Howard Edelstein

Howard Edelstein is Treasurer of Fish Feel and Administrator of the Fish Feel website. A professional website and database developer, Howard is a long-time animal rights activist who has designed websites for many animal protection organizations. In addition to a B.S. in Agriculture, and one in Computer Science, he recently earned a B.S. in Emergency Management and is actively involved in animal sheltering during disasters and cruelty cases; i.e., This little piggy made it all the way home. Howard is the author of Scooter Strays, an interactive childrens book about the dangers facing a stray dog, and he is completing one on disaster preparation for families with animals. For the past decade, Howard has served as the Chair of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary‘s “Run for the Animals” race committee.

Mary Finelli

Mary Finelli is President and Chairperson of Fish Feel, and she chairs the Save the Rays Coalition. Mary is a long-time animal rights activist with a B.S. in Animal Science. She has worked with various animal protection organizations, primarily focusing on farmed animals. Mary was the Producer of Farmed Animal Watch, a weekly online news digest sponsored by numerous animal protection organizations. She co-wrote a chapter of In Defense of Animals: The Second Wave, and has assisted with research for several books.

Amie LaPorte

Amie LaPorte is Secretary of Fish Feel. Amie has been an animal rights activist for decades, and focuses most of her activism on farm(ed) animals, while fostering and volunteering with companion animals as she is able. Amie completed an internship at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary and is a regular volunteer there. She is the head organizer of Frederick Veg, and is the founder and head of the new Animal Ministry at the Frederick Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick. Amie holds a BA in psychology and an MA in developmental psychology, and she teaches piano in Washington DC. Amie and her husband share their home with 20+ animals, including a dog, cats, rats, turtles and fish, and she works diligently to turn her backyard into a wildlife haven. Amie is also in the beginning stages of becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Amie’s life is surrounded by animals and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cam MacQueen

Cam MacQueen is a Director of Fish Feel. Since the 1980’s, Cam has worked for the rights of animals, environmental protection, and other social justice issues in both a professional and volunteer capacity. Her activism has included several lobster liberation missions that have been featured on CNN and in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. Cam created and manages the long-running column “Cultivating Compassion” in Pathways magazine. For the past 14 years she has been a member of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary’s “Run for the Animals” Committee, and has helped organize Reel and Meal at the New Deal Café – a monthly vegan dinner and documentary series now in its 10th year. In 2015, Cam opened Asheville’s first vegan bar, THE BLOCK off biltmore, dedicated to making a difference for the planet and all beings. Unfortunately, Cam’s vegan establishment has recently closed due to the impacts of COVID-19. Cam holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UMD School of Social Work, and has completed all course work toward a Master’s in Religious Studies from Howard University School of Divinity.