Bluestem Kennels

I hate to have official AWPGA (American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association) election posted on my personal kennel page, as I am the only holder of all of the nominated candidate bigraphies (as co-editor of the magazine), I feel that some folks need the information organized and consolidated in order to make informed decisions.

I will insert my original opinion statement about the elections, then list the candidates by position.  The original nominee and the petitioner.  I think that there has been too much mudslinging over the last few days and members are reacting negatively.  Let’s work from the official biographies only and make the decision that way.

Editor’s Opinion

AWPGA members. I feel as if I’ve been called to make a statement about the upcoming election. As one of the club journalists, I feel that it is my duty to remain objective. I will not be endorsing any candidates. Both the nominated slate and the petitioners are highly qualified. Many of both parties I consider my friends and mentors. It is up to you as members to make this decision for yourselves. I have read all of the biographies multiple times and am weighing my ballot choices seriously. Please do the same. I received my ballot packet in the mail today and although it remains unopened, it is weighing heavy on my mind. Power to the people.

Nominee Candidate for President, Kate DeSanto

I have been blessed to be involved in the sport of purebred dogs for over 16 years. I started owner handling my first show dog 14 years ago. We are very active in Conformation and I have several Champions with my husband under our kennel prefix, Greenwood. We have actively shown at all levels of competition, including regional supported entries, National Specialties, and marquis shows such as the AKC National Championship, the National Dog Show and Westminster. We have been blessed to have Griffs in our home and in our hearts since 2012.  My husband is a professional all breed handler, but Griffs are the dogs who we chose to live with and carry a passion for as a family. Personally, I am a Registered Nurse. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Drexel University, and my Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Wilmington University. I am a member of several International Nursing Organizations, and have presented regularly at industry related conferences across the country.

I have been involved with non-profit organizations which provide educational programs and scholarship. I have worked with the AWPGA as the raffle co-chair of the AWPGA National Specialty in Maine, and now serve as the Chair of the Nominating Committee. I have organized and held several local supported entries for the AWPGA. I feel as if this experience has allowed me to understand the need to create an inclusive group that feels both free to offer opinions of agreement and dissent, and do so respectfully.  Great ideas and great work never came from those who cannot think independently and feel comfortable offering new ideas and strategies to bring great ideas to life.  I feel it is vital to provide a space that volunteer boards feel listened to, empowered and assisted in moving a club forward.

I have served as the President of a local specialty club, and have experience in planning, implementing and enacting goals of that club and its membership. During my tenure, the board and I brought the club back from impending financial ruin by implementing creative strategies to increase interest, such as holding back to back specialty shows in one day; increased entries at our show with the inclusion of junior handling clinics; fundraising, such as eye certification clinics and health screening/genetic clinics, and breed education to judges, fanciers, etc. As the AWPGA looks toward the future, and as the sport of purebred dogs evolves, breed parent clubs have a unique opportunity to either embrace the changes, or stagnate. It is my belief that with thoughtful, creative and integrated boards and memberships, breed parent clubs can utilize new ways to increase understanding, education and focus on the goals of the breed/club and its members.

If elected, the following are three areas I would like to see the Board and membership focus on:

Judges Education: I believe the AWPGA must have a robust, evolving and creative Judges Education program. We must investigate ways and methods to provide correct, cohesive information to existing and new Judges.

Enhancing the club’s presence on social media platforms: For example, providing social media presence for the membership/disseminating information to members clearly/creating an updated calendar of events

Methods and types of recognition: I believe we need to look at the ways in which our Griffs are recognized by the club.  There are many dogs that are accomplished, yet they receive no recognition for these achievements, and I believe they should be recognized.

Petitioner for President, Carroll Kemp

As a lifelong owner of pointing breeds, I was overjoyed when I first discovered our beloved versatile Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. I am now fortunate to call three my own with a fourth on the way.  It has been my privilege and an immense joy to see these members of my family earn their AKC Championship and Senior Hunter titles as well as NAVHDA Natural Ability and Utility prizes. One has even qualified to run in this year’s Invitational. The recognition, however, does not go to me. It goes to my dogs and to the many wonderful members of our club who have spent countless hours supporting our breed and its standards as well as helping me to grow in my personal knowledge. Kudos to you! Now it is time for me to return the favor, roll up my sleeves and give back by hopefully becoming your President!

The AWPGA has worked assiduously over the years to fulfill its central mission of protecting and promoting the breed that Eduard Korthals created to be the ultimate walking hunter’s gun dog. Our mission statement offers a glimpse of the various facets of this endeavor. Many steps have been taken along this journey but of course the work is never complete. Much of the recent emphasis has been on promoting our breed in conformation shows. This vital work is yielding dividends as our dogs are doing ever better at the Group level but now it is time to bring similar energy to their original sporting purpose.

Fortunately, our dogs are at home in both the field and the conformation ring. Maintaining this amazing duality is a central and primary AWPGA responsibility. This means our club must give equal attention to both field and show. Doing otherwise risks our breed splitting into two different types.  A few hunting breeds have already undergone this unfortunate demise. Many months ago, to help fulfill this responsibility, I joined the field committee and proposed that we re-launch development of a Working Standard (to serve as a companion of our Conformation Standard) along with a system of breed specific field events that would culminate in a competitive Korthals Cup. This process is now underway. If elected, I would continue this important work and would strive to assure that such events expand and thrive.

The popularity of our breed is growing evermore and the velocity of this inevitability presents perhaps the single most important challenge in front of our club – protecting, and even improving, our breed’s overall health and genetics. This responsibility rests with our board, our breeders and our members. To succeed we must be proactive, not reactive, while maintaining a sense of cooperation and openness. Each one of us plays a key role. If elected, I would make this an absolute priority by placing additional focus on enhancing good breeder practices, on educating the public and hunt/conformation judges, on enticing more Griffon owners to participate in the club and on working with our entire membership to better understand their key role in this endeavor.

Thirdly, we shouldn’t underestimate the role of good governance in determining the success of breed clubs. If elected, I promise to listen to the concerns of our diverse membership, to facilitate inclusive board decisions with the utmost transparency and to always put the protection of our breed over the politics of the personal.

What is it besides love of the breed that qualifies me to serve as President of the AWPGA? Primarily, it is my decades-long experiences managing companies and serving on various other non-profit boards. Most recently, I served two terms as President of my local school board. During my time of service, we more than doubled private fundraising and earned International Baccalaureate certification. I have also served two terms as President of the West Sonoma Coast Vintners, an organization I helped found and one where I remain on the board. These leadership positions tasked me with organizing and managing large and small annual events (similar to the AWPGA’s National Specialty) in such far-flung places as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. They have also taught me the absolute importance of cooperation, diversity and mutual respect in the success of any endeavor. In addition, I am pleased to currently serve the Northern California NAVHDA chapter as its Vice-President and to have hosted many hunt tests at my home in Sonoma County.

On a more personal note, after growing up in rural Arkansas in a family that trained English Pointers and hunted near daily, living in Los Angeles producing studio feature films and working as an film agent for almost two decades, I now reside in the coastal area of Sonoma County where I am the President and winemaker for Red Car Wine Company, a winery that I founded seventeen-years ago and one that has grown over that time to see its wines distributed around the United States and in seven other countries. I am also blessed to have two young sons and to be in my 22nd year of marriage.

Nominee Candidate for Vice-President, Jan Resler

My name is Jan Resler, I’m currently your AWPGA Vice President.  I am excited and honored to be nominated to continue in this role.  In addition to Vice President I am also the Chair of the Field Committee and the person that sends out your AWPGA Certificates for Titles you put on your Griffon.  Some of the projects the Field Committee is working on include the Korthals Cup which is a field competition designed specifically for Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the spirit of their founder Edward Korthals. We are also making sure that we always have a AKC Hunt Test in conjunction with our National Specialty.  We were very pleased with the turn out for the 2016 AKC Hunt Tests at the Montana Specialty, and hope to continue to build on that success.  It is imperative that our Griffons stay true to Edward Korthals vision of a versatile hunting dog.  I have three Griffs and have handled and trained my dogs for conformation, both retriever and pointing dog hunt tests, as well as NAVDHA.  I recently put a Rally Novice Title on Blatz.  Ours dogs can do it all and I encourage everyone to participate in AKC and NAVDHA events.  AKC is introducing many new competitive events from hunting for rats to flyball, so there is an event out there for you and your pup to enjoy.

Petitioner for Vice-President, Bill Marlow

Awarded a B.S. degree from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Maryland, Bill has practiced law for more years than he would care to admit. He has served on the boards of the Maryland State Fair, the Marine Trades Association, the Therapeutic Riding Center, Cycle Across Maryland and the 4-H Foundation. He helped found the Maryland Agricultural Resource Center and is a former president of the Coastal Conservation Association (Maryland) and the Coastal and Chesapeake Conservation Alliance.  An active Boy Scout leader, Bill mentors young enthusiasts in both field training and merit badge requirements. He lives in Cockeysville, Maryland with his wife Trit and their 16-year-old son Price.

Twenty-three years ago, he acquired his first Griffon and has owned no other breed since. He has shown his griffs in the U.S. and France, tested in the U.S. and run in the French Korthals Griffon Club’s field trial. Today his household is home to one Griffon, a dog that he has hunted over, tested (AKC and NAVHDA), field trialed and shown for the last seven years. He likes to say his kennel can be found on the back of his pickup truck.

Bill has put on Griffon field demonstrations at the Maryland State Fair, Judges’ Education Seminars, AKC regional events and other public venues like the Gunpowder Masters. He has judged field trials, trained mules and hosted ten annual AWPGA field events on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He served on the AKC Pointing Breed Advisory Committee and attended the AKC Parent Club Conference. If elected, he will continue to promote the Griffon as a gun dog and support the efforts of breeding programs that focus on preserving traditional confirmation and hunting instinct. An article he wrote with Philippe Roca for the Pointing Dog Journal bears out his strong belief in these goals.

Today, Bill is a Board member of the AKC Political Action Committee, and as current President of the Maryland Sporting Dog Association, he continues to advocate for our interests at local, state and Federal levels. He actively fought the closure of the wildlife areas to our hunt tests by the threatened withholding of Pittman-Robertson funds. As a result, he has developed valuable relationships with our state and U.S. congressional officials.

Early on Bill was elected by our members as their Eastern Representative and with the endorsement of three former AWPGA presidents, he later served several terms as AWPGA President. Because the AWPGA Boards he served on worked so well together, there are few accomplishments that he alone would take credit for. Hardly a day went by that they were not in communication by phone or Internet. This commitment requires confidence in your fellow Board members and willingness to work together. Bill feels that anyone who accepts an office with the AWPGA should be committed to being available during the day and evenings to respond to the many inquiries that come from our members as well as the general public. Attendance at all Board meetings and carrying out club policy is mandatory.

Bill’s leadership philosophy can be summed up in a quote from his December 2002 President’s message to the AWPGA membership:

If we are to continue our success, we have no choice but to cooperate with those whose views may differ.  We are in fact compelled to discuss our differences.  Consequently and to the consternation of some members at the annual meeting, I refused to stifle dissent.  Of course, there are ways to promote communication that will benefit all of us.  Understanding that is political maturity.  I don’t want anyone in the organization to think because they somehow disagree with what the AWPGA is doing that they are irrelevant.  To the contrary.  These are the people who make us think.  These are the people who make us creative.  And because they belong to the AWPGA we are better off for it.

So, if you would like an organization that is inclusive of all members, a Board that works cohesively and as a team with our membership, then Bill would appreciate your vote.

Nominee Candidate for Secretary, Cathy West

It is an honor to be nominated for the Secretary position on the AWPGA Board. As the current co-chair of the AWPGA National Breed Rescue with Marty Ingram, my responsibilities include maintaining the applicant database, fielding and answering emails, compiling rescue committee reports and coordinating applicants with available rescue dogs. Often rescue is the first point of contact and first impression the general public will have of the AWPGA club. People contact rescue looking for general information, training advice, opinions and referrals for breeders, what to expect when they get their first Griffon, nutrition etc. Through these experiences I have gained valuable insight into the issues our breeders face, public perception of our breed and the organizational structure of the club. Other opportunities through the rescue program include strategic planning, quick action, problem solving, human emotions and animal safety, all experiences that should benefit the board. The position has allowed me to give reassurance when needed and be a part of some heart-warming rescue stories. Rescue has positively influenced my relationships with my own dogs and greatly influenced how I approached breeding my first WPG litter.

I have raised our four children, been an auditor and freelance bookkeeper and owned my own used car dealership, many of which required me to be detailed oriented, organized and capable of handling multiple things at one time. I enjoy problem solving and collaborating with people towards a common goal and have volunteered for numerous school related activities and committees. Volunteering in my son’s classroom with special needs students was particularly rewarding. I was involved with the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, have volunteered for local NAVHDA testing days, helped coordinate auction items for the Regional Specialty in Carmel, CA and worked the Meet the Breed Booth at the Royal Canin AKC National Championship in Orlando this past December. What I hope to contribute to the board is a positive attitude, solutions to problems, and ideas to help accomplish and prioritize goals set by the board. I have been a lifelong purebred dog owner and have been involved in every aspect of dog ownership. Breeds we have owned include toy, hound, working, terrier and mixed breed dogs. Our two Griffs, Coco and Bandit, are involved in NAVHDA, private hunt training, and conformation. I bred Coco for her first litter in 2016 and have plans for dock diving in our future. There have been several mentors that have been invaluable to guide me through the different processes and I am eager to listen to other people’s experiences. In short, I believe my work and volunteer experience will be an asset for the responsibilities of the Secretary position.

Responsible dog ownership and education is important. Rescue can be a valuable resource for the club to educate the general public and/or the new Griffon owner who may be unprepared for life with a Griff. We help families work through challenges and use rescue as a last resort. In circumstances where the dog must be rehomed, we prepare the adopting family with information and tools to facilitate a successful and permanent placement. It is equally important for breeders to make sure that their dogs are going into proper homes and continue to be a support if the family has questions or concerns. A productive way to provide support for breeders and new owners would be making educational resources available on the AWPGA website; including common mistakes, myths and misconceptions. A pre-puppy home checklist to help prepare bringing home a new pup that addresses common challenges and pitfalls owners have experienced with their new pups. I would like to see an effort made to increase volunteers from our club members and encourage new members to volunteer with quarterly regional volunteer opportunities. Promoting general volunteer efforts to support public outreach opportunities like Meet the Breed booths, organized meet-ups by region and a more active social media presence.

I am committed to serving the AWPGA Board in any capacity needed. I have the strengths and experience to serve as the Secretary and look forward to supporting our board to execute their mission. Responsible ownership is a priority for me and I feel that is best served by owner education and ethical breeding practices. I feel a strong board can make a positive impact on preserving the best interests of our breed and preserving the legacy of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. I welcome the opportunity to serve the club members and the board. Thank you for the consideration.

Petitioner for Secretary, Melanie Tuttle

I would be honored to serve as Secretary of the AWPGA.  Let me share with you my life with Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, my work with the AWPGA, my professional background, my experience with nonprofits and serving as a director and officer of a number of nonprofit corporations, and why I am running.

 My Life with Griffons. I first saw a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon at a fly-fishing show in Charlotte, North Carolina in January 2009. My husband and I were newly empty-nesters at the time and looking for a hunting dog. We were debating breeds and unable to reach an agreement. When we saw the Griff, we immediately knew this was the breed for us. A few short weeks later we brought Oscar home. We soon were told that Griffs are like potato chips — you cannot have just one. Truer words were never spoken and Hester joined us three years later.

We have enjoyed both conformation and hunting events with our Griffs. Oscar and Hester had fairly extensive show careers, with both garnering group placements, group wins and showing at Westminster and the AKC National Championship shows. Hester was named to the AWPGA Show Dog Hall of Fame. Showing the dogs has taken us to shows and national specialties across the country and permitted us to see terrific Griffs and make many new friends.

The thrill of a win in the show ring is wonderful but, I must admit, it is dwarfed by the sight of a Griff doing what it was bred to do in the field. We have hunted pheasant in South Dakota and grouse and quail in North Carolina with Oscar and Hester. We have participated in AKC and NAVHDA hunt tests, with Oscar achieving his Senior Hunter and Hester her Master Hunter and a Utility prize II. We are very involved in our local pointing breeds hunt club. Although my husband does most all of the training, I do assist with planting birds and gunning. Fortunately for Oscar, Hester and our training partners, our dogs get plenty of opportunities to retrieve when I am handling the shotgun.

My Work with the AWPGA. I have been actively involved in AWPGA committee work. I serve on the Legal Committee and headed-up the bylaws project, which involved the review, revision and adoption by the club members of the AWPGA’s Constitution and Bylaws. This project was successfully completed in 2015 and I was honored to receive an AWPGA service award in connection with this work. I am also serving on the Field Committee, the Awards Committee and the Breed Standard Committee, which is reviewing the standard in regard to tail docking. For the 2017 national specialty, I am assisting the trophies and ribbons committee. I have also been working with the AWPGA on forming a new affiliate 501(c)(3) organization to promote the health and welfare of, and provide education about, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

My Professional Life. I am a corporate lawyer. My practice is focused on corporation law, business transactions, securities offerings, corporate governance and employment law. My practice also involves counseling nonprofit entities. I speak frequently to nonprofit boards and executive directors about good governance practices, duties, responsibilities and liability, and write on these topics.

Nonprofit Experience. I not only counsel corporate and nonprofit boards but also have served as a director or trustee of a number of nonprofit corporations. Some of my most recent positions as a director on nonprofit boards include: Philharmonia of Greensboro (also Vice President and President), Eastern Music Festival, Inc. (also Secretary and Chair of the former Advisory Board), Women’s Professional Forum Foundation, Inc. (also Vice President and President), Guilford Battleground Company (also Vice President and Secretary), The Point at Lake Jeanette Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (also Secretary and President), and the Greensboro Community Development Fund.

Why I Am Running. It is easy to think that the AWPGA is just a dog club. But we are much more than that. As the AKC parent club for the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, we are the stewards of the breed and Korthals’s vision in the United States. Only through proper stewardship of our club can we be proper and effective stewards of our beloved breed. That stewardship requires of board members passion for the breed, good governance practices, a willingness to listen and learn, the ability to disagree productively, active participation, and dedication.

I understand how important good governance is to any organization and the role and responsibilities of directors. I am passionate about the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. AWPGA members are unquestionably committed to their Griffs and our breed. I want to ensure that all members can be involved and devote their talents to our club as fully as they wish and are able.

A fellow club member, with whom I admittedly have disagreed on occasion, said the following about my candidacy: “I think your running is a great idea. The voice of reason with a value for the standard. You are knowledgeable and have had good mentorship. You base decisions on research not opinion. No self interest agenda and you will stand up for what is right and not just try to keep peace with everyone by standing in the middle of the road.” I so appreciate this member’s kind and thoughtful words and vote of confidence. I hope I can count on your support and vote as well.

Like so many others, I can no longer imagine life without a Griff.

Nominee Candidate for Treasurer, Renee Carter

What do a successful background holding treasurer and other officer positions for various associations, working a decade in the non-profit/public service field, coupled with twenty-five years running a successful corporation and all of its finances, topped off with a sincere love of dogs and upland game hunting mean to you?   These are but a few of my passions that I would bring to the AWPGA Treasurer’s position.  I feel honored that I have been nominated for this position and I want my fellow club members to know that I will bring my attention to details and hardworking background to work for you.

I currently have two WPGs.   Both Griffons are hunted extensively and have shown in conformation.  My husband and I also participate in AKC Hunt tests and NAVHDA.  I am not a breeder, but our four-year old dog has been a stud, and we have one of his get.  Through the preparation for breeding process, I have learned to owner-handle my own dog in the conformation ring, I understand the health issues of the breed and the need for proper health clearances prior to breeding and I understand the breed standard.   I believe with a hunting breed, it is important for the physical and mental health of the dog that it be able to utilize its inborn hunting skills.   I believe that Griffons not formally hunted, can still practice their hunting skills via AKC Hunt Test and NAVHDA tests.  These tests and the preparation for them are a great opportunity for owners to work with their Griffons and to marvel at this breed’s innate hunting skills.

Last year, I was a key AWPGA committee member working on the Helena National Specialty, where I specifically promoted the event on Facebook, raised donations for trophies, procured trophies for five days of shows including sweeps, procured gifts for judges, assisted with silent and live auctions, promoted and facilitated a large Parade of Titleholders, located, booked and promoted the Dinner Cruise and facilitated hospitality venues.  My motto in event planning is always, “details, details, details”.

Currently within AWPGA, I am a committee member working on the 2017 Western Regional Specialty that will be held in Grass Valley, CA, Labor Day weekend.  I am also on the AWPGA committee charged with researching tail standards as directed by the membership at the last annual meeting.  I also have submitted a handful of articles to the Griffonnier magazine for publishing.  I enjoy writing about the WPG breed and singing praise in terms of their hunting skills.  I really do think they are amazing!

In the future as a member of the AWPGA Board, I would like to develop a system to communicate with our membership about issues facing the breed via a closed social media group that is only open to paid members.  Secondly, breed health issues and standards will need to be constantly conveyed to fanciers so that everyone is fully educated.  A system to push the information out to members would be good in addition to the website.  Thirdly, create more supported entries across the country.  I see other breeds with lots of supported entries and they receive upgraded rosettes and other thoughtful prizes.  Why not make it more fun for the membership?  Supporting entries is very inexpensive, yet the excitement they create is wonderful.  Due to the club’s award program, clearly an equitable distribution regionally is important to achieve for fairness to members.

I would be honored if you will support me as your club Treasurer.

Petitioner for Treasurer, Garron Reichers

I feel truly blessed to have grown up hunting a variety of birds and game across various terrain where I acquired both the love of the hunt as well as the heartfelt appreciation for the instincts that make a great hunting companion. Seeing those skills married to such a biddable temperament in our first Griffon seven years ago, we knew we had found the “perfect breed” for our family. Two more four-legged members have joined our family since. They have gone on to earn a NAVHDA Natural Ability prize and an AKC Junior Hunter title while my 12-year old daughter and I were owner-handling them to their AKC Championships.

While I would like to be able to claim some degree of these successes as my own, the truth is that the titles these dogs have earned are more a testament to Eduard Korthals’s years of dedication and devotion as he worked to establish the ultimate walking hunter’s gun dog. The importance of protecting that vision cannot be understated as we within the community of Griffon enthusiasts are faced with many challenges as our breed’s popularity grows. Unguided growth can entice breeders to produce animals not capable of performing the tasks for which they were originally intended. This has been the demise of some breeds but we can’t let this happen to ours. The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon was introduced as a field dog and it is as a field dog that it must be preserved. To that end, if elected as your Treasurer, I would make education a top priority. This includes education of judges on both the working standard (once established) and conformation standard, education of the AWPGA membership on the roles they can and need to play in breed preservation, and the education of prospective buyers on what they should (or should not) expect from the cute little bundle of energy they are considering adding to their family.

Another focus area would be improvement in the role the AWPGA plays in the continued development of the Griffon breed within North America. The recognition of long-standing and successful breeding programs, which consistently produce top-notch field and conformation dogs, would be helpful to both the breeder and buyer alike. Improved relations/communications with the Griffon clubs of other countries would also be very useful for the sharing of ideas, health, and performance data.

When I am not busy training or playing with my Griffs, I can be found outside of Nashville, TN working for Hewlett Packard Enterprise as a Senior Financial Analyst. My primary role is providing guidance to the company on areas of investment that will help position it for success in future markets that might use its products. I am also the proud father of three amazing daughters and will be celebrating 20 years of marriage to my beautiful bride, Sheila, this fall.

I would greatly appreciate your vote for Treasurer.

The Delegate position only has a nominee candidate: Lisa Boyer, DVM

I am pleased and excited to continue in the position of AKC Delegate for the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association.   I currently serve as both the Club’s AKC Delegate and Western Regional Representative.  The Western Regional Representative position pairs well with the AKC Delegate duties without adding excessive work.  The AKC Delegate is the one position by virtue of our bylaws that can hold a second position in the Club.  Many clubs have their Delegate serving on their board of directors to enhance the relationship between the AKC and its members.  The AKC Delegate role involves a long learning curve and a need to establish working relationships with various people and departments within the AKC and its member clubs.  After several years in this capacity, I feel that I have the skills and connections to be an effective Delegate who is proactive, understands the workings of the AKC and its divisions and knows how to get things done.

I have been involved with Wirehaired Pointing Griffons for nine years.  I initially only participated in hunting and hunt testing, but once I joined the AWPGA, I became active in conformation as well.  I am currently expanding my experience into participating in performance events (obedience, rally and agility).  I currently write regular articles for the Griffonnier and the Versatile Hunting Dog magazines as well as the AKC Delegate publication, Perspectives magazine.  I am an AKC Breeder of Merit and a participant in the Bred With Heart program and my breeding program has produced many conformation Champions/Grand Champions as well as Field Tested/Titled dogs in both AKC and NAVHDA.  I am firmly committed to maintaining the versatility of our breed while adhering to our established breed standard.

This year, I was able to serve the Club by redesigning and debuting the AWPGA Meet the Breeds Booth at the Royal Canin AKC National Championship.  This was a major undertaking which resulted in a new portable display which can be used by our Club for years to come.

By profession, I have been a veterinarian for 15 years.  I have become involved in the health and genetics of our breed and am currently working with the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Through my established connections within the Canine Health Foundation, I was a key player in a group of people that procured a grant for the study of Steroid Responsive Meningitis Arteritis in sporting breeds.  We are hopeful that the study will be successful and I am excited to be able to help move this effort forward.  In addition, I am deeply committed to the preservation of our breed and am very happy to see the progress our Club is making in many areas.  It is a great time to be active in the AWPGA.

My background includes many years serving our government as a United States Air Force Officer and FBI Agent.  I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and am tech savvy.  I have a firm foundation in communication with a wide variety of people, both verbally and in writing.  I am able to work well with groups towards a common goal.  I have volunteered for many organizations such as Delta Society, the American Red Cross and animal rescue groups.  These experiences will help me to continue to be productive as the AKC Delegate.

There are many issues that the AWPGA will need to address in the coming years to preserve our breed.  Judges education is of paramount importance.  As the Griff becomes more popular and more new breeders emerge, the appearance of our breed can quickly change.  In the past 9 years, we have seen Griffons become larger and their structure altered.  These things are being rewarded by judges since it is commonplace, although not correct.  Since form follows function, the hunting ability of the improperly structured dog will be affected.  In addition, health and genetics and new member mentorship tops the list as priorities, including a push to involve more juniors in all aspects of the dog world.  As our membership is aging, we need to encourage new blood and help them take advantage of member knowledge and club activities.  We need to welcome people and let them know why the AWPGA is a worthwhile organization and the ultimate resource for all things Griff!

Finally, we as a group, have tremendous potential to affect change in legislation related to dogs.  We can make concerted efforts both as a group and as individual club members to prevent legislation put forth by animal rights groups, including HSUS, that seeks to destroy the purebred dog; mandatory spay/neuter laws, limitations on tail docking, prevention of breeding and restrictions on hunting.  These threats are real and present in many communities and we cannot allow them to continue because if we do, in a decade, purebred dog ownership will be greatly affected.

I appreciate your consideration for supporting me as the AKC Delegate. If appointed, I promise to continue to improve communication between the organization and its members and work diligently to make progress in many areas.

Editor’s Wrap-Up

Members should focus on reading these biographies and casting your ballots.  All of the extraneous emails and social media posts are just confusing the members.  I hope that you find this guide as helpful as I did in laying it all out.

To join the AWPGA and receive the quarterly Griffonnier magazine, go to https://awpga.com/membership