By BOOKIE BALOGH

According to Lorelei Junot, Project Manager for the Alliance Virtual Library, “Our Volunteer of the Month, Katfancy Kiergarten, has an unusual history of service to Second Life and its residents.”

Katfancy became involved with Second Life, as many of us did, to chat and “hang out with friends.”  But about a year ago, she became a volunteer for the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center.   Not only had she owned pets in real life, - and heard that Dulcie Mills, the owner of Rainbow Gardens, had contacted Marimar Berchot, AVL Volunteer Coordinator, looking for volunteers – but more importantly, she had lost two pets in real life.  The concept of the Rainbow Gardens, where people can come and remember their pets, was compelling to her.

She began her outreach campaign by contacting other pet owners and telling them about Rainbow Gardens.  She used group search to find groups with similar interests, by searching for common animal names.  She would then look at the group owner’s profile and send him or her an IM with information about the Rainbow Gardens Pet Memorial Center.  One of the first places she visited in Second Life was the Canis Beach Dog Park, where she met others who were interested in pets.

According to Kat, “As more people knew about our group, I helped plan events by making poster invitations as well as sending out group notices about upcoming events.”  She has helped to create exhibits at Rainbow Gardens, among them the “Homeless Pet Exhibit” and also the “ASPCA Exhibit” to help prevent animal abuse. 

Visitors to Rainbow Gardens, especially those with pets, are equally touched by the ability to display real life pictures of their pets in the sim’s photo viewer.

In real life, Kiergarten is also a volunteer.  She has done volunteering at a local animanl shelter, complementing nicely her volunteer work for Rainbow Gardens.       In Second Life, she enjoys being around the reference desk and helping people with their questions.  She says that the reference desk was one of the first areas she visited in Second Life; she received much help and met many congenial residents, both when she was a newbie and now.

Kiergarten is a full-time student and part-time substitute teacher in real life.  She is taking prerequisite courses in order to enroll in a nursing program; once she’s completed that program, she is also interested in librarianship.

She welcomes meeting new people in Second Life and encourages residents to IM her at any time.  Rainbow Gardens is truly lucky to have such an energetic and dedicated volunteer.  Mills said, ”Kat is always very helpful and involved in many AVL events and activities.  As a volunteer for Rainbow Gardens, she does a wonderful job with displays, exhibits, and program planning . . . .  Kat is one of three volunteers who assist at Rainbow Gardens along with Panama Marama and Miraanda Singh.  While they all do a fantastic job, Kat puts special pride in putting up seasonal decorations and making the pet memorial center a special place to visit all year round.  She contributes to all the exhibits and events and is always friendly and helpful to work with.  I am very glad to have her with us.”

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