We are very pleased to announce

The 2nd Annual Elephant Advocates’ Rally Support (EAR's 2006 for short)

To be held in Tennessee Oct 5^th, 6^th, 7^th. and 8^th, 2006.

We will be posting up-dated information regarding the agenda, workshops and speakers as we finalize and confirm each item. Please stay tuned and check back periodically for updated details.

The Theme for our gathering again this year is

“The Complete Elephant – Head to Toe”

Let us introduce ourselves to you and let you know what EAR’S is all about. We are simply a group of dedicated elephant supporters. We are not affiliated with any particular group or sanctuary. We met through a common love for the plight of the endangered elephant in our world today. We realized as we connected together through the internet, that we all come with different levels of information, commitment and understanding of this very broad ranging issue. Our purpose is to create an arena where ordinary people can physically come together to share experiences, gain knowledge and exchange information. We believe in empowering individuals and supporting the discovery of just how much each person can do. We share a love of elephants and a horror at the tragedy that unfolds each day in these magnificent animals lives. We realize that dedication, education and activism however small is what is needed to alter the terrible fate that is about to befall all of us if these incredible endangered animals pass from our planet.

We have chosen to hold the second EAR’S gathering in Tennessee to once again celebrate the elephants. To celebrate the elephants that have already made it to safety and those that still so desperately need our help captive or free born. We carry always this thought and this knowledge “One elephant at a Time”.

The EAR’S committee is very privileged and pleased to announce that Mr. Les Schbert with be our keynote speaker for this year’s rally.

Les Schobert, is a noted animal activist, a consultant on zoos and captive wildlife with 30+ years of experience in virtually all facets of elephant care and management, including daily care, medical issues, species management, importation, and transportation - including a 15-year tenure as General Curator of the North Carolina State Zoo & a somewhat more recent stint as Animal Collection Curator at the L.A. Zoo. Mr. Schobert will be discussing a number of issues including the key challenges and changes facing zoos now and in the years ahead, outlines the notion of zoo alternatives in the form of more expansive facilities that would foster a far better experience for the human side and animal side (using elephants as a primary example) of the equation, and more. He is an expert in the handling, care and management of elephants.

We are waiting for confirmation from Dr. Susan Mikota whom we are hoping will provide us with a presentation on Elephants and Tuberculosis. Dr. Susan Mikota is a co-founder and the Director of Veterinary Programs & Research for Elephant Care International. She is also a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. Together with co-editor Murray Fowler DVM, she just completed her second book on elephant healthcare. She created and maintains the world's largest elephant bibliographic database on elephant healthcare and together with Donald C. Plumb, Pharm D. has published the first elephant formulary. Dr. Mikota was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for her work with Sumatran elephants. www.elephantcare.org

The purpose of the gathering is

To meet each other and share our common love for Elephants, to support each other and our dedication to this cause.
To help educate and disseminate knowledge, to provide information to help develop awareness;
To volunteer at The Elephant Sanctuary and to meet some of the staff at TES,
To visit the community of Hohenwald and be positive ambassadors on behalf of elephant supporters from around the world.
And hopefully meet some new friends

In Summary:

We, the committee want you to know that we take this commitment very seriously. We are working very hard to make this a fun, educational and motivational weekend. We would like the participants to come away feeling like they have been empowered and enriched and that they have a stronger connection to supporting the Elephants. Our hope is that participants will start to build a support network for the elephants and for each other.

Blessings to all

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for this event, please contact Kathryn Katinabath@yahoo.com