So what? Who cares?

In my Unit 2 piece I think that anyone who owns pets or cares about animals would be concerned about this topic of the Humane Society. the so what? part is something I need to investigate further. maybe if I learned more about how the humane society actually functions I could explain why it is important that they are in need of volunteers and more funding. The volunteering would affect the people involved giving them a sense of fulfillment maybe since they lent a hand in something maybe it could help get some community service hours for school. it would directly affect the Humane society in a positive way seeing how they are in need.

Rural Idaho Town

I think the angle of Holson's piece was to see how the town has been affected by the movie and how the towns people feel about it. I think she was looking for positive or negative responses rather than someone who was neutral or indifferent on the topic. She was seeing how the people of the town participated in the festival and wanted to know more about the events that took place like the look-a-like contest or tater tot eating contest. I must have missed where it says exactly how she conducted her research but i do know that she talked to people because she talks about the woman wearing the GREEN top and says that one interviewee was SMILING as he gave his response so I imagine she spoke to these people in person. She talked to a woman who owned a store so she is a resident she would know how the town has been affected. she also talked to Mr. Critchlow who actually had a role in the movie so he has been affected by becoming a "celebrity." 

The angle she took was that she wanted her essay to place the individual's experiences and/or perspective within a larger historical or social context.  I assume this because she talks to people about how they participate in this social event. 

Maus

In Art Spiegelman's Maus his father's experience in the war is being portrayed. it is considered oral history because what his father has said is being illustrated. His direct words are being recorded and read in the passage. It even shows that he went off topic a few times which is also some evidence that it was his actual words. Art even reminds his father to get back on topic when he says "But lets get back to 1939!" on page 49. On page 46 in Art Spiegelman's Maus the interviewer takes his note pad in order to keep a record of what is being said by his father. this section is related to the Interviewer's Field Notes on the website dohistory.org

Interview Questions

I am going to try to interview Barbara the CEO/CFO of the Humane society.  she would probably be the best person to talk to for this interview. some questions i am going to ask her are:

What do you want to find out? Why the HS is so unorganized and how they plan to improve it, what can be done to help
what is the primary goal of this oral history? to have a better knowledge of the humane society's issues and ways i can help improve them by learning how other issues were resolved.


1. How did you become the CEO?
2. What issue regarding this facility do you feel needs resolving the most?
3. What has been the greatest improvement to this org? How did it get "fixed"?
5. What additions are still in the works for this building?
6. What were some of the deciding factors of the expansion?

Unit 2

 It took us forever to find the place. We made five wrong turns and had to backtrack a few times. How could it be this hard to find an animal shelter? Were they trying to stay hidden so that no sick, malnourished, poor, pitiful, little dog or cat may wander up to the facility and make themselves at home, whatever the reason I was getting frustrated. I was driving behind my mom in my little Nissan Maxima. As I was trying to keep up with her, my white sedan was getting covered in dust by her spinning wheels as they were swinging her tan vehicle around. By the time we pulled off the road into the gravel “driveway” that was the SCHS’ parking lot my mom and I were both relieved and anxious for our meeting to start since we were already late by 30 minutes.

 When my mom told me about a meeting she was attending here at the newly constructed Humane Society, I immediately invited myself. She was invited to this meeting to give her ideas on how to improve the financial and physical aspects to the organization. I was hoping to get more involved to help out the animals like my mom does but instead of taking more dogs into our home and adding to the high headcount of 8, I could help animals find a home of their own. I began forming an idea of what the meeting would be like and what would be discussed. I imagined a building very similar to the vet’s office where I used to work. I envisioned an office with a window for new residents to check in and paperwork getting filled out. I also thought there would be a few waiting rooms much like a doctor’s office. I pictured there to be kennels filled with yapping dogs pleading for someone to initiate them into their families. I figured we would be discussing some volunteering opportunities or brainstorm some fundraising ideas. 

I was instantly thrown off by the appearance of the building and the large plot of land it sat on. My mom made an “hmm” noise as we walked up towards the entrance. I imagine she was not impressed by what she saw or did not see rather.  It didn't have any fencing or boundaries so I had no idea where the property ended. There were tall green and yellow weeds sporadically located throughout the yard. I asked her how long since the building was finished being constructed and she responded “apparently not long enough if they don’t have a fence up.”  When I read Todd Martin’s article Humane Society hoping to open new clinic in spring; will give society chance to help many more animals I see that this is still an ongoing project and there are several phases that have not even began being constructed. “The building is phase one of the humane society’s greater vision for the land. Phase two would incorporate a larger adoption center on the grounds and also add an animal sanctuary, and phase three would put a small barn on the property for horse rescue.” When I look into the long yard I notice where the barn would be placed for the equine rescues. I point this out to my mom and she simply shakes her head as we get near the porch. It looked like we were entering someone’s home. It was small on the outside which made it hard for me to visualize where all the animals would be kept. I noticed there wasn't much landscaping near the front of the building. There was a glass front door that looked much like one you would find on a normal house. The glass door allowed you to see directly in at the 3 dogs inside barking excitedly as new guests approached them. The closer we got the more excited they became.

     When we got inside we gave our introductions, even the dogs introduced themselves by hopping up on two legs as if to hug my mom and I. there was a lean German Sheppard named Fluffy who was getting publicly harassed by Shep, the tiny white stringy-haired terrier mix and then there was Katie, a black Lab. She was extremely friendly and her fur was so soft to the touch that I was a little surprised when I first patted her. I could easily tell she was well groomed from reflection of the overhead lights shining off her dark coat that it looked white at first. We all received a tour of the building and, again, not what I was expecting.

The waiting room was very small filled with only 5 fold out chairs that resembled the ones movie directors lounge in. There were 2 exam rooms, 1 for dogs and 1 for cats no matter how many came in at once, there were separate cages in the cat room and a kennel in the dog room.  There was a spacious sparkling clean operating room with one table for the spays, neuters, dental work and any other surgeries to be performed. Todd Martin’s article also explained how this facility will fit the needs to perform the surgical procedures efficiently. “Zekausky said Dr. Teresa Gregory would continue to perform spay/neuter operations for the humane society, and she hopes to have two more doctors by the time the clinic opens. She said she has already been in touch with one doctor, and has another she’d like to bring on board as well. ‘Dr. Gregory has been able to do about 2,000 animals a year working just one day a week,’ she said. ‘So if we can keep those numbers we’re going over three days a week, we’re really going to be able to help a lot more animals.’” A custom design for this corporation is going to help get them back on track and be able to accommodate more to the company’s needs.  Outside of the OR were many shelves which housed gleaming silver tools which were used in the surgeries. There was also an office where the paperwork was being processed and where this meeting was going to take place. I realized that I haven’t seen any animals but the 3 dogs of the welcoming party so I asked where the animals were. There was a basement where the cats were kept and they told me there were some kennels outside for the dogs.

Online Tour of Humane society

I walk down the unfinished steps that lead me into the basement and I can smell the sawdust from the small piles I am hiding under my feet as I descend down the stairs. It was a walkout basement so there was plenty of natural sunlight with the help of the large glass doors. When I get to the bottom of the steps, I see a bunch of cat kennels, maybe 12 or more each with 2 cats in them. These weren’t kittens they were all full grown cats. As soon as I showed my face, a symphony of “meow’s” and “purrs” flooded my ears. I could hear maybe 20 different noises all at once each coming from a different cat. There were so many cats down there in those cages I couldn’t believe it. There was no organization to the setup of the crates. They were all just placed around the room anywhere they would fit. There was enough space to walk between each cage. As I weaved my way through half of the crates I came to a fenced in room which would have been ideal for some dogs but there were more cats in that section. These cats in this area were free to roam around anywhere within the borders. I noticed that some cats were coming down from the woodwork in the ceiling which wasn’t finished either. They were all racing towards me rubbing up against the enclosure some reaching out to me. I felt like all they wanted was some attention, and so I gave it to them. I pet the ones within reach and tried playing the best I could. I started to smell the dry litter boxes with the perfumed gravel in them. There was a faint scent of urine and feces, perhaps from a combination of the 20 or more litter boxes that were placed down here.

I walk towards the door and notice that outside there are 3 dogs each in its own kennel. I instantly was thrown off by this because each animal was panting quickly. I couldn’t believe they would leave these pets outside in the heat. Did they need water? I looked and saw some silver bowls I am not sure what was in them but I couldn’t imagine the members of the humane society leaving these animals out in the heat all day without water. That wouldn’t be humane at all and would defeat the purpose of this “society” of people. I watch the dogs stand in the heat and look at me with their sad eyes. I can only imagine their thoughts and hopes of cooling off for maybe 5 minutes. I sit and think about this for a few minutes and I become overwhelmed with a feeling of concern. I was so thrown off by the appearance of this place which was not at all like I had imagined.

I join in the meeting and hear that they are discussing ways to improve this facility. I interrupt to ask who tends to the animals to find out that Barbara has to do almost all of the work due to lack of volunteers. Martin confirms this when he wrote “With a new clinic and animal sanctuary in the works, officials at the Shelby County Humane Society determined they could not devote the time needed to continue running the No Kill Mission. Although the society still supports the mission, the time and number of volunteers just weren’t going to be available to continue to support both.”  The wheels begin turning in my head and I feel like I can contribute to this meeting with new fresh ideas to help the animals.

When the meeting is over I get in my car and start it up. The gravel is crunching together beneath my tires and it’s like I’m rocking back and forth on a wave out of the uneven driveway. I notice the sad excuse for a sign which is nothing like a beacon leading you here. It’s small, homemade and cluttered. On it reads “Mary Gaylord McClean Animal Clinic SCHS.” The drive home is smooth and found easily. I thought of everything I had seen, heard, smelled and touched at the SCHS. I am still in a state of shock at the entire experience. My feelings of concern resurface in the drive home and I start brainstorming again.

Annotation 2

Martin, Todd. “Humane Society hoping to open new clinic in spring; Will give society chance to help many more animals." www.sentinelnews.com. January 21, 2010. Web. June 16 2011.

Todd Martin has written every humane society related article in the sentinel news that I have come across. His article pretty much sums up most of the plans for the new facility and how the CEO Barbara Zekausky designed the facility to fit the needs of the humane society and how the new building will allow more surgeries to be performed which in turn will increase adoption rates. The article also explains the desperate need of the construction for the new office to be underway because the older humane society is over populated and cannot fit the needs to perform the surgical procedures efficiently. “Zekausky said Dr. Teresa Gregory would continue to perform spay/neuter operations for the humane society, and she hopes to have two more doctors by the time the clinic opens. She said she has already been in touch with one doctor, and has another she’d like to bring on board as well. ‘Dr. Gregory has been able to do about 2,000 animals a year working just one day a week,’ she said. ‘So if we can keep those numbers we’re going over three days a week, we’re really going to be able to help a lot more animals.’” A custom design for this corporation is going to help get them back on track and be able to accommodate more to the company’s needs.

Annotation 1

Martin, Todd. “EARLIER: No Kill Mission spins off from Humane Society; Group in the process of becoming own charitable organization.”  Sentinel News. January 21, 2010. Web. June 16 2011.

Todd Martin writes the article No Kill Mission spins off from Human society which revealed that the humane society could no longer take actions towards the no kill mission because of the new facility being put together and the time needed for  this project will have to be put towards their own needs. He interviews a Kelly Jedlicki who is the director of the no kill mission for the animal shelter of Shelby County.e He   In this article Jedlicki explains her fear of the no kill mission losing steam as it loses its efforts from the humane society. “With a new clinic and animal sanctuary in the works, officials at the Shelby County Humane Society determined they could not devote the time needed to continue running the No Kill Mission. Although the society still supports the mission, the time and number of volunteers just weren’t going to be available to continue to support both.”  The mission is simply to see that no adoptable animal be euthanized and be given a chance to find a home.  The Humane society cannot participate in many other organizations’ projects because they have their own to worry about. It makes me sad to think that they do not have enough volunteers for their own necessities let alone to help out with related issues.

Negatives

Looking at the humane society from the outside (because it's closed today) I see several negative aspects. I see that there is so much work to be done. The facility is still in construction and there are some unfinished projects that should be taken care of as soon as possible. for example the driveway is simply gravel which makes it hard to drive on. there is no real parking lot so how will they attract more volunteers if they have no where to park their vehicles. the most problematic of the appearance is the dog kennels. they are uncovered in the back yard. I think the dogs which are housed there need some sort of coverage. there are little dog houses but there is no doubt in my mind that staying in them would be way hotter than being outside in the summer time.

integration of my quotes

I will probably have to rearrange my entire piece for my integration of sources. I will most likely add more history in the introduction of my piece an dadd my own relation later along with some quotes. I will probably integrate my sources at the intro as well. giving the history section more relevance.

Staples' essay

"They were tougher than we were, more ruthless," (from Norman Podhoretz "My Negro Problem-And Ours") is a quote that Staples used as evidence in his essay to show that black men get sterotyped often for being a threat to many civilians or as muggers. He Ties this quote into his own text by stating how "black men have a firm place in New York mugging literature" and then explains how Podhoretz discusses growing up in fear of black males. I would have reccommended adding more quotes from this piece into this essay would have supported his statemnets of being sterotyped as a mugger.

Researching ideas

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelby-County-Humane-Society/263075796158?closeTheater=1


I think it would be worth researching the actual animals that live in the humane society. getting history on maybe one specific dog or cat. I just find some of the stories interesting especially the stories about the animals that have been living in the shelter for a long period of time.Many of them went to foster homes and some owners couldn't keep them for whatever reason, I think that would be interesting to investigate further. I want to know how fostering a pet works and how someone becomes qualified to do so. I am also curious as to how the foster owners decide which pet they want to take or if they even get to chose.
I would also like to find out how this nonprofit organization makes money to maintain the facility and feed the animals.
I could also research what the facility plans on doing to improve








helpful links for me

http://www.sentinelnews.com/content/big-opening-new-humane-facility

http://www.sentinelnews.com/search/node/humane%20society

Unit 1

     It took us forever to find the place. We made five wrong turns and had to backtrack a few times. How could it be this hard to find an animal shelter? Were they trying to stay hidden so that no sick, malnourished, poor, pitiful, little dog or cat may wander up to the facility and make themselves at home, whatever the reason I was getting frustrated. I was driving behind my mom in my little Nissan Maxima. As I was trying to keep up with her, my white sedan was getting covered in dust by her spinning wheels as they were swinging her tan vehicle around. By the time we pulled off the road into the gravel “driveway” that was the SCHS’ parking lot my mom and I were both relieved and anxious for our meeting to start since we were already late by 30 minutes.
     When my mom told me about a meeting she was attending here at the Humane Society, I immediately invited myself. I was hoping to get more involved to help out the animals like my mom does but instead of taking more dogs into our home and adding to the high headcount of 8, I could help animals find a home of their own. I began forming an idea of what the meeting would be like and what would be discussed. I imagined a building very similar to the vet’s office where I work. I envisioned an office with a window for new residents to check in and paperwork getting filled out. I also thought there would be a few waiting rooms much like a doctor’s office. I pictured there to be kennels filled with yapping dogs pleading for someone to initiate them into their families. I figured we would be discussing some volunteering opportunities or brainstorm some fundraising ideas. 

     As we walked up to the door I was instantly thrown off by the appearance of the building and the large plot of land it sat on. It didn't have any fencing or boundaries so I had no idea where the property ended. There were tall green and yellow weeds sporadically located throughout the yard. It looked like we were entering someone’s home. It was small on the outside which made it hard for me to visualize where all the animals would be kept. I noticed there wasn't much landscaping near the front of the building and it looked relatively new. There was a glass front door that looked much like one you would find on a normal house. The glass door allowed you to see directly in at the 3 dogs inside barking excitedly as new guests approached them. The closer we got the more excited they became.
     When we got inside we gave our introductions, even the dogs introduced themselves by hopping up on two legs as if to hug my mom and I. there was a lean German Sheppard named Fluffy who was getting publicly harassed by Shep, the tiny white stringy-haired terrier mix and then there was Katie, a black Lab. She was extremely friendly and her fur was so soft to the touch that I was a little surprised when I first patted her. I could easily tell she was well groomed from reflection of the overhead lights shining off her dark coat that it looked white at first. We all received a tour of the building and, again, not what I was expecting. The waiting room was very small filled with only 5 fold out chairs that resembled the ones movie directors lounge in. There were 2 exam rooms, 1 for dogs and 1 for cats no matter how many came in at once, there were separate cages in the cat room and a kennel in the dog room. There was a spacious sparkling clean operating room with one table for the spays, neuters, dental work and any other surgeries to be performed. Outside of the OR were many shelves which housed gleaming silver tools which were used in the surgeries. There was also an office where the paperwork was being processed and where this meeting was going to take place. I realized that I haven’t seen any animals but the 3 dogs of the welcoming party so I asked where the animals were. There was a basement where the cats were kept and they told me there were some kennels outside for the dogs.

     I walk down the unfinished steps that lead me into the basement and I can smell the sawdust from the small piles I am hiding under my feet as I descend down the stairs. It was a walkout basement so there was plenty of natural sunlight with the help of the large glass doors. When I get to the bottom of the steps, I see a bunch of cat kennels, maybe 12 or more each with 2 cats in them. These weren’t kittens they were all full grown cats. As soon as I showed my face, a symphony of “meow’s” and “purrs” flooded my ears. I could hear maybe 20 different noises all at once each coming from a different cat. There were so many cats down there in those cages I couldn’t believe it. There was no organization to the setup of the crates. They were all just placed around the room anywhere they would fit. There was enough space to walk between each cage. As I weaved my way through half of the crates I came to a fenced in room which would have been ideal for some dogs but there were more cats in that section. These cats in this area were free to roam around anywhere within the borders. I noticed that some cats were coming down from the woodwork in the ceiling which wasn’t finished either. They were all racing towards me rubbing up against the enclosure some reaching out to me. I felt like all they wanted was some attention, and so I gave it to them. I pet the ones within reach and tried playing the best I could. I started to smell the dry litter boxes with the perfumed gravel in them. There was a faint scent of urine and feces, perhaps from a combination of the 20 or more litter boxes that were placed down here.
     I walk towards the door and notice that outside there are 3 dogs each in its own kennel. I instantly was thrown off by this because each animal was panting quickly. I couldn’t believe they would leave these pets outside in the heat. Did they need water? I looked and saw some silver bowls I am not sure what was in them but I couldn’t imagine the members of the humane society leaving these animals out in the heat all day without water. That wouldn’t be humane at all and would defeat the purpose of this “society” of people. I watch the dogs stand in the heat and look at me with their sad eyes. I can only imagine their thoughts and hopes of cooling off for maybe 5 minutes. I sit and think about this for a few minutes and I become overwhelmed with a feeling of concern. I was so thrown off by the appearance of this place which was not at all like I had imagined.
     I join in the meeting and hear that they are discussing ways to improve this facility. It is a nonprofit organization and they need a lot of help. The wheels begin turning in my head and I feel like I can contribute to this meeting with new fresh ideas to help the animals.
     When the meeting is over I get in my car and start it up. The gravel is crunching together beneath my tires and it’s like I’m rocking back and forth on a wave out of the uneven driveway. I notice the sad excuse for a sign which is nothing like a beacon leading you here. It’s small, homemade and cluttered. On it reads “Mary Gaylord McClean Animal Clinic SCHS.” The drive home is smooth and found easily. I thought of everything I had seen, heard, smelled and touched at the SCHS. I am still in a state of shock at the entire experience. My feelings of concern resurface in the drive home and I start brainstorming again.

The Stone Horse

I felt particularly drawn to section 3 of "The Stone Horse" which starts on page 505 because of how well Barry Lopez uses descriptive words to put the reader in the same place he is.  The type of descriptive writing he is using is imagery because of the way he describes what he hears. .I feel like I can put myself on the side of the road where he writes his notes.

 "... sounds from a village a half-mile  away. The first sounds from this collection of ramshackle  houses in a grove of cottonwoods were the distracted dawn voices  of dogs. I heard them intermingled with the cries of a rooster.  Later, the high-pitched  voices  of children calling out to each other  came disembodied  through the dry desert  air. Now, a little after seven,  I could  hear  someone practicing  on the trumpet, the same  rough phrases played  over and over. " page 505 section 36

He instantly recreated that moment he was in just by letting you know the things he is hearing. Instead of just saying that he heard noises from a village nearby he says the specific noises he hears, each of them which to me, put me in the exact moment with him. He also says the time in which that moment was so I can get a slight visual of what he is seeing as well.

Cave Experience

My mom moved my two sisters and I here to KY when I was three years old. She was unemployed and we settled in an area that was surrounded by people with low income. I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks I guess you could say. I hung out with what most people in the upper ends of society would call the wrong crowd. However, I loved my friends. We had fun breaking the rules at any given moment, hanging out all hours of the night and good luck trying to make us go to school. That was how I grew up. 

A few things in my life changed when I was about 15 years old. I could no longer live with my mom and moved in with a woman who has been sitting comfortably in the upper end of society her whole life. So by choice I ascended because I wanted to be like her. I left my old values of fun first hard work later behind and became a little more devoted to school and working first and fun later. 

There have been times when I have tried to visit my old friends and they always say I've "changed" or that I am "different" or "weird." Some of my old friends don't even talk to me anymore because we don't really share the same values so we don't really get along anymore. I think some might be jealous, angry and maybe even confused by the new me. They don't understand why I would make a decision to come home early so I can get sleep, they don't understand how I could go to college and sit in class all day by choice. And some may be angry that I am making a life for myself instead of sitting in the cave of low income, screaming infants and bad choices, I grew up, with them. 

My summer breaks I like to spend by the pool or at King's Island. I enjoy doing fun things over the summer which is my cave. This summer by researching and getting involved with this project is going to challenge my mind and serve as an ascension from my normal "cave"-like summers. I will be learning more about something in my community and develop an appreciation for a place I can visit often. 

Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"

What I think Socrates means by quoting Homer "Better to be a poor servant of a poor master, and endure anything  rather than think as they do and live in their manner" is that its better to appreciate the smaller things in life like necessities  instead of an object. I agree with Socrates intended philosophy because you don't need a lot of fancy things to survive in life.

Me

I was born in Redding California and moved here to Louisville Kentucky when I was three. I spent my freshmen year of high school  in Eugene Oregon so I am sort of from the west coast but I am sort of from Kentucky too! I currently live out in Simpsonville which is great because I love being in the country and I get to have some acreage to play on with my dogs and horses. 

My Horse Cheyanne

I am a 21 year old girl who loves animals, being with friends and family and doing spontaneous things. I love saving money that I actually earned on my own, independence is very important to me. I love being comfy and watching movies but I also love getting dressed and going out with friends. Every once in a while I get really "boring" and spend a whole day just sitting around my house reading or cleaning but I also like planning out adventurous things I can do with friends.

2 of my 8 dogs

I took the last spring semester off and I am back in hopes of doing things right this time around. School wasn't very important to me the first few semesters of college but a few things have changed since my last semester here and I see how I should be spending my time. I am hoping to make a decision on a major here soon so I can graduate in less than 5 years, I am considering Sociology or something related. I would have to say that the class i struggle the most with is English so it's safe to say that my writing background is not too strong. 
I am employed at UPS and an animal clinic I was working both jobs combined 40+ hours a week before summer school started so now I am down to about 25 hours a week. Which might not be as great financially but it's nice to have a little break I guess. 


I define a "place" as somewhere that you can go, or somewhere you can spend time. It could also be where something happens. 

Brainstorming

Old Stone Inn
-close to home
-has a lot of history
-great pictures


Barn
-a lot of emotion there
-close to home
-great pictures
-not a lot of history

Humane Society Shelbyville
-Mom can be a source
-a lot of history
-great pictures
-a lot of emotions
-a lot of information to learn for my own benefits