Letter from the board

Treasurer
Mo Cowan

 

This month, MAAP will be hosting speed networking. What is speed networking? How does it work?

Speed networking is an efficient, face-to-face professional networking model similar to 
“speed dating” that enables participants to make new contacts through one-on-one 
focused conversations lasting around two minutes.

Participants are split into two groups and are seated at tables in pairs facing each other. 
The person sitting across from you is your first partner. You spend no more than two 
minutes with each partner before the buzzer indicates that time is up. One side of the table is told to move one seat over to face the next person. Once the speed part is over, there’s time later for people to reconnect with those they wanted to talk to in more detail. 

We are hosting this event at Jungle Atlanta. Make sure that you bring 100 business cards; you will need them! We look forward to seeing you on June 19!

Best regards, 

Mo Cowan
Treasurer

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Partner Spotlight

Lifeline Animal Project
Robert Robinson
Clinic Director
 

 

Q. What does your organization do?
A. Founded in 2002, LifeLine Animal Project is working to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable cats and dogs in shelters.
In addition to operating our own shelter/ rehabilitation center, in 2013 we took over management of both DeKalb and Fulton County animal services. In the year since we’ve been at these shelters, we’ve cut the euthanasia rate in half, setting record low euthanasia rates. Now more than twice as many animals are leaving the shelters alive.
Additionally, LifeLine is the largest spay/neuter resource in the region. We’ve performed more than 71,000 low-cost or free spay/neuter surgeries at our two clinics. We currently perform more than 10,000 surgeries each year.

Q. How have you been able to do it?
A. By offering a low- or no-cost option, we provide our community easier access to spaying/neutering. This prevents the birth of thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens each year.
To lower the euthanasia rates, we implemented several new programs after taking over management of the Fulton and Dekalb County shelters. One was hiring a full-time surrender counselor at each county shelter who works with people surrendering pets. They provide resources such as free pet food, access to free or low-cost vet services, temporary fostering and even just basic encouragement and support. In Fulton alone, the counselor’s work is keeping 60 pets a month on average out of the shelter and at home with their loving families.
We’ve also implemented adoption promotions, such as our "Spring Into Adoption" promotion, where all adoptable pets are only $25 (regular screening still applies). Additionally, we have volunteer trainers who come to the shelter each week to train the dogs, making them more adoptable.
We have a very robust foster program in our shelters, placing hundreds of animals in foster homes each year. We’ve also begun regular transports to no-kill shelters in Northeastern states where there are more opportunities for adoption because there are fewer animals in shelters in that region.
LifeLine holds community outreach events at local parks in Fulton and DeKalb, providing free vaccinations and vouchers for free spay/neuter. We focus on traditionally underserved neighborhoods. Without fail, we have hundreds of people and their pets in line hours before these events start.
 
Q. Do you have events coming up that our MAAP members should know about?
A. During June, our DeKalb and Fulton shelters will be offering a ‘Dog Days of Summer’ special, where all dogs and cats may be adopted for only $25. All pets for adoption have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and more. That is hundreds of dollars of veterinary care expenses saved by adopting versus buying a pet from a breeder or pet store.
Every month we have numerous adoption events. There is one every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Petco in the Edgewood Retail District. Other common locations on an alternating basis are the Petco in Johns Creek and the Pet Supermarket at Toco Hills.
Since adoptions events are held at different locations and we frequently have fundraising events as well, the best way to keep informed about all events is to like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeLineAnimalProject

Q. If our members could do one thing to help your organization, what would it be?
A. There are so many ways to help it would be impossible to narrow it to just one. The most important ones would be:

• Spay and neuter your pets.
• Adopt a pet from one of our shelters
• Donate to our organization.

And of course, let other people know about the great work we do and encourage them to get involved as well.

Q. What role do volunteers play in your organization? Do they need special training?
A. Volunteers are an integral part of our organization and there are many opportunities for them to become involved with us. A few examples would be giving shelter animals exercise and playtime, assisting at adoption events, organizing fundraisers and helping with community outreach. We hold a volunteer orientation once a month. We frequently have groups from local colleges, civic organizations and businesses volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering with LifeLine can fill out the volunteer application on our website (www.lifelineanimal.org/volunteer). A volunteer coordinator will contact them.

Q. Why did you decide to partner with MAAP?
A. As an organization that embraces diversity and with the LGBT community commonly being very pet-centric, partnering with MAAP seems like a natural fit. We’re always interested in opportunities that will increase awareness of our organization and help us build relationships throughout our community. We believe MAAP will provide us with a venue to connect with more individuals and businesses who share in our passion and desire to create a better life for the homeless pets in our community.

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Member Spotlight

Charlene Woolley

 

Q. What do you do?
A. I currently work full time as an information technology quality assurance consultant. I work full time for my consulting company, Xpanxion, LLC, and have been on my client site, IHG - Intercontinental Hotel Groups, full time for the past four years. I work in the Global Technology division of IHG as the QA lead/manager for all enterprise sales solutions projects. I manage a blended team including offshore and onshore resources. We test changes to software for globally used sales applications. 
I am also the president of the AQAA - Atlanta Quality Assurance Association. We are the Atlanta chapter of QA professionals from QAI - Quality Assurance Institute. AQAA meets monthly and we are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year! http://www.aqaa.org/
 
Q. Why do you do it?
A. I have worked within the IT space for 17 years and within quality assurance for over 15 years. I really like testing software and trying to "break the system." 

Q. Where have you lived and which city was your favorite?
A. I am a native Atlantan and I have lived here all my life. I have visited many places and I would love to go back to Maui, Hawaii, one day to live when I retire. As the locals there say, "You pay the price to live in paradise" 

Q. What do you wish everyone knew about your industry?
A. Information technology is not hard to get into to find a job. There are so many ways to work within IT and networking is a great start. It is WHO you know here in Atlanta! 

Q. What do you wish you knew 15 years ago?
A. I wish I knew how important time management would be to me. There are not enough hours in the day sometimes. 

Q. What music are you listening to now?
A. My favorite songs right now are "Forever" by Kari Jobe and "You Make Me Brave" by Bethel Music. I love contemporary worship music and that is what I listen to the most. I sing on the worship team at my church, The Levites at New Covenant Church of Atlanta. When I am not listening to worship music, I am listening to ‘80s music ¬— I am a child of the ‘80s, like totally! 

Q. What are you reading?
A. Currently, I am reading "Keep Your Love On" by Danny Silk. It is a great book about relationships.

Q. What’s your favorite thing about Atlanta?
A. I love that Atlanta is my hometown, and I love to go to eat at any "non-chain" restaurant. Some of my favorites are Murphy's and Rosebud in the Highlands. 

Q. What’s the best advice you ever got?
A. The best advice I ever got was from my daddy. He said to always do what you say you are going to do. Keep your commitments — it is so important. 

Q. In the Hollywood adaptation of your story, who plays you?
A. Reese Witherspoon (“Sweet Home Alabama” version) because she is down-to- earth, kinda quirky and full of spunk.