3/18/07
 
VVAW met at 11:15 am on Sunday, 3/18/07, at the Rockwood Park Nature Center in Richmond, VA.
 
In attendance: * denotes member of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare Board of Directors

Mary Archer
Judy Brown
Terrie Buczek
Gregg Campbell
*Lillian Clancy
Leigh Clark
John Compton
Mary Anne Conmy
Renee’ Deutermann
Leah Engel
Richard Firth
Courtney Fitzjarrald
Denise Flora
Kendra Ganobsik
Kathie Garrett
Kasey Hammond
Catherine Harold
Carol Hellman
Sharon Hepner
Lisa Hetrick
Karen Karvelis
Kris Kieswer
*Kim Kincheloe
Jessica Kirwin
Cindy Leggett
*Don Marro
Donna McClurg
*Mollie McCurdy
Debra Milby
Karen Patterson
Susan Patton
Donna Pinnix
Kim Pullen
Tara Rebele
Dick Samuels
Kathryn Settle
Mimi Smiley
Caroline Stalker
Jessica Stovall
David Waters
Betty Weakland
*Pat Weakland
Susan White
Helen Wilkins
 
Lillian Clancy brought the meeting to order and asked each person to introduce themselves. Each gave both their background and experience in animal welfare.
 
Don Marro led the meeting thereafter.
 
1. Don Marro spoke of the effort which must be made not to be seen as animal welfare or animal rights people, but rather as "constituents" of those in the Virginia legislature, and to work as "constituents" to make the legislature support the goals and bills of VVAW.
 
2. Kendra Ganobsik said that support of VVAW bills by other, larger groups can make it seem as though the VVAW bills are the bills of HSUS or PETA, etc.
 
Don suggested that it was the opposition that characterizes our bills this way and asked that it be the responsibility of all of us to make sure legislators know which bills are ours.
 
3. The strategy of working with 11 bills in the just-concluded session of the General Assembly was discussed. A large number of bills in this and past sessions was purposely intended as a way to educate legislators about the need for simultaneous solutions to pet overpopulation by addressing the full range of issues under the VVAW rubric of responsible government, responsible breeding, and responsible ownership.
 
Don continued that we demonstrated our willingness to work with a smaller number of bills by making the elimination of gas chambers the signature bill for this session, devoting considerable effort to its passage.
 
Even with extensive effort and approximately one third of the legislature (41 co-patrons) for the gas bill - co-patrons included the Chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, Charles Hawkins, and the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Vincent Callahan - the bill died in the House Ag Subcommittee at the hands of its chairman, Del. Bobby Orrock.
 
4. Don discussed the necessity of those who are not political partisans or activists to become involved in the process of making and enforcing law. He announced that he is strongly considering a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Ross Potts (District 27), health permitting.
 
Don also mentioned Pat Weakland as someone who took on a new political effort without previous experience.
 
Pat described the steps he took to work on the releasing agencies bill (VVAW HB 1853) and how the bill ended up being killed.
 
Don summarized the steps Pat had taken to introduce the bills as:
a. ask your legislator to patron a bill
b. work with your opposition for "peace in the valley" – a phrase legislators use to describe an environment in which there is no opposition
c. bills in controversial categories such as "animal welfare" will do well only if a patron has strong committee standing or something to trade
5. There followed a discussion about the humane investigator bill (VVAW’s SB 930).
 
Susan White discussed her shock to learn that there have been no cruelty cases filed in some jurisdictions although there is good reason for doing so.
 
6. A discussion of the tether bills (VVAW’s HB2098 and the alternate bill by PETA) brought forth comments about many displeased both with the attitude of the committee hearing the bills, and the defeat of these very worthwhile measures.
 
Cindy Leggett says her local Board of Supervisors in Chesterfield County is unaware of the issues.
 
Pat Weakland suggested that those living the Chesterfield County band together and go to the Board of Supervisors to apprise that Board of the problem and press for change.
 
Kim Kincheloe suggested that this group go to meetings more than once. Pat added that the group should go to as many meetings as possible so that the group becomes known to the Board as visible promoters of an animal welfare agenda.
 
Don suggested thinking of this as a "marketing plan", first documenting/writing up the presentation, setting out clearly what is your "ask", and determining how to get beyond being seen merely as an individual. He suggested putting a presentation together in writing and giving it to the Board (and beforehand to the press to cover) with follow-up to both Board and press to demonstrate commitment to implementation.
 
He suggested using FOIA requests in advance of the presentation could be useful, such as determining the number of abuse cases in a given jurisdiction, the number of animals which have entered the system in that jurisdiction, animal welfare budget numbers, and any other items which would establish the predicate of the presentation so it goes beyond being the opinion of an individual to become an argument of substance.
 
Dick Samuels asked where studies about tethering were available. Cindy says her group (Dogs Deserve Better) has that information.
 
7. Someone suggested that the group at the meeting might want to stay in touch, especially with so many interested in pursuing tethering legislation.
 
It was decided that the names and emails of all in attendance would be shared and be a subset of the VVAW total membership.
 
8. Richard Firth indicated difficulty he was having in getting the attention of legislators generally. Lillian Clancy mentioned that a suggestion came from an earlier regional meeting of the success achieved by a handwritten letter including a request for an in-person meeting.
 
9. Don asked all to reach out:
a. to their elected officials
b. to those who influence others (i.e., who does the County Administrator listen to?)
c. to ACOs
d. to County Administrators/City Managers
e. to Board of Supervisors/City Council
f. to your own vet, asking them why they opposed a tax credit for vets for doing pro-bono surgery as a way to reduce the flow of excess pets, opposed the animal welfare bills, and support unrestrained breeding and BYB (back yard breeding).
g. to circuit court judges, general district court judges, and Commonwealth Attorneys, asking them for their position on animal abuse cases. Don reminded the group that Commonwealth Attorneys are elected and judges must be re-appointed by their legislators to an additional term.
 
10. Catherine Harold asked if one could start going to legislators right now, promoting the same bills that were promoted for the 2007 session.
 
Don said yes, and suggested that one’s legislators be engaged by asking them how they would improve a specific bill (or bills), and if change to the bills is not needed, getting them to commit to support it or perhaps even patron it next session.
 
Don said an ideal scenario would be having a legislator arrange a conference of the various stakeholder groups. This has the advantage of bringing together all the official representatives to work on stated goals, allows the VVAW member to contribute to and influence the debate, and places the VVAW member squarely in the decision-making process.
 
11. Members were encouraged to work for or against legislators in the coming elections, depending upon the positions taken on animal welfare issues.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30.