This is the story of The Center from its inception in 1975 to the present. I have discussed it with Ann Bauer and Dr. Frances Gulland. Through Ann Bauer I have received permission from former executive director BJ Griffin to do this. As nearly as any of the three of us can figure, no one has written this story in its entirety before. There are a few children’s books about the animals, but none has been written about The Center as a whole.
I was a volunteer for several years (1980-1996). In addition to Animal Care, I was also Director of Training and of the Volunteer Department. I am very impressed with the progress The Center has made since I moved East in 2001 (and returned in early 2005). During my last few years as a volunteer, I was Friday night supervisor in the Harbor Seal hospital.
2011 marks the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Center. This is an amazing feat for an organization which began in 1975 in an old Army building, with a handful of volunteers, and handmade animal pens. In the words of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I myself was inspired by my family to do things that matter, things that give back to the country and the world that give us so much. My blog will tell the story of The Center through those years. It will include pictures and stories illustrating the activities of The Center. Our medical and scientific staffs have published dozens of groundbreaking articles. I myself have had four papers published in technical collections, the only volunteer to do so. Few now know that I was the “founder” of elephant seal fish school, the subject of my first published paper.
