Get Involved

CT Votes for Animals is an all volunteer organization, and there are many opportunities to affect large-scale changes for animals by working with CVA.

This page contains descriptions of some of the ways you can get involved and make a difference. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please provide your name and contact information at the bottom of this page, including any roles you may be interested in.

We are also always looking for new leaders who will help us grow. Board members play a central role in the guidance and operations of the organization; it's an exciting way to have a direct impact on the future of animal advocacy.

Know your legislators

The most important thing you can do right now is start to establish a relationship with your State legislators. Legislators are most heavily swayed by what their own voters think - that's you!

Find contact information for your legislators by going to the CT General Assembly Web site Note that CVA works primarily with State legislators - not U.S. Congress.
Many legislators have an email list - sign up! You will often be the first to find out about town-hall style meetings or open office hours, where you can make your voice heard for animals.
Find out if your legislators have Facebook or Twitter accounts and follow those.
Do you already know one of your legislators personally? Maybe you have a mutual friend? Invite them to have coffee with you! Express your desire to have more animal-friendly laws in place.
Make sure you are signed up to receive CVA's action alerts - from our home page, click "Join us" - you will then receive timely updates and alerts with advice on contacting your legislators.

Recruit other members

The more voices we have, the stronger we can be for animals!

Forward our page or email action alerts to your animal-loving friends and ask them to join you in becoming a member of CT Votes for Animals.
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and share our posts.

Join one of our committees

CVA has 5 committees, each focused on a particular set of activities. We invite prospective volunteers to sign up for any of the following - if interested, simply check the appropriate boxes below.

1. Events - Plan, manage, and staff events where CVA is hosting or tabling.

2. Publicity - Identify opportunities and methods for spreading the word about bills, develop and distribute leaflets, posters, graphics, press releases, letters to the editor, etc. Establish contacts with the press; monitor press/media. Help oversee social media presences.

3. Development & Recruitment - Build CVA's financial and human resources. Cultivate a strong donor base, and identify and pull in new people who can contribute their time and talents to the organization as Board and Advisory Council members, and volunteers.

4. Programming - Identify, initiate, create, and spearhead events and programs in accordance to CVA's mission to bring awareness to, raise money for, and involve the animal welfare community and beyond. Examples include organizing happy hours and community conversations, expert panel presentations, friend- and fund- raisers, film screenings, and other community outreach initiatives.

5. Legislative & Lobbying – Work with our lobbyist to establish political and legislative strategy for our campaigns.

CVA's Regional Ambassador Program

Ambassadors are volunteer regional representatives and leaders of CVA who:

Get to know their local State Senators and State House Representatives
Join other volunteers at the State Capitol to talk to their State Senators and Representatives at key times during the legislative session
Recruit other individuals in their district.

No experience necessary! This is a terrific way to get involved with CVA, learn more about political advocacy for animals, and serve your community.

Host a constituent meeting

Hosting a constituent meeting is a great way to get to know your lawmaker and to make him/her aware of your interest in animal protection issues and your involvement in CVA. Constituent meetings have a high impact on elected officials because it allows for face-to-face, two-way communication with the community members they are elected to serve.

Testify at a hearing

Testifying at a hearing for a bill is a unique opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers! If you are on you will be notified of upcoming hearings for bills, and will receive instructions and tips on how to testify. We have created a template for your written testimony, and the Connecticut General Assembly Website maintains a page with detailed instructions and information on what to expect when you testify.

Learn more about the political process

Click here. for a step by step summary of how a bill becomes law.
Click here to learn more about testifying a public hearing.
Read Julie Lewin's Get Political for Animals or take one of her workshops.