How to convince your boss that you should attend the American Pets Alive! Conference in 2020.

Want to attend AmPA! 2020, but need permission from your boss? It can be intimidating asking your already cash-strapped organization to fund a trip to the American Pets Alive! Conference. Below are some tips to help convince your team that attending is well worth your time.

First, make sure you sign up for our newsletter so you can be alerted when the schedule is announced!

1. What you’ll learn:

• AmPA! is a conference built to propel lifesaving forward, provide participants with proven data-driven, lifesaving solutions, with an emphasis on how to return home and achieve success.
• AmPA! participants have access to information that is not taught anywhere else. Session topics include how to manage disease outbreaks or a space crisis without killing, and how to implement progressive programs intended to save ALL cats and ALL dogs, even those with behavioral challenges or medical issues.
• We teach you how to run your organization on a shoestring budget and fundraise.
• You'll go home understanding liability and the law.
• You’ll enjoy opportunities to network with lifesaving experts, industry leaders, and animal welfare advocates - and you’ll walk away with actionable tactics for your community.
• Learn how to build and sustain lifesaving programs and policies in your organization, cultivate leadership, and manage staff through change.
• The AmPA! Conference is for doers, for people inspired to end needless shelter killing, who want to dig deep and return home with a clear understanding of their community’s strengths and weaknesses.
• The conference is meant to provoke participants, to witness the success of the leading lifesaving communities, and get to know industry leaders, but most importantly, AmPA! intends that each and every participant leaves with something they can do to save more animal lives, immediately.

2. Leaders you’ll meet:

You’ll have a chance to learn from Lifesaving leaders who developed Austin’s No Kill model or have made the model successful in their communities. Meet the leaders who propel and sustain the No Kill movement. The AmPA! Conference brings together movers and shakers who work as executive directors, community activists, shelter staff, civic leaders and anyone interested in pushing their community make lifesaving a true priority. Some of our speakers are:

• Ellen Jefferson, DVM, the Executive Director for both Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!, as well as an instructor for the Maddie's® Lifesaving Academy. Dr. Jefferson developed the 12 Lifesaving Ingredient fundamental to the Austin No Kill Model and has two decades of experience tranforming animal shelters.
• Ryan Clinton, a Texas appellate attorney, a shareholder at the law firm Davis, Gerald & Cremer PC, and a former Texas Assistant Solicitor General. Clinton, a thought leader and advocacy expert, founded the advocacy group that spurred change in Austin.
• Mike Kaviani is the director of Orange County Animal Care. Kaviani and previously created and directed APA!'s dog behavior programs. He is an innovative expert in saving this at-risk group of animals. 
• Kristen Hassen-Auerbach is the Director of Pima Animal Care Center, Pima County’s only open-admissions animal shelter which takes in 17,000 homeless, lost and abandoned pets annually and serves 15,000 animals through animal protection and outreach services. Hassen-Aurerbach previously served as director of Austin Animal Center. 

In addition to meeting and hearing from these amazing speakers,  you can network with several of our conference sponsors and exhibitors to help make connections that can benefit your organization!

3. What Past Attendees Say About the Conference:

Ready to take the next step? Let your team know how essential the American Pets Alive! Conference is, and why you should be there to learn how to take your community to the next level of lifesaving?

Below you’ll find a sample email on how to approach this topic. We highly encourage you include personal details on why you feel it essential to attend, but we have tailored the language below to express the amazing benefits you and your organization will receive by attending!

Sample Letter (cut and paste into your document and edit as needed)

Hi (First Name),

I’d like to ask your permission to attend the American Pets Alive! (AmPA!) Conference in Austin, TX from February 28-March 1, 2020. Click here to visit the conference site.

The AmPA! Conference is the nation’s premier gathering for No Kill education and was developed by the largest No Kill city in the US, Austin, TX. By attending, I will be able to learn from leaders in animal sheltering and gain insight into actionable tactics I can implement upon my return.

The conference is three days and I can tailor the curriculum to our specific needs and can qualify for CEU credits as well. There is also early bird pricing for $175 per registration compared to the regular price of $200.

I’ll have the opportunity to network with the nation’s leaders in No Kill, as well as other shelter staff, community activists, and civic leaders. Some of the announced speakers are:

Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Executive Director, Austin Pets Alive! and American Pets Alive!

Ryan Clinton, Attorney and Founder of Fixaustin.org

Kristen Auerbach, Director, Pima Animal Care Center

Mike Kaviani, Director of OC Animal Care

Paula Powell, Director of Animal Services, El Paso Animal Services

I’d like to attend on behalf of our organization.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Still have questions about the American Pets Alive! Conference? Don't hesitate to Contact Us. We hope to see you Feb. 28-March 1, 2020 in Austin! Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter so you can be alerted when the schedule is announced!