Pat has been a volunteer since September 2003, with her son Mac. She is currently a Resident Bird Care volunteer, a handling trainer, docent and exhibit volunteer. She started with her son Mac as RBC volunteers. He has since moved on to helping out in the gift shop and being a docent volunteer.

I work for the city of Concord. I am the executive assistant for Transit and Fleet Services. I also serve as the secretary of my son's Boy Scout troop, teach Sunday school at my church and serve as a neighborhood liaison for Concord's neighborhood development program.

Mac had to do a service project for his International Baccalaurate program during the 5th grade. His teacher had talked up Carolina Raptor Center (CRC) and how much fun it was to volunteer there. Well, Mac thought CRC had something to do with dinosaurs so he was all for it. I told him that I wasn't going to drive 40 miles for him to do a service project. We ended up going anyways. While we were there, I saw a weathering area presentation on owls by Ann Bowen (a fellow volunteer). She was a very dynamic speaker and talked about how wonderful it was being a volunteer here and I decided to speak to her afterwards about Mac becoming a regular volunteer. Ann told us Mac can't volunteer on his own - that I would have to be with him as part of a junior volunteer team. So I called the volunteer coordinator at that time and set up a time for orientation. I even got a tetanus shot before orientation! Mac and I started cleaning cages and feeding and we just loved it!

Well Mac and I came in to shadow a RBC volunteer to learn the ropes. We walked in and there was Katie Farrell, a 16 year old girl. I am sure she probably felt strange training this woman and her kid. Katie was so smart and did a really great job of training us. We ended up being the nocturnal feeders on Saturday night.

For me it is really a privilege to be a volunteer and an indulgence unlike any other. I enjoy being involved in an organization that works to improve peoples understanding of how they are directly connected to the health of the other living creatures in their environment. I have a much different outlook on how relationships work - between me and other living things. The raptors themselves are fascinating and inspiring. It is very satisfying to be able to work with a wild bird. The friendships I have made have also been very rewarding.

Every person I've talked to that has volunteered here in the past or is a current volunteer has great memories and many that stopped volunteering because of lack of time would love to come back if time allowed. The need is also really great for those that are interested in making others more aware of the co-existence of people and wildlife in this area and how important it is to protect our natural resources.

Go to www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/volunteer.php for more information.

This is the second in our new series of monthly volunteer spotlights. If you would like to see a certain volunteer spotlighted please email lbhavnani@carolinaraptorcenter.org. Check back next month for another glimpse into our dedicated and diverse group of volunteers.

Questions: Contact Louise Bhavnani, Director of Volunteer Services 704/875-6521 x 102
lbhavnani@carolinaraptorcenter.org