For everything there is a season.  Nothing reminds me of this more than the changes in staff, personnel and volunteers at Liberty Wildlife.  Each one of you who fit into these categories are important to me and to Liberty Wildlife.

For years and years our Hotline has been the first line of defense for our wildlife neighbors in need and for the caring person who is seeking help.  For years, we have had two stalwart people of the many who have made the Hotline work and for them this has become the season to step aside.  While this makes me sad, I recognize that these two have weathered all of the sophistications of changing from just’ plain ole’ answering a phone and returning a call, to the addition of phone lines, transfer calls, Slack, and mapping systems…they slid through the changes which is a testament to them and their flexibility.

But now, they need and deserve a rest.  Our call numbers have shot up exponentially as have our intake numbers…now well over 12,000 and most of those intakes originated with a call to the Hotline. Katie LaPrade started out with a good friend, Faye, and armed with that experience moved in to supervise the Hotline acting as a source of institutional history that we have all benefitted from.

Mary Goodman, on the other hand was a schoolteacher, who as if that weren’t enough shared her love of birds and moved in to help with the hotline…what was that…over 30 years ago?  Wednesday night has been Mary’s slot forever, and I am not sure who is going to be able to take her place.  But, Mary deserves a second retirement, and she is taking it now.

And, then, there is our main side kick, Terry Stevens, who gracefully assumed the role of Operations Director…read man of all trades.  He, too, has decided that a life of seven o’clock five or six days a week needs to take a rest.  He has promised that he isn’t going anywhere, and to those of you who are devotees of this blog, rest assured, he has promised to continue to do This Week at Liberty!  He will also do educational programs, build stuff for us like transport boxes for the educational ambassadors and other things that are needed and only needed spare time to get to.  He will also act as a mentor to those assuming his jobs.

While I am saddened to see these changes, I recognize that for everything and everyone, there is a season and for these three it is the season to change.  Hopefully, none of you will go away, but will continue to enrich Liberty Wildlife, our wildlife friends, and the nature we all depend on.  While we lose staff and volunteers on a regular basis and each one lessens us, these three have given so very much and will be missed so very much.

To all of you loyal readers and supporters, I wish you the best and safest holiday possible.  I look forward to a less challenging new year and seasons for love, happiness and prosperity.  Thank you for all of your support of the mission of Liberty Wildlife.

See you in 2021.