Tag Archives: pat biswanger

mixed emotions

Posted on by

20140327-200836.jpg

I heard from Pat Biswanger. She has been elected the new President of the Board of the Chester County SPCA. I am very proud of my friend. Hope she doesn’t live to regret this, but I think she will do a good job.

However, and this is the mixed emotions of it all, Howard Nelson has been elected Board Vice President. I honestly feel and my opinion is this is a huge mistake. I don’t see him as a victory for homeless animals. I said before that Howard should have turned this down if he really wants people to believe the Howard from the PASPCA is not the Howard at the CCSPCA. I still feel that way and Howard, it is never too late to put ego aside and do the right thing.

This is Chester County’s shelter. I believe that the board leadership should have been split between Chester County and Delaware County as long as there is the contract, after that who knows?

And because it is Chester County’s shelter and they take donations from Chester County residents and the shelter is physically located in Chester County, I believe that Chester County should always be represented in board leadership. Now it is not, and I am sorry but I do NOT think that is right.

I have no problem with a general board composition that includes people who don’t necessarily live in Chester County who are animal advocates or professionals helpful to the shelter, but I do think because it is Chester County’s shelter that Chester County should always be part of board leadership.

Pat will do a good job. I simply have little faith in what’s his name given his past with the PASPCA.

But the horse is out of the barn.

I found this op-ed today and I would like to share it as it reminded me what was important (the animals, not the personalities):

Chester County needs to focus on animals by Joe Mason The Intellegencer

There is a huge issue going on at the Chester County SPCA.

From what I’ve read and from what I’ve been told, it’s the staff against the volunteers.

I don’t know who is going to win, but I can tell you now who is going to lose.

The animals.

The shelter staff has undergone a lot of changes over the past few months….Today, the SPCA is electing its new board president, and according to a letter I received that was mailed to the board, this vote goes a long way in deciding how many rescues will work with the shelter……I don’t care if the people who work at the SPCA hate the volunteers and rescues, and vice versa. That’s not important.

The entire reason for everyone being there is to make sure the animals get in, stay comfortable while they’re there, and get into a home or foster home as soon as possible.

It’s why the shelter is there.

It’s why the board is there.

It’s why the employees are there.

It’s why the volunteers are there.

And it’s why rescues are there.

So forget egos, forget agendas, forget rivalries and do whatever it takes to get everyone working together to place dogs and cats in situations where they can be loved and spoiled.

The last thing we need is animals not getting every chance at being saved because of a little bickering.

Good luck Pat. You are going to need it and a big bottle of ibuprofen for headaches as I am thinking chairing this board will be like herding cats. And speaking of cats, I might be a dogs rule kind of gal, but I think cats need more representation at CCSPCA.

 

UPDATE SUNDAY 3/30:

New SPCA board president says shelter can rebound

By Kendal Gapinski, Daily Local News

WEST GOSHEN — The Chester County SPCA, in turmoil for nearly a year, has a new board president.

 

Patricia Biswanger, of Havertown, Delaware County, was announced as the new CCSPCA board president Friday morning. Biswanger, an attorney who operates her own small practice out of Wayne, was an animal advocate for several years before joining the Chester County SPCA board of directors….

During the board meeting Thursday night, the board voted to approve a bylaw that states all members must sign the code of conduct, and if it is not signed, then that member cannot participate in board activities, according to Biswanger.

 

Conrad Muhly, the former board president, said there are 19 total board members and 14 have signed the document so far. Both Muhly and Biswanger said they hoped the few who hadn’t signed it would reconsider.

 

Muhly has also been a point of controversy during his time as board president. He served as president of the CCSPCA’s board for five years and during the past year faced allegations of a conflict of interest surrounding the sale of shelter land in West Bradford to a developer that lists him as a principal member.