Quarterly Report August 2022
Official / General
The shelter has been officially signed over to HRN!
We need someone to find out about getting us exempted from real estate taxes.
Suzanne has been in communication with the HOA and setting up HOA monthly payments.
Bunny Hop was held July 23. It was poorly attended compared to previous years but still good we had it and those that attended (about 20) had a good time. Date (too close to Flatbread) and heat were likely factors for low turnout.
Annual Awards were presented.
Financials
We have partially outsourced our Bookkeeping to St. Armand’s Financial Services in Dracut. They will be handling the monthly reconciliation of our TD Bank checking account and Capital One credit cards, and preparing monthly P & L and Balance Sheet. St. Armand’s will enter all bank transactions into our online QuickBooks. We are in the process of linking our checking account and funding sources (i.e. PayPal, Petstablished, WIX) to QuickBooks.
Kari will continue to pay the vet bills. Julie will make the shelter deposits, and Suellen will deposit checks from the PO Box.
Suellen and Suzanne have provided Mariya Babson with everything she needs to complete our Financial Statement Review, 990 and PC Form. We are just waiting for her to complete them. We have filed an extension and have until 11/15/22 to file.
We have a 2021 outstanding sales tax liability from items sold on the Friends of HRN website. Sales tax was collected and not remitted to the state. In some cases sales tax was incorrectly collected on non-taxable items. Suellen consulted with Mariya who advised us to reach out to the customers and ask if they want a refund. We are allowed to keep the money as a donation if the customer suggests it. Suzanne is working on setting up our MA sales tax account and getting back taxes paid. Meanwhile taxable items have been removed from the Friends of HRN website.
Adoptions
169 adoptions as of Aug 29.
Adoptions are significantly down from the last two years. This winter / spring were unusually slow. There has been an uptick in the last two months so hopefully things are returning to normal. Still lots of surrender requests.
Numbers may also be down slightly due to buns being returned and readopted counting only once.
Suggested Adoption Donations are being raised effective Sep 7 to $125 for a single, $225 for a pair and $300 for a trio
Fundraisers
Flatbread raised $4149. It was well attended this year. We placed all the prizes outside along the walkway which worked out well. Money split was $3140 ticket sales, $729.25 from Flatbread, $255 sticks and decals, $25 general donation.
Calendars (300) have been printed and delivered. We will start selling them soon.
Binky Bunny Coffee has selected HRN as its charity for September. We will receive a portion of the sales from their coffee for the entire month.
Poorly Drawn Pets returning for September.
Bunsitting is going strong. Irena has briefly stepped in to assist coordinating bun sitting requests while Lynn is on bereavement. We need to do a better job tracking which donations are for bunsitting.
Grants
We received $15,350 from the MAC grant. They sent half the check now and the second half will be sent after the first funds are spent.
Development Committee Update:
August Auction has been a smashing success. Rachel will have the total after final payments come in. Lots of good feedback. Rachel already has some ideas for how to improve it next time.
22nd Anniversary Party has been posted online: https://www.friendsofhrn.org/events/hrns-22nd-anniversary-party. Haven’t started advertising yet or posted to FB, but will once the auction hubbub is over. Tickets are $45 for a vegan buffet dinner (hopefully donated cheese and dessert) and a professional comedy show; free photographs and lots of prizes available for our pick-a-prize auction.
Spa Days
May 22 Billerica (Suzanne’s garage) $1200 with 48 tickets sold
May 28 Billerica (Suzanne’s garage) raised $750 with 30 tickets sold
Aug 14 Devine Feed and Pet (Norwell) raised $695 34 tickets at $20 each plus $15 in donations
Aug 27 Westford Shelter $1200 48 tickets sold
Everything went great at the new shelter.
Shelter
The Westford shelter opened July 18, 2022 and Julie started working full time. Cages and storage areas have been set up. A new sink was purchased and installed by Vinny. A new white board was donated. So far the space is working out well. Fat Moon Mushrooms is taking our compost.
Still need to hire per diem employees.
Donation Management
Still need to hire a development director
Foster Homes:
We have lost several foster homes, but since the shelter opened that has helped with space. Hoping to recruit new foster homes. Foster committee is still the same, meeting early Sept.
Struggling to get spay/neuter appointments for shelter buns.
Hotline:
The hotline had a busy quarter, approving 77 adoption applications (of which over 50 resulted in adoptions). In addition to manning the hotline, our volunteers have been collaborating with our marketing team, helping to brainstorm ideas for social media posts and offering classes online about bun care and bonding that have been very popular with our community of bun lovers! Congratulations to our newest volunteer Erin, who has been doing a wonderful job during her first couple months!
Clinic:
Some supplies are in the process of being purchased (second hand) for the clinic.
Pam Chatis’s sister and brother in law are donating an xray machine
Suzanne has been working on a list of needed supplies with help from Misty.
Suzanne is working on finding an architect and contractor, also figuring out our needs.
Outreach:
Monthly online Bunny Basics classes held the third Thursday of every month. Taught by Dawn O., a longtime Hotline and bunsitting volunteer. Sign up on friendsofhrn/org/event. Tickets are free, but the website gives people signing up the option to donate as well. The first time we held the class in July, we raised $65.
We held a bunny bonding class on July 7. A second Bunny Bonding class will be held again in January 2023.
Jun 14 we held a virtual speaker event with author Mike Hawthorne who wrote The Way of the Rabbit. He donated his speaker fee ($150) to HRN. This event was in conjunction with the Boston Vegetarian Society.
Intra meeting board decisions
Aug 21 on board facebook group approved purchase of new Ultralite cage for $2645.
Aug 18 Facebook Messenger Board agreed to purchase used clinic equipment- 2 anesthesia machines ($700 each), 2 tilting surgical tables ($350 each) , a washer ($50) and dryer ($50)