USARK Enjoys Coming Out Party at Daytona

In the wake of a meeting of many of the top leaders from the reptile
industry in Chicago back in April, an industry advocate and leader has
emerged; the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK). The
reptile industry now has a voice and the tools to effectively represent the
interest of all those interested in maintaining the right to own and trade
in reptiles. The summer has been spent putting together the infrastructure
of the corporation, electing officers apppointing a Board of Directors,
building a website and creating a positive image for USARK. We are now ready
to meet the public. SHHS is the first forum that we are making the
announcement in because the organization we modeled USARK from (NCARK) has
received great support from SHHS members and we feel a strong connection and
loyalty to this very professional group.

Mission:
The US Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) is a science and education
based advocacy for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in
reptiles. We endorse caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention
protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal
is to facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific
community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals that
will effectively address important husbandry and conservation issues. The
health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity
are our primary concerns.

Our approach to advocacy we consider to be the 1-2 Punch of grass roots
politics.

1. Articulate our positions on critical issues to legislators or government
agencies through attorneys, lobbyists and scientists.

2. Underpin that position with a groundswell of grass roots support from the
masses of the industry and hobby.

It is a formula that worked beautifully at the state level. USARK is our
vehicle to enforce the will of the reptile community.

There have been many naysayers, both within and outside our community. Some
did not think the reptile folks could work together well enough to get the
organization off the ground. We have proved them wrong! Many of the large
players in the industry have already come aboard. If you were in Daytona you
saw all the USARK/Reptile Nation T-shirts being worn by the biggest vendors.

Join 'The Reptile Nation'... Join USARK and let's all work together to
protect our right to own and trade in reptiles!

Andrew Wyatt
president@...
www.usark.org
252-207-1041