FAST FACTS ABOUT THE AR2012 CONFERENCE
What? When? Where?
Animal Rights 2012 is the U.S. animal rights movement's annual national conference. It is also the world's largest and longest-running animal rights gathering, hailing back to 1981. It is the only conference open to all points of view on achieving animal liberation.
The conference will be held on August 2-5th at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel, just South of Washington DC. The address is 5000 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22311.
Why Register?
The Animal Rights 2012 is designed for people who wish to improve their animal advocacy skills or simply to network with other animal activists. Consequently, the Conference offers a number of educational and networking opportunities, including:
- 100 sessions on animal abuse, organizing, tactics, and issues
- 80 speakers from 60 organizations
- Eyewitness reports on key campaigns
- 90 exhibits (free & open to the public)
- 40 videos, including premieres
- "Newcomer Orientations"
- Nightly networking receptions
- Awards Banquet on Saturday evening
- "Celebration of Animal Rights" on Sunday evening
- Lobbying and other special actions on Monday
How to Register?
Register online, by phone (800-632-8688), or by mail (10101 Ashburton Lane, Bethesda MD 20817). Full Registration rates are only $100 through the end of January, but escalate gradually to $180, as the Conference draws closer.
For partial, low income, and barter registration rates, please visit the Registration page. Exhibits and one breakout session are free and open to the public.
Where to Stay and Eat?
The Hilton Alexandria Mark Center offers a discounted sleeping room rate of only $95 plus tax with single, double, triple, quadruple occupancy. It also provides dog beds, free parking, and free Metro and airport shuttle.
Reserve your room before July 13th by calling 800-445-8667 and mentioning Animal Rights 2012.
We will post a Lodging Board on the Hotel page to facilitate room sharing.
Meals & Snacks (all vegan)
Breakfast - A la carte
Lunch buffet - $14
Dinner buffet - $17
Saturday Awards Banquet - $30 ($35 on-site)
Our generous food sponsors provide free morning and evening snacks. Snacks are also available from food vendors in the Exhibit Hall.
How to Get There?
The Hotel is located a couple hundred yards North of the Seminary Rd exit from I-395, just a few miles South of DC. It can be reached conveniently by car or public transportation. The Hotel offers free parking and a free shuttle to the Metro and National Airport (DCA).
For more details, visit our Travel Page, where we will be providing a Travel Board to facilitate car pooling.
How to Save $$$?
- Earn the registration fee by promoting the conference in your area
- Earn the registration fee by helping on-site
- Apply for low-income or disability registration discount
- Use our Travel Board to get a ride
- Use our Lodging Board to share a room or sign up for our $20/night floor space
- Enjoy our free morning and evening snacks
- Bring your own food & beverage.
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Who Are the Organizers?
The national animal rights conferences have been organized since 1981 by the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) with some breaks between 1987 and 2000, then every year since 2000. They are usually co-sponsored by around 17 national organizations.
FARM is a national nonprofit organization working to stop the use of animals for food through public education and grassroots activism. We conduct ten major programs with a staff of 12 and a vast network of volunteer activists in all 50 states and two dozen other countries.
What They Say About the Conference?
"I'll never be the same after the AR conference! It was the most meaningful and impactful experience of my life. The networking opportunities at the conference were phenomenal. Hearing about the experiences and accomplishments of other individuals and groups dedicated to helping the animals motivated me far beyond my previous expectations and beliefs of what can be done..." - Marsha Hargreaves
"I learn something every time I go to a FARM conference. I wish more 'mainstream' people would go. It would open their eyes so wide and hopefully their hearts would follow..." - Paulette Lincoln-Baker
"It was wonderful to spend time, albeit brief, with so many like-minded individuals. My personal highlight was seeing Freedom, the rescued Beagle during the plenary session." - Alexander G. Chamandy
"Thank You. I would just die if I didn’t get to participate. It is such an awesome opportunity for all of us to learn, share, and just refuel with so many wonderful activists." - Doll Stanley
