Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety has revamped its volunteer / member program. Now you can earn Membership Reward Points for short, simple tasks, perfect for those who want to help but have busy schedules and hectic lives.

The first step is to join our Yahoo Group at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AmazonCares/join. This is where we will post many of the opportunities to fill up your rewards card!

Some great rewards for your help are tote bags, mouse pads, window decals, stickers and other AmazonCares merchandise.

Sample tasks include:

• Subscribe to YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Amazoncares and comment and rate on a video


• Comment on a new blog entry and Share it on Digg, FB, StumbleUpon, etc.


• Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AmazonCares and ReTweet some Tweet


• Join our Facebook cause page at http://www.causes.com/amazoncares and recruit others to join


• "Like" our new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazon-CARES/129510413741372


• Donate your Facebook Birthday wish to CARES
  

Interested? Check your Member Directory Page at and make sure your your complete "snail mail" address is included. We'll send you a welcome kit with a FREE Member Decal and your first Rewards card!

Click to join AmazonCares

Cabo Lopez Volunteer Lodging Offers Creatures, Comfort

Here the day starts with the sun filtering through the screens, the sounds of insects and birds in the trees and the occasional dog bark. Breakfast is at the table with fresh fruit, juice, eggs and toast. The journey to work is a thirty minute speed boat ride along the river with the chance of a pink river dolphin sighting to delay the trip rather than a broken down car that jams the motorway.

Dr. Annie Cook, CARES Volunteer

Volunteers who stay at the Cabo Lopez CARES facility are often surprised at the amenities and charms of the jungle lodging. With electricity from a generator, indoor bathroom, filtered water from the tap, multiple bedrooms and a kitchen, the volunteer lodge is far from the “roughing it” one might expect from the remote area.

However, amid the prosaic comforts of a warm meal and a soft bed after the end of a long day, you cannot escape the otherworldliness of the jungle outside. Abutting a forest, you are continually reminded of the wildness of your surroundings: from the constant insect drone, the riotous cacophony of jungle bird life, and the monkeys that forage in the trees on the grounds, the Cabo Lopez site is a haven in the middle of nature at its most exotic and primordial.

In addition to the comfortable accommodations, volunteers are treated to delicious, fresh meals prepared on site by Marlene, CARES’ remarkable chef/laundress/caretaker. As Dr. Jo Langford reported, “Marlene was our heroine at Cabo Lopez who cooked, did our laundry and generally cleaned up after us. Dinner would always be ready upon our return “home” and she never ceased to amaze with a variety of dishes, fresh juices and fruit.”

Dr. Alex Belch, a veterinarian volunteer, stayed in Cabo Lopez during the dry season, and so traveled by land rather than by boat from Iquitos. "Our jungle home was an enjoyable 20 minute ride from the centre of Iquitos, passing through a couple of local villages on the way. The house was very comfortable with sofas, tv and a kitchen where Marlany the housekeeper was always on hand with a fresh jungle fruit juice. Our room had bunkbed and shower and certainly had no trouble sleeping after a busy day volunteering for AmazonCares!"

Veterinarian and veterinarian technician volunteers are always high in demand, as are carpenters or construction experts to aid in the creation and repair of shelter facilities. Lay volunteers are also welcome to aid in socializing some of the shelter pets.

If you are interested in volunteering in Iquitos and/or Cabo Lopez, wish to gather more information about Amazon CARES and its work, or even make a donation to this non-profit organization, please visit our website at http://www.amazoncares.org/.

CARES Volunteer Achieves Gold PVSA

Odessa, TX – Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety (Amazon CARES) has awarded Brandi Pool with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Established in 2003, the Award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering.

Amazon CARES has a long history of volunteer service, and more than 100 volunteers perform community service each year on behalf of the organization, fully 25% of which are “Virtual Volunteers.” It is in this capacity that Brandi Pool works as the volunteer “Director of Operations” for Amazon CARES, devoting many hours every week to promoting Amazon CARES on the Internet and editing its popular blog. Ms. Pool, a lifelong Odessa resident and proud mother of three, also attends University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and is slated to graduate this December with a B.A. in Criminology.

“America’s volunteers work to make our communities stronger and safer. Amazon CARES is proud to be aligned with this prestigious volunteer award, and we are especially proud of Brandi Pool who has made volunteer service a central part of her life, having devoted more than 500 hours to Amazon CARES. Brandi is a role model for all Americans,” states Molly Mednikow, Executive Director. “Each volunteer hour contributed makes a difference, and I encourage everyone to contribute by volunteering.”

In addition to Ms. Pool, several other AmazonCARES volunteers were also recently awarded President's Volunteer Service Awards:

Silver
Ana Garcia
Manuela Rodrigues

Bronze
Linda Schwefel
Sarah Razmandi Taylor

In addition to her Silver Award, Manuela Rodrigues also was awarded a Lifetime Achievement PVSA based on her work on behalf of many non-profit charitable organizations.

For more information about volunteering for Amazon CARES, please visit its website at http://www.amazoncares.org; visit www.PresidentialServiceAwards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307 to learn about how to qualify for the President’s Volunteer Service Award and about additional volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers Valued at Amazon CARES

Volunteering for Amazon CARES is a wonderfully collaborative effort, with each volunteer bringing something special to the organization and taking away not only the sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction, but also new skills, ideas and knowledge.

With an emphasis on teambuilding, innovations in non-profit organization fundraising as well as promoting awareness of both the organization and those it serves, and further learning opportunities for its volunteers, Molly Mednikow, Executive Director of Amazon CARES, runs the non-profit like a mom-and-pop concern. She focuses her efforts and interest not only in the cause she's working for (domestic animal welfare in Peru's Amazon Rainforest), but also in those who work with her towards these ends. With a goal to attract and maintain talented and dedicated volunteers, Molly works hard to reward the volunteers' hard work with public volunteer recognition, gifts of Amazon CARES merchandise, and even, in one notable case, a trip to the jungle no-kill sanctuary and animal hospital in Iquitos, Peru! With an eye on continuing education, Molly's goal is to ensure that volunteers gain skills and knowledge, and advocates the use of webinars, seminars and workshops as well as written resources to allow for volunteer's personal and professional growth. Amazon CARES also affords its volunteers the opportunity to win the the President's Volunteer Service Award for their service.

Some quotes from our wonderful volunteers:


Volunteering for AmazonCares is a rewarding experience I will value for the rest of my life. The dedication of Molly Mednikow and the whole team of volunteers makes me proud to be part of such a great cause. Not a day goes by without thinking the difference this organization is making on a national level.
by Steve S. from Warren, OH

The people with Amazon CARES truly are professionals in every sense. Every one is treated with the utmost respect and are typically open and attentive in the organization's communications with participants.
by Gary M S. from Mason City, IA


I have been with the organization since February, as their Team Translator. I am very proud of what they do, and in which way i am helping. This organization is giving a life opportunity to many animals in Peru, which as a Peruvian, i am very thankful.
by Ana G.

It is a wonderful organization to volunteer, I have been working as their webmaster for Change.org, and I am really proud of it. Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education & Safety (CARES) seeks better health and living conditions for animals and people of the Peruvian Amazon. This includes appropriate care, respect, and protection from cruelty and neglect. Another great thing that I am very proud of them is that is a NO-KILL animal sanctuary.
by Manuela R.

A great non-profit. I became MySpace Manager and I still am. These guys are great to work with, very kind and generous. They sent me a letter of recommendation, a hat, and other goodies. Amazon CARES I highly recommend. Check them out.
by Andrew M.

And, straight from the Director's mouth:
Amazon CARES has a virtual volunteer program where volunteers are treated like employees. Learning and training are huge components, and they always show their appreciation!
by Molly M. from Washington, DC (Administrator for this Organization)

For more information about volunteering for Amazon CARES, please visit its website at http://www.amazoncares.org. Thank you!

CARES Volunteers Eligible for Service Awards

Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety (Amazon CARES) has teamed with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award, a national program recognizing Americans who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. Established in 2003, the Award was created by President George W. Bush to give Presidential recognition to individuals, families and groups who meet requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over 12-months.

Amazon CARES is one of thousands of organizations that have joined forces to deliver the President's Volunteer Service Award and honor the volunteers who strengthen our Nation. As a Certifying Organization for the Award, Amazon CARES is responsible for verifying service hours, nominating potential recipients and delivering the Award.

“We are extremely proud to recognize our most outstanding volunteers with the President's Volunteer Service Award ,” said Molly Mednikow, Amazon CARES Executive Director. “Our volunteers are role models in our community, donating their time, energy and talent to bring us closer together as neighbors and a world. The Award is our way of thanking these volunteers and inspiring everyone to make volunteering a central part of their lives.”

“Even if you’ve never volunteered before, the President's Volunteer Service Award is within your reach,” Mednikow said. “There are so many ways to contribute, and every volunteer hour makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others. We encourage everyone to get involved. Together, we can strengthen our world – one hour at a time.”

The Award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group convened by President George W. Bush to help foster and encourage a culture of volunteer service and civic participation among Americans. Children, adults, families and groups can receive the Award and, given their ongoing service activity, many of our volunteers may already meet the requirements (see below). To qualify for the President's Volunteer Service Award , volunteers simply submit a record of their service hours to AmazonCARES, and the Award will be delivered upon verification with the certifying organization.

Volunteer service hours are not limited to those performed on behalf of Amazon CARES. In fact, service hours can be accumulated through work on a variety of projects throughout the year. The only requirement is that the necessary hours be completed within 12 months; recipients can qualify for a new Award each year.

“Our volunteers should strive to earn the President's Volunteer Service Award every year,” said Mednikow. “Even if you’ve never volunteered before, the Award is within your reach. In fact, the strength and success of us all depends on every one of us taking an active role in the world community. You can further help our cause by asking your friends, families and neighbors to join you in helping -- most people say ‘yes’ if asked to volunteer – all it takes is a personal request.”

For more information about volunteering for Amazon CARES, please visit its website at http://www.amazoncares.org; visit www.PresidentialServiceAwards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307 to learn about how to qualify for the President’s Volunteer Service Award and about additional volunteer opportunities.


To be eligible to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award, applicants’ service hours must be confirmed by a registered Certifying Organization. There are three levels of the AWARD varying by hours of service completed within a 12-month period:


Kids - 14 and younger
Bronze Award 50 - 74 hours
Silver Award 75 - 99 hours
Gold Award 100 or more hours

Young Adults - Ages 15 - 25
Bronze Award 100 - 174 hours
Silver Award 175 - 249 hours
Gold Award 250 or more hours


Adults - Ages 26 and up
Bronze Award 100 - 249 hours
Silver Award 250 - 499 hours
Gold Award 500 or more hours

Families and Groups (two or more people)*
Bronze Award 200 - 499 hours
Silver Award 500 - 999 hours
Gold Award 1,000 or more hours
*Each member contributing at least 25 hours towards the total

PRESIDENT’S CALL TO SERVICE AWARD
Individuals who have completed 4,000 or more volunteer service hours over the course of their lifetime are eligible to receive the PRESIDENT’S CALL TO SERVICE AWARD.