Just what it says: the newsletter of the Bay Area chapter of the Rat and Mouse Club of America-BARMCA (we say it "barm-kah", even though this usually results in someone offering us a tissue). There are a number of reasons why you might be getting this newsletter. Most likely, you are a member of the RMCA living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Or possibly you asked to find out more about BARMCA. Or, just maybe, someone out there wanted you to get some weird mail…

BARMCA exists to further the primary goal of the RMCA:

"…the dissemination of high-quality and important information about the proper care of all domestic rats and mice as a means to advocate responsible pet ownership and breeding."

BARMCA also exists for social contact among those who share their lives with rats and mice (and are thus shunned by normal people-just kidding). Its history can be traced back to a string of intermittent rat gatherings attended by Bay Area people on the "rats" e-mail list (more on the mailing list later). Despite this, BARMCA is not a singles' club.

That's pretty much up to you. For the most part, BARMCA folks get together every once in a while to eat food and share stories, information, and advice. Other things get done when BARMCA members decide to organize and implement them. There are other activities as well, described below. And if you take the initiative, more things can happen. One thing BARMCA so far has not shown any interest in doing is running shows.

That, also, is pretty much up to you. We are a very informal organization. In fact, we don't really have any officers-there's just a loosely organized group of people doing stuff.

The closest thing we have to a leader is Brian Lee. Brian kind of generally coordinates stuff. Another BARMCA figure, who gets to mention himself because he's the one doing the newsletter, is James Kittock. James also runs the e-mail list and organizes Rat & Mouse Days. Other people doing great stuff are mentioned below.

This newsletter should give you some idea of what we are up to. You can also contact the people listed in the "Contacts" section. And there's more information online: the RMCA has a site on the World Wide Web at

and you can find out about the "rats" e-mail list by sending an e-mail message containing the single word "info" to rats-request@lists.best.com.

Future versions of this newsletter will be sent electronically (fax or e-mail) where possible to save printing and mailing costs. Please let James know if you want to receive the newsletter by fax or e-mail, along with the appropriate fax number or e-mail address. If you want to receive it by regular mail, that's OK, too, but since BARMCA is totally funded out of people's pockets, a small donation would be appreciated (some first-class postage stamps would be just fine!).

BARMCA is having a general meeting on Saturday, November 16, starting around 5:00 and ending when people get tired. We are meeting at James' office (contact him if you need directions):

(contact info removed)

We will order pizza and soft drinks and ask you to chip in a few dollars when you come. Rats & mice are invited, too, but please make sure animals are healthy and bring them in a carrier. If you plan on coming, or think you might come, please RSVP with Brian, so we know how much pizza to order (if we have too much, the rats won't complain…).

Brian will order 50lb. bags of high-quality ("delicious & nutritious") lab block from Western Research in Hayward. We'll divide up the bags at the meeting. Brian expects it will work out to be about $2 to $2.50 per 5 lbs. He also offered to pick up some bags of CareFresh and SaniChip (both excellent and safe bedding materials), which Western carries at a great price. If you are interested, contact Brian a.s.a.p. so he'll know what to get.

You're probably thinking, "every day should be Rat & Mouse Day," and you're right. Unfortunately, not everyone is as enlightened as you. Rat & Mouse Days are one of our ways to educate others and show off our cool pets.

A Rat & Mouse Day consists of BARMCA folks sitting at a table in a public place with informational literature to share and friendly animals to greet strangers.

BARMCA's first Rat & Mouse Day will take place at a great little pet store:

The Pet Place
777 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(415) 324-7387

We'll be setting up around 12:00 and wrapping up around 4:30, just in time to head down to Mountain View (about 20 minutes away) for the BARMCA meeting. If you're interested in helping out or want to come by and need directions, please contact James.

Brian Lee (contact info removed)
general stuff, meetings, supplies, animal care guide

James Kittock (contact info removed)
general stuff, newsletter, Rat & Mouse Days, pet store reviews

Rebecca Oliver (contact info removed)
library display

Amanda Svensson (contact info removed)