viernes, 19 de noviembre de 2010

AN ALTERNATIVE IS NECESSARY


AN ALTERNATIVE IS NECESSARY

In view of the chaotic, disappointing situation that the Protection Society is going through at present under the tutelage of the current Board of Directors (which has brought about, among other things, the necessity for new elections in less than a year due to serious internal problems), a group of members and volunteers, worried by such a situation, have joined up in order to set up an alternative Board of Directors that breaks with the current dynamics and that takes up again the search for unity between members, participation, dialogue and, above everything else, progress.

This new Board is made up with people of all sorts, with the training and attitude required by the challenges that our association has to face up, thus fulfilling the noble aim pursued by us all, that is, the protection of animals. 

The welfare of our animals is currently hazarded by overcrowding, which has an influence on their health, giving rise to serious behavioral problems, to illnesses and to the corresponding consequences that this brings on the adoption of animals in the future. This is due to the fact that they have not been appropriately cared for as the sufficient, necessary organization that every animal protection society should have has not existed. 

That is why we present you an alternative project for the next four years, with all our hope an commitment on it, having to inform you that the postage for this letter has been financed by particular members in view of the refusal of the current President to give other candidacies the possibility of being put forward using the same means that she has employed, the letter calling for elections that you have previously received. 

WHO ARE WE?




PRESIDENT: Francisco A. Cayuela Burgos

A former businessman on his professional life, he is currently retired. He cooperates at the Shelter as a volunteer of the canine group performing a remarkable work in the management of the most problematic dogs. He has great leadership qualities, he can work with a team and he has more than enough time to carry out all of the tasks corresponding to the position.


VICE-PRESIDENT: Marcos Canzian

He did Economics and Business Studies in Italy and he has performed his work in both countries. He cooperates as a volunteer at the Shelter, making videos for the popularization of the animals at the Internet in order to promote adoptions. He is foster home as well. 

SECRETARY: Mª Victoria Rodríguez Palomo

She has been a member for 9 years now. She has cooperated as a volunteer for the administrative work and currently as an active member of the exotic group. She works in the Public Administration.


TREASURER: Elizabeth Ortega Gaitán

She works as an auditor at a bank. She has been appointed as the treasurer of the Flea Market Committee. She cooperates with the Protection Society as a volunteer of the feline group, as a foster home, and she also does membership administration. 

BOARD MEMBER 1: Paqui Ruiz Montiel 

She has been a member for 11 years now. She has been member of former Boards of Directors. She has cooperated as a volunteer for diverse administrative tasks (membership administration) and also directly dealing with the animals. She currently collaborates as a veterinary assistant and as a foster home. 

BOARD MEMBER  2: Cristina Cabrera López 

She performs her work as a veterinary, with experience in animal behaviour. As a member of the Protection Society for 4 years, she has cooperated in the veterinary care at the Shelter. 

HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK?


HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK?

We want a Board of Directors that works as a team where all its members may equitably participate in decission making,  showing reciprocal respect and tolerance when exchanging opinions, with freedom, trust and communication when performing the tasks corresponding  to the position of each of them.

We undertake the task of making this Board of Directors work ruled by the principles of responsibility, efficient administration, transparency and closeness to members, volunteers and workers. We believe in dialogue and plurality as the best tools to solve the problems that we will face in the future.

We undertake both to revise the Bylaws so they are more adjusted to the and Organic Law 1/2002  March 22 , that regulates the Freedom of Association, and to the rd Associations Act of Andalusia, 4/2006 July 23,  and to make a new Internal Code of Conduct, for which we will hold conversations both with workers and with the people coordinating the volunteers and the different sections, so we all together create a text in consensus. Both texts will be submitted to the General Assembly's approval. 

We will encourage the constitution of Delegate Committees and Sections, in order to carry out certain tasks and activities. The complexity of the direction that this Society demands nowadays in order to bring all of its aims and activities to a succesful conclussion makes it necessary to have a great number of members helping the Board of Directors with its tasks. 

WHAT DO WE WANT?


WHAT DO WE WANT?

THE WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS.

The Protection Society should be the most appropriate transitory place for animals, where they are offered the best hygienic, sanitary and psychological attention through therapeutic programs, thus fomenting adoptions, which is in short our main aim, that is, that all the animals may find a kind family and they do not need to stay for years at the shelter. 

In order to fulfill our main aim, we will focus on the following lines: 

FUNDING

Due to the current crisis there are more abandonments, less adoptions and less subventions, so we need new funding sources:    
  • Gaining of new members and sponsors.   
  •  Requesting of subventions to public and private organizations (the Youth Department, the City Council, the European Union, fundations and charitable works of banks...).   
  •   A renegociation of the Agreement that we signed with the City Council. The City Council has reduced the subvention on a 60%. We will consider if it is possible for us to continue rending the agreed services under such circumstances and we will submit a report to be discussed by the members in Assembly.  
  •   Sale of compound feeds and other products for pets to members.   
  •   Rendering of veterinary services to other Associations.   
  • Animal Sponsorships.
 
MAKING OURSELVES KNOWN

In order to encourage adoptions and to create a culture of love to animals it is necessary to specially emphasize the popularization of the Protection Society by any possible means:  
  • Promoting collaboration agreements with clinics and veterinary centres so they give information about the activities of the Protection Society.   
  • Promoting collaboration agreements with both national and international organizations related to animal well-being.    
  • Increasing the presence and spreading of animals in social networks.    
  • Presence at the media, reaching the foreign population residing in our province.   
  •  Updating of the web. 

RAPPROCHEMENT TO MEMBERS

We, the members, with our fees, donations and volunteering are the ones that make the Protection Society work. That is why we believe that all members should be informed about the projects and activities that we carry out, so they may take a more active part on them and we all move together towards our main aim.   

  •  Improvement of the On Call Assistance to members and to the general public.  
  • Arrangement of “OPEN DAYS” at the Shelter for members, so they may become acquainted with our facilities and with the way we work.
  • Setting up of a Suggestions Box at the Shelter and at our web page.    
  • Encouraging of volunteering by offering specific tasks to be carried out inside or outside of the Shelter.   
  • Training for the volunteers that join the Committees, Sections or working groups.     Establishment of guidelines of action to be followed by volunteers in order to improve their performance and at the same time to give them freedom and independence. 

ADOPTIONS

A good adoption program will make it possible for as to help a greater number of
animals. That is why we suggest:
  • Fostering  adoptions with awareness raising and spreading campaigns at schools and through the media.
  • Information for a responsible adoption  An increase of collaboration with foreign institutions and associations.  
  • Adoption monitoring.  
  • Execution of therapeutic programs and guidelines that contribute to the education of the animals in the shelter to facilitate their adoption. 
  
PROMOTION OF CAMPAINGS TO: 

  • Inform people about the necessity of neutering their pets and of identifying them with a microchip, and also about other compulsory treatments.   
  •  Boost foster houses.  
  •  Boost the protection of flora in the province.
  •   Boost animal sponsorship. 


We ask for your support to make this alternative possible.
Because the animals need you. 

We await you on December 17