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Capwiz·XC: Getting the Word Out Quickly and Easily!
With limited time and staff resources, Big Cat Rescue uses email alerts to more effectively gain support for its mission.
Organization: Big Cat Rescue
Web site: www.BigCatRescue.org
Favorite Capwiz·XC tool: Email Alerts
Carole Baskin first noticed the cruel and abusive treatment of lions and other “big cats” at county fairs when she saw them being locked up in cages much too small for their size. She voiced her concerns about this type of animal abuse to an official with the Florida State Fairgrounds. Unfortunately, the official didn’t share her passion regarding the inhumane treatment of these animals. Baskin refused to give up trying to save these animals. Instead, she founded Big Cat Rescue, an organization devoted to providing the best permanent home possible for abused, abandoned and retired cats. The sanctuary, located on a 45 acre site, provides the big cats shelter in a very natural habitat and allows them to receive the best nutritional and medical care possible, as well as much-needed conditioning and enrichment programs.
The broader mission of the sanctuary is to reduce the number of cats that suffer the fate of abandonment and/or abuse, and to encourage preservation of habitat and wildlife. Given the limited number of accredited sanctuaries who can properly care for the cats, and the thousands of big cats not being kept in optimal conditions, Big Cat Rescue faces a large educational and legislative challenge for the foreseeable future.
From Painstaking to Painless With a Mouse Click
Originally, to get her message out to the general public, Baskin painstakingly emailed individuals through Outlook. This was extremely time-consuming, especially since she had no way to easily identify or contact potential supporters, or to build an interactive database for future efforts. In order to enlist broader support for her cause, and to advocate for her issue in a more efficient and timely manner, Baskin started using Capwiz·XC in December of 2004. After collecting the email addresses of people who expressed an interest in her cause, Baskin found that the email alert feature in Capwiz·XC allowed her to quickly create and send out messages asking for her supporters to take action, as well as provide them with a variety of talking points that could be included with any email and postal mail being sent to the designated official. She has greatly increased visibility for her cause.
“Capwiz·XC is the best investment you can make in furthering your mission,” declares Baskin. “We spend far less time on the logistics of getting our message out, and have some great successes to show for our efforts. This in turn allows us to focus more on fundraising and animal care – keeping us squarely on track with our goals.”
Small Organizations Can Achieve Big Results
Below is one of the email alerts Baskin has sent to her supporters using Capwiz·XC:
Ban Exhibition of Big Cats At State Fairgrounds
Help stop the suffering, abuse & confinement
On October 1 the Fair is hosting an Exotic Pet Show. Ask the State Commissioner of Agriculture and the Florida State Fairgrounds to ban the display of big, dangerous carnivores at the State Fairgrounds. It is abusive to the animals and dangerous to the public. Exotic animals don't make good pets. Property funded by YOUR tax dollars should not promote such irresponsible behavior. You can put a stop to this outrageous practice by being a voice for the animals. With just a few mouse clicks on our easy to send form you can help stop the suffering. Please Take Action today!
Thanks to Baskin and Big Cat Rescue, the Florida State Fairgrounds received 511 emails from citizens letting them know their disapproval of the abuse of animals in the cages. They must have received the message loud and clear, because when Baskin again contacted them, they said that the State Fairgrounds would no longer allow big cats to be exhibited in that manner; to date they have kept their word. While the Florida State Fairgrounds will not make a formal statement against displaying big cats in small cages, Baskin and Big Cat Rescue are happy to have them doing the right thing.
Baskin Concludes: “The success of this campaign is a perfect example of how even small organizations can have a big impact. Big Cat Rescue will be using similar campaigns across the country whenever we hear about other fairgrounds allowing public display of cats in abusive and inhumane conditions.”
About Capwiz·XC
Why choose Capwiz·XC? Quite simply, we offer the most comprehensive and easy-to-use service on the market! Utilized by more than 1,500 associations, corporations, coalitions, and nonprofits across the political spectrum, Capwiz·XC gives your organization the power to inform, engage, and activate your members and supporters. Designed with the non-technical person in mind, installation on your Web site is quick and easy. Thousands of pages of political information are seamlessly integrated into the existing information on your site; you then customize the content so that your site accurately reflects your organization’s legislative agenda. A user-friendly, password-protected Site Control Center allows your organization’s administrator to easily add and change content as needed, as well as control access to Capwiz·XC’s many features. You’ll have at your fingertips a range of online advocacy tools, from creating campaigns to influence key elected officials to tracking your membership involvement. Maximize the impact of your GR advocacy efforts – add Capwiz·XC to your organization’s Web site today!
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