Some examples of the workshops include:

• Becoming a Citizen Lobbyist at the State and Federal Level, “Come to this workshop to learn effective approaches to getting bills passed for animals”  Speakers: Speakers: Nancy Perry, Vice President, Government Affairs, HSUS; Jessica Feingold Lieberson, Director of Grassroots Campaigns, HSUS 
• Sound Strategy: A Key to Ending the Use of Animals in Labs, “The panel discussion will offer a toolkit for how you can help educate the public, influence policy efforts and prompt action.” Speakers: Kathleen Conlee, Director of Program Management, Animal Research, HSUS; Laura Ducceschi, Director of Education at American Anti-Vivisection Society/Animalearn; Jennifer Campbell, Director of Member Services, New England Anti-Vivisection Society
• Advocating for Animals at Your State Capitol, “Speakers will focus on the state legislative process and cover topics such as picking the right author to advance a bill”  Speakers: Kelly Peterson, Policy Advisor to Chief Operating Officer and Oregon Legislative Specialist, HSUS; Nicole Paquette, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Born Free USA
• Get Ready, Get Set, Lobby! And Training for Lobby Day, “You will get all the training you need for Lobby Day including tips on how to be a good citizen lobbyist, a refresher on how the legislative process works, a briefing on the highest priority animal welfare bills in Congress right now, and the logistics and schedule for Lobby Day.” Speakers: Nancy Perry, Vice President, Government Affairs, HSUS; Jessica Feingold Lieberson, Director of Grassroots Campaigns, HSUS; Heather Carpenter, Deputy Director of Grassroots Campaigns, HSUS  (mandatory for Lobby Day Attendance) 
• Advocating for Animals in the U.S. Congress, “Come learn about some of the federal bills that we’re working on to protect animals and how you can help ensure their passage!”  Speakers: Tracy Silverman, Animal Welfare Institute; Lauren Silverman, Federal Legislative Specialist, Government Affairs, HSUS; Jean Flemma, Staff Director, Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife, US House of Representatives (mandatory for Lobby Day Attendance) 

That is just a small fraction of the workshops that are aimed at promoting political and lobbying activity.  I  feel like I’m being tedious documenting that much of the politically focused portions of the TAFA conference.  (If you agree on the tedious part, I’m sorry.  Really I am.)  Yet, I feel compelled to point out the intense focus on political effect at the conference.  Why?  Because of the following comment on Twitter from the HSUS, “We’re not a “political group”. That’s a lame argument that our opponents use because they have nothing else.”

As usual, I have many more questions than answers.  My primary question tonight is, “If it is such a lame argument, why does the topic form the significant majority of the TAFA conference?” 

I don’t expect there to be much of a response forthcoming though. 

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved

The HSUS appears to be becoming much more comfortable with the label Animal Rights very recently.  It was only Easter Sunday this year when the HSUS Internet Marketing Manager, Carie Lewis, rejected the ‘Animal Rights’ label outright in conversation with me on Twitter.  Yet in the HSUS blog re-print  on Opposing Views titled “Humane Society Responds to Attacks on Animal Rights Record” the term seems to raise no alarm. The increase in acknowledgement of an Animal Rights position becomes more apparent with Schedule of Events at the upcoming HSUS run TAFA conference such as the lecture “Animal Rights as a Mainstream Phenomenon” and a sponsorship list composed of Animal Rights Industry members such as:

•  Farm Sanctuary
  • Animal Rights Anti-Animal Agriculture group
  • contributing a minimum $10,000 sponsorship to the event and 3 speakers participating on the agenda
• Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF)
  • Animal rights law organization based in California. Programs include civil litigation, working to enact state felony anti-cruelty statutes, and the Great Ape Legal Program, dedicated to winning legal rights for great apes
  • contributing a minimum $2500 sponsorship and 1 speaker to the event
• American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS)
  • Animal Rights group dedicated to ending experimentation on animals in research, testing, and education
  • contributing a minimum $1500 sponsorship to the event & contributing 1 speaker from  AAVS and 1 speaker from New England Anti-Vivisection Society
  • HSUS donated $500 to this organization according to their most recently available  tax forms

The focus on legislation, lobbying, influencing public opinion and manufacture of message is even higher, which can be easily seen be examining the schedule of events.  Due to the massive number of items to examine on the agenda, I will be breaking these items down into a series of articles looking at the conference’s focuses on combating Animal Agriculture, combating Animal Research, Legal/Legislative involvement & manipulation of the media.  These will be presented leading up to the actual TAFA conference start and through the HSUS guiding attendees in participation in the Lobby Day on July 27th on Capitol Hill.  Wait a minute, isn’t this exactly the kind of action that is in violation of the terms of the HSUS 501(c) 3 status?  I thought that HSUS didn’t have any employees or volunteers participating in attempting to influence national, state or local legislation, including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum?

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved