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  Vol 3 • No 11, March 16th, 2008 
Ten More Recent Members of the 3000 Club:
550. rmoreno408, San Jose CA
549. Vern, Fontana CA
548. Pat, Fontana CA
547. PK and Co, Garland TX
546. Mike Lagrou, Waltham MA
545. Baby Snooks, Moreno Valley CA
544. bwelchjackson, lincoln CA
543. ji2bear, El Cajon CA
542. Cinderella, Modesto CA
541. Lyra, Vista CA
 
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From Flickr - another filler photo
San Diego Ferrets Anonymous Meeting & Party
When: March 22nd, 2008
Where: La Mesa, CA
Time: Noon 'til 5 p.m. 

The San Diego Chapter of FA will have our meeting Sat March 22nd from noon until 5.  Sorry  no ferrets - but we do have killer mango margaritas.  BBQ Chicken will be provided along with the sides.  Anyone care to bring a dessert or special dish?

FA presidential hopeful Lance M will be on hand. The state Ferrets Anonymous Round Up is one week later in Northern California. We hope Lance will get elected and FA will be re-energized and we can all work as one team. 
 
The San Diego Ferrets Anonymous needs some help.  Who wants to be treasurer?  We need help with the books.  How about an Events Coordinator?  We are past due for a health clinic.
 
Come meet your fellow ferret enthusiasts and discuss how we can work together to make ferret legalization a reality. Call or email with your secret password for the location. Pat@ferretsanon.com or 619-303-0645. 
Ferrets as Baby Killers? - We've Got Great Reading For You!
 
I went ahead and had two documents I've wanted to put on the website scanned so I can share them with everyone. It cost $75 but was well worth the expense.
 
From the California Department of Health Services, 1988 - Read it and weep/laugh.
 
Ironically, our "Brain Team" was trying to figure out how to get this more recent DFG study complete with Apendix B - I found it on my desk.  Never saw it before in my life but there it was.1996 - 1997 NATIONWIDE FERRET SURVEY OF STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES
 
Check out the other documents at http://ferretsanon.com/notabledocuments.htm and you will be an expert on the ferret issue.
EIR Update
 
I was recently told not to call it an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) because we have decided to see if the Governor will accept the initial study before we file an EIR.  Last week, I said I disagreed with that strategy.  Two interesting emails came in with opposing views, and here are their thoughts: 
  
 One Opinion

Another Opinion

The purpose of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) is to inform decision makers and the public about any potential environmental impacts that may occur from a proposed project, and all documents that are prepared are part of CEQA, not in addition to. 

 

Whether an Initial Study (IS) that results in a Negative Declaration, or an MND or an EIR, they are all prepared in compliance with CEQA.  And the first thing that CEQA asks is - is this a project that requires environmental analysis?
 

There are certain things that are automatically considered exempt - either categorically or legislatively.

http://ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/flowchart/exemptions/

Many of these exemptions are purely political, for instance - there is a statutory exemption that says if you want to have the Olympics in CA you can, even though clearly that would cause a significant use of local resources and require an increase in public services.

 

Our situation is unique because our "project" is that we want to introduce a non-native species to CA.  I find it interesting that the only native species of ferrets living in the US are an Endangered Species.  (Black Footed Ferrets) Doesn't sound like ferrets in the wild are a big threat.  And we already have the ferret cousins living here, the Ermine, the weasel and the mink, but I can tell you that I have only seen a weasel once in my lifetime of hiking and being outdoors.
As a wildlife biologist, I'm more than familiar with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the resulting environmental documentation (in this case an EIR) that is required to analyze the potential impacts of a proposed action (the action in this case=legalizing ferrets). I'm curious as to which company you have contracted with to prepare the EIR. If they are not intimately knowledgeable with CEQA, and do not follow procedure to the letter of the law, the EIR will fail. You are on the right track though...CDFG at this point will accept nothing less than the EIR. The up-side of this is that the EIR will have to go out for Public review before CDFG makes a decision and, you can appeal their decision if it's not in your favor.
 

I needed a filler photo -
this seems to work!
We don't have to worry about
the infamous, ferret-hating Rudy anymore!
 
Humboldt State Student Really Wants a Local Ferret Club
 
Hello, Mr. Wright!

 

My name is Mallory Voyk, I'm a Humboldt State University student  in Arcata, CA. I wrote an email to you about 6 months ago regarding a ferret rally here on campus. You even published it for me in the CLIFFnotes that week, which I though was great!
 

However, no one ever contacted me about it. I am still very interested in doing some sort of public event on my campus regarding ferrets, and am trying to do that as well as put a ferret club on campus together for this fall semester. I've written to Assemblywoman Patty Berg about the issue. I have had 3 letters-to-the-editor published in local papers, (Here is a link to one of them) as well as one in our school's newspaper. Many people had read these and gotten back to me, and many people are interested in learning more. I've printed a self-made pamphlet  and posted it around campus, and I'm trying to get people involved on myspace with my new group http://groups.myspace.com/ferretadvocates

 

but I'm running out of meaningful ways to get in touch with people in my area on the subject. Is there a ferret group/association around Eureka (or in Humboldt County) that I can get in touch with? Do you have some advice and better ideas for me to try out? I'm trying to go all out and help as much as I can, but I'm limited to just me as far as resources and people power goes.  I know there are plenty of ferret owners in town, but I have no way of contacting any thus far.

 

Any feedback from you would be helpful and appreciated!

 

Thank you!

Mallory Voyk
 
Hi Mallory,
 
Since you used your name in the newspaper I thought it was safe to do it here and answer your question.  Other people have asked the same thing so I'd like to share my thoughts.
 
It is really tough to get ferret people interested in meetings if people can't bring their ferrets.  No one seems to want to spend the time just talking, they want to play with ferrets.  We used to have very well attended meetings with ferrets but it is too risky for the ferrets.
 
But here is what you can do -
 
Put an Ad in Craiglist, Backpage and wherever else you can.  It is free and the response is pretty good.  Here's an example, thought they do get flagged and deleted, they are easy to put back up. I will send you the names and email addresses of anyone who signs up.
 
Who is the leading ferret vet in Humboldt County?  Ask them about doing a health clinic with discounted exams, distemper and rabies vaccines (though is wants to give them at the same time, find another vet!).
 
Put an information table outside Petco or Petsmart.  Ask permission, if they say no, mention "Robbins vs Pruneyard Shopping Center" and they should say yes (court case on public access for shopping centers).  This is a good activity for people who want to get active.  We can send anyone who signs up this newsletter every week.
 
Your letters to the editor is a great way to reach people - great work!
 
Anyone else have other ideas to pass on?
 
 
New Ferret Club in Riverside County
 
I was surprised to learn there is a ferret club in Riverside County.  The OC folks are at it again, helping to set up FA Chapters.... 
Check out their website at www.rcferrets.com and if you live in Riverside County - please step up and offer to get involved.
Jan Goldsmith Back in Politics
 
Jan Goldsmith was the first legislator to intoduce a ferret legalization bill back in 1993.  After being term limited out of office he became a Superior Court judge.  He is now a candidate for San Diego City Attorney  - and probably the leading candidate as the San Diego Repubican establishment is behind his bid.  Here is what the Sacramento Bee said about his campaign: 

The Sacramento BeeCapitolAlert

March 11, 2008

PM Alert: 'As dead as that thing on his head'

In case you missed it: Jan Goldsmith, Republican assemblyman from rural San Diego County, is returning to politics as a candidate for San Diego city attorney, challenging the highly controversial incumbent, Mike Aguirre. Goldsmith, who was best known for carrying unsuccessful legislation to legalize ferrets, showed up one day wearing an ill-fitting toupee. Willie Brown, the long-serving speaker of the Assembly, commented about the ferret bill's chances of passage. He pointed to Goldsmith on the other side of the Assembly chambers and quipped: "That bill is as dead as that thing on his head."

The toupee wasn't bad.  The comments are more a reflection on the arrogance of then-speaker Willie Brown.

Adoption List Growing
 
For some reason it seems everyone wants a ferret.  In San Diego I do keep a list of people, but as the calls came in I signed people up for CLIFFNotes and said I'd report on a Yahoo group to match up Californians who want a ferret with those trying to find homes.  Now - does anyone know about that group so I can post about it next week?
 
Or you can go out of state.  We keep a list at http://ferretsanon.com/wheretobuyferrets.htm  Does anyone have an update?  Anyone had trouble crossing into California with a ferret?
In Conclusion...
 
Lots of good things happening and everyone seems on the same page.  I am looking forward to Lance becoming the next president of FA and new energy in the organization.  I am not going to the FA Roundup - this will be the first one I've ever missed.  I just don't have the funds, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this year - we'll be able to make some positive impact.
 
Pat Wright
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org
(619) 303-0645		 Lance M. - OCFerrets
Website: http://www.ocferrets.org
Email: Info@ocferrets.org
(949) 241-1189
 
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