New Animals’ Agenda editor quits; board sacks Greanville
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 1993:
MONROE, Connecticut–– Apparently on the verge of bank-
ruptcy after seven months of late issues and falling circulation, The
Animals’ Agenda magazine is again rudderless as well. Acting editor
Jim Motavalli quit in late February, acting publisher Patrice Greanville
was fired two weeks later in a move of questionable legality, and the
salaries and hours of the two staffers left, art director Julia Timpanelli
and part-time business manager Peter Hoyt, were cut in half.
Motavalli quit, he said, “because it was taking too much of
my time, and I didn’t want a career in animal rights.” He had worked
one day a week for a stipend of $200/week since August 1992. Other
sources said he was tired of second-guessing by the board of directors.
As editor of the Fairfield Advocate, a local weekly, Motavalli had no
background in animal work, but was elected to the board in 1991 upon
the nomination of Jim Mason, a board member 1988-1991, following
a stint as both editor and board member, 1981-1986. Motavalli suc-
ceeeded to the editorship after helping orchestrate the firing of Merritt
Clifton, news editor from mid-1988 until the July/August 1992 issue.
That firing brought the subsequent resignation of Kim Bartlett, editor
and a board member since September 1986, when she was recruited to
replace Mason.
Clifton and Bartlett are now editor and publisher of ANI-
MAL PEOPLE.
Still on the Animals’ Agenda board, Motavalli inventoried the
magazine’s physical assets in early March.
Greanville was a cofounder of the Animal Rights Network
Inc., publisher of The Animals’ Agenda since 1981. He had served
in various staff capacities ever since. Board members refused
to comment to ANIMAL PEOPLE, but Greanville was appar-
ently fired chiefly because of his longstanding allegiance to
Bartlett. Greanville was also the only board member present
who opposed the Clifton firing, which occurred in Bartlett’s
absence, and had been sought by executives of the Doris Day
Animal League, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
the American SPCA, the National Anti-Vivisection Society,
In Defense of Animals, and the Humane Society of the U.S.,
following disclosure of a variety of financial and political
dealings by their respective groups.
Although the Animal Rights Network Inc. articles of
incorporation require that all board members be notified of
meetings, that a two-thirds quorum be present, and that a
two-thirds vote is required to dismiss staff, Greanville was
not notified of the meeting at which he was dismissed, held at
the March 11-13 Summit for the Animals in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. Only three members of the eight-member board
were listed among Summit participants: Kenneth Shapiro of
Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Peter
Gerard (Linck) of the moribund National Alliance for
Animals, and board president Wayne Pacelle of the Fund for
Animals. Some sources also placed board member Vicki Eide
there. Other board members may have been consulted later by
telephone.
Ironically, Bartlett and Greanville gave Pacelle his
first job in animal rights, as an Animals’ Agenda assistant edi-
tor; and both Bartlett and Greanville recommended that Fund
president Cleveland Amory should hire him.
According to Greanville, the Animals’ Agenda sub-
scription renewal rate fell from 80% to 35% during the past
eight months. Although there is apparently little or no money
with which to hire an editor, candidates under review include
Kim Sturla of the Fund for Animals, former PETA staffer
Kim Stallwood, Gerard (Linck), and freelance writer Phil
Maggitti. Applicants have been told the magazine––which is
liable for at least $14,000 on its present lease––can be moved
to their own communities.
Other changes of leadership
The direct action wing of Greenpeace prevailed in
a recent internal power struggle, as confrontation advocate
Paul Gilding, 34, of Australia, succeeded moderate Matti
Wuori, 47, as international chairperson. Greenpeace rev-
enues are down from $167 million in 1991 to $139 million last
year, forcing the group to cut international staff by 15% and
U.S. staff by 25%.
Sharon Cregier, vice president of the Canadian
Wild Horse Society since 1979, resigned in February. A fre-
quent contributor to ANIMAL PEOPLE, Cregier is now in
Australia to study the Jeffrey Method of gentling wild horses.
