CONFERENCE
& TRAINING 2010
You’re Invited!
Download Registration Form
Wednesday, March 24th
8am-4pm
Black Bear Inn-Orono
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Featuring 8 presentations on various topics pertaining to issues that shelters
deal with on a daily basis from fundraising to hands-on animal care. This year's
conference will also include ACO training that will apply towards state requirements.The
fee is $35 and includes a continental breakfast and buffet lunch.
There are also scholarships available!
The New England Federation of Humane Societies
will also be hosting a Feral Cat Forum on
the same day at the same venue. If you would like to register for the Feral Cat
Forum Only Please
Click Here for
more
information.
Meet Our Speakers
Bobbi Allen
Don't Shoot The Messenger... Strengthening Relationships
Between ACO's & Shelters
To Help More Animals
Allen joined the Animal Welfare Society more
than 11 years ago and became Shelter Co-Manager in 2005. Allen manages the
day-to-day
operations of the shelter,
oversees the care of each animal and determines necessary medical decisions.
Allen also oversees the shelter’s animal transfer program, Paws Across
America, transporting adoptable dogs from overcrowded shelters in other states
to find a second chance in Maine. Her knowledge on the topic of transfer dogs
earned her the opportunity to present AWS’ program as a model at the
2007 New England Federation Annual Conference. Allen began her career in animal
care and animal welfare as an entry-level Animal Care Technician with AWS.
She worked her way up to Senior Technician before accepting her current position.
Allen resides in Springvale with her family and pets.
Dr. John Andrew “Drew” Benson
Spay
Neuter Panel
- Owner of Broadway Veterinary Clinic in Bangor Maine since October 1980
- Owner of Carrabassett Valley Veterinary Service and Pet Resort, Kingfield
Maine
- Graduate of University of Georgia Veterinary School, 1979
- Worked with the Bangor Humane Society for the past 2 ½ years, providing
veterinary care for all shelter pets.
- Past President of Maine Veterinary Medical Association
- Member of Maine Board Veterinary Medicine (2000 – Present)
- Past President, Board of Directors of Bangor Youth Hockey
- Past Board Member of Bangor Humane Society Board of Directors
- Past Board Member of the Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic
- Certified in Animal Chiropractic
Margaret Brender
Spay
Neuter Panel
Margaret has been involved in all phases of TNR including taming cats, organizing
adoption programs, relocating cats to barns and housing cats in a sanctuary.
Most recently she has run high volume, free spay/neuter clinics for the Merrimack
River Feline Rescue Society (MRFRS) headquartered in Salisbury, MA.
Susan Britt
Don't Shoot The Messenger... Strengthening Relationships
Between ACO's & Shelters
To Help More Animals
Come Fly with us....buckleup for a whirlwind tour to see how agencies around
the country are saving lives.
As Director of Shelter Training with the ASPCA, Susan oversees delivery of
Meet the Adopters, SAFER, Canine-ality and Feline-ality to organizations around
the country in addition to conducting shelter assessments in ASPCA partner
communities. Prior to joining the ASPCA Susan was the Director of Operations
at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Maine, which was a beta test
facility for Feline-ality because of its strong implementation and success
with Canine-ality and SAFER. Prior to joining the animal welfare field, Susan
was an English teacher. Susan lives in North Yarmouth , Maine with her partner,
3 dogs and 3 cats.
Susan Hall
Spay Neuter Panel
As a founder of Spay Maine, the group that started the Maine's state-wide low-income
spay/neuter program, Help Fix ME, Sue has been very active in helping to better
serve our state’s homeless animals.
Danielle Hastings
Purr-fecting the Art of Cat Adoptions by Teaching
Excellence in Customer Service
As Vice President of Adoptions and Customer Service, Danielle oversees adoption-related
programs at the Animal Rescue League of NH (ARLNH) in Bedford as well as their
affiliate, the Animal Rescue League of NH North in Conway, NH. Responsible
for ensuring excellent customer service to visitors of the League, Danielle
is well-versed in learning centered adoptions. Danielle joined the ARLNH in
1999 and has been involved in positive changes within the organization and
has held a variety of positions within the operation. Upon graduation from
college Danielle pursued a career path related to her field of Communications/Media,
but soon realized animal welfare was where she wanted to be. Now able to combine
her fields of interest, Danielle enjoys the challenges of her position which
requires a high degree of customer interaction and creating positive outcomes
for people and animals. Danielle is also a facilitator for the ASPCA with a
focus on teaching the Feline-ality Adoption Program to shelters and rescue
groups. Danielle resides in Wilton, New Hampshire with her four rescue cats
and her silly rescue dog, Bizzy the Boxer.
Dr. Stephen Kinney
Spay Neuter Panel
Dr. Kinney holds degrees from the University of Maine and Tufts University.
After 22 years in private practice in southern Maine, he started working
with area shelters to reduce intakes and euthanasia's by doing large spay/neuter
blitzes. In autumn of 2007, he began work as an independent contractor with
the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston, organizing and outfitting
an in-house spay clinic in one month. Using ingenuity and resourcefulness,
he was able to acquire the needed equipment for about $11,000 and the clinic
is up and running at capacity.
Steve Jacobsen
Spay Neuter Panel Discussion
Moderator
Steve Jacobsen is Executive Director of The Animal Welfare Society located
in West Kennebunk, Maine. He has been a Board Member of the Maine Federation
of Humane Societies since 1995. He has served as President and is currently
Treasurer. Steve also serves on the Companion Animal Advisory Council of the
Humane Society of The United Sates and is a member of the Society of Animal
Welfare Administrators. He resides in Kennebunk with his wife Kathy and their
two dogs and three cats.
Katie Lisnik
Come Fly with us....buckleup for a whirlwind tour to
see how agencies around the country are saving lives.
Katie joined the Humane Society of the United States as the Maine State Director
in April of 2007. A life-long animal lover, Lisnik pursued an academic career
path with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. During her college years
studying animal science and wildlife biology, she took an animal welfare class
and was re-energized to devote her life to improving the lives of animals through
public policy. After receiving her Bachelors of Science, she went on to Tufts
University School of Veterinary Medicine and obtained her Masters of Science
in Animals and Public Policy. After school, she went to work at a large animal
shelter in Southern Maine as their Program Coordinator, then moved on to The
HSUS. She also serves on the Boards of The Linkage Project, The Maine Federation
of Humane Societies, The New England Federation of Humane Societies and the
New England Animal Care and Humane Academy . Katie lives in the Portland area
with her husband, 2 shelter cats and an adopted Amazon Parrot.
Alicia J. Nichols
Follow the Yellow Brick Road: How to Find and Keep Your Donors
Alicia J. Nichols provides comprehensive fundraising services to Maine nonprofits.
Alicia is licensed by the state of Maine as both Professional Fundraising Counsel
and a Professional Solicitor, one of just three individuals in Maine to hold
both licenses. Alicia possesses 27 years of extensive experience in annual
and capital campaigns, grant writing, major, corporate and individual giving,
and media relations. Her professional staff experience includes – Director
of Corporate Support at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network; Vice President
of Fundraising at the University of Maine Alumni Association; Director of Development
at Penobscot Theatre Company; and at Care Development. Since 2005 Alicia has
secured $1 million in foundation grants for her nonprofit clients. Her consulting
services include: the fundraising tune-up; development audit; development training;
grant writing; special events; media exposure; campaign readiness; feasibility
study; capital and annual campaigns; volunteer training; board training; and
strategic planning. A proud University of Maine alumna, Alicia holds a BA in
journalism and has completed Masters degree course work in communications.
She is also a 20-year Rotarian, serving as past present of the Bangor Area
Rotary Club, and a current member of the Rotary Club of Bangor.
Kim VanSickle, CPDT-KA
Enrichment for Shelter Dogs and Adoption Follow-ups
Kim has been a professional dog trainer for over 25 years. With an Applied
Associate of Animal Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and
as graduate of American K-9 Training Center in Nashville, TN, Kim has vast
experience with training dogs used for police work and search and rescue.
With her own dogs she has competed in Ring Sport and earned the coveted Ring
3 title.
Since 2003 Kim has met the certification requirements for being a Certified
Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional
Dog Trainers. To maintain this certification many hours of continuing education
are required. In 1997 Kim began a new phase of her career by working at the
Animal Welfare Society, Inc. of West Kennebunk ME. She is currently Director
of the Dog Obedience program and Behavior Coordinator for resident shelter
dogs. Kim lives with 4 rescue dogs, a horse, and a husband.
“This has been the most challenging and satisfying job I've ever had.”
C. Jeffrey Wahlstrom
Recruiting, Engaging and Energizing Your Board
Jeff is Managing Director of Starboard Leadership Consulting in Bangor. He
has more than 25 years of hands-on experience as a nonprofit leader, board
member, and consultant to an extensive list of clients, large and small, throughout
Maine . He regularly provides counsel to boards on governance best practices,
succession and transition planning, crisis management, and strategic planning.
Jeff has also developed an online board self-assessment for nonprofit boards
of directors that is available through the Maine Association of Nonprofits,
and he is a frequent presenter and workshop leader on a lengthy list of topics.
Deborah Whitworth, SPHR
Hire the Right Fit Every Time
Deb is Managing Director of Human Resources Consulting at Lebel & Harriman,
LLP, an independent insurance and investment brokerage firm, located in Falmouth,
Maine. As managing director for Lebel & Harriman’s newest division,
she brings over 25 years of human resources management experience with her
as she consults with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Deb's first book,
You're Hired, You're Fired—A Manager's Guide to Employee Supervision,
was published in 2004. She is a regular contributor of human resources related
articles to HR Times and has written for Maine Biz, Portland Press Herald,
Employment Times, and Information Technology. Deb served as President and sole
content provider for HRinTheUS.COM’s advisory board until the organization’s
IPO in 2005. For her entire professional career, Deb has been a member of the
Society for Human Resources Management. She is currently President-Elect for
the Human Resources Association of Southern Maine and has held the positions
of Secretary and Marketing Committee Chairperson. She served as the President
of the Board of Directors for Connections for Kids from 1997 until 2008 and
is currently its Secretary. Deb was a Charter Member of the Board of Directors
of the Maine State Council of the Society of Human Resources Management and
is currently Director of Workforce Readiness. She has recently been elected
to the Board of Directors of Southern Maine VNA Home Health and Hospice. Deb
also served on the Board of Directors for the Maine Association of Nonprofits
for five years.
Meet
Our Board
PRESIDENT
Steve Dostie
Executive Director
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society
VICE-PRESIDENT
Karen Stimpson
Executive Director
Coastal Humane Society
TREASURER
Steve Jacobsen
Executive Director
Animal Welfare Society
CO-SECRETARY
Sheila Wellehan
Maine Fund for Animals
South Portland, Maine 04106
CO-SECRETARY
Katie Lisnik
The Humane Society of the United States
PO Box 10899
Portland, ME 04104
BOARD MEMBERS
Suzan Bell, Executive Director, Bangor Humane Society, Bangor
Susan Britt, ASPCA Director of Shelter Training
Deb Clark, Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine
Paula Rae Mitchell, Executive Director Humane Society Waterville Area
Doug Radziewicz, SPCA of Hancock County, Mt. Desert Island
Tracy Sala, Executive Director, Humane Society of Knox County, Rockland,
Hillary
Roberts, Kennebec Valley Humane Society
ADVISORY MEMBERS
Catherine Davis, Houlton Humane Society
Robert Fisk, President, Maine Friends of Animals
Patty Lovell, Former MFHS Treasurer
Joan McBurnie, Harvest Hills animal Shelter
Caryl McIntire Edwards, Voice for Animals
Norma Worley, State of Maine Director of Animal Welfare
To apply for a scholarship please contact
Katie Lisnik
klisnik@humanesociety.org
207-756-2570
For More Information please contact:
Carol Ann MacKinnon
Coordinator
Maine Federation of Humane Societies
mfhscoord@yahoo.com
207-242-5221