Moderator (s) needed - apply within, please.

Hi my name is Laura Fopiano. Like Rick C. I was born and raised in So. Cal. in Orange county.

I started keeping herps in 1967. I was lucky to have a tolerant mother. In order to care for my pets I had to study behavior as there was little to no information available. Back then they called anoles chameleons and were sold at 5 and dime stores, however, the bulk of my collection were all field collected by me. I was lucky to have a grand mother that lived in the high desert where the bulk of my reptiles were obtained.

As I got older I still went into the field but caught and released my favorite treasures. I got my first Jackson chameleon in 1978, he was my pride and joy.

Like my other nominee's I have kept a wide variety of reptiles. I was the President of Southern California Herpetology Association from 2001-2004. As a club our responsibility was education and conservation. We did a lot of school and hands on presentations. My love of education made it very easy for me to talk about and teach responsible ownership and handling techniques to herpers of all ages.

I have been keeping and breeding boa constrictors for 10 years now. I was introduced to fauna through a club member and I will be forever grateful. This has been my home since 2002 and although I may lurk on a couple of other sites, I will always be here.
I have had the pleasure of meeting many members here through reptile shows in So Cal.

In 2005 my 10 year marriage ended and I really thought it was the end of me. Members here held my hand through fauna chat and phone lines. They held me up when I couldn't. They loved me until I was able to love myself. And through that rough time, I met my partner in chat (where else) I am now co-owner of BnL Exotix, in where our main focus is boa constrictors and a small colony of leopard geckos.

My ultimate passion is still field herping. I am constantly searching for new treasures in west-central Georgia where I have lived for the past 3 years.

In my 7 years here, I have seen many members come and go. This site has been the one constant in my ever changing life.

OK, thanks everyone. I'm going to lock this thread and move on to the next steps.