Organizational Leadership and Volunteers

Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, Incorporated (RROKI), was founded by Eileen Wicker, a former field representative for the U.S. Census Bureau, and her husband, John Wicker, a retired assembler for the Louisville Ford Assembly Plant. They gained their experience handling raptors during their three years of working with the Raptor Rehab Program at the Louisville Zoo. Eileen, who resigned her position at the Census Bureau because of the time required to manage the rehabilitation program, currently serves as Executive Director and Chairman of the Board and volunteers approximately 60 hours a week. John serves as Bird Management Coordinator, Head of Volunteer Training, and as general man-for-all-needs. Now that he has retired, his full time job is working with the birds.

RROKI is comprised of 20+ volunteers, who give whatever time their schedules permit. Though interaction between volunteers and leadership is constant at training, during rescue missions, and at educational programs, everyone also meets once a month at a general meeting to discuss plans, needs, and upcoming events. Each individual has a chance to offer suggestions on how to improve the care of the birds, to reach more people, or to run the program more effectively.

Volunteers vary widely in age and background and include clerical workers, high school and college students, a biology teacher, and a horse groomer. During the summer of 1994 we were also fortunate to have an intern from the University of Kentucky, a young woman who drove 170 miles round-trip every weekend to complete her training. If there is one word to describe the volunteers of RROKI, it is COMMITMENT.