SAWA Heads to the Queen City for the 2009 Management Conference

The picturesque Queen City on the banks of the Ohio River will be home to the 2009 SAWA Management Conference June 9-11, 2009.

Discover all there is to do in Cincinnati, Ohio from our comfortable downtown hotel. A familiar landmark on the city skyline, the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati offers every possible convenience under one roof.

Take advantage of the hotel’s indoor pool and whirlpool, outdoor sundeck and 24-Hour Stay Fit gym. Your guest room will offer complimentary high speed internet access.

The SAWA hotel room rate is $135 plus tax for single or double occupancy. To reserve your room, call 800-233-1234 and mention the SAWA Management Conference.

A strong line-up of topics and speakers is planned including general session presentations on “Branding and Customer Service” by Gregg Lederman and “Innovative Work Processing” by Dan Chenoweth. Both sessions will emphasize working in today’s economic environment. Luncheon speaker Dr. George Vredeveld will talk about our economic crisis and how we will recover.

The Administrative Track will include sessions on “Cost Allocation in Non-Profit Accounting” and “High Performance Employee Review Processes” as well as Roundtable discussions. Those on the Operations Track will hear a session on “The Microchip World-Recent Advances & Options for Shelters” as well as a “Horse Panel.” Roundtable discussions will focus on “Admission by Appointment” and a Rainbow Discussion.

The Development Track will include presentations on “Annual Fundraising-Success in Tough Times” and “The Foundation of the Future: How izing Impact while Minimizing Risk”. Two roundtable discussions will complete the Development Track. For information on speakers, you may download the registration brochure at sawanetwork.org.

Here is the Management Conference agenda:

CAWA Exam to be Given at Management Conference

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 SPCA Cincinnati 11900 Conrey Road Cincinnati, OH 45249

The Certified Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA) accreditation program has been designed to establish recognition for those who have gained a significant body of knowledge, achievements and abilities.  The 2009 Certified Animal Welfare Administrators exam will be offered in Cincinnati in conjunction with the SAWA Management Conference. The open application period to sit for the exam begins March 16 and ends April 30, 2009.

The 2009 CAWA exam will be FREE to SAWA members. Non-members will pay a fee of $295. Non-member re-testers will pay a fee of $75.

SAWA will reimburse 2009 SAWA member test takers for the most expensive text on the CAWA reading list (Developing Management Skills, 7th Edition. Author: David A. Whetten and Kim A. Cameron. 2006 Harper Collins College Publishers. Available from amazon.com. ISBN- 10:0131747428, $114).

The exam will be given June 9, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Testers must arrive by 7:45 a.m.

Testers may stay at the Doubletree Hotel near the SPCA Cincinnati or at the conference hotel, the Hyatt Regency, in downtown Cincinnati. SPCA Cincinnati will provide transportation to the exam site from the Doubletree and to the conference hotel following the exam. For Hyatt Regency reservations, call 800-233-1234. For information on Doubletree reservations, go to http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/CVGKRDT-SAW-20090608/index.jhtml. 

Certification candidates must have:

1. A minimum of 3 years of experience as a CEO, or in a management- level position directly reporting to the CEO, the COO, the DO or an equivalent position in an animal sheltering agency/ organization. One year of this experience can be substituted by 2 years of management experience as CEP, or in a management-level position directly reporting to the CEO, the COO, the DO or an equivalent position at a non-profit or public agency/organization in another field.

2. A minimum of 3 years experience managing paid staff within 10 years of the exam administration date, in any field. If this requirement was met through the position(s) qualifying to meet requirement number 1 above, both requirements are considered to be met simultaneously. If the management- level position(s) meeting requirement number 1 did not involve management of paid staff, candidates may use other position (s) within the past 10 years to fulfill the requirement of 3 years experience managing paid staff.

For more information go to www.sawanetwork.org/certification.htm. 

SAWA thanks charter sponsors AVID and Hill’s for their support.

Animal Care Expo 2009

This year, the Humane Society of the United States has combined Animal Care Expo and the National Conference on Animals in Disasters to create the best conference experience in the animal sheltering and emergency services fields. That means you’ll get even more bang for your training buck!

All Animal Care Expo courses are approved for the continuing professional development requirements of the Certified Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA).

At Animal Care Expo 2009 in Las Vegas, April 6-9, you'll find more of the renowned educational workshops and networking opportunities you’ve come to expect. And this year, Expo has expanded its workshop tracks to include: Executive Leadership, Animal Care and Adoption, Field Services, Veterinary Medicine, Emergency Services, Shelter Operations, and much more!

At just $225, Expo is the lowest-priced international educational conference in the field and hotel rates in Vegas are at an incredible low! In these trying economic times, you won't find a better value for your money than Animal Care Expo. Plan now to join experts and colleagues for this unparalleled opportunity to brush up on the basics and learn about the latest cutting-edge programs. Register today at www.animalsheltering.org/expo.

SAWA Announces CATalyst Contribution

The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) is pleased to announce a $5,000 commitment to CATalyst Council in support of the Council’s 2009 initiatives.

According to Cal Morgan, SAWA President, “In a recent SAWA member survey, members identified the increasing number of cats coming into our facilities as one of the top issues we face in our industry today. Our partnership with CATalyst Council is an opportunity for us to work with allied organizations to assure that all cats are valued and are well cared for as pets. By promoting cat adoptions and visits to the Veterinarian, we can elevate the standard of care by the cat owner and keep cats in their home.”

SAWA applauds CATalyst Council’s dedication and vision of a future where all cats are valued and well cared for pets.

Low Cost Shelter Employee Survey

The Shelter Diagnostic Survey (SDS) provides tools to aid management at private and public animal shelters by surveying employees and making specific recommendations to management and/or boards based on survey results.

SDS evaluates aspects of the organization central to employee attitudes, perceptions, and opinions that have direct implications for organizational effectiveness.

SDS was developed as a nonprofit outreach initiative in partnership between UNC Charlotte and The Humane Society of the United States. Therefore, SDS is provided at a highly discounted cost.

SDS provides the ability to compare individual shelter scores with international norms from animal shelters throughout the U.S. and Canada. The content of the SDS is based on 6 years of research published in journals such as Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Over 22 shelters have completed the SDS including San Francisco SPCA, Edmonton HS,SPCA of Texas and Richmond SPCA. For more information regarding SDS, please contact Dr. Steven Rogelbergat sdsds@uncc.edu or 704-687-4871. or visit http://sds.uncc.edu.

Shelter Population Index Survey

Frustrated by questions regarding national averages?

Want to help your community better understand everyone’s role in animal welfare?
The Shelter Population Index (SPI) will link animal shelter population data to a specific region’s human population. It’s the first index that reflects the combined impact shelters and their communities have in addressing pet homelessness. The SPI is being developed under the auspices of the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, of which SAWA is a member. Phase II of the SPI Study is being directed by investigators at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Information is needed from shelters nationwide by April 30th to complete Phase II. Answering the one page questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes or you can submit existing data in any format that includes the needed information. Participants will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win prizes, including free registration to various training opportunities and membership to national organizations.

Participants will also receive the 2007 and 2008 SPI for their region and the nation, as well as the formula to calculate an SPI for their community. These are powerful tools to use with funders, officials and animals lovers.

Your participation is vitally important. Please log onto www.surveymk.com/SPIQuestionnaire for more info. Help create an index our communities can use!

Lisa Pederson Honored

Community Shares of Colorado has awarded its 2008 Shared Leadership Award to Humane Society of Boulder Valley CEO Lisa Pederson, CAWA.

Community Shares recognized SAWA member Pederson for her sustained relationship with Community Shares of Colorado in her role as a member agency representative.

According to an article in the Boulder Daily Camera, the Shared Leadership Award pays tribute to the cooperative spirit among community leaders and it recognizes an individual’s lasting influence on Community Shares of Colorado.

The article went on to say that Pederson has served in various Community Shares leadership positions including board president. Congratulations, Lisa!

Remembering Greg Bloomfield

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Gregory L. Bloomfield. The executive director of the Toledo Area Humane Society passed away Monday, February 16, 2009, at his home while under hospice care. He had been battling cancer for the last four years.

Greg decided at an early age that he would dedicate his life to the rescue and protection of animals. He respected all animals and felt that they should be allowed to live and die with respect.

He began his career in Columbus, OH, in 1970. After 10 years Greg moved to Denver, CO and became Operations Manager of the Denver Dumb Friends League. The next step in his journey found him as Director of the Kitsap Humane Society in Washington State, where he met his wife, Tania.

In 2000, Greg became the Director of the Toledo Area Humane Society. While under his direction adoption rates at the facility increased by 85% and two veterinarians were added to the staff, allowing for in house spay and neutering. Greg was instrumental in changing animal cruelty laws in the states of Ohio and Washington from misdemeanors to felonies.

Greg previously was a member of the SAWA board of directors and served as secretary of our association. He was a member of the Ohio Federated Humane Societies.

Greg is survived by his loving wife, Tania Bloomfield; children, Meghan (Preston Wismer) Bloomfield, Jason (Kristy), and Adam Bloomfield, and Amie (Ed) Stevenson; grandchildren, Gage, McKenna, and Grace; mother, Joyce Miller; sisters, Angela (Gary) Charles and Tonya (Rick) Daniels and brothers, Chuck (Diane) Miller and Lonnie Ray (Tammy) Bloomfield.

Countless animals were allowed to live a comfortable and happy life because of Greg's dedication and hard work, for them we offer him thanks. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Excerpted from the Toledo Blade, February 18, 2009.

In Memory of Randy Partee

By Bob Rohde, president, Dumb Friends League

I am saddened to report that Randy Partee, vice president of marketing for Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc., as well as managing director for Hill’s Far East & South Pacific, died suddenly on January 13. He was only 55. He had just returned to Topeka from a family vacation in Tennessee.

Randy was instrumental in forging SAWA’s partnership with Hill’s and in launching the Shelter Nutrition Partnership program.

If you ever met Randy, I know you will agree he was a real character, but what stood out about him is the fact that he could be trusted. He was a true friend of SAWA and of the animal welfare community.

Randy’s integrity, sense of humor and ability to “just get it done” (one of his favorite expressions) made him a real pleasure to work with.

I think the following tribute by the company’s former CEO, Bob Wheeler, says it best: “Randy’s booming voice, jovial demeanor and down-to-earth management style brought out the best in his team and his colleagues. His successful career was distinguished by his remarkable business acumen and talent. All of us were enriched by knowing Randy and having had the pleasure of working side-by-side with him.”

It was a real privilege for me to know Randy. I was able to attend his memorial service and was truly impressed by the outpouring of support for his family from so many colleagues and friends.

New SAWA Members December 2008 - March 2009

Welcome to our newest SAWA members. Their names and organizations are listed below.

*Please make sure you keep all your membership information current with SAWA. If you move, change position, or have other contact information changes, please (1) fax a signed letter to CPS at 916-561-8433 or (2) log on to: www.cps.ca.gov.  Once there, click on the “My Account” link on the bottom left of the page.