Taking Action for Animals Conference

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I had the privilege of attending the Humane Society of the United States’ weekend conference Taking Action for Animals held in Washington D.C. on the weekend of July 24, 2010.  This was my first weekend animal welfare conference and I was bursting with anticipation.  Having a passion is a wonderful thing but it can leave you a bit isolated if you’re not often surrounded by like-minded people.  I was psyched to spend an entire weekend with people who devote their lives to reducing animal suffering.  Characteristically, these folks rallied and nearly 1,000 people showed up.

Me & my roommates

The weekend was spent attending lectures and workshops and visiting exhibitors in the exhibit hall.  To reduce costs I arranged for a room-share with two other female advocates.  They were both wonderful and it was great having people to attend events with.  The weekend kicked off with an emotional presentation by radio personality Jerry Cesak on the victories made in the animal movement.  Being passionate about animals usually involves spending a great deal of time learning about their suffering, which often seems like an immense black hole of despair, so it was nice to be reminded of the many positive accomplishments that have recently been achieved.

On Saturday morning we also heard informative presentations by authors Meg Daley Olmert (Made for Each Other: The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond)
and Jonathan Balcombe (Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals).  The last, but surely not least, Saturday morning speech was by the amazing Nigel Barker.

Nigel Barker

If you’re ever lucky enough to see Nigel Barker in person you will truly discover the meaning of “tall, dark and handsome”.  For those who don’t know, he’s a photographer and judge of America’s Next Top Model.  Well not only is Nigel insanely good-looking but he is an amazing, dedicated, passionate and inspirational animal advocate.  He gave a moving speech which covered the plight of baby harp seals in Canada who are brutally bludgeoned to death after each breeding season and stripped of the soft white fur that covers their bodies for only the first few months of their lives.  This fur camouflages them against the ice and snow to protect them from predators until they are old enough to spend most of their time in the water.  People strip away the armor mother nature has given them so their pelts can instead be seen on “fashion” runways.  The lucky babies die before their fur is peeled off their bodies, the unlucky ones do not.  It has been documented that as much as 40% of the baby seals killed are skinned alive.  Nigel has been to the ice bergs in Canada several times now to document the baby seals after they’re born and to then document their slaughter.  What he has witnessed no human should ever see and no animal should ever suffer.

As a side note, I’ve now seen Nigel speak in person twice and each time after his speech I’ve been within 2 feet of him with perfect opportunity to introduce myself and thank him for his work, simple everyday conversation, and each time my darn nerves have gotten the best of me and I’ve bailed. I’m very well aware of how much I suck!

The weekend then went on to present over 20 workshops offered to help fine tune your animal advocacy skills.  I attended the following workshops: Harness the Media to Communicate Effectively for Animals, Emergency Animal Preparedness and Response, Building an Effective Campaign, and Building a Better Future for Farm Animals: Where We Need to Go From Here (which included a presentation by the amazing Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary!).

Me & Leanne

There were 72 amazing exhibitors and I got to meet a vegan designer I’ve been wanting to meet ever since she launched her line of fantastic vegan coats, Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart.  If you haven’t seen her clothing line you must check it out – Vaute Couture.  Leanne is as nice as she is animal friendly!  I bought her “let’s widen the circle” tank and I will absolutely be buying a vegan coat from her new line this winter!

I also got to hear a speech by and meet Karen Dawn, founder of the animal advocacy media watch DawnWatch.com and author of Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals.  I purchased her book which she autographed with good good wishes for my actions for animals – very cool!

Wayne Pacelle

On Saturday night there was a banquet dinner with a speech by Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society, or as I view him, a living breathing Superman for all animals.  Wayne gave nothing less than the riveting speech expected of a man of his caliber.  For those who are unaware of this magnificent human being, I encourage you to read his blog A Humane Nation, I don’t go a day without it.  Wayne’s speech was rudely interrupted by insanely loud music coming from a neighboring gathering that couldn’t have been planned better if it was the pork and beef industry grooving to merengue beats themselves, although I don’t picture those folks having much rhythm…

Another side note, Wayne happens to be yet another amazingly handsome animal advocate – ladies if there’s ever a movement for you to join, it’s the animal rights movement!  I had the privilege of meeting Wayne last October at a HSUS NYC Town Hall Meeting.  It took me about 30 minutes and 2 friends yelling at me to finally build up the courage to introduce myself.  I was SO GLAD I did!!  It’s not everyday you get to meet your hero so that was a truly amazing day for me.  Unfortunately my cell phone camera didn’t do the best job of capturing the moment but this pic will have to do!

Me & Wayne

Hal Sparks

Saturday night at TAFA was wrapped up with a fall off your chair laughing performance by actor and comedian Hal Sparks.  Our table was laughing so hard Hal gave us a personal shout out mid-performance.  I am officially a fan.

This year’s TAFA conference also had the first student summit they’ve ever held and from what I’ve heard it was a raging success.  Over 60 students attended from all over the country.  They learned how to advocate for animals and even got to write letters to their legislators.  What an amazing way to involve our youth.  I wasn’t able to stay until Monday but for those that did, they got to attend Lobby Day on Capital Hill and have one-on-one meetings with their legislators to personally advocate for stronger laws for animals.  As far as I’m concerned, the HSUS is nothing short of amazing.

I would encourage anyone who’s interested in the animal welfare to attend this conference.  You will learn so much and meet so many accomplished people and leave knowing that you are a participant, not just a bystander, in one of the most necessary movements of our time.  Fingers crossed that I’ll be an exhibitor there next year!

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