Minutes DAWS Meeting Sunday, October 1, 2006
Beverly Garland Center, Beverly Garland Hotel, Studio City

Attendees
Sara Cosalino
Ed Mehgre
Kris Kelly
Loraine De Matteo
Robyn Seidel
Marlene Goodman
Adele Langdon
Charlotte Laws
Ed Boks
Tina Clark  818-502-1429   tinaclarke@earthlink.net
George Shea
Cliff Jacobs
Rich Mc Lellan
Scott Sorrentino
Diana Lannes
Paula Maxwell
Missy Woodward
Rebecca West
Kan Mattoo (Assemblyman Levine's office 818-904-3840  kancman.mattoo@asm.ca.gov
Andrea Boynton
Robert Boynton
Lisa Reveen

George Shea, DAW Secretary opened meeting with a few words
about glue traps. Thanks to PETA, glue traps no longer on sale
in many stores in Los Angeles. Ralph's still carrying them and promoting
them.  Shea urged members to report to him other stores that are
carrying glue traps, also to possibly take action by hiding glue traps
when they see them. Shea also suggested that members send signed
post cards to Ralph's announcing they will not shop there as long as
glue traps are on sale.

DAW President Charlotte Laws presented meeting with a complete set
of proposed DAWS by-laws she had written and e-mailed to DAWS prior to the
meeting. Several sections were discussed.

DAW Secretary George Shea proposed postponing any voting on the
by-laws as relatively few DAWS were present at the meeting and those
present had had little time to read or consider the proposed by-laws.

After some discussion of the By-Laws, Clifford Jacobs of Van Nuys
presented a motion to the effect that work on a complete set of by-laws
should be referred to a committee and postponed until a later date
so that other DAWS and the DAWS as a group would have more time to
contribute and seriously approach what he presumed would be a complex task.

Jacobs' motion was seconded and unanimously passed. It was decided to
have a special meeting at which a committee would handle the task of
contributing to and agreeing upon a set of by-laws for the organization. Volunteers
for the Bylaws Committee were Charlotte Laws, George Shea, Cliff Jacobs, Adele
Langdon, Scott Sorrentino, Lisa Reveen, Missy Woodward.

It was pointed out that Jacobs was not himself a DAW, but that the
VN Nieghborhood Council wanted him to be their DAW, contingent upon the
approval of the DAW organization.  Jacobs spoke for about
five minutes, noting his longtime memberships in various organizations
such as the HSUS. A motion was presented that Jacobs be accepted as the
DAW for Van Nuys. It was seconded and Clifford Jacobs was unanimously
voted to be the Van Nuys DAW.

Additional nominations for the Executive Committee were submitted.
The new nominees were: Kris Kelly and Clifford Jacobs.

Odessia and Yvonne Martinez were no present to speak on the subject of the
East LA Animals and Gangs.

Alex Kyrklund, the Long Beach DAW was not present to speak on the
subject of Noah's Ark.

It was decided that the Commitee Meeting on the DAWS By-laws would
be held on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 6 PM at Shalom Printing.

Marlene Goodman spoke re the Feral Cat Alliance. A new program is in place whereby
traps will be available in "depots" all over the city. The depot for the East SF Valley
is Marlene's home: 440 Coldbath, Sherman Oaks, 91423.) This is all part of Trap/
Neuter/Release program. Traps are free with a $50 deposit. Feral Cat Alliance will
handle spaying & neutering for free.


Kris Kelly presented re the IDA Campaign spearheaded by IDA President,
Elliot Katz. The  plan is to introduce a resolution to the Beverly Hills
Neighborhood Council to the effect that henceforth the term "guardian"
was to be used in preference to the term "owner" when referring to
one who maintains a domestic relationship with an animal such as a cat
or dog.

In the absence of Odessia and Yvonne Martinez, a discussion ensued on
the subject of animal cruelty and the difficulty in reporting it to proper
authorities and seeing any action taken.

Paula Maxwell spoke re the fact that no telephone number is available to call
to report acts of animal cruelty.

Ed Boks spoke re the importance of follow up calls to the Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Kris Kelly stressed the importance of building good relations with the police
as the police were responsible for enforcing anti-animal cruelty laws. She
also stressed the importance of sending letters and following up with Gloria
Molina's office.

Missy Woodward stated that she felt that Animal Cruelty would be a subject
for a great TV news story.

Rich Mc Lellan interjected that encouraging police to make arrests in animal cruelty
situations was a waste of time as judges routinely let off offenders with a tap on
the wrist. He emphasized importance of animal activists working to secure the
election of pro-animal judges.

Shea urged members to submit September DAWS Reports and collected
two reports from attendees at the meeting.

Missy Woodward encouraged members to attend LA Animal Services Best Friends event at the La Brea Tar Pits on Oct. 16.

Robyn Siedel reported on poor quality of medical care being given to animals
brought into animal emergency centers, particularly in Studio City. She also
complained that she and her colleagues have been unable to get the East Valley
Animal Shelter to follow up on these complaints.

It was noted that the level of care is better at some animal emergency
center than others. Rich Mc Lellan commented very favorably on quality of
Eagle Rock Emergency Center.

Ed Boks suggested that a list of superior animal emergency centers should
be created and possibly placed on LAAS and/or DAWS websites.

Boks also spoke on the subject of LAAS training foster caregivers. He
invited all DAWS and attendees to attend the Oct. 5 N. Central facility opening.
A "VIP" event at which DAWS and others would be special guests.

Boks also noted the Oct. 7 Adopt-a-Friend event -- Boths are available.
Do the DAWS want to have a booth at the event?

Other topics discussed at the meeting included the ritual of chicken sacrifice
by a small Muslim religious group. Ed Boks suggested that the matter be referred to
the Child Protection Agency.

Scott Sorrentino commented on pony rides that are regularly offered at
the Studio City Sunday Market and asked Studio City DAW Shea if he was
taking follow up action re the ponies.

The meeting was adjourned.  No meeting day for the next DAWS meeeting
has been set. The meeting on DAW By-Laws is set for Oct. 22 6 PM
at Shalom Printing.

George Shea
DAWS Secretary