Real Estate Lawyers Build For Lions and Tigers and Bears – Oh, My!
Well, actually, for raccoons, birds and somewhat smaller wildlife, but as part of an ongoing community service initiative, 50-plus members of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and their spouses or guests will spend a day at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society in Seattle to construct cages for raccoons, build recovery pools for oiled birds and paint the Wildlife Center building.
Although ACREL members usually work with pen and paper – or, more accurately, PCs and PDAs – they are also handy with a hammer and saw, as past ACREL projects have demonstrated.
ACREL members have tackled building a home in New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity and painted classrooms and murals in a Chicago elementary school. This, however, is ACREL's first community service project focused on wildlife, and ACREL's members have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to help their furry and feathered friends. ACREL President Phillip Horowitz commented, "We are delighted to help PAWS upgrade its facilities, continuing ACREL's tradition of combining its annual meeting and legal education programs with a hands on activity that assists a deserving non-profit organization."
Mark Senn of ACREL's Public Service Working Group, who is leading this project, noted that "ACREL members love to pick up some tools and dig into a project. The projects are not only a "give back", but also a fun way for members to do a little of the REAL real estate work."
PAWS jumped at the chance to work with the ACREL volunteers. “We welcome members of our community to assist us with the improvement of our facilities,� expressed PAWS Wildlife Director Jennifer Convy. “With their help, we are better able to provide quality care for the injured and orphaned animals in our Wildlife Center."
ACREL was founded in 1978 as a nonprofit organization of lawyers who have gained distinction in the practice of real estate law and has become the nation's most prestigious honorary organization for practicing real estate lawyers. ACREL counts among its 900+ members representing 49 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. Seattle is the site for ACREL's semi-annual meeting, to be held October 4 through 8.
