An amazing GSPCA volunteer is a finalist in the Customer Service Awards - Michelle Champion is up for the Humble Volunteer Award
Submitted by Steve on 16:31, 20th Jun, 2016 |
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The Guernsey Customer Service Awards are delighted to formally announce our 2016 Guernsey finalists!
The organisers are in the process of contacting all finalists and they invite you all to the fun and informal awards ceremony - hosted by Island FM's James Bentley - in Market Square on Thursday 7th July from 5-7pm.
In 2014 one of our team managed to win one of the fantastic awards and we have just been informed that another of our wonderful team members is a finalist.
Michelle Champion who is one of our amazing volunteers has been short listed for the Humble Volunteer Award.
Michelle helps with many of our events, the charity shop and helping as a GSPCA Night Warden Ambulance Driver to mention just a few of her roles.
No matter the challenge or the time a call may come in Michelle is always polite, friendly and extremely helpful.
A recent rescue Michelle was called out to was a pigeon stuck up a chimney and despite the challenge and getting rather sooty she remained her happy, friendly, polite and professional self and it is an honour to have her as one of our volunteers.
More than 9,000 nominations were received from members of the public online and via voting boxes, the most in the history of the awards meaning that Michelle has done extremely well to be short listed.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "Michelle is a real star for the GSPCA and always so helpful and willing to do anything she can to help out the Animal Shelter and animals."
"It is a joy when Michelle helps as she is always positive and so nice."
"Even after crawling into a chimney to rescue a pigeon which she did recently she still finished with a smile."
"We've all got our fingers crossed for Michelle at the GSPCA for the 7th July when James from island FM will announce the winners as she would make an amazing Humble Volunteer Award winner."
Michelle Champion GSPCA Volunteer said "Wow, I can't believe it how nice."
When Michelle was first told she really couldn't believe she was a finalist and made for a wonderful surprise.
Michelle continues "That is so nice and I'll be there on the Thursday 7th July."
Michelle being very humble was certainly very surprised when she was told and a little lost for words and we are all very proud of her achievement at the GSPCA.
Here is a full list of the finalists:
Self Employed Award
Debbie Duport, Dance/fitness teacher
Tracey Bougourd, A’dora Bubble Photography
Victoria Bebbington, Jute Adore Gifts
Aspiring Star Award
Aaron Mahy, Duke of Richmond Hotel
Georgia Harvey, Co-Op Pharmacy, Smith Street
Nick Youle, La Villette Hotel
Best Team Award
Printed
Vale Garage
Lloyds Bank, Alderney
Best customer service by an individual employee Award
Marion Le Friec, Lloyds Bank, St Martins
Sue Mather, B&Q
Chris Norman, gym instructor, Rocquettes Hotel
States/Public sector Award
Education, Sports & Culture events team for the Arts Seafront Sunday
Joe Hind, HSSD
States garden team for Island floral displays
Humble Volunteer Award
Paul Wheatley
Michelle Champion
Sara King
Best Service at a Visitor Attraction Award
Fort Grey
The Occupation Museum H
erm Island
Food, drink & Hospitality Award
White D’Or Restaurant
The OGH Hotel
Moores Hotel
Best Service given to a Visitor
Wendy Wilson
Luke Duquemin
Mark Brockway
Best Business
7-DaySelfStore
Lloyds Bank
Perelle Butchers
Sure customer experience director, Charlotte Dunsterville, said: “The standard of entries for this year’s awards has been exceptional which made whittling down the entries to just thirty finalists in ten categories a very difficult decision for the judging panel."
“The nominations spanned a diverse range of local professions and show that the Guernsey spirit of politeness, kindness and going the extra mile is experienced regularly across the island."
“The number of entries, which has surpassed previous years, shows how important good customer service is and how passionate islanders are about acknowledging it when they receive it.”
We really need your help to get Olivia back to warmer waters.
Olivia is now ready to be flown to the Canary islands and we are currently appealing for funds to help towards the costs of her flight.
With just over £2000 raised so far we are the fifth of the way towards being able to afford the costs of her flight.
To transport a loggerhead turtle from one country to another requires Cites documents which we are in the midst of awaiting completion from the Spanish authorities.
When we first rescued Olivia she was extremely weak, starving, dehydrated and close to death.
Just over two months later and she is now swimming and eating on her own which is difficult to achieve in captivity.
The next big step for Olivia is to get her back to a warmer climate and a rescue centre with experience to finish her rehabilitation.
We have arranged a place for Olivia in the Canary Islands and we need to raise the funds and arrange a plane to help transport her back to where she belongs.
Geoff George Ambulance Driver, Marine Medic and main carer for Olivia at the GSPCA said "Olivia is eating extremely well which is is a massive step in her rehabilitation as they are so difficult to feed in captivity."
"She is strong enough to travel but not only do we need to find the funding to transport her to the Canary Islands we are awaiting the relevant documents."
"She is doing very well at the GSPCA but we are appealing for funds so that when we receive the paperwork to transport her we can get it done quickly."
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "Each day we move closer to be able to move Olivia to Gran Canaria and we are currently appealing for funds to help move her south."
"A huge thank you to everyone that has donated so far which has helped raise £2000 of at least £10500 we need to raise to cover the costs to fly her to a turtle rescue in the Canaries."
"Olivia was so weak, dehydrated and thin we were really worried for her when she first arrived, but thanks to the team at the GSPCA especially Geoff George, John Knight and the team at the Vetcare Centres, Les Van Blerk and the team at Vets 4 Pets, Spa De La Mare, Waitrose, Guernsey Reef, States Works, Guernsey Aquarium, Guernsey Builders and many others she has improved each day and is now ready for a long journey."
"Loggerhead turtles are listed as Endangered and facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources."
"In the wild they face many threats with the greatest threat being a loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests and human disturbances such as coastal lighting and housing developments that cause disorientations during the emergence of hatchlings."
"Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling and pollution. as well as incidental capture in fisheries is thought to have played a significant role in the recent population declines observed for these wonderful creatures."
"World wide the population of loggerhead turtles is estimated to only be between 40,000 and 50,000 nesting females which is less than the population of Guernsey."
"We are now desperately looking to find a plane that could help and donations towards the travel to help with costs of fuel and landing taxes."
"New Era Vets from Jersey have helped start the fund with a donation of £280 which was left after transporting the loggerhead turtle called Terri they rescued earlier this year and we are hugely grateful to them and to others that have donated towards her care."
"We are aware that costs just for fuel and landing taxes from the Channel Islands to the Canary Isles are over £10,500 so this is a huge appeal to help one very special lady."
"So far we have raised just over £2000 and need to raise a further £9000 to get this rare and beautiful animal back to where she belongs which is the costs we have been told by one very kind plane owner, although we continue to search for other options."
"If you know of a plane that could help or would like to make a donation we would love to hear from you."
"Thank you to everyone that has helped so far it is really appreciated."
To make a donation online please click the paypal button below, call 01481 257261, by post or at the GSPCA.
If you know of someone that could help with transport please call GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne 01481 257261 or email [email protected]
Common Name: Loggerhead - named for its exceptionally large head.
Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
Description: Head is very large with heavy strong jaws. Carapace is bony without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, rough scutes (scales) present with 5 lateral scute. Carapace is heart shaped. Front flippers are short and thick with 2 claws, while the rear flippers can have 2 or 3 claws. Carapace is a reddish-brown with a yellowish-brown plastron. Hatchlings have a dark-brown carapace with flippers pale brown on margins.
Size/Weight/Age: The Loggerhead measures up to 1.1 meters (3.5 ft) long when fully grown, weighing approximately 135 kilograms (300 lb) and have a lifespan of 47-67 years.
Diet: The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom dwelling invertebrates: mollusks, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels, and other marine animals. Its large and powerful jaw serve as an effective tool in dismantling its prey.
Habitat: Prefer to feed in coastal bays and estuaries, as well as in the shallow water along the continental shelves of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Reproduction: Female Loggerheads, between the age of 17 to 33, will usually mate every 2 to 4 years.
Crawl Pattern: 1) Alternating comma-shaped flipper marks 2) Wavy and smoothed track center with no thin, straight, and well-defined tail-drag mark 3) No regular marking from front flippers at the margins of the track
Nesting: Female Loggerheads are known to nest from one to seven times within a nesting season (mean is about 4.1 nests per season) at intervals of approximately 12–17 days. Mean clutch size varies from about 100 to 126 along the southeastern United States coast. Incubation ranges from about 45 to 95 days, depending on incubation temperatures, but averages 55 to 60 days for most clutches.
International Status - Listed as Endangered (facing high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN)
Threats to Survival: Fishing gear is the biggest threat to loggerheads in the open ocean. They often become entangled in longlines or gillnets. According to the 2009 status review of loggerheads by the Fisheries Service, drowning from entanglement in longline and gillnet fishing gear is the turtles’ primary threat in the North Pacific. The second greatest threat is loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances (such as coastal lighting and housing developments) that discourages nesting and interferes with the hatchlings' ability to navigate to the water's edge
To see some of the businesses that have helped please check out the links below.
To donate to the turtle or Bonnie the grey seal pup please call 01481 257261, pop along to the Animal Shelter in St Andrews, by post or by clicking the link below.
Have you got a GSPCA Hoody, Polo Shirt, Sweat Shirt or T-shirt? If not get yours by clicking here.
To find out about our Events, how to become a Member, Sponsor an Animal Pen, our Wish List, Corporate Sponsorship & Volunteering, , our New Build & Redevelopment Appeal and much more please click here.
There are many ways to support the work of the GSPCA and you can even donate online by clicking the paypal link below.
By post cheques payable to 'GSPCA' - GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey, GY6 8UD
Or by phone 01481 257261.
To find out more regarding our Angel Sponsorship Scheme please click here.
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