Humane Society to Hold
Black Cat Soiree
by Megan Stearns, HSCC Development Director,
November 3, 2011, page 11..... 

The Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC) has dubbed this year’s annual fall fundraising event the Black Cat Soiree, and Charlotte resident Gina Berk is excited about it. “I always attend the fall event,” she said. “It’s a wonderful way to meet people with the same interests and goals while having fun.”
 Dr. Berk, who hails from East Charlotte, has a long history with HSCC. She served on the Board of Directors for eight years, holding the presidency from 2005-2010. She has dedicated just as many years to volunteering at the adoption center’s front desk, where she greets and directs visitors, answers phone calls and facilitates adoptions. She also co-founded, runs and writes curriculum for the shelter’s summer Camp Paw Paw, camp for children. (Dr. Berk earned a doctorate in Education and Leadership at UVM.) “I love this shelter,” Dr. Berk said. “I got three of my four dogs here. I’ve taken those dogs to obedience classes here. I met my pet sitters here!”
 Dr. Berk plans to continue her support of HSCC by attending the Soiree. The Soiree, which will be held on November 19 at the FlynnSpace (135 Main St, Burlington), promises to be a swanky affair, with gourmet localvore food, live jazz, a cash bar, high-end raffle prizes, a silent auction and an art show comprised of pieces donated by local artists. Tickets to the event cost $75/person, or $150/person for entrance to the event plus three raffle tickets. HSCC will be raffling off a week-long stay at a private villa in Vieques, Puerto Rico; a two-night stay at the dog-centric Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast in Montgomery Center, Vermont, and a new iPad 2. Raffle tickets are on sale now at the shelter and may be ordered by contacting Megan Stearns at 862-0135 ext 15. Raffle ticket holders need not attend the event to win.
 “I hope a lot of people will come out on the 19th,” Dr. Berk said. “And I hope it’ll intrigue those who do attend to learn more about the shelter. People think of it as a sad place, but it’s not. It always makes me happy to spend time here.”
 More information on the Soiree can be found at chittendenhumane.org.