Student Chapter Project Kit

Larger chapters might need additional coordination. After assessing interest, you can send out a sign-up sheet for different sections of the report, or create a form to help assign sections to individual students or small groups. The presentations and discussions can be as formal or informal as you’d like – as examples, there could be a roundtable discussion with students chatting about their research with others, or you could get really fancy and create a PowerPoint. Up to you! Some discussion topics can include:

• Your own state’s animal protection laws, including strengths and weaknesses
• Possible solutions for weak laws that do not represent animals’ interests
• Most surprising findings from the report
• Anything else interesting or relevant

After research and discussion, identify areas that are lacking with special attention to your local area. You can also compare with other similarly situated states to find alternative solutions, growth opportunities, and previously successful campaigns. If your chapter is interested in working on legislation, you can learn how to work with legislators, please check out the written guide or the Lobbying and Local Ordinance webinars as part of the Education Center.

Leo graphic

• Instagram post
• Instagram story
• Twitter
• Facebook

Leo photo

• Instagram post
• Instagram story
• Twitter
• Facebook

Typically included with each posting is one photo, a name, and a one-sentence description. This event can be done on-campus, virtually, or a hybrid. For this purpose, we’ll stick with virtual planning.

Call for submissions

Announce the contest and set up a way for people to submit their animal photos, either through a Google Form, email, or direct message. Don’t forget to provide a deadline! Submission guidelines could include providing their name, email, companion animal name, one photo, and a brief sentence description.

Promote

Once you have all the photo submissions, use Canva (or your editor of choice) to make social media graphics to include the photo, animal name, and description.

Announce the contest to your followers and promote via social media. If you’re still growing your following, consider promoting the event via fliers on-campus or email. Provide details about the contest, how it works, and the deadline. Also include information about the shelter or organization that will receive the contest’s donations.

Collecting donations

The easiest way to collect donations is through a mobile payment app. Other chapters have used Venmo, Cash App, and Paypal.

Optional prizes

While not necessary, some chapters have been successful in asking businesses to donate items for fundraising purposes. It doesn’t hurt to ask! Prizes can be given out to the winners: first-place only, top three, or based off a different system (such as most voted dog, most voted cat, most voted bird, etc.) This is fun way to incentivize people to participate!

Please be mindful that businesses might ask for a receipt. For more information, please visit the IRS Charitable Contributions – Written Acknowledgement section.

Ready, Set, Go!

• Leading up to voting opening, promote the contest to get everyone excited and ready to cast their votes.
• On the first day of the contest, post the submissions, along with instructions on how to vote:
  o Example post: The Cutest Companion Contest is here! Cast your votes for your favorite(s) by donating via Venmo/Cash App/Paypal, any and all amounts accepted. In the memo, please include the name. At the end of the week, the companion animal who raises the most money gets bragging rights for the rest of the year. All donations will go to XYZ, a shelter/organization that [insert mission statement or description]. Thanks for the support by sharing and voting!
• If you received donated prizes, mention them here and include a shoutout to the business(es) that supported.
• Throughout the week, you can do additional promotion either generally or by highlighting each submission separately. Also continue to post about other NJAW activities, animal law topics, and other ways to get involved.

Wrapping up

At the end of the week, calculate results and get ready to announce! You can create certificates for the winners, design a special post to make the announcement, or create a video.

Donate

One of the best parts is when you get to let the shelter or organization know how much you raised! You can share that funds have been donated and thank everyone again.

• NJAW 2022: Defining Justice
• Vindicating Pierson v. Post’s ‘Saucy Intruder’: Of Wildlife Crimes & Crimes Against Wildlife
• Animal Victims and Restorative Justice
• Critical Caselaw: Judicial Recognition of Animal Sentience

• Organize your table so that the NJAW brochures and freebies are visible.
• Have at least one action item. Some examples include:
  • Tabling materials include a poster with a QR code to make taking action easy for students
  • Signing up for the chapter’s email list
  • Signing up for the Animal Legal Defense Fund email updates
  • Watch a video by the Animal Legal Defense Fund on anti-cruelty laws, companion animals, or criminal law
• Have fun and be responsive! Sometimes people can feel unsure coming up to a table, so put their mind immediately at ease with a welcoming vibe, snacks, and freebies that they can take with them.
• Encourage chapter members to join in tabling. It’s an easy way to practice and gain confidence discussing animal issues, as well as learn what interests other students.
• Take pictures! Be sure to use #ALDF and #NJFAW.
• Apply for a project grant to help cover plant-based snacks for the table.

Research adjacent student groups at your law school. Those with common interests could be open to collaborating on an event or campaign. Some cause areas might include:

• Environmental law
• Workers’ rights
• Public health
• Food law

Feel free to search our list of active Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapters for other nearby or regional groups to partner together on events.

Bar Association Animal Law Sections and Committees are a potential source of speakers, mentors, and collaborators.