Who We Are
CCWR was originally formed in 1992. Membership is made up of Colorado wildlife rehabilitators, rehabilitation and rescue organizations and volunteers for wildlife rehabilitation centers and Colorado Division of Wildlife. These individuals and organizations focus on the care of injured and orphaned wildlife as well as provide public education.
CCWR is a progressive organization dedicated to facing the issues and concerns of wildlife rehabilitators throughout Colorado.
CCWR is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a public charity under Code section 509 (a) (2).
CCWR Mission
Our mission is to promote the field of wildlife rehabilitation in Colorado by increasing communication between rehabilitators and other like-minded organizations and to provide education opportunities for rehabilitators and for the interested public.
Our Goals
- To provide workshops for the improvement of rehabilitation knowledge, skills, and techniques.
- To establish a communication network amongst rehabilitators.
- To educate the Public about the needs of wildlife and preserving their habitat through literature and the promotion of education programs.
- To publish a quarterly newsletter.
- To encourage people to live in harmony with the earth and its creatures.
- To promote fund-raising efforts and provide grants for specialized rehabilitation projects.
- To promote cooperation and professionalism amongst the wildlife community.
- To make recommendations to state and municipal agencies regarding wildlife rehabilitation concerns.
Call for Nominations — CCWR Board of Directors
Do you have great ideas? Would you like to try a new experience? How about working with a great team. Better still, would you like to make a difference? Simply worded. We would love to have you. Any member is eligible for being nominated to the Board of Directors. We welcome self-nominations.
If you are interested in applying, please review the "Base Requirements of CCWR Board Members" document. Submit a short biographical sketch highlighting your experience and/or interest in wildlife rehabilitation or that of the person you are nominating.
Please mail your nominations to:
CCWR Nominating Committee
PO Box 68, Hygiene, CO 80533-0068
By January 1, 2010. Nominations must be post marked no later than December 27, 2009 for eligibility.
Ballots will be mailed to members by January 8, 2010. Ballots must be either mailed to the address above by February 4, 2010 or hand-delivered at the 2010 CCWR Workshop, February 6, 2010. If you have questions, please call Joyce at (970) 686-9217.
Board Members
Joyce Benesh-Williams
President
(970) 686-9217
Immersed in wildlife activities as a child in the Great Lakes region, Joyce later, after moving to Florida, volunteered to rescue pelicans, injured by fishing hooks, lines and nets along the Gulf shores, through an agency called Pelican Man. In 1972, Joyce moved to Georgia and became a trainee/volunteer for an organization working to rehabilitate and save raptors. Here she fell in love with birds of prey and has been focused on their needs for survival ever since.
Joyce has enjoyed a career as a professional speaker and trainer for the past 30 years. This career was preceded by a career in purchasing and materials management. Neither career afforded her an opportunity to volunteer on a steady basis until 2000 to 2004, when she became an active volunteer with the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program in Fort Collins. While affiliated with them she became a trainer in animal husbandry skills, a bird handler and a presenter, representing the RMRP in schools and at public events, speaking about the birds on an educational level.
That being said, it is Joyce’s goal to incorporate the skills and resources of others who have worked with raptors and have a passion to work as “rehabbers”, into an organization whose total purpose and philosophy is to treat, rehabilitate and where possible release these fine creatures. Currently she is actively pursuing the appropriate licensing, permitting and federal authorization for such an endeavor.
Joyce has a long history of working with non-profit organizations; building boards, volunteer training and fundraising. She has been an adjunct faculty member of Front Range Community College for 11 years. Joyce and her husband Wayne have lived in Colorado since 1993.
Joyce has been on the CCWR Board since July 2006 and obtained her provisional wildlife rehabilitation license in 2007.
Raegan E. Morgan
Vice President
Raegan has been working in wildlife rehabilitation since 1999. Her experience has been exclusively with birds, primarily raptors. Professionally, Raegan has over 15 years of experience as a freelance writer and graphic designer and currently edits and designs the newsletters of three not-for-profit organizations. She enjoys assisting environmentally-focused entities with miscellaneous design projects.
When not caring for her family or doing volunteer work, you can usually find Raegan tending to her own menagerie of “critters” that includes dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and ducks.
Raegan has been on the CCWR board since February 2006. She obtained her provisional wildlife rehabilitation license in 2007.
Kathryn L. Dremann
Treasurer
Kathy began her wildlife rehabilitation career at the Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City, MO as a Staff Naturalist. In 1994, she was hired as Assistant Director/Education Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program in Fort Collins. With more than 11 years experience in environmental education, Kathy successfully generated over $25,000 per year in revenue for RMRP through educational programs. Subsequently Kathy was Office Manager/ Volunteer Coordinator with Colorado Horse Rescue in Longmont and has extensive working knowledge and experience with accounts receivable/ payable, payroll, tax records and financial reporting. In her free time, Kathy loves to hike, rock climb and, volunteers at Barr Lake State Park as a Park Naturalist and Eldorado Canyon State Park as a raptor monitor. Her home companions include cats, a dog, several birds and a magnificent iguana.
Kathy has been on the CCWR Board since February 2008.
Janet Rutigliano
Secretary
After working as a technical writer and process analyst for several high-technology companies over the past 25 years, Janet realized she had a calling to work with wildlife. She submitted a volunteer application to Greenwood in the summer of 2006 and began the journey that she hopes will lead to being a licensed rehabilitator.
Janet is employed full-time by IBM, but her driving ambition now is to devote as much time as possible to wildlife volunteer work, continuing education, and meeting CDOW requirements for licensure. She especially enjoys working with songbirds, waterfowl, and small mammals, but is eager to gain experience with raptors.
Janet has many years of volunteer and non-profit experience, including public relations and communications, and has been an editor and writer professionally since 1982. She is an avid nature enthusiast and enjoys hiking and walking all over Boulder county. She also volunteers as a lesson assistant at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center, and loves working with horses and children.
“I am honored and very excited to be serving on the board of CCWR.”
Janet has been on the CCWR Board since August 2008.