The League of Humane Voters (LOHV) expansion program kept Anne and
Peter Muller active in the first quarter of this year. Please keep
checking www.humanevoters.org to
see LOHV grow and find out if there’s a presentation being offered near
your community.
There was the re-vitalization of LOHV Lower Hudson Valley, NY chapter,
a meeting of the LOHV leaders of several chapters held at the Sharon
Shapiro Peace Sanctuary in New Paltz; the launching of a LOHV Lancaster,
PA chapter, preparations to launch a LOHV chapter in South Carolina, and
on March 14, LOHV’s Annual Legislative Breakfast in Albany, NY
LOHV - Lower Hudson Valley
Later on in the quarter we went on to the crow poisoning and puppy-mill
capital of the world: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A misguided official
thought that crows were a nuisance and the best way to deal with the “crow
problem” was to poison them. The reaction was swift and furious – and a
LOHV chapter is quickly forming. Almost 50 people attended the
presentation, realizing that it is the way to go if we are going to bring
a more animal-friendly government to Lancaster.
Please visit Laurie and Bob Fuller’s excellent website:
http://freedomforanimals.org/
Also see: Michele Calabretta Nicarry’s site:
www.wildanimalrehab.com .
Both Laurie and Michele arranged for the presentation and will be
initiating a LOHV Lancaster chapter. We also thank Priscilla Cohn for
attending.
LOHV- 2006 Legislative breakfast discussion
One of the main functions of the NY State LOHV is state level lobbying
and holding the Annual Legislative Breakfast.
LOHV invites all state legislators to attend an early morning feast of
vegan bagels and muffins, vegan spreads, a fruit-plate, juices, and
coffee.
LOHV- 2006 Legislative breakfast discussion
This year over 35 legislators and/or their top-aids attended. This gave
us a chance to press them for their support on three pending bills and
present a new bill to them. See the LOHV website:
www.humanevoters.org
During the breakfast, a state senator actually agreed to sponsor the new
bill that we had just “rolled out” during the breakfast. After the
breakfast, we met legislative leaders of key committees to enlist their
support for our measures.
All in all, it was a great success. Some of the legislation that we
promoted has a good chance of still passing in the current session. We are
seeing greater recognition of perception of LOHV on the part of the
legislators, since shortly after the breakfast we were consulted by a
legislative committee to see if we were in support of some bills (not the
ones we were advocating) that had come in front of the committee.
LOHV- 2006 Legislative breakfast discussion – Like the fruit plate?
LOHV WORKS FOR ALL
Another gratifying result of LOHV strategy was experienced in the Town
of New Paltz. LOHV had supported the Town Supervisor in the last election
based on her satisfying answers to LOHV’s questions. As she won by a
narrow margin, she was very grateful for the support.
Just months after the election, the humane Supervisor, our candidate of
choice, was tested when the Superintendent of Highways asked for
approximately $500 in town funds to lethally trap beavers whose activity
had previously resulted in road flooding. She called Marion DuBois, a
local animal protector who got in touch with Beavers, Wetlands and
Wildlife - www.beaversww.org.
She also called Wildlife Watch.
Instead of a trapper, Skip Hilliker of HSUS came to install a beaver
deceiver. (A beaver deceiver is a device that allows beavers to continue
their activity but prevents the damming of culverts.)
Skip installing the beaver deceiver early March
In addition to four NY LOHV chapters, LOHV also has a chapter in Ohio,
one is forming in Pennsylvania, and there are plans to launch chapters in
NY (another), South Carolina, and Iowa.
