Friends of Rodeo - Helpful Info

UPDATE ON ANIMAL RIGHTS ISSUES IN RODEO

Friends of Rodeo is the only organization solely devoted to protecting and promoting the sport of rodeo - all of rodeo regardless of association affiliation.

Friends of Rodeo has also been the only organization to actively conduct a "counter presence" in the midst of many protests by animal rights activists at rodeos. We have also helped form vital "networking" between rodeo associations to alert and counter anti-rodeo tactics set forth by animal rights groups nationwide.

"Is this organization really needed?" you ask - my answer is, "most definitely!" Animal rights activists may not be out in front of your rodeo gates holding up signs, but be aware, they are doing the most they have ever done to put an end to the sport of rodeo!

Following are a few statistics and examples of the tactics used by the animal rights movement in recent years:

Friends of Rodeo representatives have personally countered protests at as many as 10 rodeos each year for the past 5 years.

In 1998 Friends of Rodeo countered and/or documented protests at 10+ major rodeos in the state of California.

Protesters have been at rodeos in Illinois, New York, Nashville, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, New Jersey, and of course, California - even at rodeos in Canada.

In response to tactics by the animal rights groups, rodeo and rodeo events have been banned in the following U.S. cities:

Pinellas County, Florida
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Southampton, New York
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Leesburg, Virginia
Baltimore, Maryland
the ENTIRE State of Rhode Island bans calf roping!

Animal rights groups have been very active in the legislature lobbying several bills that would severely limit, if not end, the sport of rodeo - one of the scariest was AB309, the Helmet Bill, that was proposed recently in California.

The animal rights activists obtained a national platform for their anti-rodeo message on two separate segments of the television show Hard Copy AND followed with an even worse portrayal of rodeo on the Discovery Channel - both a "kick-off" to what was quoted on the Hard Copy segments, as a "nationwide campaign to stop rodeo in the upcoming year."

A source indicates that the next steps of the anti-rodeo organizations in their war against rodeo will be two fold:

A serious attempt to have the issue of cruelty to rodeo animals broadcast by one or more of the national prime time news shows, such as 60 Minutes, 20-20, Dateline, Prime Time Live, 48 Hours, or Turning Point. Movements to reach this goal are probably already in the works.
A tactic taken from the anti-abortion forces - mass demonstrations and picketing at one or more large big city rodeos accompanied by the usual screaming and yelling of "murderer!"

At a Bull Riders Only (BRO) event in So.California recently, one of our Friends of Rodeo representatives encountered 20+ protesters who wore ski masks and handed out anti-rodeo propaganda. The protesters were members of the known group "Animal Emancipation" and a radical group called "Jihad" - which in Arabic means "holy war" - this group is one of the most "vegan" groups around and is reportedly known as "dedicated to die for its cause."

That same weekend, another known group, "Action for Animals" bought a full page anti-rodeo ad in the publication "Ride Magazine" - who had published a "Special Grand National Edition." These seemingly "pro-rodeo" papers were handed out to thousands of people that attended the Grand National performances at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

In its six years of existence Friends of Rodeo has experienced many triumphs in its battle of countering the anti-rodeo campaign of animal rights groups - we have educated people to the truth of rodeo, we have alerted and networked with associations in the rodeo industry, and have helped overturn negative legislature and propaganda - but we need to do more - we need to be at more rodeos, we need more volunteers, and as always, we need more money.

Our non-profit organization is funded solely on its membership dues, donations, and fund raisers - we have no major sponsors or corporate funding - and, as you all know, it takes a lot of money to do all the things any organization needs to operate AND to survive.

Friends of Rodeo informs and educates the public about rodeo through our publication, booths at events, and chute tours at rodeos. Because of intense activity of some anti-rodeo groups, we are working on a new project - the Friends of Rodeo Response Team. The "Response Team" will assist the various associations and committees being hardest hit by the animal rights activists - assist them in addressing and countering the problem in a pro-active way. The Response Team will handle every aspect of this issue from the pre-rodeo plans of action to post-performance reports and updates. The team will also be responsible for sponsor contact and reassurance to them, community awareness and involvement, media relations, and organizing a comprehensive counter protest and/or debate, if needed.

It has been a proven fact that education and a pro-active stance is the best weapon rodeo can use to protect itself from the animal rights campaign, Friends of Rodeo is a proven "weapon" that a rodeo committee can utilize to keep the favor of the public and keep sponsor dollars coming in.

Contact the Friends of Rodeo National Office for our assistance and our guidelines to help protect your rodeo. You can schedule a Friends of Rodeo Booth and/or Chute Tour at your rodeo - or have our Friends of Rodeo National Executive Director train your own committee members to set up an informational and educational booth at your event. We can train your members how to conduct a Chute Tour, how to answer media questions, as well as how to address protesters if and when they show up at your rodeo.

The most important thing you all can do is to JOIN Friends of Rodeo! And remember, we are here to work with you as well as for you!

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