July 27-30, 2012, Washington, D.C.
We want to invite you to join the ASPCA in Washington, D.C., at this year's Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference. This fun event brings together advocates of all levels of experience, where all can learn and collaborate with each other and make an immediate difference for our nation's animals. The emphasis at TAFA is gaining practical skills and insider knowledge on how to be a great advocate.
Register Now
For information on the full conference schedule, hotel accommodations, and other speakers and sponsors, visit the TAFA Webpage.
The Conference
This year, the ASPCA is a major sponsor of the conference—which is organized by The Humane Society of the United States—and our staff experts will be presenting in many exciting workshops and panels:
Horse Welfare in America
(featuring Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of Government Relations)
The role of the horse in the United States has largely shifted from that of utilitarian service animal to companion animal, yet equines are still mistreated due to ignorance, callousness or greed. This workshop will address several areas of cruelty to horses and explain the efforts being undertaken to confront them.
Advocating for Animals through State Legislation
(featuring Ann Church, Vice President of State Affairs)
Passing state laws can create lasting change for animals. You'll learn about the latest efforts and legislative trends to both protect and exploit animals in state legislatures. We'll discuss how to work with other inpiduals and organizations to create a strong coalition and neutralize our opponents so we can enact good laws and defeat bad bills. We'll explore specific examples of successful legislative efforts, including what has worked and what hasn't, and how you can best be an effective activist from afar. You will leave the workshop with a strong set of action steps and tools.
Lobby Day Training (Part 1 and Part 2)
(featuring Richard Patch, Vice President of Federal Affairs, and Jessica Johnson, Grassroots Advocacy Manager)
If you plan to take part in Lobby Day on Monday, you are required to attend Part 1 of this training session before joining us on Capitol Hill—and we encourage you to stay for Part 2 as well. To be a successful citizen lobbyist, you must know what catches a busy lawmaker's attention. This program will give you all the skills you need to meet with your legislators or their staffs and discuss important animal protection legislation.
Effective Advocacy to Protect Horses
(featuring Carolyn Schnurr, Federal Legislative Manager)
Learn how to advocate for horse welfare on the local, state, and federal levels. Hear from experienced advocates and become empowered while learning about state welfare coalitions, the threat of horse slaughter in your community, effective letter writing, grassroots advocacy campaigns and the federal legislative process. Practical tools and talking points, as well as hands-on learning experiences, will enable attendees to become better advocates, educate politicians and the media, and improve the lives of horses.
How to Work with Local Law Enforcement and Animal Control to Address Animal Cruelty
(featuring Tim Rickey, Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response)
Learn how animal advocates can help animal control and law enforcement in prosecuting animal cruelty cases. Budget cuts, pet overpopulation, and increased awareness of animal cruelty issues have had a direct impact on our shelters and enforcement officers. Animal control and law enforcement agencies are receiving a considerable number of complaints regarding animal cruelty and the public via the media and social networking are pressing for an increase in prosecution of these cases. This can be overwhelming for an agency, especially when the budget does not provide for additional staff or training to assist. These factors can create a reluctance to investigate animal cruelty cases, but you can make a difference and we will teach you the tools and techniques to assist your local community.
Social Media 201
(featuring Kymberlie Adams, Social Media Manager)
Learn how you can be an effective advocate for animals by using social media. Create positive change by creating your own campaigns or supporting existing campaigns. You'll learn how to engage like-minded people, leverage your existing social networks, and rally support for your cause!
Get Registered HERE!
Let's Take to the Hill!
The TAFA experience culminates with the Taking Action for Animals Humane Lobby Day on Monday, July 30—which we are co-hosting! Please be sure to sign up for and attend this important event if you can. You'll join our whole Government Relations team on a visit to Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress for their support of animal protection legislation. Lobbying with us is easy, coordinated, educational and fun, and the animals need you to be their voice!
And if you're attending TAFA, don't forget to drop by the ASPCA's booth in the conference exhibition hall to say hello, get a quick update about your state's animal laws, and get some free goodies! Now that the ASPCA's new office on Capitol Hill has been running for over a year, our focus on policy work impacting animals is in high gear! We would love for you to come meet our staff, participate in our efforts, tell us your ideas and get to know others who share your desire to make a difference for animals.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at lobby@aspca.org.
Register for TAFA