Every year, NAFA's Board members are elected for three-year terms. Terms of office are staggered so that approximately one-third of the board members' terms will expire each year. No NAFA Board member may serve for more than two full consecutive terms.
Once every three years, the term for the Executive Director also expires.
This year, both the Executive Director and three NAFA BoD terms expire. It has been announced on the NAFA website who has been nominated to fill these positions.
......and, yes. My name is among those seeking a position on the NAFA Board of Directors. My reasons for doing so are embedded in who I am so, I would like to introduce myself:
Hi! My name is Chris VanWert. I have been doing "dog" stuff all my life. My interest in dogs began with my parents who raised Papillons and showed them in AKC Conformation classes beginning in the 1950's.
Personal History
A NAFA Board member is an unpaid volunteer. I believe so much in "volunteering" that I spent 5 years (1973-1978) serving this country in the U.S. Navy. From that experience, I learned how to deal with difficult situations. The Navy doesn't expect natural born leaders. The Navy trains its personnel to become leaders.
After leaving the Navy, I came home and followed in the footsteps of my parents raising and showing AKC Papillons. I supported my sister's interest in AKC Dog Obedience competition. Her interest led to her joining the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club. In turn, I took classes at the AADTC . Through our involvement in the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, we were introduced to the sport of flyball around 1981. This was prior to the creation of NAFA.
Flyball
Sometime during 1999, I joined a new team called "Runnin' Ruff". It was through this team that I acquired Eddie. Eddie had been trained to do flyball by my sister but, she didn't have time to handle him and so she gave him to me fully trained. I later acquired a Miniature Australian Shepherd I named Blast. I trained Blast and handled both Eddie and Blast beyond the 40,000 NAFA points level. I also have two "new" flyball dogs. Strut is a Miniature Australian Shepherd and Pivot, a Jack Russell Terrier.
My current team is the Wooferines Flyball Team. I am responsible for creation and maintenance of the Wooferines website.
I have served on the NAFA Nominating Committee for three years. I also was the special project manager in charge of creating vinyl banners that are displayed at NAFA tournaments celebrating NAFA's 20 years of flyball. NAFA should take advantage of every opportunity to market NAFA and promote the sport of flyball. The delegates have an "ownership" stake in NAFA and it is important for the NAFA BoD to encourage a partnership role for the delegates in major decisions that have a far reaching impact on our sport. A copy of my nomination letter can be found here.
Vision
The future for NAFA is a bright one. Flyball is about having fun with your dogs and other dog lovers. It's about bragging rights for accomplishments. The "driving force" that built this sport is the camaraderie enjoyed by people who live with and train dogs.
I have introduced a proposal for Divisional Championships that is designed to recognize the skill and competitiveness of teams that do not race in Division 1. Although it is a rough draft and not quite ready for adoption, I support the concept of recognition for teams in all divisions that the Divisional Championships proposal represents. I encourage everyone to read my proposal and offer suggestions on how to improve the concept presented.
Open Communication
I have an "open door" policy for communication with the flyball community. I only speak for myself and no other entity. Your concerns and issues are my concerns and issues. You can be sure that I will listen and try to find common ground among all parties. Ultimately, it is the delegates that own this organization and their choice that determines NAFA's direction. I will work to insure that the viewpoint of the delegates is sought and followed. No single Director on the Board has the "answer" to the issues that confront NAFA today. We must all learn to work together-Regional Directors, delegates, The Executive Director and the NAFA Board-to find the solutions that will work best for NAFA.
This blog is an open forum for all topics in the flyball community. I encourage you to write to me at chrisandblast@hotmail.com or chrisandblast@gmail.com and tell me your concerns, ask me about my opinions or offer your suggestions and I will answer in private and/or on this blog.
Good luck and good racing!
NAFA Board of Directors nominations announced
Once every three years, the term for the Executive Director also expires.
This year, both the Executive Director and three NAFA BoD terms expire. It has been announced on the NAFA website who has been nominated to fill these positions.
......and, yes. My name is among those seeking a position on the NAFA Board of Directors. My reasons for doing so are embedded in who I am so, I would like to introduce myself:
Hi! My name is Chris VanWert. I have been doing "dog" stuff all my life. My interest in dogs began with my parents who raised Papillons and showed them in AKC Conformation classes beginning in the 1950's.
Personal History
A NAFA Board member is an unpaid volunteer. I believe so much in "volunteering" that I spent 5 years (1973-1978) serving this country in the U.S. Navy. From that experience, I learned how to deal with difficult situations. The Navy doesn't expect natural born leaders. The Navy trains its personnel to become leaders.
After leaving the Navy, I came home and followed in the footsteps of my parents raising and showing AKC Papillons. I supported my sister's interest in AKC Dog Obedience competition. Her interest led to her joining the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club. In turn, I took classes at the AADTC . Through our involvement in the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, we were introduced to the sport of flyball around 1981. This was prior to the creation of NAFA.
Flyball
Sometime during 1999, I joined a new team called "Runnin' Ruff". It was through this team that I acquired Eddie. Eddie had been trained to do flyball by my sister but, she didn't have time to handle him and so she gave him to me fully trained. I later acquired a Miniature Australian Shepherd I named Blast. I trained Blast and handled both Eddie and Blast beyond the 40,000 NAFA points level. I also have two "new" flyball dogs. Strut is a Miniature Australian Shepherd and Pivot, a Jack Russell Terrier.
My current team is the Wooferines Flyball Team. I am responsible for creation and maintenance of the Wooferines website.
I have served on the NAFA Nominating Committee for three years. I also was the special project manager in charge of creating vinyl banners that are displayed at NAFA tournaments celebrating NAFA's 20 years of flyball. NAFA should take advantage of every opportunity to market NAFA and promote the sport of flyball. The delegates have an "ownership" stake in NAFA and it is important for the NAFA BoD to encourage a partnership role for the delegates in major decisions that have a far reaching impact on our sport. A copy of my nomination letter can be found here.
Vision
The future for NAFA is a bright one. Flyball is about having fun with your dogs and other dog lovers. It's about bragging rights for accomplishments. The "driving force" that built this sport is the camaraderie enjoyed by people who live with and train dogs.
I have introduced a proposal for Divisional Championships that is designed to recognize the skill and competitiveness of teams that do not race in Division 1. Although it is a rough draft and not quite ready for adoption, I support the concept of recognition for teams in all divisions that the Divisional Championships proposal represents. I encourage everyone to read my proposal and offer suggestions on how to improve the concept presented.
Open Communication
I have an "open door" policy for communication with the flyball community. I only speak for myself and no other entity. Your concerns and issues are my concerns and issues. You can be sure that I will listen and try to find common ground among all parties. Ultimately, it is the delegates that own this organization and their choice that determines NAFA's direction. I will work to insure that the viewpoint of the delegates is sought and followed. No single Director on the Board has the "answer" to the issues that confront NAFA today. We must all learn to work together-Regional Directors, delegates, The Executive Director and the NAFA Board-to find the solutions that will work best for NAFA.
This blog is an open forum for all topics in the flyball community. I encourage you to write to me at chrisandblast@hotmail.com or chrisandblast@gmail.com and tell me your concerns, ask me about my opinions or offer your suggestions and I will answer in private and/or on this blog.
Good luck and good racing!
I didn't realize you started in Papillons - you just seem like an aussie and terrier person. :)
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