More than one hundred people from all walks of (companion) animal welfare and from four different states, attended the 1st (annual) Southwest Conference on Animal Welfare, sponsored by Petfinder.com, Petco Foundation, The ASPCA and coordinated by AWASA. It was a resounding success!

	Ed Boks, Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, gave us many inspiring words about how to deal with the "powers that be," challenge the "status quo" and ultimately be able to "do the right thing" for our animals.
Jan McHugh-Smith, CEO of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (CO), challenged many of our traditional views on "requirements" for adoptions, so as to increase the numbers of companion animals that are placed in homes.
	Connie Howard, Director of Operations of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (CO), presented a very practical demonstration talk on dog behavior testing with the help of several real canine "volunteers" from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.
Michael Arms, President and CEO of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, inspired us with both didactic and moving personal experiences, to consider new and even perhaps seemingly heretic paradigms to improve the realization of our mission.
	Paul Jolly of the Petco Foundation presented a very practical summary (with the aid of a group exercise) on how to vastly improve our chances to actually obtain grants and donations.
Laura Lanza, Southern Regional Manager of The ASPCA, called upon her vast personal experience to coach us in the many levels and aspects of customer service, all in her inimitable "down home" vivacity.

There were many opportunities for valuable "networking" with colleagues: whether in between presentations; during breaks; at the (vegetarian/vegan compatible) lunches; or during the evening at the hotel "libations" establishment after the formal presentations on the first day.

There were games and prizes: many participated in the T-shirt exchange "game;" India Hesse won the door prize of a Bissell spot remover.

Teri White won in the AWASA Board member category and Mike Arms won in the presenter category as "chattiest" for their efforts to have meaningful conversations with attendees.