RPOA Texas Outreach Chapters 

RPOA Texas Outreach Chapters

 Abilene Area:  Thomas McIntire, Chairman tmcintire44@gmail.com

 Austin Area:  George Armstrong, Chairman sundownms@att.net

 Bryan/College Station Area:  Teresa Shisk-Saling, Chairman iguanamomma@yahoo.com

 Corpus Christi Area:  Barbara Beynon Bbeynon77@yahoo.com

 Dallas Area:  Martin Kralik, Chairman mkralik@sbcglobal.net

 Dog Hunters Association of Texas (Statewide):  Douglas Mason, Chairman masonda@aol.com

 El Paso Area:  Roxanne Flores, Chairman daystarESS@aol.com

 Fort Worth Area:  Jonathan Elledge, Chairman jonathanelledge@yahoo.com   

 Houston Area:  Co-Chairmen Sharon Steckler steckler@swbell.net

Dr. Susan Schultz ttaamerica@gmail.com or trisong.tibetans@gmail.com

 Kerrville/Fredericksburg Area:  Co-Chairmen Cindy Griswold  serafina@wildblue.net 

Mari Bailey-Villanueva  hcmbv@yahoo.com

 Lone Star Working Dog Association (Statewide):  Jo Lynne Stark, Chairman jolynne.stark@ttu.edu 

 Longview Area:  Kathryn Beard, Chairman rkbeard@aol.com

 Lower Rio Grande Valley Area:  Charles (Buster) Smith II, Chairman csmith1251@sbcglobal.net

 Lubbock Area:  Anne Humphreys, Chairman basenjis@dharian.org

Crosby County only:  Judy Sumpter (Gus’s Friends for Animal Welfare) judy72649@yahoo.com 

 New Braunfels/Seguin/San Marcos:  Mary Ellen Najar, Chairman info@mym-promotions.com

 San Antonio Area:  RPOA Board of Directors rpoa@texas.net

 Texarkana Area:  Micah Neal, Texas Diamond Kennels texasdiamondkennels@aol.com

 Tri-City Area (Waco/Temple/Killeen):  Tina Patterson, Chairman tina.b.patterson@att.net

 Tyler Area:  Helen Thornton, Chairman hthorpega@aol.com

 Victoria Area:  Sheila Newland, Chairman wakham@tisd.net

 Wichita Falls Area:  Charles Kernott, Chairman bkaypaps@yahoo.com

 [Seeking chairmen to start up these chapters:  Amarillo; San Angelo; Midland/Odessa/Big Spring]

 RPOA Texas Outreach Chapters

 Texas is a big state!

 These chapters enable us to network statewide with our Pet Education, Assistance, and Rescue (PEAR) Program, provided as a public service since 1991 at no cost to the state or local communities.

 “Our mission is to be the leading provider of information and assistance concerning animal welfare and related public health issues, taking whatever steps necessary to preserve our historic relationship with animals.“

 RPOA Texas Outreach is organized to promote social welfare within the meaning of Section 501 (C) (4) Non Profit Organizations of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows more lobbying activity, but (as an organization) we cannot support candidates for elected offices.  However we can maintain and report voting records for all elected officials. 

 Our local Texas chapters are a very “informal” relationship with no scheduled meetings, no minutes, no dues, and no financial activity.  IRS requires policies and procedures to be in place that the chapters follow with oversight by RPOA to ensure operations are consistent with our mission.  Activities could affect our exempt status and reporting requirements.  All chapter memberships are at the discretion of the local chapter chairmen!

 Primarily:  These chapters will be RPOA “Watchdogs!

Our eyes and ears across Texas

To keep RPOA informed of any anti-pet initiatives in their area:

Legislation, media articles, TV programs, etc.

 sOME OTHER LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES:

• PUREBRED RESCUERS:  Be listed with RPOA’s statewide All Species Purebred Rescue Program, only such program in the U.S.  Contact rpoa@texas.net for more information. 

• Sign up new subscribers to our low volume announcement-only Texas RPOA E-News to be informed on all local, state and federal animal issues.  Email rpoa@texas.net to subscribe.

• Provide a voice of reason regarding Texas animal welfare issues at all levels of government. 

• Support the AKC Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) Test and Certification, which strengthens the human/animal bond and reduces the number of animals killed in shelters.

• Support AKC Responsible Dog/Pet Ownership Days:  Many AKC clubs participate each year.  AKC and RPOA have excellent materials available.    

• ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH area elected officials, who may someday move up to the state level.

• Monitor local Animal Control Advisory Boards.  If possible, find someone to serve on them in order to have access to information and materials for input before bad legislation is proposed.