Independent Cat Society Winter 2020 Mewsletter

For the friends of the Independent Cat Society, a no-kill cat shelter

Winter 2020 #164

Bill Foster:

Cherished Friend and Mentor There are many people who give to the Independent Cat Society – the time, gifts, and dedication of our many friends is appreciated more than we can measure. But there have been few volunteers who were able to do more good for our shelter and our cats than Bill Foster.

Bill started his time with ICS simply as “Diana’s husband,” a pleasant man who was always happy to drop his wife off at events or at the shelter. Slowly, though, his interest in joining her in volunteering, sharing his expertise as a retired ironworker and all-around amazing handyman, grew, and he began spending more time. Soon, his abilities to fix almost anything and make the shelter a more functional and beautiful space for our cats became legendary.

in the beautification of the Rainbow Bridge Garden and the completion of the Joan Hildebrand Adoption Center.

Every task he put his mind to, he accomplished – always with a gracious smile, “thank you” not required.

And yet, we do thank Bill for his many years of dedication to ICS. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

Sadly, we lost our dear friend in January, and his presence will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

When he wasn’t volunteering with ICS, he spent his time mentoring fellow veterans, and enjoying time with his wife Diana, and their children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. He will always be remembered as a kind and wonderful soul.

Among his many contributions, Bill spent a great deal of his time and talents leading our Building Committee Published for the friends of the Independent Cat Society, Inc. PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391 (219) 785-4936 Web: www.catsociety.org Email: shelter@catsociety.org Facebook: facebook.com/INCatSociety The Independent Cat Society, Inc., founded in 1977, is a non-profit, no-kill cat shelter on US Rt 6 at the Porter/LaPorte County Line Road in Westville, Indiana.

Our mission is to rescue, shelter, adopt, and promote the spaying and neutering of cats in our Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland community.

Adoption hours: Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Others by appointment.

Please call (219) 785-4936.

About our Adoption Fees Include: Spay/neuter, vet exam, feline leukemia and FIV test; age-appropriate vaccinations; parasite treatment; tattoo ID/microchip; 30 Day No-Cost Pet Insurance; Hills Science Diet coupon; and free post-adoption participating vet visit.

Please check our website or shelter for monthly adoption specials, spay/neuter information, and help for finding homes for homeless cats.

Board of Directors President:

Jocelyn Vereb Vice-President:

Paulette Gonzalez Recording Secretary:

Diana Richie Corresponding Secretary:

Mitzi Grogan-McGlone Treasurer:

Natalie Cebulski Board Members:

Diana Foster

Beth Hayden

Lori Hlinsky

Bernie Howard

Welcome to 2020!

As we begin a new year (and new decade!) here at ICS, we reflect on our accomplishments in 2019. We set a new record for adoptions at 352, up 33 from 2018. Thank you to all wonderful adopters who have chosen to give ICS kitties a forever home. In addition, our TNR program had a great year as well – 480 cats were spayed or neutered through the program. And, of course, in 2019 we opened the Joan Hildebrand Adoption Center which has given us some much needed space for incoming cats, office space and event/gift shop space.

Now, we begin 2020. We had a successful Book Sale in mid-January, despite bad weather. Thank you to all who supported us and our volunteers who helped make it a success. Next up is our annual Sweetheart Contest and we have another great group of candidates as pictured on page 3.

Please vote for your favorite ($1 = 1 Vote) now through the Sweetheart Day Event on March 7th at the Moose Lodge in Valparaiso.

And, sadly, we lost a very special volunteer in January. Bill Foster was a wonderful guy and did so many things for the shelter, too numerous to name. He will be greatly missed. For more about Bill, please see page 1.

Fiona and I hope to see you soon at the shelter or an event!

Jocelyn Vereb, ICS Board President with Fiona, ICS “Office Manager”

Calling All Volunteers!

Want to help the cats and kittens of ICS? Become a volunteer! We have many opportunities, from simply spending time with the cats or fundraising to becoming involved with committees and/or the Board of Directors. There is sure to be something that fits your available time and skills. Some things can even be done from home!

Check out the Volunteer information on our website (www.catsociety.org/volunteer.html) and complete a volunteer application. Or, stop in at the shelter during our open hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Our most urgent needs are: • Adoption Counselors/Reviewers • Help checking and returning phone messages (can be done from home) • Help with Fundraisers, including baking/ cooking, making crafts to sell and working the events, including set up and take down.

• Fostering (must be 21; also need a Foster Committee Chairperson to coordinate the foster program) • And much more!

Featured kitten: Carlotta

Featured cat: Autumn

Wish List Office supplies • Stamps • 2-pocket folders w/business card • Letter sized manila folders Cleaning supplies • Laundry soup (HE preferred) • Dryer sheets • Paper plates • Paper towels • 30-gallon trash bags • Tall kitchen garbage bags Building & Grounds • Water softener pellets (rust prevention) • Furnace filters in the following sizes: 16x25x1, 16x20x2, and 25x20x5 Other • Dry cat food (kitten/adult) - we prefer Science Diet • Ground flavors of Friskies and Fancy Feast • Kuranda cleanable cat trees • Scoopable & clay litter • Gift cards to Menard’s, Home Depot • Tru-Catch 30LTD humane traps • Turbo tracks replacement scratchers • Extra large litter scoops • Small blankets, rugs, and towels • Wellness grain-free food Special Services • Artists and craftspersons • Transportation and hauling vehicles • Skilled trades for grounds and building work

Featured cat: Amaretto

I want to Sponsor-A-Cat from the Independent Cat Society

I have enclosed a check for:

__________ $180 for one year of Sponsor-A-Cat

__________ $15 for the first month of Sponsor-A-Cat. I pledge to send $15 each month to Sponsor-A-Cat

__________ I pledge to send the amount that fits my budget and feels “right” to Sponsor-A-Cat each month Please mark “SAC” on your envelope and check memo. The sponsor will receive a photo and biography of his or her Sponsor-A-Cat. Name of sponsor_____________________________________________ Is this a gift sponsorship? _______________ Address_________________________________________________ City______________________________________ State_______ ZIP__________ Telephone _______________________________________ Month of sponsor’s birthday______________________________ email address_______________________________________ 2

It’s Sweetheart Time!

Don’t forget to vote for your Favorite Sweetheart through March 7th!

Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/INCatSociety to find Fundraisers for each candidate where you can easily vote ($1 = 1 Vote) for your favorite via PayPal. Or, you may submit your votes via the Donate button on our Website (www.catsociety.org); by mail to ICS, P.O. Box 735, Westville, IN 46391; or, stop by the shelter and meet the contestants “purrsonally”!

Also, plan to join us for the Sweetheart Day event on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Valparaiso Moose Lodge The teams are busy preparing some really great things for this year’s event. You don’t want to miss it! As always, donations directly benefit all the kitties of ICS.

Memorials & Tributes

November 2019-January 2020

In memory of Rex Eckert, from Earline Belzowski, Steve and Vicki Hamer, James Miller, James and Jackie King, Janice Scott, Charles and Carol Whitten, Eileen and Daniel Whitten

In honor of DJ and Beth Benson, great friends and animal lovers, from Charlene Kirschsieper In honor of Leanne LaFrance, from Shelley Donnell

In memory of Sarah Duncan, from Lyn Czapla and Georgia Hendrix

In honor of Diana and Bill Foster, from Julie and Myron Sandell and their many friends at ICS and in the community

In memory of Smoky (20) adopted from ICS in 2000, and his brother Inky (18), from Eudene and JoAnn Tylicki

In honor of Yvette Noe, from Holly McCain

In memory of Vickie Napiwocki, from Jim Napiwocki

In honor of Holly McCain, from Yvette Noe

In memory of my parents Kate and Vincy Kanney, and our cats Krisan, Heather, Shana, Emily, Chloe, and Shelby, from Kathleen Heath

In honor of Jeff – Merry Christmas! from Steve and Julie Bohannon In honor of Howard Jablon’s birthday, from John and Lorraine Cates In honor of Terry Pfeiffer, from Suzanne and Michael Jascoviak

In memory of Walter Witt and our cat Christopher, from Mary Witt

In honor of Helen Svonauer and Patty & Viki Gillham, from Larry and Susan Gillham

In memory of Rosie, from Marlyn Asteriadis In memory of Buster Brown, Princess I and II, Ange, and Misty, from Donald and Rosemary Fanning

In honor of Joseph and Lynn Mondelli, from Connie Conjalka In memory of Berry Brown, from Janice Crawford

In memory of Midnight and Sarah, from Constance Johnson

In memory of Skip, from Cleo and Doc

In memory of Gunther (Brooks), from Carol Alesia

In memory of Linda Steininger, from Robert and George Steininger

In memory of Pumpkin, from Adam and Bonny Jasicki

In memory of Pat Guistolisi, from Lance and Carla Nolting In memory of David Steuer, from Debbie Macki

In memory of Karen Marie Kindt, from Patricia Kindt, and Thomas and Treresa Kulb

In honor of Adele and Martin Barich, from Laura Barich

In memory of Linda the kitten, from Albert Vargas

In honor of Taylor Compton, from Amanda Estes

In memory of Muffin, from Tina and Scott Kleppe

In honor of Bumbles, the stray that ICS found a home for, from Karile Jonynas

In memory of Karen Kosak, from Mary Jo Kosner

In honor of all the workers at ICS, from Theresa Chambers-Christensen

In memory of all our past kitty friends, from Linda Polen

In memory of Freeway, from Donna Frey

In memory of sweet, loving Dallara, who passed over the Rainbow Bridge at 22 on November 25, from Carl Lundin

In memory of Irene Dohmeyer, from Laurie Brown In memory of Benny, our ICS Office Lap cat, who sadly passed in early January

In memory of Nancy’s Allie Cat and Alice’s Pretty Boy, from Christine Craig In memory of Jim Roback, from Joan Roback In memory of Little Bug, from David and Karen Kovalow-St. John

If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please write, email, or call us so we can include them in the next newsletter.

3

Independent Cat Society PO Box 735 Westville, IN 46391

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID

Valparaiso, IN Permit No. 134

http://catsociety.org @IndCatSociety facebook.com/ INCatSociety

Become a Member!

Annual Dues: ______

$1000 Corporation

______

$500 Platinum

______

$100 Gold Star

______

$50 Family

______

$25 Individual

______

$1­­0 Student

______

$10 Senior

Donate or Volunteer! ______ I am donating $______ for the care of the cats and kittens. ______ I am donating $______ to the building fund. ______ I am donating $______ to the TNR/Assisted Spay & Neuter Fund. ______ I will help groom cats at the shelter. ______ I will help at fundraising events. ______ I will be a foster parent. ______ I will donate my cat-themed artwork or crafts for fundraising events. ______ I will bake for fundraising events. ______ I will make adoption follow-up telephone calls. ______ I will help cats get good homes by becoming an adoption counselor. ______ I will help take care of the grounds and maintain the shelter. ______ I will distribute flyers for fundraisers.

­­Name______________________________________ Address_____________________ City______________ State_______ ZIP__________ ____This is a new address. ____ Do not send a “thank you” note. Phone____________________ email___________________________ Clip and send to: Independent Cat Society, Inc., PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391