SPCA Thanks Volunteers for Their Efforts, Reminds Them To Keep Mouths Shut
By Joe Eskenazi in Local News
Wed., Oct. 7 2009 @ 11:59AM
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With that in mind, SPCA volunteers were sent a note earlier this month reminding them they're "an amazing group of volunteers," and their "support has always strengthened and invigorated our programming." Oh, and, by the way -- stick a sock in it!
"Due to the recent news, we are under the media spotlight again. I would like to remind you that if you are approached by anyone from the media, please refer them to our Director of Development and Communications, Tina Ahn," read the e-mail -- which further reminded volunteers that they had "signed an agreement which includes this policy."
Volunteers who are less than enthralled with the SPCA complain that they're in the midst of a pincer attack -- just prior to receiving this e-mail, Ahn requested to join the "SF Dog" message board. This, several veteran volunteers told SF Weekly, has roughly the same affect as your boss imposing upon drinks with the workforce.
The experienced volunteers added that none of them recall signing anything regarding the SPCA's media policy: "Refrain from communicating with the media (including TV, radio, newspaper, and websites) about the SF/SPCA's policies without permission from our Development and Communications Department."
"I don't really give a damn about the SPCA anymore -- but I do care about the work," said one longtime volunteer. Added another, "It's always been political, but now it's worse. The Northside article was so scathing -- it was thorough and fair, I thought, but thoroughly depressing. But if I speak up too much, then I won't be able to help the animals."
The volunteers' signed agreements, sent to SF Weekly, included an amorphous clause regarding "abiding by the policies and procedures presented to me at orientation and training." Of course, longtime volunteers don't necessarily go to training events; if they had, Ahn said, they'd have been made to sign papers regarding the SPCA's media policy. Ahn said the recent e-mail was "a reminder" for veteran volunteers to abide by that policy.
Ahn added that the SPCA doesn't "prohibit" its volunteers from talking to the media -- the policy only says "Refrain from communicating..."
For SPCA officials to gain entry to critical Web bulletin boards is not unprecedented. A former SPCA volunteer told SF Weekly that organization members infiltrated a cat-centric Web site, curtailing any less-than-positive banter regarding the SPCA.
Ahn said she saw nothing awkward about the spokeswoman for the SPCA being a member of a discussion site in which members often vent critical opinions about the SPCA. Dissension among SPCA volunteers, Ahn continued, is harmful in the long run.
"The criticisms really hurt all of us," she says. "Ultimately, it's all about the animals."
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