8.3.05

Hello Friends!

We’ve been busy working on some key animal issues....

Donna is working with the Colorado Daily to distribute 10,000 bilingual spay/neuter fliers the week of Aug. 22, when the CU students return to town. We believe this is a critical time to spread the word about the importance of spay/neuter and about the welfare of companion animals. We're also in the process of creating PDFs of the spay/neuter flier so that animal groups throughout the world can post it on their site and print it with their own local contact information.

At the urging of several RMAD volunteers, the Boulder Freecycle list has agreed to prohibit the trading of animals through their list! While the kinks are still being worked out, they are sternly enforcing the rule. This is a huge first step in the battle against offering animals “Free to Good Homes.”

We need some dedicated volunteers to help defend Boulder’s wildlife policies from an all-out assault. As many of you know, the city is in the process of creating an urban wildlife management plan. Without RMAD’s involvement, this plan is almost certain to step up lethal control on prairie wildlife and perhaps birds and other animals. We are holding a meeting to enlist volunteers. It’s scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, from 5:30pm to 7pm at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (2323 55th Street in Boulder). Volunteer opportunities will include outreach (for example, writing letters, going door-to-door, meeting with key decision-makers); research (for example determining which laws and policies will be affected by the management plan, determining what the city is really spending on prairie dogs), and fundraising (perhaps holding a party or a silent auction or crafting appeal letters – without money RMAD will not be able to effectively coordinate this effort). Our campaign likely will involve working with the city and at least one local corporation researching the feasibility of trap-neuter-release as a management tool for urban/suburban colonies. We’ll provide refreshments. Please come if you can. And if you wish to instead support this project through your donation, please give a call to the office and make your pledge. (Operators will not necessarily be standing by, but we will return your call if you don’t reach us.)

Thanks to the efforts of Matt and Barbara Bear, Tsing Tao at the Table Mesa Shopping Center (Table Mesa and South Broadway) is now offering vegan mock meats in addition to fantastic tofu dishes. They now have vegan egg roll skins and fortune cookies as well. Please stop by and ask to see their vegan menu, tell them how good this is and how much you appreciate their support of cruelty-free food choices. Thanks, Matt and Barbara!

Volunteer Opportunity of the Month: HealthCo-op.org website assistance. RMAD’s forthcoming website promotes a healthy and happy lifestyle through plant-based nutrition. We are looking for folks who want to contribute to helping out animals through their web site skills! Specifically, we seek a flash developer to create a small program for our home page. If you are interested, please email Lindsey at lindseys@rmad.org.

On the Calendar
8.6.05 Fur Demo
8.3.05 RMAD Prairie Dog Volunteer Meeting
8.7.05 HEALTH Potluck
8.11.05 Compassion Club – An Activist Support Group
8.18.05 Happy Hour
8.24.05 Boulder Urban Wildlife Management Plan
9.23-9.24 Animal Care Conference
Ongoing Petition to Save Highlands Ranch Prairie Dogs
Ongoing Vegetarian Parents of Denver Meeting


Wednesday, August 3: Prairie Dog Volunteer Meeting
When: 5.30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Human Society of Boulder Valley, 2323 55th St
Help defend Boulder’s wildlife! The animals need you! For more information, please see above.

Saturday, August 6: Fur Demo
When: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Posters and leaflets will be provided. Bring an umbrella just in case!
Where: Marks Lloyds Furs, 263 Josephine between 2nd and 3rd in Cherry Creek See directions below.
Directions: From I-25 take Speer South to University. Turn Left (North, see Whole Foods Market on your Right after you turn onto University). University turns into Josephine after you cross 2nd. Marks Lloyds will, be on your Left just before 3rd. Don't forget to buy a parking ticket to place on your dash board from one of the green parking boxes marked with a (P) that are located on each block. From 6th Avenue going East, or 8th Avenue going West. go South on York (a one way street) to 3rd. Turn Left (East) on 3rd. Josephine is the next street. Marks Lloyds is behind Little Ollies which you will see on the corner of 3rd and Josephine. Call 303-807-1886 if you need help with directions.

Sunday, August 7: HEALTH Potluck
When: 5:30 p.m.
HEALTH welcomes everyone, regardless of dietary preference, to share a plant-based meal (a meal free of animal products), while learning about a more compassionate lifestyle.
Where: Location: We will be meeting on the 2nd floor at the Highlands Methodist, on the corner of 32nd and Osceola, between Sheridan and Federal in Denver.
For the potluck, bring a plant-based dish (no meat, fish fowl, gelatin, dairy, eggs, honey or other animal derived products) to serve at least 8 people. A plant-based dish can be as simple as, cut up fruits or veggies or a bottle of natural apple juice to share. If you are new to the group, please to come as our guest and let us feed you. Those comfortable with plant-based, please feel free to show off, dazzle us with your talent and bring extra if you like. Also bring a serving utensil, your own place setting, your own drink and a recipe card (with some extras to share) listing the ingredients in your dish (Please note on your recipe card if your dish contains hydrogenated oils for the health conscience folks in the group and also if it contains common allergens such as nuts).
Directions: From the S.E., take Federal, North to 29th. Turn left (West) on 29th to Osceola and turn Right (North). Just before 32nd you will see the Church on the left and a parking lot on the right. You may park in the lot if there's room. You can also take Speer Boulevard, North to 32nd, then go West (left) on 32nd. From the N.E., take Federal, South to 32nd. Turn Right (W) on 32nd to Osceola, the lot will be on your left. From the West, take Sheridan to 32nd and go East to Osceola. The Church and lot will be on your right. 32nd, runs East from 13th and Ford in Golden all the way to Osceola, for those of you coming from Golden or the west side of town. It changes from 13th to 32nd somewhere behind the Coors plant. Go East on 13th and just stay on the main road.
Notes: We will be collecting a small donation (whatever you can afford) for the rent. They usually charge a $75 fee per use but they are being so kind to only charge us $30 + any extra we collect. Note: We might meet downstairs if no one else is using the big room. It is cooler down there in the Summer.
Questions? Call the RMAD office at 303-449-4422 M-F and leave a message for Ann or email anns@rmad.org.

August 11: Compassion Club – An Activist Support Group
What: Compassion Club – An Activist Support Group
Time: 7:00 pm to 8.30 pm
Where: For information, please contact Chris at chrisj@rmad.org.

August 18: Happy Hour
Says Mike: “Join us Thurs, Aug 18 at the Southern Sun for some suds and fun! RMADers and friends will gather to get to know each other and to chat, especially about successes in the animal rights arena. You don't have to like beer to come (they also serve Margaritas)!
You can eat, too; the Southern Sun (627 S Broadway, Boulder, just south of the corner of Table Mesa & Broadway) has tasty vegan and vegetarian apps and meals. We'll start to gather at 5; we stayed nearly four hours last time!
Note that happy hour is from 4 - 6, and they don't take credit cards. See ya there!”

August 24: Prairie Wildlife – Boulder Urban Wildlife Management Plan Meeting
The first public meeting of the Urban Wildlife Management Plan process will be held on Wednesday, August 24, from 6pm to 9pm at the West Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from the community on the goals for the plan, identification of issues, management philosophy and guiding principles for urban wildlife management. There’ll be only two public meetings on this issue. Please plan to attend! Mark this date on your calendars now! More details to follow.

September 22-24: Animal Care Conference
Grand Hyatt, Downtown Denver
RMAD to Participate on Panel
The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS) has worked for animals and animal care facilities for 13 years. This fifth annual conference addresses the need for assessing strengths and weaknesses, implementing effective management practices, building stronger, more sustainable organizations, and seeking common ground within the animal care, protection, and advocacy communities. The movement stands at a crossroad; in order to achieve significant progress towards bettering the lives of animals — not just now but in future generations — animal caregivers must be prepared to advance their goals of greater professionalism, more activism, increased collaboration, less isolation, more learning, and continually improving conditions and standards of care for the animals.
For more info: http://www.taosanctuaries.org/conference/conf2005.htm

Ongoing: Petition to save Highlands Ranch PDOGS
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/589867250
We only have until August 8th. PLEASE sign and pass on!

Ongoing: Vegetarian Parents of Denver Meeting
Vegetarian Parents of Denver meet the second Saturday of every month. We discuss a variety of issues, share resources and are even starting an organic food buying club. We welcome parents of children of any age. Bring the kids and we have a babysitter watch them in another room. Our next meeting is June 11 at 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. You can call 303 355 5272 or e-mail Laura Patrick (veganmom2002@yahoo.com) for directions. Or join our online discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/compassionate_future/.

- Chris

Christopher R. Jones
Office Manager
Rocky Mountain Animal Defense
2525 Arapahoe #E4-335
Boulder, CO 80302
303-449-4422