Members of the ISU Humane Society have a mission to increase club membership so they can continue to attract nationally-known speakers to give lectures during their meetings.

Tonight at 8 p.m. in Room 234 of the Memorial Union the student organization will hear its first speaker of the semester. The 20 member group promotes the ethical and humane treatment of animals. They meet biweekly in the Union.

Tom Coldin, executive director of the Des Moines Animal Rescue League, will speak to the club about a number of issues. Coldin will speak about current legislation concerning the treatment of animals, past laws that have affected the treatment of animals and what voters can do to promote the ethical treatment of animals.

The club’s adviser said members are now busy raising money for a club project.

“Currently we are raising money for Wings of Kindness, a project that will bring an aviary to Ames’ nursing homes,” said Shelley Coldiron, an associate scientist at ISU and the adviser to the Humane Society.

Coldiron, who is advising for her first year, was a past president of the Humane Society when she was a graduate student.

She said club members provide a variety of services for the Ames community, including volunteering at area nursing homes.

Known as pet therapy, club members and several cuddly pets visit nursing home residents and give them an opportunity to interact with the animals.

Coldiron said the group will continue to offer pet therapy in the future.

Last weekend club members set up booths around Ames and informed people about the importance of getting their pets spayed and neutered. March is national spay and neuter month.

The ISU Humane Society members also volunteer at both the Ames and Story County animal shelters.

“We were working with the Story County Animal Shelter last semester,” said Jon Cavanaugh, president of the Humane Society. “The Ames animal shelter gets support from the community while the Story County does not, since it is located outside of Nevada.”

Other guests speakers for the group’s meetings are Dr. Dennis Riorden, a Blank Park Zoo veterinarian, who will speak on March 20. Riorden will lecture on the health and care of zoo animals.

Dr. Joan Hopper, ISU director of lab animal resources, will lecture on animals in research on April 2.

Jonathon P. Balcom, assistant director for education and animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States, will speak on April 16 about “animals in higher education.”

Colvin is scheduled to speak again on May 1 about puppy mills.

“We hope to increase the presence of the Humane Society,” Cavanaugh said. “The group used to be larger and we can get the ball rolling again with more well-known guest speakers.”