Guest Speaker: Cimeron Morrissey on Spreading the Word
Bringing public relations to the animal welfare table!
The No More Homeless Pets Conference is bringing together the greatest animal advocates in the world under one roof. There are few people that have done as much for the feral cats of San Francisco, than the
Animal Planet’s Cat Hero of the Year,
Cimeron Morrissey. She’s the founder of
Project Bay Cat(
click here for prior interview) and she’s always using her creativity to continue to help as many animals as possible.
Best Friends is as elated about Cimeron joining the guest speaker list for the conference as she is about seeing old friends and meeting new ones!
“I’m very excited to be at the No More Homeless Pets Conference this year! What strikes me as one of the most important features of this conference is the sense of community. Many people feel like they are alone [in helping the animals] and it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Meeting people in person and getting involved is empowering. Talking to the people next to you and connecting can make an enormous impact,” shared Cimeron on why she thinks this conference is the cat’s meow.
“Anything associated with Best Friends just has the Midas Touch because they focus on the positive and what’s feasible, and then say: ‘We’re going to show you how.’ Best Friends gets people rallying around the same notion, that there are no limits. Best Friends helps the unachievable become possible. While other’s say ‘it’s impossible’ - Best Friends always says that
something is possible! And then proves that the impossible is possible!”
Cimeron knows a thing or two about overcoming the impossible! This is a quick glimpse at what you can learn by joining us at the No More Homeless Pets Conference and attending the sessions with Cimeron.
The Mission Goes MainstreamCimeron imparts these magical words: You’ve got to get the message of animal rescue out to the mainstream. Using non-traditional ways to promote animal rescue in places that have a broad audience is imperative.
Rescuers get myopic – one colony, one puppy mill – but the most important thing we can do is open our eyes to the wider picture. We must get the public involved. We must educate and inspire them to be part of the solution. Then your effort is twenty times greater! That’s an incredible impact and that should be everyone’s goal!
Do As I Say, Do As I Do!What many people don’t know is that Cimeron has quite a tony career history! She was the director of a National and International Public Relations department for a high tech company, so she knows about the importance of spreading the
right word! She’s also taught hundreds of people to use the tools that high-end PR firms use everyday.
“One of the things we can all do is highlight the solutions and success stories in our local newspapers! It can be as easy as emailing your friend – highlight success and draw attention to the bigger issues.”
The more successful stories get officials to notice!
The positive stories get politicians interested!
Recipe for SuccessCimeron explained what she meant and broke it down!
“When you’re telling the story – like the puppy mill issue – tell one dog’s story! Give a little bit of background on the individual dog. Write a simple email and send it to the local newspapers and magazines.”
What you want to include in the story:
This is her face.
This is why we rescued her.
This is why puppy mills are erosive on the moral fabric of society!
Make it personal, it gets people involved!
Editors, the public and politicians don’t want to read stories that are negative, so don’t play to the negative. Sadness does not compel people, they need to feel inspired. Show the positive and keep it heartwarming!
Pitch Perfect!Send a “pitch” to the editors of your local publications - it should be one paragraph that sticks to the facts:
The situation.
Keep it simple and illustrate quickly why their readers would be interested.
It must be non-confrontational and inspirational.
Use statistics!
This is the way to encourage editors to take a closer look at animal welfare issues and no-kill philosophies. Including statistics can really get even the toughest critics onboard because these are the facts that back up the story.
Success is a Many Splendored Thing!While it's important to get the word out about issues, it's equally as important to inspire your animal loving colleagues. Project Bay Cat has 33 volunteers and they all share the common goal and have worked together to make it happen.
“When I won the Animal Planet award, it was an award to every one of our volunteers. It was really about all our efforts, we share this award together – because without the volunteers there would not be a program! This is all our success and there would be nothing to celebrate if it weren’t for them!”
This is one animal advocate that you will not want to miss at the No More Homeless Pets Conference!
Sign Up Now!What: No More Homeless Pets Conference, 2008Where: Alexis Park Resort Hotel, Las Vegas, NevadaWhen: October 24 – 26, 2008Special rate available, while rooms last, until September 23, 2008!Click here to register for the No More Homeless Pets Conference.To check out more info on the conference, the speakers and connect with your colleagues in the movement,
click here to join the Conference Community on the Best Friends Network.
by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staffimage courtesy of Cimeron Morrissey