Minutes DAWS Meeting, 6 PM, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006

Shalom Printing, Sherman Oaks. 

Attendees:

Scott Sorrentino
Coby Siegenthaller
Risa Freeman
Cliff Jacobs
George Shea
Marlene Goodman
Charlotte Laws
Tina Clarke
Eddie Maegher
Andy Pearlman
Risa Freeman

 Meeting was convened by Pres. Charlotte at 6 PM. First order of business was discussion of election of members of the Executive Committee.

There was discussion regarding the method of election. Owing to the relatively small number of DAWS attending the meeting, it was decided to conduct the election both in person, with DAWS casting physical votes at the next meeting in January, 2007 and also online in the interim between December 28, 2006 and January 8, 2007.  The six candidates receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected to serve on the Executive Committee.

 Candidates for the Executive Commitee should submit bios for publication on the DAWS website by Dec. 28, 2006.  The following eleven DAWS have been nominated: Gary Baratta, Marlene Goodman, Cliff Jacobs, Kris Kelly,Adele Langdon, Diana Lannes, Lisa Reveen, George Shea, Scott Sorrentino, Sky Valencia, Missy Woodward.
    
     Voting needs to be completed by Jan. 8, 2007.

     It was decided that the functions of the members of the Executive Committee would be the following:

     1. To decide on three to four central issues for the DAWS on all neighborhood councils and for the organization as a whole to concentrate on and pursue.

     2.  To recruit new DAWS for neighborhood councils

     3.  To act as liaisons to neighborhood councils, a role primarily handled presently by DAW President, Charlotte Laws.

     4. To meet six times per year or every two months.

     5. To assist the President in planning the agendas for meetings

     5.  To organize and promote one adoption event per year.

     It was decided that there would be further discussion of the role of the Executive Committee at the next DAWS meeting in January.

     Another matter for discussion will be the selection of criteria for new DAWS.

 Andy Pearlman who has been appointed by the Del Rey NC was introduced to other DAWS at the meeting.

  The next order of business was the discussion of whether the DAWS should have an advisory board.

  A motion was presented by DAW Cliff Jacobs suggesting that the question of an advisory board be postponed for a period of three months or until, February, 2007. The motion was adopted.

 Meeting discussed the creation of a list of desirable qualifications for members of the Executive Board: ability to attend meetings, devote a minimum number of hours per month to committee business, etc.

  Executive Committee could come up with a list of qualifications for DAWS. Members discussed desirability of interviewing candidates and also requesting some background information from other DAWS re candidates whose qualifications and credentials are relatively unknown.

The situation re the feral cats and the Veterans Administration was discussed by Marlene Goodman and George Shea who have been active on the problem.

It is hoped that a meeting can be scheduled with the VA and an agreement reached that will safeguard the feral cats and provide for their continuance before the end of the year.

 Scott Sorrentino, Valley Village DAW who is the New Hope Coordinator for various LAAS shelters explained that up to now he has been issuing "creative e-mail blasts" urging adoptions of various animals in city shelters. Scott expressed his belief that these stories would be more effective if they were public or were put out in the form of "Pet of the Week" ads in local newspapers such as the LA Times and Daily News. Scott favored raising funds for the insertion of these ads by requesting funding from various neighborhood councils. He estimated a total cost of $50,000 per year for the program and expressed the hope that $5000 each could be donated for it by a number of neighborhood councils.

 DAWS President Charlotte Laws expressed the view that she strongly doubted neighborhood councils would be willing to allocate such large sums for the program. She did suggest that the North Hills NC might be induced to allocate some funding for the spaying and neutering of stray cats on the V.A. grounds.

 Some DAWS suggested that NC might more realistically be asked to donate $500 each.

It was suggested that Tarzana DAW Jeff Gross might be of assistance in publicizing and promoting the program.  Studio City DAW George Shea suggested that the Studio City Sun (also published in Sherman Oaks & Encino) is given to running animal-related stories and might be approached about publishing a cost-free piece on the New Hope shelter program.

 DAW Cliff Jacobs of Van Nuys announced that he is planning to introduce a volunteer training program to kick off the new Van Nuys shelter.

 Scott Sorrentino expressed the view that such a program might be redundant as LAAS Gen Mgr Ed Boks already has his own training program in place. LAAS has already hired an outside consultant to advise on entire revamping of shelter volunteer program. This opinion was seconded by Del Rey DAW Andy Pearlman. Cliff Jacobs announced that he was undeterred and planned to go ahead with his own training program in as much as Van Nuys shelter was new and a strong program was urgently needed to give the new facility a "shot in the arm."

 DAW Marlene Goodman of Sherman Oaks asked if it would be possible to get neighborhood councils involved with shelters?

 Andy Pearlman noted that various neighborhood councils could combine to work on aiding shelters in their areas.

  Charlotte Laws suggested that all NCs be assigned to a particular shelter so they would feel invested in its success.  She suggested that an appropriate letter re shelters be written by Ed Boks and presented to neighborhood councils all over Los Angeles.

This view was seconded by Scott Sorrentino who noted that shelters are very much a neighborhood matter, uniting citizens with their lost pets, and so they are very much a matter for neighborhood councils.

 Van Nuys DAW Cliff Jacobs presented re online questionnaire being published by Mayor's office; Jacobs urged DAWS to take pains to fill in questionnaire and indicate interest in animal related problems and issues.

 Jacobs also reported an estate gift to the City of Los Angeles (LAAS) of $170,000 annually for the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. Council file # 06-2907.

 Neighborhood councils do have the power to issue community impact statements. Charlotte Laws noted importance of seeing that City Council takes action to see that no funding is deleted from this $170,000 annual amount and that it continue to be set aside specifically for spaying and neutering. It was noted that Mayor Villaraigosa has ordered a 5% reduction for every city department, an order that will
most likely impact acutely on LAAS. Laws suggested that contacting Council members Rosendahl or Zine would be likely actions.

 There was a discussion of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Charlotte Laws reported that she attended a symposium on the subject at the LA County Bar Association. It was reported that the ACLU is not stepping up and responding to the AETA.

The next item on the agenda was the formation of a Shelter Committee within the DAWS.

 Scott Sorrentino said that he favored (1) unannounced visits to shelters and (2) a program of "positive" activities that would include trained DAWS volunteering at shelters, especially on weekends and performing (1) relinquishment counseling and (2) adoption counseling. A group of DAWS shelter volunteers would serve in these capacities working with LAAS. We would offer these volunteers to shelters all over the city.

Training would consist of (1) how to deal with relinquishment situations (2) How animals interact with each other (3) ascertaining the appropriateness of certain animals for children. Scott Sorrentino would be happy to run the training program. He also urged a policy of more consistency throughout city shelter system. What is acceptable or unacceptable in one shelter is not in another, etc.

Shelter Committee will be item on agenda for next DAWS meeting in Jan. Date and place of next meeting was announced as Mon., Jan. 8 at the Marvin Braude in Van Nuys.

     Meeting was adjourned.

     George Shea, DAWS Secretary