New Voice for Animals in Michigan: Mi-PACA Organizes Voters, Changes Local Elections
Mi-PACA is Michigan’s only statewide political action committee for animals, organizing voters into voting blocs to effect real change at elections.
Southfield, MI, November 23, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Michigan’s Political Action Committee for Animals (Mi-PACA) is bringing animal issues to the polls and seeing results. The organization, run by a voluntary Board of Trustees, seeks out Michigan voters who want their elected officials to support animal protection legislation and shelter reform.
“By organizing voters into voting blocs by county, district and township-city, we can pinpoint issues, endorse candidates and inform constituents as to how their local representatives have voted on the issues that are important to them,” said Courtney Protz-Sanders, Mi-PACA spokesperson. “In our case, it’s about advocating for all things pets, wildlife and farm animals.”
Mi-PACA hit the streets in July 2013, talking to voters, recruiting them into voting blocs and keeping them informed of the PAC’s endorsements prior to the November election. In addition to keeping that effort up, the organization also hosts monthly community awareness meetings throughout the state.
“Every meeting ends with more volunteers who want to recruit voters,” said Carrie McGowan, Mi-PACA coordinator. “Volunteers table events and go door-to-door in targeted areas to educate the public on issues and to build the voting blocs. We also serve voters who want to sign-up online at http://bit.ly/130Iqv3.”
Mi-PACA began in Oakland County as a group of concerned citizens and volunteers who wanted to see the county shelter improve, to save more lives and to embrace best practices and make Oakland County’s the best shelter in the state.
“As volunteers with various organizations, we realized we all had the same obstacle,” said Protz-Sanders. “We were having a hard time getting the majority of elected officials to listen to our concerns and proposed solutions. Publicly funded shelters aren't doing all they can to save lives and local government seems to be unaware of the issues or bewildered on how to fix them.
“Forming the PAC got the attention we were looking for and, suddenly, more elected officials wanted to meet with us, hear our concerns and do something about them. Those are representatives the PAC will endorse for re-election or higher office while informing our voting blocs so they take that information with them to the polls.”
Mi-PACA experienced a huge success Nov. 5, 2013. After a downriver community awareness meeting in October, the PAC endorsed mayoral candidate Rick Sollars, who strongly supports shelter reform and who was challenging the incumbent Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand. Sollars had never won an election, but took this one with 57 percent of the vote, thanks in part to Mi-PACA’s strong endorsement. (Source: The News-Herald)
About Mi-PACA
Mi-PACA welcomes all Michigan residents who are qualified to vote. Our work focuses on a singular objective — creating a dynamic, growing voting bloc of animal welfare advocates to elect those who support animal protection.
Mi-PACA's goal is to make significant changes for animals in each Michigan municipality and to bring real change to every corner of our state. How? By organizing Michigan voters into voting blocs by county, district and city-township. The PAC then keeps those blocs informed as to how their elected officials vote on animal welfare issues of real interest to them.
Mi-PACA’s mission is to improve the lives of animals in the state of Michigan by endorsing elected officials who support shelter reform and animal protection legislation. Mi-PACA has no paid staff and is entirely volunteer run. The PAC accepts donations to cover administrative costs at http://bit.ly/1aJshjn.
Mi-PACA volunteers organize voters by area based on their love for animals and the need to protect them. Each county in Michigan is assigned a county captain, and each municipality within the county is assigned city or township coordinators. These volunteers keep their fingers on the pulse of emerging issues in their respective areas that may affect companion animals, farm animals and/or wildlife.
Mi-PACA then acts by contacting elected officials, speaking at public meetings and dealing directly with elected representatives to ensure that emerging issues are decided in the animals' best interests. Because our power is in our numbers, PAC members network to recruit additional PAC members. Together, we can do more.
“By organizing voters into voting blocs by county, district and township-city, we can pinpoint issues, endorse candidates and inform constituents as to how their local representatives have voted on the issues that are important to them,” said Courtney Protz-Sanders, Mi-PACA spokesperson. “In our case, it’s about advocating for all things pets, wildlife and farm animals.”
Mi-PACA hit the streets in July 2013, talking to voters, recruiting them into voting blocs and keeping them informed of the PAC’s endorsements prior to the November election. In addition to keeping that effort up, the organization also hosts monthly community awareness meetings throughout the state.
“Every meeting ends with more volunteers who want to recruit voters,” said Carrie McGowan, Mi-PACA coordinator. “Volunteers table events and go door-to-door in targeted areas to educate the public on issues and to build the voting blocs. We also serve voters who want to sign-up online at http://bit.ly/130Iqv3.”
Mi-PACA began in Oakland County as a group of concerned citizens and volunteers who wanted to see the county shelter improve, to save more lives and to embrace best practices and make Oakland County’s the best shelter in the state.
“As volunteers with various organizations, we realized we all had the same obstacle,” said Protz-Sanders. “We were having a hard time getting the majority of elected officials to listen to our concerns and proposed solutions. Publicly funded shelters aren't doing all they can to save lives and local government seems to be unaware of the issues or bewildered on how to fix them.
“Forming the PAC got the attention we were looking for and, suddenly, more elected officials wanted to meet with us, hear our concerns and do something about them. Those are representatives the PAC will endorse for re-election or higher office while informing our voting blocs so they take that information with them to the polls.”
Mi-PACA experienced a huge success Nov. 5, 2013. After a downriver community awareness meeting in October, the PAC endorsed mayoral candidate Rick Sollars, who strongly supports shelter reform and who was challenging the incumbent Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand. Sollars had never won an election, but took this one with 57 percent of the vote, thanks in part to Mi-PACA’s strong endorsement. (Source: The News-Herald)
About Mi-PACA
Mi-PACA welcomes all Michigan residents who are qualified to vote. Our work focuses on a singular objective — creating a dynamic, growing voting bloc of animal welfare advocates to elect those who support animal protection.
Mi-PACA's goal is to make significant changes for animals in each Michigan municipality and to bring real change to every corner of our state. How? By organizing Michigan voters into voting blocs by county, district and city-township. The PAC then keeps those blocs informed as to how their elected officials vote on animal welfare issues of real interest to them.
Mi-PACA’s mission is to improve the lives of animals in the state of Michigan by endorsing elected officials who support shelter reform and animal protection legislation. Mi-PACA has no paid staff and is entirely volunteer run. The PAC accepts donations to cover administrative costs at http://bit.ly/1aJshjn.
Mi-PACA volunteers organize voters by area based on their love for animals and the need to protect them. Each county in Michigan is assigned a county captain, and each municipality within the county is assigned city or township coordinators. These volunteers keep their fingers on the pulse of emerging issues in their respective areas that may affect companion animals, farm animals and/or wildlife.
Mi-PACA then acts by contacting elected officials, speaking at public meetings and dealing directly with elected representatives to ensure that emerging issues are decided in the animals' best interests. Because our power is in our numbers, PAC members network to recruit additional PAC members. Together, we can do more.
Contact
Mi-PACA
Courtney Protz-Sanders
248-457-5248
https://www.facebook.com/MichiganPAC
Courtney Protz-Sanders
248-457-5248
https://www.facebook.com/MichiganPAC
Contact
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