Starting your own animal rights club is "easy"! All you need is determination, a good work ethic, and Equal Access Law Title 20, Chapter 52, Section 4071. When I decided to found Gainesville High School's first ever animal rights club (located in the "poultry capital of the world"), I had no idea what persistence REALLY meant, but I found out and boy did it ever pay off! Any activist who would like to start their own club at their high school may follow the same simple steps that I did and further the cause for animal rights in their school, community, and world.

First, find out your school's policy regarding clubs and activities. It's probably been awhile since a new club was started, so it's doubtful that the school will have a policy. However, the administrators may request a list of goals, activities, and a mission statement for your club. It is important to have a professional appearing, typed handout ready for them. Make your objectives broad. Be sure to cover all areas of animal abuse, but don't be too specific in listing techniques of getting your point across; name activities that would least likely be considered offensive but still help animals and raise awareness. Some examples include volunteering at the Humane Society, visiting a nursing home with puppies for "pet therapy," or creating informational display tables. This same sheet will also be useful in recruiting new members.

If your school has a policy requiring a teacher advisor, have your friends ask their favorite teachers if they would be willing to supervise the group and provide their room for meetings. Be sure to give them the handout about your club and an animal rights leaflet or magazine as well. Make sure the teacher understands that you will take care of almost all the work for the club and that you need his/her help in order to have the opportunity to meet. Believe me, I know how hard it is to find a good advisor, but when you find one, it will make a huge difference.

Next, chose a club name. We decided to call our club "SPAAR", which stands for Students Promoting Awareness of Animal Rights. "Spar" also means to battle. We chose this to symbolize the fight against animal abuse. Create your own original name or let us know that you've founded your high school's first "SPAAR" by emailing us from our website: .

By this time, you've left your club's information with your principal for about a week. Be sure to check that he/she has read it! Continue to take five minutes every week to be sure that your administration realizes you're serious about this club and they cannot ignore your cause. This will also give you a chance to get to know your school's secretaries. I've become a bit of a friendly pest with mine. As soon as I walk into the office they promptly greet me with, "Now what do you want, Shakira?" You may not win Miss Congeniality, but you will be respected. This process can take many months, but always be sure to be polite, firm, and have a smile on your face.

If worse comes to worse and your principal, after months of avoiding you, decides not to approve your animal rights club, you have the law on your side. After my principal decided that he "couldn't approve my club" for fear of the "community's reactions," I did some research and decided to bring the Equal Access Law to his attention. This law states "It shall be unlawful for any public secondary school…to deny equal access or a fair opportunity to…any students who wish to conduct a meeting within that limited open forum on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings." The full law can be found on SPAAR's website under "links" and entitled "student rights." This should convince your principal but, if not, you can always go to court! The approval granted by your principal with the proviso of finding "a time and a place to hold your meetings" makes all those trips into his office well worth it.

Phew! Now you've leapt over the first hurdle. Next it is time to start recruiting members, planning your campaigns and meetings, and gathering material. If you need any help or ideas, SPAAR will be here for you. Raising animal rights awareness is an important job, especially at the high school level. There are many ways to reach your peers and many ways to make a difference. A movement starts with one person to create the nucleus, but it requires many to perpetuate the reality and initiate change. Good luck, and remember "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."---Nelson Mandela.