SEAALAS Newsletter June 2006

ONLY ONE MORE SEAALAS NEWSLETTER REMAINING!!!!!!

Ok, So I have gotten your attention! The September newsletter will be the last issue to go out in the mail. After this all future newsletters will be sent via email or found on the SEAALAS website. This will save SEAALAS quite a bit of money on printing costs, but also we will save many trees from being senselessly chopped down. ☺ What we need from you is your email address. Please make sure that Robin Kavanaugh ([email protected]) has the email address of you and your employees so no one misses an issue SUPERVISORS, if your employees don’t have email access, please make copies for them each quarter.

C ALENDAR OF E VENTS

SEAALAS 1 -- Deadline to apply for 2006 OFFICERS AALAS Certification Exam July Grant 19 -- September JAALAS

President: Kim Benjamin Submission Deadline

1 -- Deadline for Officer and President-Elect: Chris Carter BoD Nominations

15 -- Submission Deadline August Past President: Kevin Cormier for September Newsletter 15 -- Election Ballots Mailed Secretary: Amy Phillips 1 -- September Newsletter Treasurer: Lloyd Roberts Published September 18 -- November JAALAS

Submission Deadline 30 - Election Deadline 2006 Directors: 1 -- Deadline for 2006 Branch A Melody Willey Applications Dean Blake 15 -- Election Results

John Duktig October Tabulated Allison Smith 15-19 -- AALAS National Meeting, Salt Lake City Utah 15 -- Submission Deadline

Executive Director: Robin Kavanaugh November for December Newsletter

1 -- December Newsletter Committee Chairs: Published December 1 -- New Officers Announced Awards: Ginger Peters 15 -- Membership Renewal TBR: Peg Rentz Letters Mailed Nominations/Elections: Selina Sumner Legislative: Ruth Connelly Commercial vendor: Alice McVey Communications: Pam Rudd PLEASE: Visit our Web Site: Web Site: Chris Carter

To Contribute Information or make comments, contact Chris Carter @[email protected]

From the President:

With summer quickly approaching, I am realizing that half of 2006 is gone. Even though it seems to have flown by quickly, a lot has been accomplished. The board has met two times since the January meeting and we have finally finished the SOP’s!!! Kevin Cormier started this project when he was the President in 2005, and we trotted through until we were done. I want to personally thank Robin, Pam, Kevin, Allison, Dean, Marsha, Chris, Amy, Lloyd, Melody, Kristina and Samm for all the time you put into this project. Back in February, we lost Linda Hazel who was a dedicated member of SEAALAS and had just begun her 2 year term as Director. I was just getting to know Linda but I am going to miss her desire for service. An award has been set up in her memory by Charles River so that her life will continue to be a testament to careers in Lab Animal Science. This award, along with all other SEAALAS awards is included in the newsletter. Please take the time to nominate a deserving coworker or fellow SEAALAS member. The Program committee chaired by Marsha Howard has been meeting since March and we have a great program for next years meeting. It is going to be here in my hometown (at least for the past 10 years) and we hope to have a great turnout.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me out over the past 6 months and I look forward to the rest of the year!

Its time again for Nominations for SE/AALAS!!!!!

Hello all SE/AALAS members! I am Selena Sumner (BS, ALAT) from the Medical University of South Carolina your new committee chair for Nominations and Elections. Myself along with the other great people who make up this committee are ready to get nominations rolling for this year. This year we are accepting nominations for President- Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Board of Directors. Please everyone send in your nominations for these offices. You can send nominations to:

Selena Sumner MUSC [email protected]

Rashidat Ayantunji Emory [email protected]

Tina Tornambe- UGA [email protected]

Crystal Bodie- MCG [email protected]

All nominations need to be turned in to one of these four people by August 1. Please don?t wait until the last minute to get them in!!!!!!

Thanks and happy nominating!

Positions:

1. President-Elect: The President-Elect serves as a member of the Executive Committee for one year and as an apprentice to the President, and becomes President at the end of that year. The President continues to serve on the Executive Committee for one year as Past President.

2. Secretary: The Secretary takes the minutes for the Executive Committee and serves a one year term.

3. Treasurer: The Treasurer manages the books for SEAALAS’s finances and serves on the Executive Committee. It is a two year term.

4. Director: The Director serves as a member of the Executive Committee. It is a two year term. Two Directors will be elected each year.

Committee Reports

Awards: See pages 10, 22, 23, 24

Nominations: See page 4

Legislative: No report

Communications: See page 1

Web site: No report

TBR: Volunteers Needed!

As your Technician Branch Representative (TBR) I would like to have at least one representative from each facility in SEAALAS to assist me with the planning of the SEAALAS Annual Meeting “Technician Tips” program. To ensure continued success there is no time like the present to volunteer or encourage a co-worked to present a five minute presentation on a unique approach to an imal care related issues at your facility. I will also need judges and assistance with the goody bags given to all of the participants. We have always depended on our vendor friends to help fill the bags but I would also like to get them involved in helping us select the winner of our Technician Presentation Award.

Please contact me if you are interested or know someone willing to participate in any of the above. I can be reached at 803-777-8106 or by e-mail [email protected].

2007 SEAALAS Annual Awards Banquet & Meeting

January 18 – 19, 2007 Embassy Suites Hotel Centennial Olympic Park 267 Marietta St. Atlanta, Ga. 30313 Preliminary Program: Presentations

Thursday, January 18 What are the 3 R’s?

Dr. Michael Huerkamp 8:00 – 9:00 Registration Retirement: Chimp Haven 9:00 – 11:00 Tech Tips Dr. Mollie Bloomsmith 11:00 – 12:30 Lunch 12:30 – 3:00 Guest Speakers Resources: Conservation 3:00 – 5:00 Vendor Exhibits/Raffle Medicine 7:00 – 9:00 Banquet TBA

at the Georgia Aquarium Regulations Friday, January 19 Dr. Amy Bartholomew

8:00 – 8:30 Registration Risk Assessment

8:30 – 11:30 Guest Speakers Dr. Mike Fallon 11:30 – 12:30 Panel Discussion Reptiles in Research Dr. Mike Huerkamp, Jeffrey Owens Dr. Walter Wilczynski & Greg Kable 12:30 Chateau Elan Raffle Retro-viruses: Herpes Dr. Julia Hilliard For More Information Contact: R U Safe Marsha Howard at TBA [email protected] Recycle

Ms. Jan Hawes

Relaxation World’s Largest TBA Aquarium 7 Plus Tech Tips!

2007 SEAALAS Annual Awards Banquet and Meeting Laboratory Animal Science: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement

Explore the Possibilities January 18-19, 2007 Embassy Suites Hotel Centennial Olympic Park Atlanta, GA Lodging Registration: Hotel Registration: Phone: 404-223-2300 / Fax 404-223-0925

****A block of rooms is being held for the conference until December 18, 2006

Room Rates: $139.00 for Single or Double Occupancy

Full Name______Name on Badge ______Position Title ______Affiliation ______Phone ______Fax ______Email______

Registration Fees: Please circle Before 12/31/2006 After 1/1/2007

Full Registration/person $135 $150 Includes: Thursday- Morning break, Lunch, Afternoon Break, and Banquet Friday- Morning break

Thursday Only/ person $100 $120 Includes: Morning Break, Lunch, Afternoon Break and Banquet.

Friday Only/person $70 $70 Includes: Morning Break

Banquet Only/person $65 $85 Total Paid: ______

Special dietary needs: Vegetarian Other ______

For non-members, please include an additional $10.00 for 2006 membership dues and submit a completed Membership application.

Commercial Members: If you would like a table in the vendor area, please check here______

Mail form and payment to : SEAALAS PO Box 80336 Athens, GA 30608 For any additional inquiries: Please contact Marsha Howard at [email protected]

This award will be sponsored by Charles River Laboratories and consist of a $200 honorarium and plaque. Those eligible for the award include supervisors in the field of laboratory animal care/research; administrative/office staff; managerial staff and laboratory technicians. Criteria for nomination are:

1. Minimum duration of employment within the field of laboratory animal science of 10 years. 2. Has consistently worked to promulgate investigator satisfaction while promoting animal welfare and maintaining regulatory/institutional compliance. 3. Innovative approaches to job related duties should be cited. 4. All considerations being equal, candidates having current membership with the local AALAS Branch or National AALAS will be given priority. 5. All considerations being equal, candidates having current AALAS certification(s) will be given priority.

Please submit all nominations to Ginger Peters [email protected]

Linda G. Hazel B.S, LAT 1959-2006

Linda Hazel was born in Charleston, South Carolina on December 24, 1959. After graduating from Middleton High School in 1977, she pursued her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Newberry College. Linda was employed by the Medical University of South Carolina since 1988. Linda started her career as an animal care technician, but soon was promoted to a supervisor for all species of large and small animals. Linda was managing the largest rodent barrier facility on campus at the time of her death. Linda was a SE/AALAS member since 1988 and was involved in many activities and committees. Linda was awarded the Sally Newell-Papp Member Participation Award at the annual meeting in January here in Charleston. Linda was also the awards chairperson for SE/AALAS for 2004 and 2005.

In the 17 years that Linda worked for DLAR, she never complained about her duties or about another person. It is rare that that type of statment can be made about anybody. I believe that we all can take a lesson from the way she lived her personal and professional life. She was actively involved in youth activities in her church and community and had numerous accomplishments within our field. We are grateful for the outpouring of sympathy concerning her death. -M. Michael Swindle, DVM, Dircetor, DLAR

In the many years that I knew Linda she was always pleasant and cheerful. I found Linda to have a way about her that often brought calm to the most stressful of situations. This is saying a lot, considering not only how demanding and time-consuming the work for animal husbandry personnel, but also how stressful it can become when researchers (I can't imagine who) become forgetful about SOPs or too 'particular' about the handling of their animals. For her dedication and hard work, I was pleased to see Linda rise through the ranks and attain a much-deserved supervisory position at MUSC. I was also so happy to witness Linda being honored for her many years of hard work the SE/AALAS meeting for animal/veterinary research technicians last month. Her absence will be felt sorely and her memory cherished. - Demetri Spyropolous, PhD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

I am very sad to learn about the death of Linda. I met Linda about three years ago and she was one of the best people I had the chance to work with at MUSC. She was very patient with me, always willing and ready to help. She taught me a lot about taking care of mice and I respected her very much. I will miss her deeply. My sympathy to her family. - Andre N. Kadima, Department of Surgery

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Created with EclipseCrossword — www.eclipsecrossword.com

19 Across

1. A surgical knife with a pointed double-edged blade; used for punctures and small incisions 6. A tall narrow container with a volume scale used especially for measuring liquids 7. A rubber made from a viscous fluid exuded from the cut surfaces of the leaves and stems of certain plants 9. Spectacles worn to protect the eyes 11. A short glass jar fitted with an air-tight cover, and containing some desiccating agent, as sulphuric acid or calcium chloride, above which is suspended the material to be dried, or preserved from moisture. 12. implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion 15. High-Efficiency Particulate Air 16. a mass of fluid (as a liquid) with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action 17. A colloidal extract of algae; used especially in culture media and as a gelling agent in foods 21. An examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease 24. measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass or plastic tube used to measure or transfer precise volumes of a liquid by drawing the liquid up into the tube 25. Having a pH of less than 7 26. A plain or lipped tube usually of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology 27. A scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity 28. An object made of a soft, pliable material, such as cotton or rubber, and fitted into the ear canal to block the entry of water or sound.

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1. A cavity or passage in a tube 2. A large bottle for holding corrosive liquids; usually cushioned in a special container 3. A measuring instrument for determining the specific gravity of a liquid or solid 4. A flask calibrated to contain or to deliver a definite amount of liquid. 5. A bell-shaped glass cover used to protect and display delicate objects or to cover scientific apparatus or to contain gases 8. A heavy plastic or cardboard container for disposing of needles, glass, and other objects that might tear through a garbage bag, or endanger someone emptying the trash 10. Determination done on an extremely small quantity of blood, by use of a capillary tube and a high speed centrifuge. 13. Measuring instrument consisting of a graduated glass tube with a tap at the bottom; used for titration 14. A bottle or flask provided with one bent tube passing through the stopper for directing a stream of liquid on anything to be washed or rinsed and with means for forcing the liquid through the tube 18. A protective mask with a filter; protects the face and lungs against poisonous gases 19. The "E" in PPE 20. Having a pH greater than 7 22. A deep widemouthed thin-walled vessel usually with a lip for pouring that is used especially in science laboratories 23. A utensil that is usually a hollow cone with a tube extending from the smaller end and that is designed to catch and direct a downward flow 29. Acronym for potential of Hydrogen

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Thank you, Charlie, for the wonderful

pictures of the 2006 SEAALAS Annual

Meeting and Awards Banquet. If you have not taken a look at the pictures, go to the website and click on PHOTO’s. They are GREAT!!!!

21 Attention Members: Time to Nominate!!!!

2007 SEAALAS AWARDS

The Southeastern Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is currently soliciting nominees for the prestigious 2006 SEAALAS Awards. Show your appreciation and nominate now!

Every year, the SEAALAS Awards process is a method that the organization uses to publicly recognize those individuals who deserve credit and appreciation for their hard work and accomplishments. In a better effort to encourage participation in the SEAALAS Awards process, starting in 2001, the SEAALAS Executive Committee re-structured the awards by significantly increasing the benefit to each recipient. This increase was designed to better distinguish those individuals who are passionately committed to the work they do, and to their organization to which they serve. This monetary increase was designed to provide both incentive and participation, by both Employer (Managers and Directors) and Employees. What could be a better way to say: “Thank you, job well done” Currently there are 5 Award categories; each designed to recognize a specific talent or achievement. While all but the Purina Prolab are sponsored by SEAALAS, the Awards Committee will be selecting recipients for each. The following table outlines the benefit for each award.

2006 Award Award Plaque Amount Technician of the Year Yes $500 Clinton S. Smith Scholarship Award Yes $500 Sally Newell-Papp Member Participation Award Yes $300 Purina ProLab Technician Award Yes $300 CRL Linda Hazel Memorial Award Yes $200

Nominations for awards should be submitted by October 15, 2006 to:

Ginger Peters [email protected]

Clinton S Smith Scholarship

The Southeastern Branch of AALAS is pleased to announce the sponsorship of the Clinton S. Smith Scholarship. This scholarship, in honor of Smitty, provides three hundred dollars ($500) to the student selected, as partial support for college study toward a degree related to a career in Laboratory Animal Science.

Students applying for this award must:

(a) Document acceptance to a college for study toward an associate, bachelors, masters, or doctorate degree.

(b) Pursue a course of study related to a career in Laboratory Animal Science. Computer science accounting, biological sciences or other studies may be acceptable if it can be shown they are related to a proposed career in Laboratory Animal Science.

(c) Document residence and college location within the geographical boundaries of AALAS District IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee).

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Educational and career objectives

2. Academic achievements

3. Extracurricular activities (a) membership in science clubs, etc. (b) participation in AALAS and branch activities

4. Related work or volunteer activities

5. Letters of reference (AALAS or SEAALAS members, academic or employer references preferred)

Persons interested in applying for the Clinton S. Smith Scholarship should contact the Awards Committee Chairman for forms.

Deadline: October 15, 2006

Award Nomination Information: TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR – This award will consist of a plaque and a minimum of a $500 honorarium to be presented to one SE/AALAS technician each year for outstanding accomplishments in the field of animal care, research and/or technical education. SALLY NEWEL PAPP MEMBER PARTICIPATION AWARD - This award will consist of a plaque and a minimum of a $300 honorarium to be presented yearly to the SE/AALAS technician deemed most active in the local, regional, and national organization.

by Chuck Murray

PURINA PROLAB AWARD - This award will consist of a plaque and a $300 honorarium to be presented each year to a person whose primary responsibility is the husbandry (feeding, handling) of laboratory animals. Purina will donate an additional $50 to the AALAS Foundation in the award recipient's name. Criteria for nomination are as follows: 1) Daily contact with animals of one or more species in the form of handling, feeding, watering, changing bedding, etc. 2) Demonstrates a positive attitude toward the welfare of animals. 3) Demonstrates performance in completing animal care related duties as well as or better than the expected level of performance for the facility. 4) Demonstrates pursuit of knowledge in the field of animal care (i.e. any course work or formal training). 5) Innovative approaches to animal husbandry related problems should be cited. 6) All considerations being equal, candidates having current membership with the local AALAS Branch or National AALAS will be given priority. NOTE, Supervisory responsibility and formal degrees are not important considerations for this award. Clinton S. Smith Scholarship Information: Clinton S. Smith Scholarship Application

Nominations for the 2006 SEAALAS Awards should be sent to: Ginger Peters Nomination packets should include a nomination letter and any additional supporting letters.

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News from Emory University Division of Animal Resources-DAR, Atlanta Ga

Howdy from the DAR staff!

We have congratulations to send to the staff for the “Milestones” they have gained for their services at Emory. Last newsletter, DAR had six team members honored for their time worked, which equaled a total of 60 years of service. This newsletter, DAR is proud to give milestones to three more employees. Congrats to Greg Kable (10years) and both Karen Lieber and Gary Roesinger with 5 years each of service at Emory, increasing the service time to 80 years experience between only nine employees. WOW! Also, a big round of applause to Marsha Howard for not only passing the LATG, but for being promoted to Assistant Operations Manager as well.

Along with congratulating committed service and job promotions, the DAR staff has some new employees to welcome. We welcome Dylan Summerville, Selma Yarney, Erlindo DaSilva, Jose Martinez and Dinette Hudson to the animal care task force. They are all doing a great job!

Also, at the end of April, DAR participated in Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs to help in the fight against cancer. Along with the “Spirit of Relay” award given to DAR, the staff raised a total of $2756.00 through donations and a delicious bake sale. The overnight event was fun-filled and DAR looks forward to participating next year.

Lastly, DAR has been adjusting to Emory’s expanding campus, including the addition of the new Pediatrics building, which at the moment is housing rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The excitement of the growing campus seems to overshadow the construction chaos, which has temporarily taken over Emory’s streets. Hopefully visitors and potential new employees can see past the “currently in progress” state of the university, but to help out, DAR is busy keeping the animal facilities appearance maintained. Good job DAR and keep up the good work!

Casey Brinsfield

VA Medical Center Veterinary Medical Unit Decatur, Georgia

Hello everyone!

Thanks to a little friendly prompting on behalf of Kim Benjamin, we are pleased to finally contribute to the SEAALAS newsletter! Here at the Atlanta VA Medical Center we are a small --close knit-- group consisting of eight full time employees: Michael Fallon DVM, PhD (attending veterinarian), Jim Mcneill BS, RLATG (facility supervisor), Lisa Lefebvre ALAT, Larry Pope ALAT, Larry Cox ALAT, Allen Whitehead, Tony Mapp and myself. We have been very fortunate in low staff turnover, most of our employees are approaching their tenth anniversary with the animal facility and a few passed the ten-year milestone years ago. We are affiliated and work closely with Emory as we support both VA and Emory research within our institution. Last year Deb Mook DVM (Emory) joined us as our consultant veterinarian.

We regret to announce, in March Larry Cox suffered a stroke and has been unable to return to work. Our thoughts are with him and his family as he continues to undergo physical therapy. We’ve all had our hearts set on Larry returning to work as we’ve struggled to cover his mouse rooms during his absence. We are deeply appreciative and especially thankful to Jim Mcneill, Larry Pope, Jennifer Bland, Allen Whitehead, and Tony Mapp for their outstanding job and overtime work providing husbandry in the mouse rooms during this difficult time, thank you all so very much!

In January, Lisa and I attended the SEAALAS meeting in Charleston, some of you may have already heard about our inexplicable “Hotel Room Haunting,” where the lights in the room refused to stay off during the night and something tugged at my covers. We think none of them followed us home! No less for wear from the phenomenon, I must say that I absolutely loved Historic Charleston and their time-honored buildings, it was like a journey into the past. I thought the meeting was very well planned and we really enjoyed the presentations, speakers and networking with fellow SEAALAS members. Lisa and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Emory DAR for allowing us to hitch a ride to the meeting in their rental van, we were in great company!

In April, I was recruited by Marsha Howard and Kim Benjamin into the SEAALAS planning committee for the 2007 meeting to be held in Atlanta. I admit, at first I was reluctant to the thought of serving on the committee, I’ve been taking a short break from my involvement in professional organizations. I recently spent many years as one of the founders of the Georgia Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association and was relishing a little newfound free time. However, I’m very thankful Marsha and Kim were both persistent in their recruitment tactics because it has truly been a sensational experience so far. I’m taking great pleasure in working with exceptionally talented and extremely resourceful committee members, and I’m especially excited about the plans for the SEAALAS meeting in Atlanta next year!

Sandy Yurevich RVT, RLATG VA Medical Center Veterinary Medical Unit Decatur, Georgia

Hello to all from the Medical University of South Carolina!

We would like to welcome Ally Bradford, Sergio Serrato and Cherly Mazell to the Department of Comparative Medicine. Ally moved over to the Quarantine Facility, Sergio is working in the Dardy Children's Research Institute, and Cheryl has joined the team at the Institute of Psychiatry. Keep up the hard work!

We have many many people to congratulate: Donna Owens who has accepted the supervisor role at Hollings Cancer Center and the Basic Science Building. Sandy Berger, Selena Sumner, and Tarah Hudnut all for passing their ALAT exam.

Technician of the month awards: January went to Joshua Sanchez, February was taken home by Darolyn Owens, Cary Fly rocked out March, and Carlos Herrera took April. Continue to strive towards excellence. We have finished our upgrade on our cage wash system in the Basic Science Building. The upgrade included a rack autoclave, rack washer and tunnel washer. Congratulations to Dr. Swindle for being awarded the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners Excellence in Research award. Dr. Swindle will be attending the AVMA convention in Hawaii this July where he will deliver a talk "Swine in Translational Research."

Deidre Wright

28 NEWS from The VA Medical Center – Charleston:

Spring is here and along with the change of season we have welcomed some new changes here in our facility. The construction/ remodeling that has been ongoing for the last year is finally coming to completion. It has been a little rough working around the contractors but we have tried to keep in mind the end result of an improved facility. Special thanks to all the contractors and physical plant staff that helped make the process bearable.

We have also had to accept the retirement of our most senior animal caretaker, Buster Minus. He has been a “fixture” of our facility for the last 13 years. We will all miss him very much but wish him well in his retirement. He gives us all hope that we might get there someday!

Our staff has grown by two! We welcome Kellie Polzin- Animal Health Technician. Kellie was able to apply her private practice veterinary technician skills to her rodent husbandry duties here at the VA. She has fit in so well with everyone that it feels like she has been here forever.

Our second new staff member is Hasheem Roebuck. Hasheem has taken on the challenge of our cagewash area and is a valuable addition to the team. He keeps things flowing in cagewash and makes sure this vital support area is running smoothly. His contribution affects everyone’s workload in a positive way.

Jolora Jones, one of the animal care staff at Yerkes, organized a Poetry Slam on April 12 at the facility. She followed up with a second event on May 25.

A Poetry Slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts a dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what they're saying and how they're saying it.

29 Animal Rights Issues in the News

Animal rights extremists face backlash

By Alana Semuels, Globe Correspondent | June 28, 2006

LONDON -- Animal rights extremists, known for their attention-grabbing stunts and sometimes using violence to make their point, are facing considerable backlash in Britain. From a group that advocates the use of animals in scientific research, to an online petition in favor of animal testing that was signed by the prime minister, organizations are defying the radicals and raising questions about the lengths the activists are willing to go for their cause. Britain has always been at the forefront of the animal rights movement; its Parliament enacted the world's first laws against animal cruelty in the 19th century -- decades before it passed any laws about cruelty toward children . It has also been a hotbed for animal rights extremism. The Animal Liberation Front, which in 2005 was declared a terrorist threat by the US Department of Homeland Security, is an offshoot of Britain's Band of Mercy, which disrupted British fox hunting in the 19th century and moved on to protest pharmaceutical laboratories in the 20th century in the United States and Britain. In 2001, the managing director of Huntingdon Life Sciences, Europe's largest animal-testing facility, was attacked outside his home near Cambridge by men wielding pick ax handles. Last year, activists firebombed the home of a GlaxoSmithKline executive in Buckinghamshire and set fire to an Oxford University boathouse, in effort s to stop both organizations from using animals in scientific research. It's hard to say what tipped the balance against activists. Some analysts said it was when, in 2004, a relative of a farmer who bred research guinea pigs was disinterred ; or when, in early May, activists contacted hundreds of GlaxoSmithKline shareholders and threatened to publish their names and addresses unless they sold their shares in the company . Yet many think the anti-extremism movement was jump-started by Laurie Pycroft, a 16-year-old high school dropout and self-proclaimed geek. Last winter, Pycroft, who lives near Oxford, was walking by an animal rights protest when he and a friend decided to march near the protesters with makeshift signs reading, ``Support Progress. Build the Oxford Lab." A handful of Oxford students heard about Pycroft's actions and joined with him to form Pro-Test, a group that supports testing on animals. Buoyed by Pro-Test's favorable reception, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced last month that he was signing the People's Petition, an anonymous online petition started in May that supports animal testing and has more than 20,000 signatures. Groups that advocate testing still face a formidable foe in the nonviolent majority of the animal rights movement, but the actions of extremists have put those organizations on the defensive.

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``The animal rights movement is, at the moment, suffering from an image problem," said Alistair Currie, the campaign director for the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, a nonviolent group that wants to end animal testing. . Currie thinks that the Pro-Test movement won't get far in Britain. He maintains that 75 percent of Britons are still, in principle, against experiments that cause animals pain, according to a 2003 poll by his organization. But a recent poll by the Daily Telegraph newspaper suggested that support for animal testing is at 70 percent. This doesn't dissuade Mel Broughton, the spokesman for Stop the Primate Lab at Oxford, which some British officials have labeled an extremist group. ``We have seriously pricked the conscience of society, and when you do that you face a backlash." he said. ``As far as we're concerned, we're not going to let it go. © Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company. http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/06/28/animal_rights_extremists_face_backlash/

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A Move to Ban Foie Gras in New York

Gothamist has never had a taste for foie gras (although, some of us do) as we can't get past the fact that we're eating liver, but animal rights activists are trying to get the delicacy banned entirely. In an appeal to the state legislature, groups including the Humane Society asked the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets to label foie gras as an "adulterated" food, which is defined as food that is "diseased, contaminated, filthy, putrid or decomposed." This would give the agriculture commissioner the option of banning foie gras. The Times gets what could be the best quote regarding this issue from Eric Ripert, the executive chef and co-owner of Le Bernardin who sighs and then says: “We can criticize how foie gras is produced and be concerned about the health of the duck and blah, blah, blah, O.K., fine.” “Funny, we thought ducks went "quack, quack." Ripert also adds that it might be more cruel to eat a raw oyster, as it's alive, now conjuring up visions of oysters silently screaming as they are slurped down with a mignonette. “

Earlier this year, the Chicago City Council banned the sale of foie gras. which didn't have an economic impact on the city at all. Any decision to ban the sale or production of foie gras by Albany, however, could impact New York State's economy as New York is the largest producer of foie gras in North America. In fact, the state announced an Economic Development Fund grant of $420,000 to Hudson Valley Foie Gras.

http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/06/22/a_move_to_ban_f.php

SOUTHEASTERN BRANCH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE Membership Application

CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

_____ Individual active membership ($15 per year; $10 per year if paid prior to April 1) _____ Institutional membership ($100 per year for up to 12 persons. Please attach sheet with names, address, telephone and fax numbers, E-mail, and AALAS certification level for each institution member. Additional persons can be added under individual membership status.) _____ Commercial membership ($200 per year for two persons. Membership includes business card advertisement for each representative in each SEAALAS newsletter, recognition as SEAALAS sponsor and the table space for exhibit materials of meeting registrant.)

Enlarged advertisement in each SEAALAS newsletter _____ ¼ page: $25.00 _____ ½ page: $50.00 _____ Full page: $75.00

Advertisement in yearly membership directory ½ page: $50.00 Full page: $100.00

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $ ______

ALL MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS: receipt of the SEAALAS newsletter and membership directory, reduced costs for meeting registration, potential award receipt, networking opportunities and continuing education benefits.

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Name: Position: ______

Corporation/Institution: AALAS Certification (if Applicable):______

Street address/PO Box: ______(Giving only a building name and room number is not sufficient to guarantee mail delivery.)

City, State, Zip Code: E-mail address: ______

Telephone #: Fax #: ______

Signature: Date: ______

FOR INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMERCIAL MEMBERSHIPS PLEASE ATTACH LIST OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.

Please answer the following questions: Are you a member of national AALAS? YES NO _____ If no, are you interested in joining AALAS? YES NO _____ Are you interested in serving on a SEAALAS committee? YES NO _____ If yes, do you have a committee preference?

Please enclose a check payable to SEAALAS for the appropriate amount and return it with a copy of this application to: Robin M. Kavanaugh, RLATG Southeastern American Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (SEAALAS) P.O. Box 80336 Athens, GA 30608

Southeastern Branch American Association for Laboratory Animal Science P.O. Box 80336 Athens, GA 30608