BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jill Markeson, President
Jill is new to MCRS, and is looking forward to working with the Board and volunteers to continue the mission of finding homes for our foster bunnies, building a community for rabbit lovers, and providing educational resources about rabbit health and welfare.
Jill has extensive experience in the nonprofit world, working as a Membership Coordinator for several professional organizations and a Program and Volunteer Manager for Junior Achievement. She is a Security Risk Analyst for an insurance administrator, and enjoys learning new technologies and ways they can promote efficiency and accuracy.
A lover of the arts, she has previously participated in the MCRS pet portrait fundraiser, thoroughly enjoying the chance to interpret photos into fun pieces of artwork for bunny “parents”. Jill and her husband Lars have two bunnies that keep them constantly amused with their antics - Coca Cola and Caramel Latte (Lotti).
Jason Saathoff, Treasurer
Jason comes to MCRS with a love of bunnies and professional experience in tax preparation. He has volunteered for various organizations in the past, including in the role of Treasurer. A note from Jason about the bunnies in his life: "My bunny history started with what my wife and I thought was a mini-Dutch named Ernie, but we now think might have been a Netherland Dwarf. We sometimes referred to him as "Little Napoleon" because his presence loomed large in our house for being such a little fellow. After he passed away we adopted a Dutch named Quincy from MCRS, followed shortly by a Polish named Annie, also from MCRS, both of whom currently free roam in our house. For a short time we also had a small grey Lionhead named Bugsy, who Annie adored after she was adopted. After Bugsy passed away, Annie became Quincy's bond mate. Annie is very particular about who she allows in her bunny "circle of trust", so the bonding took a while, but one day we found her sitting next to Quincy grooming him, and the rest is history."
(Pictured is Quincy and Annie)
Lemmy, Director
I was training to become a cultural anthropologist but veered into becoming a competitive athlete and gym owner. Currently, I'm busy running a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym in Loring Park.
The rabbits hopped into my life about a decade ago. Since then, I've fostered and cared for more rabbits then I can count, including Franklin, everyone's favorite American Blue. My partner and I steward and nurture 8 formerly-stray rabbits, split between two homes.
I've served on the board since 2014, and formerly ran a popular hoppy hour in uptown.
Mary Althaus, Education Lead
I was nineteen when a neighborhood rabbit decided to adopt my family. He moved into our home, ate what we ate, and slept where we slept. He used a litter box in the back entryway. Needless to say, he wasn’t neutered, and he ate all the wrong things. In time, we could tell he had become ill. We took him to the vet, but he crossed the bridge on the operating table. That was a long, long time ago.
Since then, I have always had a fondness for bunnies. Years later, I bought a wonderful bunny from a pet store. At the time, resources like MCRS did not exist. Again, I did pretty much everything wrong. Over the years, I have learned a lot, and I am passionate about helping people avoid making same the mistakes I made. Although there is still a lot of work to do to educate people about rabbits’ needs, we have come so far since those first two bunnies made their ways into my life. MCRS and all the volunteers are laying ground for future generations of bunnies and their human families. I am proud to be a part of this effort.
LEAD VOLUNTEERS
Kelsie, Email Lead
Kelsie is an enthusiastic advocate for all animals, but rabbits hold a special place in her heart. She is a proud bunny parent to two mischievous mini lops who keep her on her toes. She is an expert bunny-proofer, and over the years, she has learned a lot about proper rabbit care and bonding. Kelsie is passionate about learning about rabbits and sharing that knowledge with others. Kelsie has happily volunteered with MCRS since 2013. She believes that every rabbit deserves a safe and loving home.
Margaret Camp, Vice President
After four years of fostering and volunteering for MCRS, Margaret Camp is now serving in the capacity as MCRS Vice President and member on the Board of Directors
Margaret has experience in for-profit and nonprofit organizations with 20 years of leadership experience in a large for-profit company and five years' experience being on the Board of a large nonprofit organization.
Margaret lives with her husband Miles, their four rabbits: Sophie (Dutch); Buddie (Lop); Nallah (Polish Dwarf); and Dusty (Netherland Dwarf), and their cat, Bella. Margaret and Miles also have three adult children: Michelle, Jessica, and Nicholas and enjoy RVing in their spare time.
Natasha Stroebl, Secretary
Natasha’s first pet was a rabbit, but it wasn’t until many years later that she discovered a passion for these quirky animals. While she was busy with a career in office administration, rabbits reentered her life simply by appreciating the antics of wild backyard bunnies. As an avid gardener, this affection did have limits, but the enjoyment from observing these animals was undeniable and led to the adoption of a Dutch bunny named Benny. Eventually, this little bun took over the entire house, and Natasha’s enthusiasm grew. She began volunteering with MCRS in 2020 and joined the Board in 2022 to expand her contribution and impact. Through MCRS, Natasha uses the administrative skills obtained through her career to help save at-risk rabbits while educating others to prevent the mistreatment and abandonment of rabbits.
Leah Gannon, Grant Writing Coordinator
Leah has a background in science and education. She started volunteering with MCRS at the Highland Park Petco in 2007 as a rabbit socializer, and adopted Wilson the mini-rex in 2008. She began volunteering as the grant writing coordinator in 2008. She and her husband currently have Minnie the mini-rex, three retired racing greyhounds, and a 35-year-old box turtle.
Brenda Malark, Foster Lead
Brenda has been an animal lover for all of her life. In the spring of 2015, she received her first bunny from a family whose children lost interest. While researching how to take care of her new rabbit, she came across MCRS and decided to sign up as a volunteer. She was a rabbit socializer at first, and then started going to adoption events before officially becoming a foster home.
She has learned so much over the years and continues to learn more! She greatly enjoys educating people on proper rabbit care. What could be better than talking about bunnies?
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Brenda is the Foster Lead for MCRS. She also helps out with adoption events, fundraising, and MCRS Bunny Basics classes. It's wonderful to be part of the whole adoption process -- meeting and educating the adoptive family and helping them to pick the bunny that's right for them!
Emily
Hildebrandt, Adoption Lead
In 2007, Emily adopted Jake, a sweet Dutch bunny who sparked her love and commitment to rabbit world. In 2011, she started socializing MCRS foster bunnies. She joined MCRS's Adoption Events team in 2013 and soon began screening adoption applications. With her vet tech background, Emily fills various roles within the organization, including fostering medical bunnies, completing wellness checks and nail trims, and coordinating vet care for fosters.
Emily currently has 2 rabbits: Duncan, a black otter standard rex who enjoys napping during Hoppy Hour, and Gideon, a New Zealand white who watches TV and snuggles with her every night. Emily will always have a soft spot for all Dutches & standard rexes, especially elder buns.
Soleil Rintoul, Event Coordinator
Soleil initially heard about MCRS through attending hoppy hour and has also participated in Bunny Basics and Bunny Bonding classes.
Soleil grew up in St. Croix County Wisconsin near Minnesota. As a youth, they had outdoor rabbits and always wanted to have them indoors. Within the first year of rejoining team rabbit as an adult, Soleil and their partner privately rescued and re-homed over 11 bunnies. Currently, Soleil has 7 rescue rabbits and keeps in touch with those re-homed bunnies so they know they are well cared for and getting fixed.
As the Event Coordinator, Soleil helps arrange the schedule for the MCRS events including bunny yoga. They will also coordinate with outside organizations interested in MCRS event collaborations. Soleil is looking forward to volunteering with MCRS to do more to help rescue bunnies as part of our community.