that stopping the conditioning of men and women to fit in the gender roles society has set out, relationships between men and women won’t have to be forced or become a sexual encounter. Horowitz created a great article, with evidence that proves his point that men should unlearn their gender roles so that they can have a healthy relationship with themselves and others. “Therefore, for me and other men, it is only when we can support each other on the type of journey begun by the men at the workshop in Durban that we like our female counterparts will be able to become the true human beings we were meant to be” (Horowitz). But with a few changes from evidence and examples; logical fallacies and cognitive bias, I feel this would have been a stronger article to help Horowitz make his theory stronger. As we know all too well, these mistakes can be easily made by anyone, but these are notes that can hurt one’s work in the end, and discredit them from their point trying to be made. By adding in a few more examples of studies from other places in the world, and using counterarguments to engage the readers this article will be set. 

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Works Cited

Horowitz, Ira. “Sexism Hurts Us All.” Agenda (1997).

Pullman, George. Persuasion: History, Theory, Practice. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company Inc., n.d.

Invasion Stories

https://invasionstories.wordpress.com

Here is the website link to our project. We altogether completed a podcast discussing our views of what we had coming into the project and then our current views on what the project means to us. These are the articles that I contributed to the project:

Starship Troopers

Published in 1959 and set in the far off future when intergalactic space flight and warfare are commonplace, Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers is presented as the highly selective reminiscences of Juan Rico who, right out of high school and over his father’s protests, gives up a sure fast track to the top in business to join the elite Mobile Infantry. He survives boot camp, rises rapidly through the enlisted ranks through heavy attrition, is culled off for Officer Training School, and survives his first experience as a platoon commander.

Rico tells of barely surviving the difficulties and frustrations of boot camp, almost unbelievably surviving the first taste of combat in which over half his comrades perish, and joining one of the Mobile Army’s most elite units as a corporal, having been promoted rather quickly. Humankind, which has colonized the Solar System and expanded to galaxies beyond, has fought with rival colonizing races ant-like “Bugs.” Two-year enlistments become open-ended. Human civilization in Rico’s day represents a cleansing and evolution of naïve, overly humanistic 20th-century Western societies. Without explanation, Rico heads off to OCS, where the curriculum provides opportunities to contemplate, in greater detail, the development of the political and military institutions of Rico’s day. Rico is sent as a temporary third lieutenant on a prentice cruise that will determine whether he receives a permanent commission, is returned to the rank of buck sergeant, or is cashiered out of the Mobile Infantry completely.

First aboard a transport ship en route to a crucial battle with the Bugs and then in nominal command of a platoon on the ground, Rico obsesses about his own greenness, the way his Captain tries to help him figure out how to grow into a true leader. Eventually, though, the Captain quietly colludes with the experienced Platoon Sergeant he assigns to Rico, to leave him with little more than a figurehead role. Rico does his best in a harried situation as Bugs suddenly pour out of their underground nest and half of Rico’s men disappear underground without authorization.

Leading a rescue mission, Rico is wounded in an ignoble accident and evacuated to a hospital transport, where he has time to contemplate his shortcomings as a commander. He appears genuinely surprised when he does not wash out of OCS, but graduates and is commissioned. Rico happily returns to his old unit. The novel ends with a short flash-forward to the future showing Rico as a mature officer passing on to an anxious, green apprentice some of the wisdom he has absorbed from his many valued mentors.

So much goes on in this novel; it can be overwhelming how much goes on for Rico. Heinlein wrote Starship Troopers for his views on the U.S. nuclear testing program. He had been attacked several times from both sides of the parties on his views and wanted to use this novel to share his political and military views. Readers can clearly see this through the novel as you read along with this knowledge.

Large portions of the book take place inside classrooms, while Rico and other characters engage in debates with their History and Moral Philosophy teachers. They are often thought to be speaking in Heinlein’s voice, which in this case makes complete sense since he wanted his political views to be shown throughout the novel. The overall theme of the book is that social responsibility requires being prepared to make the individual sacrifice. The novel is also regarded as a way for Heinlein’s anti-communist views to be known, best summed by Rico’s belief that “correct morals arise from knowing what man is- not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be.”

Discussing the military aspect of how Heinlein discusses his views, we learn that when Heinlein was writing the novel the Korean War had ended only five years later. The book refers to the war such as that “no Department of Defense ever won a war.” He also refers to the American prisoners of war taken in while also mentioning the accusations of Communist brainwashing. There is also the mentioning during when Rico’s History and Moral Philosophy class at Officer Candidate School have a discussion of the moral to never leave a single man behind, even if it risks another war. This is in reference to the suspicions that the Chinese and North Koreans were still holding a number of Americans even after the war.

Some of these views were very popular during this time period after the Korean War. There were also many who didn’t share the same view. Heinlein through Starship Troopers makes critical views on the military and political issues. This novel goes into depth of not just the cultural fears of the world but also the suspicions that the citizens have always had when it comes to war.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

 The Day the Earth Stood Still, a sci-fi film directed in 1951, adapted from Harry Bates Farewell to The Master, was a major motion picture for the time period it was brought into. The story line goes on as Klaatu, our main character, and his robot Gort, come to earth, landing in Washington to give the humans a message, a warning so to speak and throughout the film Klaatu keeps us in the dark from what that message is, but we are lead to believe that they are deathly consequences.

In the first few minutes of meeting our aliens, the U.S. army shoots Klaatu when he is reaching for a gift for the President that looks like a weapon but really is to allow him to travel between worlds. As we continue, we are lead through crazy events where Klaatu goes into hiding as Mr. Carpenter, he meets a few characters along the way-Helen, Bobby, and Dr. Barnhardt-, to prove his power all electricity stops, he gets shot at once more than dies, the famous words “Klaatu Barada Nikto” were said by our leading lady Helen and we’re brought to when Gort brings him back to life. This is when we are given the message that Klaatu has for earth after he is brought back to life, but I won’t give that away just yet.

This movie has been compared to the Cold and Korean Wars that was going on around this time. The time period does stand for this comparison in the 1950’s, and the parallels are noticeable in the film, showing many vibes of anti-military, and the bad decisions that they military is clearly making throughout the film when it comes to Klaatu and Gort.

Many have made note of the comparisons in the movie of Klaatu to Christ. There are many signs to point this out. These aliens come down from the sky (heavens) to give them a message for the earth, and when he is shot he is brought to the military hospital. He escapes the hospital after they say they are holding him captive and lives a secret life in the city and goes by the name of Carpenter (represents Christ?). Klaatu is then introduced to Helen, a widow, who has a son named Bobby. They become good friends and Bobby introduces Klaatu to Helen’s boss Professor Barnhardt, who helps him to figure out how to get the leaders of the world’s attention who won’t come as he has requested to deliver the message to earth. Professor Barnhardt says that they need to be convinced, with a big show.

Klaatu shows his power, the power of his people, by stopping the electricity around the world for fifteen minutes, not including airplanes, hospitals, and any important kind of facilities that could cause fatal death if they were to be shut down. This catches the people’s attention and Professor Barnhardt brings together the scientists, or the disciples, to listen to Klaatu’s message.

As Klaatu and Helen are getting ready to meet these scientists, the U.S. army finally finds him after Helen’s boyfriend tips them off. Before the army attacks and kills Klaatu, he gives Helen a message for Gort if anything shall happen to him, Klaatu Berada Nikto. This message as we learn is meant to stop Gort from destroying mankind if Klaatu is killed. Before Gort can kill Helen, she gives the message to Gort and he carries her into the aircraft and goes to find Klaatu in the prison cell the U.S. army has kept him in, his tombstone perhaps, and dissolves the wall, taking him to the aircraft and proceeds to save Klaatu’s life. There is such an important line in the movie that goes on between Helen and Klaatu that defines the allegory that Gort is the Holy Spirit, or has similar powers to the affect:

“Helen: I - I thought you were... Klaatu: I was. Helen: You mean... he has the power of life and death? Klaatu: No. That power is reserved to the Almighty Spirit. This technique, in some cases, can restore life for a limited period. Helen: But... how long? Klaatu: You mean how long will I live? That no one can tell”.

This scene is such an important part of the movie after Klaatu is brought back to life, it brings us to the obvious conclusion that we have no idea when or for how we will die, and we don’t know how long we have. This brings us to the message that Klaatu leaves for the earth, if the human race plans to take their destructive behavior anywhere outside of earth, the planet will be destroyed. The other planets will not tolerate the childish actions of earth to be brought out into the universe. This shows even further the great power that Klaatu and his people have over earth. Not only his people have this power but Gort’s kind has even greater power over them, having the power to destroying anything or anyone that steps out of line of the peace.

One of the writer’s of the script Edmund North went on to say in an interview how he hid the Christian aspect of the story from the director and producer: “It was my private little joke. I never discussed this angle with Blaustein (producer) or Wise because I didn’t want it expressed. I hoped the Christ comparison would be subliminal.” (Mark Pilkington quotes from Seeing is Believing by Peter Biskind). Which in turn it turns out was no so subtle or unnoticed by all as we continue to discuss the topic over 60 years later.

This story. As you can tell, is so fascinating; with a number of different levels, it can take from war to the Holy Spirit. The writers and directors new what they were doing when it came to putting this on the big screen, and with choosing the right actors and actresses to bring to the movie as well. The cultural fear of being invaded by a greater power is evident in the film as we go through the events that have happened in the Cold War, in comparison to what is occurring in the movie.

The Liberation of Earth

In 1953 a short story was published, among a collection of stories, written by William Tenn called Immodest Proposals and one of the short stories from this book is called The Liberation of Earth. The was written during a very conflicting period in time of history, Tenn has discussed this short story to be based off the Korean War and is noted as a satire with much-placed irony throughout the story as well. To summarize the story, Dendi and Troxxt, two alien races, fighting a war and end up fringing it to Earth for a battlefield, creating their military bases there. Both will occupy earth to “liberate” it and the humans from the opposite alien race, and wreck local life including the very earth a bit until the other party drives them away, starting its own liberation.

This sequence repeats itself several times until there is few humans left and earth is an unfit place even to fight a war – when both alien races move in search of another place to fight. The human race is left a mess; the humans weren’t willing to take charge because that would mean dealing with the alien races fighting on the battleground. This satire is very brilliant and comically placed throughout the book and as the history is told, you are kept interested through it all. A part of the text when he discusses the history, he makes it comical and creates the illusion that the humans are like mice in a way compared to the aliens, “Visualize our ancestors scurrying about their primitive intricacies” (Pg. 174). The initial curiosity and fear that the humans are placed in when the aliens arrive are daunting when thinking of our initial fears of being taken over.

William Tenn discusses in an interview that he had based the short story off of the events that were going on with the Korean War during that time to reflect on how it affected the innocent victims of the war. He keys into the story one of the main things going on in the war, one of the main problems that the American people had with the war, was we had to destroy the homes of the innocent to save the innocent. Which necessarily isn’t true. The innocent were affected by the bigger powers trying to take control as the humans are by Denid and Troxxt, trying to liberate them of the other enemy. This of course was a problem made note of long, long before the Korean War as we can look on past actions of other countries and the past wars as well. Tenn wanted to take a look, not from the powers position but wanted to take the perspective of those being “liberated” during the Korean War and give them a voice.

Creating a Homey Space Furkids

Proposal Submitted to Greg Biffle Foundation

Furkids Animal Shelters and Rescue

2650 Pleasantdale Rd. Suite 8, Doraville, GA 30340

27 May 2016

Our Mission & History

Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelter is the largest operating non-profit, cage-free, and no-kill animal rescue and shelter in the Southeast for rescued cats and dogs. Founder and Executive Director, Samantha Shelton, established it in 2002 after finding a litter of kittens with no shelter that would take them.

Our mission here at Furkids is to help end pet overpopulation in Georgia through sterilization, high-quality adoption and by providing valuable spay/neuter services and pet care education to people in the community.

Furkids has been able to help over fifteen thousand animals in need of a home between the cat shelter in Doraville and the dog shelter in Alpharetta. We have partnered with PETCO, PetSmart, and foster homes to expedite finding the perfect homes for these animals. Each of these animals has the best care given to them from the loving staff and safe environment that they are surrounded by on a daily basis prior to adoption. Now, Furkids wants to do even more as we continue to grow, adding on more cats and dogs into our shelters.

What qualifies us?

In the past, Furkids has done similar projects to the one that we are conducting right now. We have had to fund for dental x-ray equipment this year, surgery equipment, and more. Our focus for applying for grants has been towards medical equipment, so now that we have what we need in that department, we are going to focus on furniture equipment.

Our Community

We, at Furkids, are highly qualified in many aspects and our history shows that. Furkids is the number one rescue and shelter in the state of Georgia. We are the highest no-kill shelter in the state, with 3,000 predicted for this year. Furkids holds an important part in the local community; We rely heavily on the support of the community finically and on the collaborations with fundraising. We rely on volunteers of the community to help in the shelters as well as the thrift stores. We look to the community to support all aspects of our business, and they do with bringing in volunteers and attending big mega adoption events and allowing us to visit the schools, public and private, to educate the kids on the proper care of pets. We are a resource for the people in the community to answer any questions that they have on pet care, and for them to bring any animals that they have found who need care. Others that support us are PetSmart and PETCO, both of switch are places where we manage their adoption programs in twelve of their stores.

 Achievements

2002-2008

In the first year of being open, in 2002, we rescued two hundred and sixteen animals. During the second year, in 2003, Furkids was invited to manage the PetSmart in Smyrna. In 2005, Furkids signs the lease on our current main shelter and begins the build out on the 5,000 square foot facility that will eventually house up to 275 cats on a daily basis.  The shelter allows us to increase the number of cats and kittens we can rescue and provides a colorful, cage-free, one-of-a-kind environment for our cats. Furkids, in 2006, celebrates our grand opening of our shelter and additional adoption centers that are established with PetSmart Midtown and PetSmart Northlake, making those four stores we have collaborated with PetSmart stores. In 2007, Furkids celebrates five years, and Ms. Shelton, Founder, and Executive Director receive a commendation letter from Governor Sonny Perdue congratulating Furkids on our success and important service to the community. We, in 2008, celebrate our 5,000^th adoption, and build an in-house spay/neuter surgical suite and hire a part-time veterinarian. With we partner with our 5^th PetSmart store in the Mall of Georgia and open our FIV House, a stand-alone facility to exclusively house our FIV + cats.

2009-2013

During 2009, we establish a benchmark of caring for 450 cats, as well as many dogs, on a daily basis and begin a partnership with PETCO managing their in-store adoption programs at their Holcomb Bridge and Edgewood locations. Cat’s Meow Marketplace is established during this time – now known as the Furkids Thrift Store, a store we own and operate to generate funds to care for the hundreds of animals we care for. We place approximately 620 cats into loving homes and celebrate our 6,000th adoption in 2010 and earn our 6^th consecutive Best in America Seal of Excellence award, solidifying our rank as a top local community charity by Independent Charities of America. In its November 2010 “Pets!” issue, Atlanta Magazine names us among the leading animal shelters in Georgia. In 2011 we acquired and assumed total responsibility for the management of Small Dog Rescue and Humane Society, founded in 1995 and dedicated to finding loving families for homeless dogs in Georgia. The union of the organizations greatly extends the reach of Furkids, expanding operations to include the rescue, no-kill care, and adoption of both homeless cats and dogs. In 2012, it is our 10^th anniversary. We add on our 10^th adoption center with Buckhead PetSmart while closing the year by adding two PETCO adoption centers in Smyrna and Buckhead making this a total of 12 full-time adoption centers in Georgia. Furkids saved almost 1,600 animals in 2013, our largest number in one year and secured a major matching gift from the Choate family and Choate Construction Company to renovate our thirty-four-year-old dog shelter.

2014-Future Goals

We increased the days our cat and dog shelters were opened to the public in 2014 and saved 2,400 animals and achieved 2,200 adoptions. We also signed the lease for a second thrift store and doubled our size for our cat shelter to accommodate our FIV+ cats adding on a quadrupled surgery suite, work space for staff, a kitten pod room and a special room for Purrkids program cats. And for 2015, we launched a new logo and new website, opened two additional thrift stores, and secured a gift to create a customized software program for animal management. We also rose the funding to purchase additional surgery equipment for our expanded surgery suite, increasing our capacity to serve more animals and contracted with a veterinarian to perform high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter surgeries at our shelter. For our long range vision, we want to create a peaceful, unique destination, carved out of nature, where visitors can walk dogs along a nature trail, play with cats in their indoor/outdoor home, enjoy tranquility in a memorial garden, and all of our animals can experience sunlight and fresh air. Our stand-alone shelter would also include a low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter clinic open to the public.

Purpose of Request

At Furkids, we have many partnerships that help to support us in our quest to care for as many animals as possible such as PETCO and PetSmart. Now, these partnerships help us in the best way that they can, but the one way that hasn’t been able to help us, and one of the reasons why we have requested assistance with purchasing new equipment, is with assisting to take care of the FIV cats. PETCO and PetSmart do not permit FIV+ cats in their shelters, meaning the thirteen centers that we have with them do not allow the sixty-five FIV cats are in our Furkids cat shelter in Doraville, Georgia in four rooms into their shelters. We feel that in the long run, the equipment requested below will help to create the space and lounging room for these sixty-five cats to share with one another.

What’s Our Request?

As Furkids has continued to prosper over the last fourteen years, we have taken in more pets and have created more homes for the animals that have not found a foster home just yet. Unfortunately, the issue that has risen is that the space used to house our cats infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), is lacking the proper equipment to continue to create an effective living space as the numbers rise of FIV cats. In supplying new equipment and furniture for the areas housing the FIV+ cats, we will be ensuring that the cats’ temporary home is as comfortable and spacious as possible, especially since these are the cats that are more difficult to become adopted due to their having FIV.

We have had volunteers to come in and help to create a more spacious and loving environment by building small sleeping areas along the walls, but as the sleeping areas are wearing and tearing, it has come due time for a larger project: to purchase even more suitable furniture for our FIV+ cats.

By the end of this year, we at Furkids plan to have new equipment in our facility for the FIV+ cats. In the future, we hope to be able to purchase more kinds of this equipment for our cats, since we do have currently sixty-five FIV+ cats in our unit. Over the next few years, we plan to create a euphoric playground, not only for our FIV+ cats but for all our pets. We would like them to have… Ultimately, the establishing of this area will allow for a safer space more rescued cats and dogs – this shows we are not looking for just Greg Biffle. I don’t know if this is good to say.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline immunodeficiency virus, nicknamed FIV, is a lentivirus in the same class of virus as the human immunodeficiency virus, nicknamed HIV. FIV, however, is a virus found only in felines that reside in many different tissues causing a weakening of the immune system. FIV lives heavily in the salivary glands allowing for the most common transmission from one cat to the other through deep bites. FIV can only be transmitted from cat-to-cat. The least common forms of transmission include blood-to-blood transmissions, through the utero, and from milk from an infected mother cat.

According to the College of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, the percentage of healthy cats infected with FIV ranges from 1.5 to 3 percent. That percentage increases to 15 percent or more in cats already sick or in high risk of infection.

Our FIV+ Cats’ Area

Financials

 What is Furkids going to do with the funds?

We would like to accommodate the FIV cats with Crijo Pet Products Large Tower. Utilizing this specific cat tower will allow for more roaming room within the areas that the FIV cats reside. It will be used as another scratching post for the cats as well as something the cats can play, rest and lounge open.

The Benefits

This project won’t just help to benefit the FIV+ cats, though that is the main goal of this project, it will also help to create awareness of FIV+ cats. It will bring FIV+ cats to the public’s attention that they are able to be cared for like other cats are, and that they can be around other cats without worry.

Our Organization Benefits

The benefits of your funding our organization will be a great change to the environment around the FIV+ cats. By bringing in the enrichment furniture for the FIV cats it will bring a more beneficial situation for them and will allow Furkids to bring in more cats as there will be a bit more room for them to roam around. Furkids hopes that by asking your foundation for funding, it will help to create a life long relationship and partnership between Greg Biffle Foundation and Furkids, like the relationships that we have created with PETCO and PetSmart.

Your Foundation’s Benefits

The benefits that your foundation will receive from helping our organization with funding will be our helping to fulfill your purpose. The purpose of this grant as you all have stated on your website is to help “nonprofit societies, spay/neuter clinics, and no-kill shelters through the United States”, and that “Grants are rewarded for spay/neuter activities, vet care/medical supplies, pet supplies and operating expenses.” With your kind help, we will also help to fulfill your mission statement of “creat[ing] awareness and serv[ing] as advocates to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motorsports industry.”

Helping our shelter to receive the best possible equipment for our FIV+ cats, Greg Biffle will be able to connect with rescue and no-kill centers and shelters to fulfill your greater purpose: to help the animals without a voice. This will be a partnership that will grow over the years, and help for Greg Biffle Foundation to receive more notice here in Georgia, as one of the number one shelters reaches out to them.

Citations

“College of Veterinary Medicine – Cornell University.” Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2016. <http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_fiv.cfm>.

“Common Cat Diseases.” ASPCA. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2016. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-diseases>.

“FIV in Cats FAQs.” Best Friends Animal Society. N.p., 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 May 2016. <http://bestfriends.org/resources/fiv-cats-faqs>.

Tweet’s For Litte One’s Learning Center

JANUARY- Mentoring Month

1. It’s National Mentor’s Month! Your Challenge is to show an experience of when you mentored! #mentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
2. Who have you helped mentor? Share your story! #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
3. What does mentoring mean to you? Share your thoughts! #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
4. How did National Mentoring start? Tell us what you think! #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
5. When mentoring you learn Patience! How do you show Patience? #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp [Insert Photo of Patience Definition]
6. When mentoring you learn Leadership! Show your Leadership! #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp [Insert Photo of Leadership Definition]
7. When mentoring you learn kindness! Show your kindness! #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp [Insert Photo of Kindness Definition]
8. Where to Mentor? SAVE, Inc. (Shaping A Vision through Empowerment) #MentorLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org12165.jsp

JANUARY 18^TH– 23^RD– No-Name Calling Week

9. We are taking a break from Mentoring Month and talking about No Name-Calling Month! #NoNamesLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
10. Here’s our queston! Why do you think there is a No Name Calling week? Share your thoughts! #NoNamesLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
11. Today we want to know if you have been called names. Share your story through a video we will too! #NoNamesLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
12. For you parents! Here are some tips for No-Name Calling week! http://www.glsen.org/nonamecallingweek/students #NoNamingLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

FEBRUARY- Children’s Dental Month

1. It’s Children’s Dental Month! We want you to share how you take care of your teeth! #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @HealthMPowersU
2. Tips for teeth! Brush your teeth before bedtime & one more time during the day with fluoride toothpaste #TeethLitleOnes #LittleOnesfp
3. Tips for Healthy Teeth: Floss once a day! #TeethLitleOes #LittleOnesfp @farmtopreschool
4. For healthy teeth you need to eat right, so not too many sugary foods and drinks #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @captainplanetfd
5. Another tip is to have regular dentist visits so your teeth are your best! #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
6. Chew, digest, talk, pronounce different sounds & give our face it’s shape is how teeth help us. #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
7. For the Parents! A book for bedtime on healthy teeth!I Brush! My Teeth by Holli Seabury and Frances Brooks #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
8. A book for the parents & kids! ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z by Harriet Ziefert and Liz Murphy! #TeethLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

FEBRUARY 5^TH– NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY

9. It’s National Wear Red Day! Show your support by wearing red on National Wear Red Day for heart diseases #RedDayLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

FEBRUARY 14^th-20^th RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK

10. It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Share your kindness through a video! #KindnessLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
11. Random Acts of Kindness makes a ripple effect and can make everyone’s day! #KindnessLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
12. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” -Mark Twain #KindnessLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
13. “You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.”-Publilius Syrus #KindnessLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

MARCH- American National Nutrition Month

1. It’s American National Nutrition Month! They focus on helping others develop eating habits & activity habits. #ANNLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
2. Eat right! Share how you eat healthily! Show us what you eat to stay healthy! #ANNLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @HealthMPowersU
3. How do you exercise to stay healthy? Show us how you stay healthy with exercise! #ANNLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
4. How to build your kid’s lunch box! whole-grain bread, low-fat/fat-free dairy options & lean meats & proteins #ANNLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
5. For exercise go to the park with your kids! Take them to the soccer field, or play games on wii! #ANNLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

MARCH 6^TH-12^TH NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

6. It’s National Sleep Awareness Week! Sleep one of the most important ingredients to being healthy! #SleepLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
7. Yeah can’t eat an hour before going to bed, it messes with your sleep. And make sure it’s a healthy snack! #SleepLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

MARCH 16^TH Kick Butt Day (Drug Free Day)

8. Yeah can’t eat an hour before going to bed, it messes with your sleep. And make sure it’s a healthy snack! #SleepLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @GaDOEParents

MARCH 21^ST WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

9. It’s World Down Syndrome Day J #WDSDLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @GaDOEParents
10. WDSD date being the 21st of the 3rd month was selected to signify the triplication of the 21st chromosome. #WDSDLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

MARCH 22^ND AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ALERT DAY

11. It’s American Diabetes Association Alert Day. So what is diabetes day? Share your thoughts! #AFAADLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

APRIL- Youth Sports Safety Month

1. It’s Youth Sports Safety Month! During the month we will give out tips on sports safety for kids! #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
2. Bring water to practice & games. Encourage kids to stay hydrated by drinking water before, during & after #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
3. How do you take care of yourself during practice and games? Share here! With #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @GaDOEParents
4. Stretching before practice & games can make a big difference by helping prevent sports-related injuries. #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
5. When off-season its important to exercise! It is recommended that kids get 10 weeks of rest #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
6. Coaches should be certified in first aid & CPR, learn the symptoms of a concussion & help avoid injury #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
7. Before playing organized sports, make sure kids receive a pre-participation physical exam by a doctor. #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
8. Here is a link for our parents to see how others deal with sports injury https://www.safekids.org/blog-free-tags/national-youth-sports-safety-month #SportsLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

APRIL 28^TH – Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

9. It’s Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day! Share pictures of your day with you parents and kids! #TODSTWDLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
10. Are you taking your daughter or son to work today? Share with us! #TODSTWDLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @GaDOEParents

MAY- Family Support Month

1. It’s Family Support Month! We will be sharing different ways for support! FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp @GaDOEParents
2. Family and Friends support is important! Share how you support your family and friends #FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
3. Here are family policy and program supports https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/supporting/support-services/policy/ #FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
4. Here are lovely tips for young parents: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/supporting/support-services/supporting-young-parents/ #FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
5. Who is your family & friend support? Share your story through video! #FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
6. In the modern day world, we all need support! Here is a link: http://www.familysupportamerica.org #FSLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

MAY 2^ND-8^TH National Anxiety and Depression Week

7. This week is National Anxiety & Depression Week, which is a very important week to bring to light! #NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfpi
8. What is depression? Depression is a condition when a person feels discouraged, sad, or hopeless. #NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
9. What is anxiety disorders? It is when people are nervous, irritable, & have problems sleeping & concentrating#NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
10. Depression & anxiety disorders are different. People with depression often experience symptoms like anxiety #NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
11. Here are support groups for anyone with depression or anxiety disorder https://www.adaa.org/finding-help/getting-support #NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp
12. 80% kids w/ a diagnosable anxiety disorder & 60% kids w/ diagnosable depression https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children #NADWLittleOnesfp #LittleOnesfp

The Life of An Editor

This is my Prezi for my Senior Seminar class where I interview a woman named Shannon Pruden and discuss the life of an editor.

https://prezi.com/c2ikmng6pcjh/the-life-of-an-editor/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy