Farmington Valley Swan Fund Home Page

Farmington Valley Swan Fund

Mission Statement

Our Mission

The Farmington Valley Swan Fund was organized as a non-profit organization to help a pair of swans that were badly abused by some people in Farmington, CT. The fund was set up to provide protection and rescue to this pair of swans, Ulysses and Penelope, by providing funding for protective measures for their habitat, by educating local people to avoid further problems with these swans, and by rallying popular support behind the rescue of these swans. Ulysses' injured wing may need rehabilitation and the fund is intended to finance this effort as well.

Ulysses had been beaten on several occasions and suffered a wing injury that apparently was preventing him from flying. Also, local children who were curious about the swans were antagonizing them by approaching their nest site and creating disturbances near the nest. The swans perceived this as threatening behavior and the cob attempted to drive the children off. This led to several incidents where the swan attacked or chased the children surrounding the lake. These combined incidents put the cob, Ulysses, in a heightened state of anxiety because he fealt his nesting area was threatened.

Beyond these immediate goals, the Farmington Valley Swan Fund is intended to provide continued support and protection for this pair of swans, their offspring, and other swans in need of help in the Farmington Valley. Though some problems for swans are naturally occurring, most swans' problems are due to humans. Because of this, the key to correcting problems for and with swans is to educate people in close proximity to swan territories how to behave and interact around and with swans when that interaction is unavoidable. This can prevent the problems before they ever occur.

Objectives

These are the immediate objectives of the fund:

Take measures to ensure the swans will survive, their abuse will be ceased, and they will live in a safe environment.
Rally support and raise awareness of the abuse and other problems so that help and due consideration will be provided to the abused swans.
Raise funds to help with expenses associated with the protection and safety of the swans.
Educate local people about the behavioral patterns of swans and of laws relating to the protection and abuse of swans.
Provide photo galleries to visitors of this website to help them appreciate the inherent grace and beauty of swans.

Planned Expenditure Of Contributions

This is how the money from contributions will be spent:

A donation will be made towards the costs of the fencing that will protect the swans' nest area.
Any other assistance to alleviate the expenses associated with the swans from the apartment complex will be considered. The apartment complex is a business and we do not want them to resent the expenses associated with helping the swans.
The rehabilitation for the cob's injured wing will be supported.
Materials that help educate the people in the complex will be created, printed, and distributed.
Those objectives achieved, the fund will look outwards from Ulysses and Penelope to help other swans in trouble in the Farmington River Valley where swans coexist with people in a densely populated area.
Donations will be made from the fund to other organizations that help injured swans around Connecticut and help to protect swans.
Expenses associated with establishing and managing a website for the organization will be covered.
In order to show gratitude for significant contributions, a small token of appreciation will be mailed back to outstanding contributors. Part of the funds from contributions will go towards paying for the expenses associated with these token gifts and associated mailing expenses.

The spending of money will be fully disclosed on the new website for the swans.

Advisors

The following individuals serve as advisors to the fund and organizatoin:

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