It is unfortunate that the Society works in secret and the Victoria issues are only debated through the media. There needs to be better communication between the leadership and the rank and file members and staff. It is unfortunate that Robert Rrodgesell learns about these things from news paper clippings. Fortunately, there are organizations like AAS that distribute information and provide a forum for debate.

The issues in Victoria and the issues in Nanaimo are not related, nor is the traditional financial support. Victoria faces closure if it does not very soon resolve its differences with the City and the Community in which it lives.

The Society needs to address the problems in Victoria because Victoria has been, at least till now, the goose that laid the golden egg. The whole concept of a strong Provincial organization depends on redirecting Victoria donations to the Society. Closure in Victoria would dramatically effect the revenue needed to sustain head office.

I have every sympathy with Robert's frustrations, he has worked very hard to expedite the future and worthy ambitions of the Nanaimo Branch. His problems are the same as mine; the power in the Society is invested in the CEO and Board and until they are ready to act, local ambitions are ignored. There is no question that Nanaimo needs a new shelter, and based on the comments that I have heard the Nanaimo Branch was promised a big chunk of Victoria's money to support the November 3, 2001 Bylaws. Victoria's money has been spent.

All branches, including Nanaimo, will have to step away from the politics of envy which pits one branch against another, or shall I say all branches against Victoria. There will be a new shelter in Victoria because the people of Victoria will supply the money and the leadership to make it happen. The only question now is whether the shelter will be an SPCA shelter, a municipal shelter, or another organization. The Society has driven off all its local support for the new shelter so unless new leadership and new support is found I have little hope for the SPCA's future in this city.

The whole of the Society, including members in Nanaimo should be concerned. We can all hope that the recent events in Delta have shown the CEO and the Board that local ambitions cannot be ignored or postponed forever.

Robert should look to Nanaimo's representative on the Board for a solution, or maybe he needs to start a new organization, one that doesn't have the albatross of the Provincial organization around its neck, is Nanaimo-based and has Nanaimo's best interests at heart. If Robert is waiting for Provincial money to help Nanaimo he'll be waiting a very long time.

I personally believe that an aggressive capital campaign in Nanaimo to fund a new shelter would be a success and the capital campaign success would also provide the Nanaimo Branch with a new group of long-term supporters who would help to fund the ongoing operations.

I will be commenting extensively on the presentation made to the City of Victoria on October 21 at a later date.

Rick Sargent
Victoria