Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Congress Works to Keep Tigers and Other Wildlife Happy!

Last weekend, the House and Senate passed the appropriations bills to fund the government for 2015, which is GREAT news for tigers!

The National T4T Coalition and a few T4T members traveled to Washington D.C. in September to meet with their Senators to advocate for more funding to support international wildlife.

We asked Congressional leaders to allocate $10 million to support USFWS-International’s programs. Thankfully USFWS-International received $9.1 million to continue supporting conservation efforts. Within the $9.1 million, $2.4 million will be allocated to the Rhino and Tiger Fund. Awesome news for both tigers and rhinos!

T4T members still have fun when working to #SaveOurMascot!
Some of this money is used to support our partner Tiger Trust in India who conducts multiple women forest guard trainings to reduce human-wildlife conflict issues in central India. Click here to learn more about how USFWS-International is assisting Tiger Trust’s programs.

The National T4T Coalition also asked Congress to allocate $50 million within the Department of State to combat wildlife trafficking, a $5 million increase from last year. The good news is that USAID received $55 million to address these issues, of which $10 million will be used to combat rhino poaching.

 “It made me realize how much is being done at the federal level, and how many more opportunities remain to make an even greater impact,” said Taylor Tench of Clemson University after his trip to Washington D.C. with Tigers for Tigers.

It is a great week for tigers and international wildlife thanks our T4T clubs and your support by raising your voice for our mascot. A special thanks to the National Wildlife Refuge Association for assisting us on our D.C. trips! 

You can continue to show your support for tigers over the holidays by purchasing your Tiger Stamps at your local post office or online. Click here to learn more about our recent trip to Washington D.C. with our students!

Sincerely,

Sean Carnell
National Coordinator
NT4TC
t4tcoalition@gmail.com



Friday, December 12, 2014

College Daze: “Two: Clemson Goodnight”

By Sean Carnell

Hey Tigers! This is our first of a series of blog posts from our T4T members & fans about their college days.

Carrah Lingo, our Communication’s Associate, joined the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition in April 2014 and is now working full-time with us. Carrah graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Social Sciences in May 2014. If you can ever find Carrah on Game day at Clemson, she is definitely a tiger at heart!

“As a former Clemson Tiger, I feel a sense of responsibility to do something to save our mascot from extinction. It means a lot to me to be a Clemson Tiger, but it wouldn't mean anything if they didn't exist,” said Carrah.

Carrah and I sit down to chat about Tigers for Tigers and her experiences.

S: Before we get start talking about Tigers for Tigers, let’s start with a couple of rapid-fire questions… Describe your college experience in three words:

C: Two, Clemson goodnight

S: What is your favorite restaurant in Clemson?

C: LOOSE CHANGE.

S: If you could re-live one of your college experiences again, what would that be?

C: Spring break #pcb2k13

S: What was your hardest class in college and why?

C: Accounting. It’s the whole reason I changed my minor from pre-business to social sciences. I ended up withdrawing, so does that still count?

S: Awesome! Ok, now we can move on to more questions about Tigers for Tigers. How did you get involved in the club?

C: I stumbled across the Tigers for Tigers table at Tiger Prowl, an annual organizations fair at Clemson. I wasn't really aware of the situation our mascot was in and shock value really got to me. The students were genuine and you could tell they cared about the issue. The second semester I went on trip with Clemson Tigers for Tigers to the big cat sanctuary CFAR (Central Florida Animal Reserve) and got hooked! When I returned, I ran for Public Relations officer and got the position. Senior year I was proud to call myself president for a club that worked so hard for a cause that means so much to our university.

S: Many of our students are pursuing wildlife or biology degrees. But you were a Communications Studies major. What was that experience like for you?

C: It was definitely a little intimidating to join such a science and conservation based organization. I found a way to incorporate my social media and writing skills to generate more outreach and awareness for the club, which is very important.

When you're trying to fundraise or raise awareness for such an important cause it's vital to utilize social media outlets and your campus resources. The more attention we get, the more people know about our cause. The more people who know about Tigers for Tigers, the better chance we have of saving tigers!

Tigers for Tigers is a club that gives you chance to stand out and use your strengths to grow the organization. Not a lot of on-campus organizations give you this freedom, and not a lot of on-campus organizations have students who are as passionate about the cause as students in Tigers for Tigers are.

S: What advice do you have for aspiring T4T leaders and members about T4T opportunities?

C: Tigers for Tigers is such a unique movement. You get real world experience working with students across the country to save an endangered species from going extinct. You're making a difference before you even graduate college. Whether you're interested in wildlife conservation, or marketing, if Tigers for Tigers is something you truly care about, put everything you have into it. You will be making the most important investment for your future career.

I genuinely enjoy working for the Coalition and its partners. It's not easy to find a job directly out of college today, but Tigers for Tigers provided me with the opportunity to pursue a career I'm interested in and for that I am so grateful!

I see amazing things in the near future for Tigers for Tigers. We have an awesome team of professionals ranging from the conservation world, to the marketing world who are such great assets to our organization. We're working together to rally "tigers" across the country to save our tigers in the wild, and we're committed to making T4T as successful as possible.

I’m proud to have Carrah on our team. She is a pleasure to work with, always full of great ideas, and I’m privileged that we can provide her with the opportunity to pursue her career goals and gain experience through T4T.

To hear more stories from our T4T students, follow us on facebook and twitter!

Go Tigers!

Sean Carnell
National Coordinator
NT4TC
















Thursday, November 20, 2014

1st National Tiger Awareness Week a ROARING Success!





Seven tiger-mascot schools across the nation participated in T4T’s 1st Annual National Tiger Awareness Week from November 10th - November 16th. The idea was sparked at the last National T4T Summit held in Columbia, MO and is the first nationally student-led initiative for Tigers for Tigers!

The overall purpose of this week was to raise awareness on campus by engaging with students through interactive activities. One activity known as “The Tiger Skit” involves the university mascot being chased by a “poacher” in high traffic areas throughout campus. Encouraging conversation on social media, students are asked to tweet photos of the mascot using #MakeARoar. As a result, over 300 tweets were produced with the hashtag! Melissa Ventura, Towson University T4T club member said, “The Tiger Skit was a fun and creative way to bring awareness around campus regarding endangered wild tigers.” Rochester Institute of Technology’s mascot, Ritchie, even managed to make it on their local news channel, Fox Rochester WUHF, while competing in a #MascotMatchup! Click here to watch the clip.

Towson mascot, Doc, helps T4T #MakeARoar
A main focus of the week was to showcase the award-winning documentary, “The Elephant in the Living Room.” Starring Tim Harrison, Director of Outreach for Animals, this documentary explores the world of private ownership of exotic animals from both the owner’s and law enforcement’s side. Tim Harrison, expert on the removal of exotic animals, spoke at the 2nd Annual T4T Summit at Mizzou and most recently at Clemson University for National Tiger Awareness Week. Over 100 students showed up on a Friday night at Tillman Auditorium in Clemson, SC to listen to Tim Harrison speak about the consequences of owning exotic animals, why it’s dangerous, and why it’s important to act now. Harrison said, “This is my favorite organization here in the U.S., and I’m not exaggerating, because you guys are going to pick up the baton.” Tigers for Tigers has gladly accepted that offer!

Ranging from Colorado, to Texas, all the way to New York, these universities reached a total student population of over 130,000 on their campuses. Being mostly an awareness campaign, clubs across the country still managed to raise over $1,000 to go towards tiger conservation. Organizations such as National Wildlife Refuge Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Big Cat Rescue and Outreach for Animals promoted the week as well, reaching out to over 1 million fans on Facebook and Twitter. Hats off to the T4T clubs at Colorado College, Trinity University, LSU, Mizzou, RIT, Towson University and Clemson University for participating in a very successful National Tiger Awareness Week!

Visit our Facebook to view more photos from the event!

Go Tigers!

Carrah Lingo
Communications Associate
NT4TC
clingo@clemson.edu 


Friday, November 7, 2014

Tigers for Tigers Hopes to #MakeARoar for Tiger Conservation

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition will be holding its 1st Annual National Tiger Awareness Week at various tiger mascot schools across the nation starting Monday, November 10th through Sunday, November 16th in hopes of raising awareness for tiger conservation.

Inspired at the 2nd Annual National Tigers for Tigers Coalition Summit this past April, students decided to coordinate a tiger awareness week in efforts to save their mascot. Throughout the week, the Coalition hopes to amplify school spirit, increase local membership, and to share stories across social media.

College students across the nation have been working together to plan and execute this weeklong series of events. Various activities include:  “Pie an athlete in the face,” screenings of the documentary, “The Elephant in the Living Room,” and restaurant fundraisers.

“Forming just under two years ago, this first student-driven national collaboration is a big feat,”  National Tigers for Tigers Coalition Coordinator, Sean Carnell, said.  “These dedicated students are willing to sacrifice their time and energy to take part in something bigger than themselves.”

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition is the first known organization to rally students across the country for the conservation of their mascot.  Seven universities ranging from the states of New York to Colorado and hundreds of students are working together for this event with one common goal, to save their mascot. 

”With big schools such as LSU, University of Missouri, and Clemson University, they’re sure to grab the attention of their fellow tiger fans,“  added Carnell. “When we work together, and when we can come together under a common cause, we realize that we have true power and influence to make a change.”

Founded at Clemson University in 2012, the Coalition stands 13 schools strong today. Its mission is, “to mobilize students to connect the dots through the affinity that we share for our mascot to improve the status of tigers in the wild and in captivity.

Carnell urges, “If you’re not able to physically participate in any of the schools’ events, join the conversation by tweeting @T4T_Coalition with #MakeARoar, and share why you think it’s important to save the tiger from extinction."

To learn more information about the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, visit www.t4tcoalition.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
  

Go #MakeARoar!

Carrah Lingo
Communications Associate 
National Tigers for Tigers Coalition


Monday, October 27, 2014

RIT Tigers for Tigers Raises Over $5,500 for Tiger Conservation Efforts

On October 18th, RIT T4T raised over $5,500 for conservation efforts at the sold out Brick City Homecoming men’s hockey game against Boston College in Rochester, NY.

Prior to the game, RIT Tigers for Tigers produced one of a kind warm-up jerseys for the men’s hockey players that would be auctioned off throughout the game. In conjunction with the jerseys, RIT T4T produced a jumbo-tron asset and scripts for the announcer that was shown to more than 10,500 tiger fans to generate mass awareness for the cause and their club.

Despite the loss to Boston College, (2-6), the morale and spirit of the fans was alive! Jersey bids started at $100 but quickly soared! Within the first period RIT’s starting goalie, Jordan Ruby’s jersey sold for $500! By the beginning of the second period, every jersey had a bid. Throughout the game alumni, families and fans kept checking back in. By the end of the auction, fans were fighting over the pens to get their last bids in, proving their RIT Tiger spirit.

No matter where you are in the country, the tiger spirit is there! Tigers for Tigers elevates school pride and provides opportunities for tiger fans to do something positive for their mascot. “It’s cool to channel all of the positive energy we have for our athletic teams to see the bigger picture," Matt Miles, RIT T4T, president. This connection of the spirit we share for our mascot, to making a difference for our mascot in the wild is what Tigers for Tigers is all about.

At the same time, our students are building a foundation of critical job skills and experiences necessary for future careers. Peter Couttes of RIT T4T said, “It was great to see something go from an idea to a finished product. As a mechanical engineering major, engineering is all about coming up with an idea to solving a problem and implementing a solution. I definitely saw a similar pattern here." Students are recognizing that Tigers for Tigers is more than an on-campus organization, Tigers for Tigers is a movement that is truly making a difference while preparing them for their future.

We are extremely proud of RIT Tigers for Tigers, and we can’t wait to take this experience forward.  Great job guys! Go Tigers!

Learn more about RIT T4T’s unique experiences here!
Check out their awesome Public Service Announcement!

Sean Carnell
National Coordinator

National Tigers for Tigers Coalition
t4tcoalition@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

RIT Bleeds Orange & Black for Men's Hockey Silent Jersey Auction


On Saturday, October 18th Tigers for Tigers at RIT will be having their first ever silent jersey auction at their Men’s hockey Homecoming game in effort to #SaveourMascot from extinction!

Hosted at Blue Cross Arena, the silent auction will begin as soon as doors open at 6 PM located at the entrance of the arena. Tiger fans will be able to bid on each RIT player’s limited edition #SaveourMascot jersey with bids starting at just $100! Bidding will end at the puck drop of the third period, which gives everyone plenty of time to make sure they get their favorite player’s jersey! Proceeds from the silent jersey auction will benefit international tiger conservation.

Barely a year old, Tigers for Tigers at RIT is proof of what student tigers can do for wild tigers with a little bit of hard work and a lot of passion! Last October, RIT held its annual Brick City 5K, and T4T saw an opportunity to raise awareness through this event. With 500 participants and almost 200 of those being student-athletes, the 5K proved to be a huge success with Tigers for Tigers at RIT receiving the $250 raised as a result.

Tigers for Tigers at RIT has done an amazing job at connecting the spirit they have on the field to the passion to save their mascot off the field. “Every time I would gear up for a swim meet, I felt a sense of pride; knowing that when I wore my mascot, I represented my university and all that it stands for,” said Matthew Partacz, T4T member and a senior Mechanical Engineering major at RIT. Their brand new club is 30 tigers strong, and continues to grow every week. As he learned more about the threats facing tigers in the wild, Matthew went on to say, “This made me wonder… ‘What will RIT stand for if our tiger mascot was no more?' At this point in time, I realized that I had the opportunity to make a big difference not only for RIT, but for other tiger mascot universities as well.” If you’re a tiger, you’re going to do something to save wild tigers, and RIT is a perfect example of that!

Tigers for Tigers at RIT will also be hosting its 2nd Annual 5K race this Sunday, October 19th at 10 AM at Grace Watson Hall. Students can participate for FREE, while non-students can participate for $15 in advance by registering on RIT’s campus in the Campus Center in the Fireside Lounge, or $20 day of the race. So, whether you could make it to the hockey game or not, register for the 5K to prove you’re a REAL tiger & are willing to run to #SaveourMascot!

Go Tigers!

Carrah Lingo
Communications Associate
National Tigers for Tigers Coalition
clingo@clemson.edu 

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

T4T Members Roar for Tigers in D.C.

On Wednesday, September 17th members from the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition flew to Washington D.C. to speak with Senators and their Representatives to rally support for not only their shared tiger mascot, but also for wildlife conservation in general. There were three ultimate asks when it came to conversations with the Senators & their staffers:

1. To seek funding to address wildlife trafficking.
2. To seek funding to support U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s international   
conservation efforts.
3. To seek co-sponsors for the Big Cats & Public Safety Protection Act.

The illegal wildlife trafficking crisis generates an estimated $20 billion annually which is now being used by crime syndicates all over the world to fuel terrorist activities. Thankfully, the Administration and many Congressional leaders have made this issue a priority. Tigers for Tigers members raised their voice to help address the issue.   They asked for an increase in funding to support the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s efforts combat wildlife trafficking in foreign countries by improving local law enforcement and reducing demand.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Without Borders program provides critical funding to conserve rhinos, elephants, great apes, marine turtles, and our beloved mascot, the tiger. They work directly with local conservationists and organizations to expand education programs, reduce demand for wildlife products, protect habitats, and collaborate across the world.

Pictured L to R: Chelsea Connor, Taylor Tench, Nathan Hahn, Diane Dotson
A small increase in funding within both of these programs will make a huge impact on the conservation of not only the tiger, but also other endangered species that need our help NOW!

In the United States, there are an estimated 10,000 big cats in the hands of private owners. There are no federal regulations protecting these animals when it comes to ownership and breeding, putting not only the animal in harm’s way, but the people around it as well. This brings us to the third and final ask. The Big Cats & Public Safety Protection Act (S.1381) prohibits the private ownership and breeding of big cats in the United States.

For two days, members met with over nine Senators and their staffers to discuss these concerns and seek their support. The students found it relieving that the staffers were around their age ranging from 23-28 years old. “The Senators and their staff were nice and willing to hear us out. It felt good to know that by me being there to voice for tigers really helped push wildlife conservation in the right direction,” said Chelsea Connor, Towson Tigers for Tigers president.

The students even got to personally thank Senator Rob Portman of Ohio who played an integral role in championing the Save Vanishing Species Stamp! “It made me realize how much is currently being done at the federal government level, and how many more opportunities remain to make an even greater impact,” said Taylor Tench, current Clemson University Tigers for Tigers president. During the meet and greet with Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, the Senator himself said he would love to put the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition in direct contact with his team to provide suggestions on how to combat wildlife trafficking. Taylor went on to say, “I used to think that conservation meant going out in the jungle and studying animals or plants. While that is definitely a part of it, I never truly made the connection of field research to policy. Through policy, these types of projects get funded and laws are made to support conservation.”

Pictured L to R: Taylor Tench, SC Senator Tim Scott, Diane Dotson
When asked whether the trip had an impact on her future career choice, Diane Dotson, vice-president of Clemson University Tigers for Tigers said, “As much I want to be on the ground seeing my progress, I would love to work with Public Awareness. Human-animal conflicts play a huge role in conservation and with our help we can make a difference. I absolutely loved learning the policy side of things and am eager to learn more!” At the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, we want to help students with their career goals by providing them with unique experiences that will empower them to make a difference. That’s what college is all about, and it’s what makes T4T so special!

For some, the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition has already helped get students in the career paths they want. Nathan Hahn, Colorado College Tigers for Tigers alum, is currently working with tiger biologist Eric Dinerstein on new anti-poaching technologies. For Nathan, this was his second time visiting several Senators’ offices on behalf of the Coalition. When asked about this year’s trip, Nathan said, “Since I was fortunate enough to go last July as well, I could see how much more ready to listen these guys about the poaching crisis and its links to crime and terrorism. That was a new idea among them just a year ago, and it just goes to show what getting involved on the legislative/political side of conservation can do for the overall goal of protecting wildlife.” These students are not only putting in an immense amount of effort to protect their mascot, but they are seeing the progress being made firsthand. We have the ability as U.S. citizens to let our voices be heard on issues we care about, and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do!

On behalf of the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, we would like to thank all of our Tigers for Tigers students, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. We couldn’t #SaveourMascot without you! If you, too, would like your voice to be heard, attached below are letters for you to send to your congressional leaders to show your support.





All the best,

Carrah Lingo
Communications Associate
National Tigers for Tigers Coalition