AR-News: 3/16 Showdown in Albany: Hunters vs. Animal Defenders!

[Humane Action for Animals Lobby Dany]

On Tuesday, the same day as Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day, hunters will be turning out en masse for a rally at the New York State Capitol to push for the lowering of the  New York State hunting age on a day when it will be voted in in the state's Environmental Conservation  committee.

It is CRUCIAL that animal advocates turn out in large numbers, so that the voice of compassion doesn't get drowned out by a tiny  but well organized special interest group of blood-thirsty thugs.

Even if you weren't originally planning to come to lobby day, PLEASE reconsider.    The MAJORITY of New Yorkers support the positions we are presenting to legislators, so we CANNOT afford to be underrepresented against the hunters, who represent significantly less than 4% of New York residents.  

By making the trip to Albany, you send your elected officials that VOTERS LIKE YOU care deeply about animal issues,  and that officials who want to stay in office are going to have to start  taking animal issues seriously.  

And by turning out in large numbers, we tell legislators and the media that the future belongs to  people who are willing to stand up for compassion, not to those who gain pleasure and profit from the suffering of others!

Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day won't be directly engaging or interacting with the hunters' event, but we feel that just being there on the same day as the hunters sends a powerful message.

Join us!

Please circulate far and wide!!!

2004 Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day

Stand up for Animals at the New York State Capitol!

Albany, New York
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
http://humanelobbyday.org


Join the fight to pass laws to:

BAN "CANNED HUNTS"- RECREATIONAL SHOOTING OF CONFINED ANIMALS

STOP PAINFUL FORCE-FEEDING OF DUCKS FOR FOIE GRAS

PROTECT DOWNED "FOOD" ANIMALS

GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE POWER TO BAN WILDLIFE TRAPPING

New York's Animals Need YOU!
Legislation to protect animals cannot succeed without your help!  Your state legislators need to know why they should vote for animal protective legislation.  By attending the lobby day, you will:

o learn about key animal bills that your elected officials will be voting on in the New York State legislature

o learn the importance of lobbying and why we need to be as effective as our opponents in this critical area.

o learn how to lobby in the Humane society of the US's popular "Lobbying 101" seminar.

o meet directly with  the offices of your State Senator and Assemblymember to encourage them  to vote for legislation to defend animals

The Lobby Day will take place from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Sign of the Tree Restaurant, Empire State Plaza, Albany. (Detailed directions are available at http://humanelobbyday.org or by calling Peter at (845) 256-0200.)  Also, be sure to call your State Senator and Assemblymember to schedule 20 minute appointments between 3:20 and 4:00 PM on March 16th, allowing at least 20 minutes between the appointments (To find your elected officials, visit http://action.fund.org/directory/ ).

We are now taking reservations for buses  (or vans) from upstate (passing through Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse,) and downstate (starting at Long Island and passing through New York City) for an additional fee of $20 per person.  If you are interested in getting a ride, please e-mail info at humanelobbyday.org right away to allow us to plan our transportation resources properly.  We will ONLY reserve vehicles if enough people advance register.  

Want to come to Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day but can't afford it?

Not a problem!!!

We want EVERYONE  to be able to attend this event, so we are willing to waive or  lower the $10 fee for folks who absolutely can't afford it.  

Additionally, we may be able to provide free rides from New York City on a first come, first serve basis.

Please ONLY exercise this option if you are unable to pay-- we are renting vehicles and the $20 ride fee is actually below our costs and thus lose money on anyone  who travels free or at reduced cost.

Also, one way you can help Lobby Day if you can't make it is to subsidize someone who CAN come, but can't afford to pay.  

Donations can be mailed to: League of Humane Voters, PO Box 922, New Paltz, NY 12561.


Sign up today!!!


To reserve a space in a bus and to register for the event (PLEASE register even if you will be providing your own transportation),
e-mail info at humanelobbyday.org with the following information:

First Name _____________________Middle (optional) ______________
Last Name _________________________

Animal Group you are affiliated with (Not Required)_______________________

Street Address___________________________________
City________________________________ State_______Zip_________
Email _______________________________________________________

Your State Assemblymember____________________	
Your State Senator ______________________________

I will get there by (check one) upstate bus ______ downstate bus______ my own means of transportation______

Mail a copy of the filled out form with your registration fee to:
League of Humane Voters, PO Box 922, New Paltz, NY  12561

If you have any further questions or would like to volunteer (including distributing this flyer!) or make a donation to the event, call Peter Muller at (845) 256-0200 or visit http://humanelobbyday.org.
We look forward to Lobbying with you!!!
Sponsored by Earthsave, Farm Sanctuary, The Fund for Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, In Defense of Animals,ã The League of Humane Voters, and New York State Humane Association.

There are LOTS of ways that you  can support Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day-- even if you can't make it to the event!

1) Donate
 Between travel expenses,  conference room rental fees,  production costs for packets, displays  and video materials, and food for elected officials at our legislator breakfast, this event will cost thousands of dollars.  Individual or group donations are EXTREMELY welcome!  Donations can be mailed to League of Humane Voters, PO Box 922, New Paltz, NY 12561.


2) Post Flyers
In order to spread the word about this event, we have created a poster and flyer to be placed in locations animal-friendly people are likely to congregate-- pet supply stores, vet's offices, radical bookstores, vet offices, groomers, vegetarian restaurants, health food  stores, etc.   Flyers and registration forms can  downloaded at http://humanelobbyday.org


3) Make Outreach Calls
We have thousands of phone calls to make to supporters of the sponsoring groups of this event, and need volunteer help!  Let us know how many calls you can make, whether they need to be local or can be long distance, and whether you would like to give us a list of people to call or you w ould like to call people on a list that you have in your possession-- friends, members of your local group, etc.


4) Notify Media
Do you have a list of media contacts (TV, radio, newspapers, etc) in your part of the state?  If not you like to help develop one?  With such a list, we can fax announcements about this event and hopefully get as much press  coverage for it as possible, as well as for the animal  issues to be discussed at the event  Also, we need to volunteers to do faxing and follow up faxes with confirmation calls to make sure that press releases were received.

5) Call, Email, and write your elected officials
Lobby day will be far more effective if legislators hear about these bills from their constituents.   Contact your legislators to let them know that you support the bills we will be working to pass on lobby day.  You can find information on the bills at http://humanelobby.org and clicking on foie gras, downed animals, canned shoots, and trapping.  You can find out the name of your State Senator  and State Assemblymember at http://action.fund.org/directory/  (NOTE: These are NOT the same as your FEDERAL  Senators and Representatives!!!!!)

6)  Circulate email to publicize the  event
Forward info on the  event to all pro-animal people you know-- to listserves, individuals, etc.

7) Do a postcard  mailing to let friends  and members (if you are a group) know about this event.  We can get you sample test for a postcard...

8) Get your local animal group to sign on as a participant organizing.  Participant organizations will be listed as supporters of the Lobby Day in materials given to media and legislators.  We will list the name of your group, contact information, and a contact person.  Participants should try to have at least one rep as lobby day.  And of course, participant groups are encouraged (though not required to help in all the ways described below.

Lobby Meeting Tactics
If we want our Representatives to do their job and support
our views, we must do our job as grassroots lobbyists.
Four simple methods are available to us: e-mail, letter
writing, phone calls and MEETINGS. As this last method
entails a face-to-face encounter with your legislator, it
requires a bit more aforethought and preparation and a
touch of political savvy. Here are some basic pointers to
lead you on your way.

DonÃt be Intimidated by the Thought of
Approaching Elected Officials. Remember,
as a constituent of the legislatorÃs voting district, you are
the boss. The legislatorÃs job is to serve his constituentsÃ
interests. Even if legislators may appear to forget this
fact, your vote is very powerful. You helped get them into
this position and you can take them out. If youÃre
representing the views of several of the legislatorÃs
constituents, even better. Identify if and how you come to
express the views of a sizeable population of the district.

Be Informed about your Legislator. Learn
something about the person you are visiting. Biographical
information is readily on the Internet.
Identify Yourself by your Name and Organization (if any). Thank the legislator for
opportunity to meet.

Use œPeople Skills." Exhibit pleasant
personality, be friendly, be courteous.
Be Prepared. Work out what you plan to say before
walking into the office. Organize your comments. Use an
outline if helpful. If in a group, decide who is presenting
what.

Be Brief and Focused. Legislators and their
staff are very busy and usually overloaded with
information and competing demands. You should expect
them to remember only two or three major points, so try to
focus on getting those limited points across. Mention
what you are going to focus on, then talk briefly and
clearly about those points, and summarize your concerns
again as the meeting ends. Note, donÃt just refer to bill
numbers - make it clear whether you are asking for their
support or opposition to the matters.

Be Factual/Use All Available
Resources. Provide legislators with specific
information that is factual and informative. Demonstrate
thorough knowledge of facts/issues. Request position
papers, fact sheets or other documentation form animal
protection groups.

Be Honest. If legislators ask questions you donÃt
know the answer to, tell them you will find the answer and
get back to them. Also, when working with legislators
who sponsor your bill, be sure to be up front about
potential problem areas.

Personalize your Appeal. Tell how you are
concerned about an issue and how it affects you, your
family, and your community. Exhibit conviction.

Question Legislators. Ask them questions, such
as whether they have heard about the issues you are
raising, whether they have a position on them, or whether
they are familiar with the industry.

Request Something. Ask legislators for
something “ such as support of your positions, or
sponsoring or cosponsoring a bill, or a commitment not to
vote for burdensome. Ask them to contact you for your
view on issues of particular concern to you. If your
legislator immediately expresses agreement, ask him to
take leadership in convincing other, less supportive,
legislators. In addition, your legislator can help convince
the Assembly/Senate leadership, those serving on
committees to which the bill has been referred, and other
colleagues to support your position.

Follow-up. Express Gratitude and Build
Relationships. Send a thank you note to everyone
you meet with, even if they seemed disinterested or
hostile. Send to the legislator and to the staff members
who arranged the meeting or were present at the meeting,
including a brief summary of your position and answers to
any questions raised you couldnÃt answer during the
meeting. Try to provide them with some additional
information. Also, remind them if they made a
commitment (e.g., that they would cosponsor a bill).
Periodically keep in contact with people you met with
(e.g., send them additional information, such as an
informative news article or report on issues of concern to
you). Try to establish and maintain a relationship so they
will remember you and hopefully be responsive when you
later ask for help.