Contest Winner: Claire's Story is the "Most Inspiring!" By Sue Kangas In the February edition of 'Tude News, we gave an update on Claire's journey from a sickly shelter dog suffering from kennel cough, insulin-dependent diabetes, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) to a healthy and cherished foster dog under foster mom Sue Wichman's loving care. Those who have followed Claire's story or met her in person (as many did at last month's Southeast Rat Terrier Jamboree) can all agree that this dog's remarkable recovery against all odds was an inspiring story by itself. But Claire's story is still waiting for a final chapter before she gets to the "happily ever after" part! Both of Claire's eyes have mature diabetic cataracts that have caused almost complete blindness. The good news is that Claire's retinas are healthy, and with cataract surgery, she has a 99 percent chance of regaining her vision completely.   To help raise the $3,000 needed to pay for Claire's cataract surgery, New Rattitude entered Claire's story in an online "Inspiring Rescue Stories" contest. We asked our members and supporters to help us win in two phases of the contest. Phase one involved visiting the Inspiring Rescue Stories Web site and replying to Claire's story by leaving a short comment.  Two hundred thirty-nine comments were left, making Claire's story an Inspiring Rescue Stories finalist and qualifying her for phase two of the contest.  Between April 15 and 30, visitors to the Inspiring Rescue Stories Web site could vote for their favorite rescue story.   In true New Rattitude fashion, our members and supporters rose to the challenge and cast enough votes for Claire's story to win the contest! Joanne Wannan, contest organizer and author of the book "New Lives, Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing, and Giving Hope," commented, "A big congratulations to Claire, who stole our hearts--and received a whopping 40 percent of the votes!"   The prize package includes $200 in cash donated by author Joanne Wannan and over $1,000 worth of prizes, including a custom pet portrait, a Pawsby PooPatroller, a custom dog tag, a designer dog collar and matching leash, several autographed top-selling dog-related books, a $25 gift certificate from Busch Pet Products, a gift certificate for Boutique Fancy Fluff, a three-year subscription to Modern Dog Magazine, a gift basket of Rescue Wear by Toru, a standard large chew-proof Kuranda dog bed, and more!   So how do we turn these great prizes into cash to pay for Claire's cataract surgery? New Rattitude is having an online auction! More details will come about that later, after we receive the prizes. Although the auction probably won't be held until early summer, that won't hold up Claire's surgery. The surgery will be scheduled as soon as her wise doctors feel she's ready.   You can read Claire's winning story at www.inspiringrescuestories.com/category/claires-story/. Contributions towards Claire's cataract surgery are still being gratefully accepted. Visit the Canine Clinic at New Rattitude's Web site, make a donation, and watch the thermometer rise toward our $3,000 goal!

					Dottie - From Street Dog to "Amazing Athlete!" By Debbie Collins How do dogs find their way to living on the streets? Dottie was a dog who found herself in that predicament--until she was noticed by a passerby on a country road and picked up by a kind lady. The lady couldn't take her home to her household of dogs, so until she could find a better alternative, she "stored" her in a vacant house, going several times a day to feed her and let her outside. She saw the potential in this wonderful girl and put out a plea to local rescue organizations. Debbie Collins from New Rattitude heard the plea and took in this country gal. As soon as Cindy Hosler in Florida saw Dottie's picture, she knew that Dottie would be hers. Cindy, a member of a flyball team known as the Pensacola Furricanes, knew what she was looking for. "With her long legs and intelligent eyes, I could see the future--and that included agility and flyball," Cindy recalls. Cindy adopted Dottie on Thanksgiving 2008, when Dottie was only 10 months old. She provided Dottie with a home of security and happiness and a place where healthy treats were given liberally. Cindy taught Dottie to play and, important for her future flyball career, taught her to love to play with balls. Cindy explains, "I needed to help her learn to play and to love the ball before I could even begin to teach her any flyball. She didn't know what a ball was or what you do with it." "Dottie would gingerly run after balls but always deferred to Callie (one of Cindy's other dogs) to get the ball. In fact, she didn't understand that getting the ball was the whole purpose! So I started dropping treats into her mouth saying, ‘Catch!' Before long, I substituted a small tennis ball, still saying, ‘Catch!' It didn't take long for her to understand that if she caught the ball, she'd get a treat." "I took the game outside. I would toss the ball for the other dogs; then I'd toss a ball to the side, just for her. I was so excited when she ran to the ball, turned, and ran back to me with the ball in her mouth! Boy, did she get lots of treats! That was all it took--she now sprints after the ball and has a blast playing with the other dogs." While Cindy was teaching Dottie that play is fun, the two of them enjoyed using the agility jumps, weave poles, tunnels, chute, and the tire jump that Cindy has in her backyard. Cindy noticed that Dottie really took to all the equipment and seemed to love to run with her through a course. So they signed up for formal lessons. On May 22, Dottie ran in her second agility trial! Cindy says, "We have so much fun together, and she is an amazing athlete--so easy to train and willing to learn." Cindy started training Dottie to the jumps and box of flyball. She explains, "Since jumping and running is something any dog loves, it wasn't hard to teach her to jump over four jumps in a row. What WAS hard was helping her learn to run away from me! The advantage of having a dog that loves to be near you for agility was not so good for flyball. It took her several practices to understand that if she went away from me over the jumps, she could come back to me for a treat! I taught her the box turn by working for five minutes or less every day--sometimes in the backyard, sometimes at practice. I never overdid it; it was always something fun for her to do. Pretty soon she was running to the box, making a perfect turn, and running back to me. But she needed to learn to get the ball from the box, too. So with all the ball work we did before, step-by-step she learned to run to the box, trigger the ball, catch the ball, and turn to come back over the jumps." Dottie's biggest challenge is her anxiousness, and once at a practice or tournament, it takes her some time to get used to where she is and what is expected of her. Cindy is patient with her and has learned how to ease her into a comfort level in new situations. On May 2, Cindy and her team decided it was time for Dottie to jump in and get her feet wet. Cindy says, "She'll never know what to expect until she actually runs in a real race. My teammates are so encouraging and very helpful and willing to lose a race so that Dottie can gain experience. I showed her the box, did some quick box work, then ran her back to me over the jumps. She seemed ready and was actually doing a funny bark/groan while we were waiting our turn to run. We put her last, so she didn't have to pass any other dog and I could catch her if need be. First dog took off; second dog, good pass; third dog, going strong (by this time my stomach was a nervous mess). OK, Dottie, are you ready? OK! Go, go, go, go!! Off she ran, got the ball, and ran back over the jumps! YAY!! It's kind of like watching your child graduate from high school--you are so proud! She ran two more heats perfectly, and we won that race." Proud mom Cindy says, "She has fulfilled the hopes I saw in that first picture Debbie posted almost two years ago. And we have so many more dreams to conquer. Dottie, along with Callie and Boomer, has become an awesome athlete. I can't wait for the next tournament or trial. In the meantime, she sits in my lap, gives sweet kisses, and is absolutely wonderful." From a dog living on the streets, to a vacant home, then to rescue, and on to a home where her true potential is recognized and nurtured--this is the happy ending we wish for all our rescued ratties!

					News and Events Woofstock! NR's Georgia team recently participated in the 5th annual Woofstock Pet Party in the Park event sponsored by Atlanta radio station Star94 in Suwanee, Ga., on May 15. There were dozens of booths, with many different vendors, rescue groups, and other pet-related organizations represented. Our enterprising team raised $261.01 for New Rattitude from donations, sale of cold drinks, and a new fundraising game they invented called "Rolling for Rescue." For $3, the very popular Rolling for Rescue offered players the opportunity to roll the dice and choose from a variety of prizes depending on the outcome of the roll. Over 50 people played and everyone was a winner, including New Rattitude since all of the prizes were donated items. Volunteers manning the NR booth were Terry Beale, Paula Nowak, and Shannon Bayless, assisted by Anne-Kathryn Love, Leah Owenby, and Molly Freeman. Fosters in attendance were Benny, Hamlin, Victoria, and Vienna. Rescue alumni in attendance were Paula's Curly and Molly's Luma (formerly Petals). Great job, everyone! New Items in the ReTail Shop Check out all of the great new merchandise in our newly expanded ReTail Shop! We now offer a variety of toys, chews, treats, bandanas, martingale collars, and other gear for the rattie on the go. For the humans, we have logo apparel in several types and styles, other logo items such as totes and cups, rat terrier and rescue decals, NR wristbands and more! Some items are limited quantity, so place your orders now before they're gone. New Members! We'd like to welcome the following new members. THANKS for joining our team! Anne Wiese (WA), foster parent Wanda Pezant (LA), volunteer Amber Williamson (FL), volunteer Fred & Dee Bennett (VA), foster parents Paige Morey (VA), volunteer

					Frodo's Product Review: NR's Exclusive Squeek-ee Ropes By Janell Brown and Frodo When I was a younger lad, my favorite pastime was searching out socks, shaking them around until I was sure they were dead, and then settling in for a nice chew. Of course after a couple years of watching the humans freak out like I had killed a beloved pet each time I chewed a tiny hole in one of their socks, I decided to chew on things that were less likely to upset them. They are such frail, excitable animals--those humans--getting worked up over the most ridiculous things. So imagine my surprise when my human plunked down before me my latest assignment--a sock toy. But this was no mere floppy sock. This was three colorful, tough, long socks braided into a rope. But wait, my wee rattie friends, because it gets better. What is inside the toe of each of the three socks? Another sock!!! But wait again, because this is going to blow your mind. And inside the second socks? SQUEAKIES!  I was beside myself with happiness. With dedication, I set to my job of testing out this ingenious hybrid--a sock that squeaks. Now, I will admit that it is almost unfair to the toy to be handed over to my jaws of steel and my unflappable determination to make the kill. I don't mean to brag, but I'm one of those dogs who can destroy the indestructible. So while this was easy work for me, I'm guessing that it would take a dog of average mouth a bit of work to rip this baby open. I did kill off the squeakies, but the braid feels so good in my mouth that I'm saving that part. I like to carry it around, flip it until it is most assuredly dead, and then gum it at a leisurely pace for a bit. And the great part is that, if you fold the braid over on itself, it makes a great pillow. You can take a nap on it, and there it is to chew on as soon as you awaken. A couple other things I'd like to point out about this toy. Because it won't spread white fluffies around the house when you rip it open, your human will not feel the need to bring out the dreaded vacuum beast to clean. Also, this toy is not only assembled in the USA; it is created out of socks that are made in the USA, so no funky stuff's in your toy. And here is the greatest part--these toys are made expressly to raise money to rescue rat terriers. How can you go wrong with a toy like this?! Tell your humans they can purchase you one for $7.50 over at New Rattitude's online ReTail Shop. Show them some puppy eyes and say something like, "Oh, those poor homeless souls," and you might even be able to talk them into buying two or three.

					Furever Home We are proud to announce that 26 more NR ratties have found their furever homes. CongRATulations to all, and to the new adopters, WELCOME to the New Rattitude family! Buffy - Fostered by Patti Jeffries, adopted by Barbara & Zack Hill Kippy - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Robin Burton Scout - Fostered by Amy Flores, adopted by Candace Racklin Raspberry - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Carol Speer Redbud - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Susan Locke Raleigh - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Megan Wagner Nieve - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Jeannie Harrison Fuego - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Marcus Lee Rodey - Fostered by Diane McClane, adopted by Diane McClane Bailey - Fostered by Carrie Erskine, adopted by Jeanne Barth Vaquero - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Lizz Oliver Tripod - Fostered by Linda Kuiper, adopted by Linda Kuiper Spunkie - Fostered by Debbie Collins, adopted by Wayne & Heidee Vansant Dublin - Fostered by Terry Beale, adopted by Donna Lewis Raven - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Cindy Risinger Gabby - Fostered by Sue Kangas, adopted by Jan Oakley Atticus - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Laurie Lampe Fred - Fostered by Noreen Seeders, adopted by Carol Fannon Danika - Fostered by Paula Nowak, adopted by Sandra Mascheri Quixote - Fostered Janell Brown, adopted by Jessica Placek Rainbow - Fostered by Karen Stewart, adopted by Denise Esslinger Miss Monkey - Fostered by Kathy Young, adopted by Rebecca Hayward Nightingale - Fostered by Nadia Chiodini, adopted by Josh Isaak Alf - Fostered by Diane Cosentini, adopted by Leticia Hardin Acadia - Fostered by Linda Kuiper, adopted by Kelly Zoeller Pippen - Fostered by Carrie Erskine, adopted by Carrie Erskine In The Clinic Jigsaw had a luxating patella, or "trick knee," a relatively common problem in small dogs. The kneecap, or patella, slips out of the smooth groove in which it normally rides up and down. With the patella dislocated, or luxated, medially, the knee cannot extend properly and stays bent. That's what happened to Jigsaw, and surgery was required to fix it. Without the surgery, Jigsaw would have eventually experienced conformational changes in his hips and long bones, ultimately leading to painful arthritis. Luckily, in another four to six weeks, Jigsaw will be totally healed and ready for adoption. New Rattitude is gratefully accepting donations to cover the cost of Jigsaw's $758 surgery. Dogs in the Canine Clinic have incurred vet bills that adoption fees don't cover. If you can help, please visit the link above to read about these dogs and consider a donation to help us cover these costs. Canine Clinic donors are listed on our Donor Recognition board. We appreciate every dollar...without the help of our supporters, we would not be able to rescue these ratties with medical needs.

					Going the Extra Mile   By Patti Jeffries Have you ever wondered how a rattie in a shelter in Louisiana might end up in a foster home in the state of Washington? Or how that cute puppy fostered in Georgia made it to its forever home in Virginia? Very often, it is due to the dedication of volunteer transporters--possibly one of the most overlooked but vital links in the lifeline of animal rescue. Our readers who belong to ‘Tude Talk are probably familiar with the postings of our transport coordinators, who map out a route from point A to point B, dividing it into reasonable sections, or legs, with carefully estimated times of arrival and departure for each part of the journey. But even with the participation of the foster parents, the eager adopters, and possibly a New Rattitude volunteer or two lucky enough to live near the transport route, many transports would fail to materialize without the support of a larger network of volunteer transporters. Most of these unseen heroes put a lot of preparation into their work. On The Road Again (OTRA) is an all-volunteer animal transport group that was founded by a former trucker, Brandy Holleran. All OTRA volunteer transporters must be "vetted," or verified, a process that requires them to provide both personal and veterinary information, as well as home and cell phone numbers. OTRA also sets up standards for rescues groups needing their help. The dog being transported must travel with a health certificate and all necessary shelter or adoption paperwork. As each leg of the journey is completed--often at an easy-to-locate business within sight of a major highway or interstate--the transporter hands over the dog, with all accompanying paperwork and any other included supplies or medications to the next volunteer, who until that moment may have been known only by name, cell phone number, and make/color of vehicle. Transports are often monitored by OTRA or the rescue group coordinating the effort. When the arriving transporter sees that its furry charge is safely onboard for the next leg of its journey, a phone call is placed to the coordinator, who can then update the rest of the transporters along the route. Experienced transporters know to bring along water, blankets and towels, treats, puppy milk replacer for puppy transports, a clean and comfy crate, clean water bowl, leashes, and a basic first aid kit. Because collars are too easy to slip out of, transporters rely on slip leads and harnesses. They also know that while some dogs enjoy travel immensely, others are terrified; and terrified dogs can chew their way out of harnesses, lose control of bodily functions, try to consume the blanket that is lining the crate, or even try to bite anyone and everyone. The best transporters are experts at opening the crate and removing and securing the dog with all the vehicle doors and windows closed. If a door or window is open when the dog is removed from its crate, it could bolt and never be seen again or get hit by a car. When safety is kept top priority and communication between the transporters and the coordinator flows freely and often, the transport usually goes according to plan. And when the last leg of the journey is complete and another dog has been delivered to a new life, all the people involved give each other a well-deserved virtual pat on the back and a big cyber high five. Yes, transporting is an extremely rewarding experience, and it can become addicting. The happy feeling is one of the best in the world. Almost as good as a big bunch of kisses from your favorite dog! To learn more about how to become an OTRA-verified transporter, join their Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OnTheRoadAgain

					Why I Rescue By Jessica Mannon Several times over the last few months, we've featured volunteers telling why they rescue. We each have our reason for getting into rescue, and once on this crazy journey, we each have our most unforgettable fosters. This month, "Why I Rescue" takes a slightly different turn and highlights volunteers' particularly memorable ratties! Jaime Restorff (WI) Like many rescuers, my first foster stands out the most. The first year we went to the Southeast Rat Terrier Jamboree, we mentioned, "We might like to foster." Fast forward 24 hours and we were taking home a mix who had been living on the streets near the Jamboree campground. Several people spent hours catching Tennyson and his cohorts. With a borrowed crate and quick instructions on how to apply online to be a foster parent, we were on our way. When we got home and unloaded the car, I looked at that dog shivering in the front yard and thought, "What did I get myself into?" Over the next few days, we learned that Tennyson was hand shy, had never been indoors, didn't know how to go up or down stairs, and didn't believe that dog food was REALLY food or that he should drink water with chlorine in it. And we also saw that he trusted the other dogs exclusively and would follow their lead. Over the five months we had Tenny, his transformation from street dog to family member was an amazing thing to watch and be a part of. He went from "can't touch me" to lap-diving for kisses. He watched my dogs and learned and learned and learned. His wanting to belong to the pack was his biggest motivator for training. The hand shyness was slow to change, but he was joined to us at the hip and would not let his pack out of his sight. Every training session with my boys had Tenny watching at the sidelines, and within a few weeks, he would know the tricks even if we hadn't taught him directly. My dog Satch "recycles" (places empty drink bottles in the recycle bin) and gets a treat for it. One day Tenny came over, carrying my once half-full soda to the bin--so proud he knew how to do it, too. Although he'd left a trail of sticky cola, he was rewarded for his valiant effort. Everything he learned boosted his confidence. He was a submissive smiler when he came to us, and while it was adorable, I was happy when he could look me in the eye without cowering and grinning. Tenny got one application, and that is all he needed. I wanted so badly to reject that app--they didn't have a fence or another dog or kids--but my adoption coordinator assured me that it was a good app and I needed to let him go. I was so sure he would be returned that I refused to take another foster for six weeks until finally, Cathy, his adopter, told me straight up she wasn't giving him back. As it turned out, I could not have handpicked a better home. Tenny is the light of this family's eye. I get wonderful updates from Cathy, and a great friendship has come from this adoption. She writes me letters about Tennyson that make me laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time; yet even today, I refer to Tenny as "the one that got away."   Paula Nowak (GA) My unforgettable foster is Janta. I fostered her for another group early in my fostering "career." She was one I could have kept in a minute. I already had two foster boys at the time, plus my four personal dogs, so taking in another really wasn't on my to-do list. But I received an e-mail on a Friday, and as soon as I saw her picture, I knew I'd be driving there to get her on Saturday morning. There was something about her that reminded me of my own dog Molly. Janta was spunky, confident, and affectionate, but she didn't put up with any of the other dogs' antics.   I took Janta with me to Jamboree that year, and she was AWESOME! She stuck right by me, even off leash, and she won a ribbon in the Rat Run contest. One thing that made Janta special for me was that she had been unwanted for the very qualities that I loved! I'm sure some would have viewed Janta as a challenge, but she was close to perfection to me. Two other foster girls similar in personality were hard to let go, too. I guess I just have a thing for the "tough chicks." Today Janta, her name changed to Kyna, lives with a wonderful family in Arizona. If her mom called me to return her, you know what I'd say! That will never happen, though, so I'll just enjoy the next Janta-style foster girl I get until her furever family comes along.   Everyone has their most memorable foster.  Which one is yours?

					Inside a Rescuer's Heart Patti Jeffries and Buffy By Nadia Chiodini and the Pack Buffy was sitting in a kill shelter in Florida when Patti Jeffries learned about her from another New Rattitude volunteer. Buffy had been turned in as a stray with no history, but the shelter workers did know that she was very sweet and very scared. Patti, who has worked in rescue since 1985, didn't hesitate. After all, even as a kid, she was picking up strays of all kinds. But once Patti had Buffy safe with her, she learned something else about her--one of her legs had been badly broken in the past and her humans, if she had any, had just ignored it. Try as she might, Buffy couldn't use the leg, and it would just flop around.  Patti's vet had hoped the leg would heal with an initial casting and lots of rest, but because the break was so old, the bones had started to callous over and would not heal correctly. So it was decided that Buffy would need surgery. Veterinary orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matt Corse of Northlake Veterinary Surgery in Clarkston, Ga., performed a graft and bone plate repair, in which the bones were cut to give them a new surface that would be more likely to heal. Following the surgery, Buffy was treated with pain medications and antibiotics--the latter to reduce the likelihood of infection from pressure sores caused by her cast, which was going to be with her for quite a while. Buffy had to be restricted to her crate for eight weeks with weekly trips to the vet for bandage changes and checkups. She was allowed to stand only to go potty. Patti set up an ex-pen with a comfy bed, pee pads, and a water bowl for her little patient. Stocked with bully sticks and a few toys, the pen quickly became Buffy's sanctuary; none of Patti's dogs could steal Buffy's "stuff." And although Buffy was a perfect angel and was happy with her toys and chewies, she did need at least an hour of lap time in the morning and an hour (or more) in the evenings.   Today, Buffy has recovered beautifully and has been adopted! She uses her leg about 70 percent of the time when she walks slowly, but she holds it up when she runs. None of this would have been possible without the commitment, care, and love of Buffy's foster parents. Patti gives her husband credit for sharing in the rescue responsibilities and helping in Buffy's recovery, explaining, "After all, part of the lap time was in his lap."   When I asked Patti what advice she would have for someone considering fostering a dog, she replied, "Don't go into it if you feel you want a lot of people to tell you how wonderful you are...Do it if you want to make a difference in the dogs' lives. It is very rewarding, and it's a lot of fun. The happy looks on the dogs when they realize they have a family, all their very own, is truly a sight to behold." Patti went on to caution, "Don't get in over your head. You cannot save them all...Make sure your family members agree to what you want to do. Get them to help and participate. And just because a dog has a broken leg or heartworms should not be a death sentence. Educate yourself and learn to deal with the problem. You'd be amazed at how many perfect dogs are labeled shelter rejects." And what of Buffy's new home? Well, New Rattitude volunteer Barbara Hill and her husband, Zack, had recently lost Hannah, their older rat terrier, to kidney cancer, when Barbara saw Buffy's face on the NR Web site. She fell in love! And although she felt that she had no chance, as there was another strong application for Buffy already in the works, Barbara didn't give up. As it turned out, the other applicants wanted a dog quickly, and Buffy had a long road ahead of her. Barbara said that she would wait forever if she had to in order for Buffy to be well. She and Zack did, and Buffy is now a happy member of the Hill household! It was the perfect outcome for two patient humans and a wonderful canine patient--and a heartwarming story for every rescuer's heart.

					Want to Get Involved? Join The Pack! Volunteer participation is critical to our success and our ability to save dogs. New Rattitude has many volunteer opportunities and ways that you can participate that involve as little or as much time as you wish to contribute: Fostering, transporting, adoption screening, fundraising, organizational tasks, shelter monitoring, public relations, newsletter, special events, and more. As a member of our team, you will always be treated with respect and your contributions appreciated. Volunteer education and training are ongoing, and support and advice willingly shared. If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out our online Volunteer Application! Donate Cash donations go directly to pay for veterinary expenses for our rescued dogs, including vaccinations, heartworm testing and treatment, spay/neuters, antibiotics, etc. Since we are an all-volunteer organization with virtually no overhead, 100 percent of your donation goes to care for the dogs. To donate, send check or money order to: New Rattitude, PO Box 14064, Lansing, MI 48901. Or donate via Paypal by sending a payment to: treasurer@newrattitude.org GoodSearch/GoodShop GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! Go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter New Rattitude as the charity you want to support.   GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall that donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's, and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting New Rattitude as your chosen cause.

					'Tude News Team Managing Editor: Susan Beard Copy Editor: Kathy Puckett Staff Writers: Janell Brown, Nadia Chiodini, Debbie Collins, Norma Downing, Barbara Hill, Patti Jeffries, Sue Kangas, Jessica Mannon, Sue Painter-Thorne, and Heidee Vansant Webmaster/Archives: Bethany Adams 'Tude News is published monthly. Freelance submissions are welcome. To submit a story or story idea, please contact the Managing Editor at newsletter@newrattitude.org. Visit our archives to view previous issues of 'Tude News.