A whirlwind of an event has just concluded, and it was something that took up a lot of my time in the past few months. NAPSA Workshop is a biennial conference hosted by the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. As the alliance's Program Director, that means the Workshop planning falls squarely on my shoulders.
This was the second Workshop I've planned since I was hired by NAPSA, and just like the last one, this one was worth every late night and every panicked list that I compiled, redid, and analyzed.
This time around, we welcomed over 75 people to Gainesville, Florida for two days of presentations, a drinks reception, an awards dinner, and sanctuary tours of Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary and Center for Great Apes.
Our speakers were fascinating, coming to us from virtually every reputable primate sanctuary in North America and just about every animal rights and welfare organization, including PETA, Humane Society of the United States, New England Anti Vivisection Society, American Anti Vivisection Society. Additionally, we had presenters who were researchers and philosophers - including John Gluck, a favorite of mine who I had yet to meet.
The tours of the sanctuaries were a group favorite - and it's where I filmed a segment with WCJB 20 on primate retirement. View it here.
Our Recognition Dinner was another favorite of mine, as it was lighthearted and celebratory. We have so much to celebrate in the primate sanctuary community, and I like that NAPSA recognizes this.
Something truly memorable for me was presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to April Truitt, co-founder of the Primate Rescue Center and a founding member of NAPSA. April gave me my start over 12 years ago when she offered that I come out to her sanctuary to see what it was like... and my life's course was forever altered!
Celebrating my mentor amongst so many other esteemed colleagues who have rescued thousands of primates and changed the course of primate welfare throughout the world... it's priceless.
