2/18/07
VVAW
met at 11 am on Sunday, 2/18/07, at the Colonial Inn in
In attendance:
Cathie Braman
Andi Bureman
Pat Canning
*Lillian Clancy
*Peyton Coyner
Keith DeLoach
Dylan DeLoach
Maureen Federico
Pat Foshee
Crystal Harris
Brandy Henderson
Coletta Henderson
Jessie Herdic
Molly Hertic, DVM
Kelly Kincheloe
*Kim Kincheloe
Virginia Kincheloe
*Donald Marro
*Mollie McCurdy
Jennifer McMullen
Amy McQuillen
Shirley Pritchard
Shanna Slizofski
Patti Stinson
Willie Tydings
Betty Weakland
*Pat Weakland
Alex Wiesenburg
Sheryl Winkler
* before name denotes member of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare Board
Kim Kincheloe brought the meeting to order, and the meeting began by each person giving a brief background of themselves and their experience in animal welfare.
Don Marro led the meeting thereafter.
1. Don discussed the strategy of having a lot of VVAW bills as a way to meet with legislators and education them on the goals of VVAW. While some legislators listen, many have their feet rooted in the past.
Dissing the legislators doesn’t get the job done, so ways must be found to make legislators pay attention. Perhaps the only way to get their attention is at this election cycle.
Citizens cannot be admonished for contacting legislators as was the case in the current session of the General Assembly, particularly the criticism of excessive contact from Del. Bobby Orrock. Almost everyone attending the meeting indicated they had contacted legislators to support or oppose bills, and had also taken a stance against the viewpoint espoused by Del. Orrock.
2. Patti Stinson wondered if VVAW didn’t have too many bill, and suggested those that were most likely to be passed be the focus initially to give victories and attracting more to VVAW.
She also wondered if a large number of bills didn’t overwhelm those who were being asked to generate support for bills.
Jen McMullen offered that perhaps four bills would be enough.
Don countered with the experience
with the gas chamber bill this session where all the stops were pulled out,
where 30 supporters appeared in
3. Sheryl Winkler asked what groups could effect the votes of legislators, and asked whether it might be vets in general.
Dr. Herdic offered that few vets are animal welfare supporters, particularly those with a number of breeder clients. The result is that few vets will want to be associated with VVAW bills.
Patti Stinson told of the success of AForeverHome in working with vets, helping ensure the practices of those working with rescue thrive by referring adopted dogs to vets friendly to their rescue.
Don talked about the possibility of a “Adopt-A-Vet” program, asking VVAW members and rescues/humane societies/SPCAs to “adopt a vet” to sponsor adoptions, and to get referrals to their practice from these adoptees.
Brandy Henderson asked what could be done to make vets feel non-participation in their pocketbooks. Don talked about the tax credit bills VVAW has promoted as one way to attract vets thru their wallets.
Dr. Herdic will put together an “Adopt-A-Vet” program.
4. Patti Stinson asked whether a legislator is required to divulge how he/she voted on a given vote. She has asked several legislators how they voted on specific issues and has received no response.
Don said that subcommittee votes are unrecorded as are voice votes generally.
Lillian Clancy said there were questions of quorum in several instances, and suggested that we have cameras in the hearings for the 2008 session.
5. Sheryl brought up the issue of
volunteers willing to help with pound animals and being denied access to those
animals. She specifically mentioned
being unable to help with pound animals in
She is unaware of other public facilities which restrict volunteer access to homeless animals. Lillian Clancy mentioned that there are a number of such facilities and perhaps it would be a good idea to work to identify such groups and work together to make a change.
6. Shanna would like to have better
access to free or low cost s/n generally.
She mentioned the successful program in place in
7. Don described the process of taking an idea and moving it into consideration by the General Assembly, and steps required to have the idea become law.
He noted that many committees hear legislation, and VVAW has not been very successful in influencing decisions on which committees hear our bills.
8. Patti wondered if VVAW would be more successful with a paid lobbyist.
Don said hiring a lobbyist is a crap shoot, expensive, and perhaps ineffective if the mindsets are firm in opposition.
9. Patti asked if VVAW is planning to have a list of candidates to support as all members of the General Assembly are up for election this November.
The response was that this will be done.
10. Don discussed his idea about a not-for-profit bond as a way to support s/n clinics. The attorneys have tentatively approved the concept and are working on the indenture and prospectus.
11. Don wants a book written, ideally before the election in November, that talks about animal welfare in November. He offered to work with anyone who could contribute to the book. Several indicated they might do so.
12. Jen McMullen and several others spoke of activities we might plan for next year focused on the General Assembly.
Pat Canning suggested a dog
walk. Jen would like a mock up of a
gas chamber so legislators can see what it looks like. Shanna asked about getting a large group
to walk the halls in
13. The gas chamber editorial by Todd Foster of the Bristol Herald Courier was handed out and discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 pm.