11.09.05

Greetings!

There is a lot going on in the animal advocacy world, and here’s the run-down:

If you live in the Boulder area, the prairie dogs need your help! We hope you will all be able to attend some or all of the city council meetings listed below, from which serious decision will be made. It’s critical that people who care about animals show up and speak out for our wildlife. Otherwise, the city and powers that be will only hear from developers and people who don't want prairie dogs on their property! The next meeting is this WED. NOV. 9th, 6 pm in the City Council Chambers. It is Open Space Board of Trustees meeting. There is usually a time at the beginning of such meetings to express your opinions. Here are a few speaking points:

1. You would like to see humane methods of animal control used in the Urban Wildlife Management Plan – not lethal control.
2. The plan should contain provisions for mitigation and or relocation of any wildlife threatened by a new development within urban areas.
3. The plan should include funding for revegetation for denuded prairie dog colonies (such as Foothills Parkway)
4. The plan should be at least as protective (or better than) the Wildlife Ordinance in dealing with urban wildlife.
5. Be creative! Whatever other points you can think of to present would be great.

Several permits for lethal control of prairie dogs have been filed with the city. We need to determine who these landowners are, and work with them to find alternatives! If you would like to help us with our ongoing Prairie Wildlife Campaign, please contact us ASAP. Prairie dogs and other prairie wildlife desperately need your help -- time is running out.

The nights are getting cold and the animals need blankets! We’re hoping each and every one of you can look in your closets or ask you neighbor for a spare blanket that can be donated to a local shelter or sanctuary. You don’t have to do anything beyond that – simply call or email us and we’ll arrange for a pick-up with our volunteers. You can still drop off blankets at the Ramada Inn (1150 E Colfax Ave.) or in Boulder, you can also drop them off at Three Little Figs (2793 Iris Ave). In addition to working with the Denver Municipal Shelter, friend and volunteer Kathleen Neubauer has been spreading the word about the drive. Her vet is now accepting blankets at their office too. Thanks, Kathleen!

The HEALTH Project of Rocky Mountain Animal Defense is going to distribute vegan bag lunches for the homeless. A tentative date of Saturday, Nov. 19 has been selected, but we’ll have more details as plans are finalized. If you can help make some food or can donate vegan food items such as sandwich ingredients, cookies, chips and drinks, please come help us spread the word about veganism and help the homeless at the same time! Contact AnnS@rmad.org for more information and to volunteer. Thanks to Ann once again for heading this up!

Please RSVP for the RMAD/SPLT Fundraiser! We’re sending out the Evite to each member individually; the party will be December 7th at the Oxford Hotel in Denver. Please pass it on and RSVP for yourself up, but use a personalized ID. If you have signed up as “members” or “wildbunch,” please change it to something more specific so we can keep track of the number of guests. Our volunteers are hard at work gathering high-quality donations and if you have a great item you can donate for our silent and live auctions, please email DonnaM@rmad.org.

RMAD’s Activist Support Group is meeting next week in Denver on Thursday, November 17th, at the Ramada Inn (1150 E Colfax Ave) at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome, but we recommend that you RSVP. Because of the sensitive and personal nature of the topics we discuss, we ask that you arrive on time so that the group won’t be disrupted. For this reason, Catherine has recommended that we keep the door open until 6:45 p.m. but then ask that latecomers not interrupt the group. If you think you are coming late, please let us know in advance. Please email or call Chris at 303-449-4422 or Catherine Zakoian at 970-926-1276 if you need any further information.

RMAD is supporting protests and leafleting at the ConAgra Turkey Plant at 1st and Main St. in Longmont. The schedule is:

Thursday - 11/10/05 from 4-5 PM
Monday - 11/14/05 from 12-1 PM
Monday - 11/21/05 from 4-5 PM

As well, Fur Free Friday is just around the corner. This is a national effort, so please come! More info below in the calendar. Please see our list of upcoming events. Please let us know if you have any questions, ideas, etc. We’d love to hear from you.


- Chris & Donna




Rocky Mountain Animal Defense Calendar of Events:

Saturday, November 12: 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.

Winter is fast approaching and sadly, fur sales will soon be on the rise for the season. Please help us spread the truth about fur, in Denver.
Here's the scoop about fur:
http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/fur_and_trapping/
http://www.furisdead.com/getActive.asp
http://www.furisdead.com/photos-traps.asp
http://www.bancrueltraps.com/
http://www.furkills.org/
http://www.infurmation.com

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.


Thursday, November 17: Compassion Club – An Activist Support Group

Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Ramada Inn, 1150 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Everyone is welcome, but we recommend that you RSVP! Because of the sensitive and personal nature of the topics we discuss, we ask that you arrive on time so that the group won’t be disrupted. For this reason, Catherine has recommended that we keep the door open until 6:45 p.m. but then ask that latecomers not interrupt the group. If you think you are coming late, please let us know in advance. Please email or call me (Chris) at 303-449-4422 or Catherine Zakoian at 970-926-1276 if you need any further information.


Saturday, November 19: Prairie Preservation Alliance-Sponsored Film:
Earth From Above

When: Saturday November 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver

Cost: $9.00 per ticket NOTE: Starz ticket price is $10.00. There are only 25 tickets available at this reduced rate. If you would like to take advantage of this special event, please order your tickets by November 10. You will receive your tickets by mail. You may order your tickets by calling Prairie Preservation Alliance at 303.638.4672 or 303.359.4167

This lovingly crafted documentary uses the photographs of famed aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand to create an animated fresco composed of three equally important components--image, music and voice. Without laying blame, the film presents the paradox in which the beauty of nature blends with the cruelty of humanity, as the power of nature interacts with the frailty of mankind. The total experience becomes a visceral exploration of the future of our planet.


Friday, November 25: Fur Free Friday

When: 11:00 a.m.
Where: Cherry Creek

We’ll be on the streets of Denver to greet shoppers and tell them to choose cruelty-free luxury items this year. We will congregate outside of Neiman Marcus and then march to Marks Lloyds.

Wednesday, December 7: RMAD/Southern Plains Land Trust Holiday Extravaganza

When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Oxford Hotel, Lower Downtown Denver

Please click on the link below (“View Evite Invation”) to RSVP for the party. We need to have an accurate head count to accommodate for food and space. Please email DonnaM@rmad.org with any questions or to help out.


Holiday Extravaganza Fundraiser
Please join RMAD and SPLT for our Holiday Fundraiser Extravaganza!
View Evite Invitation

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/.