The Nomination Committee, consisting of Rich Whritenhour, Steve Curry and AnnChamberlain, has submitted the following nominations for the ASFA Officers tobe elected at the 2012 ACoD.
President Ping Pirrung
FirstVice President DeanWright
SecondVice President Thom Haig
RecordingSecretary Karen Frederick
CorrespondingSecretary Bill Bowlus-Root
ChiefFinancial Officer Jeff Lipps
Followingare bio's for each of the officers.
Ping Pirrung – President
Iam very hounoured to accept the nomination of President of ASFA. I view the position of ASFA President as oneof honour and great responsibility. Iwill endeavour to uphold these principles throughout my term and look forwardto contributing to the growth and expansion of the ASFA.
Ihave been involved with lure coursing and ASFA since I first learned of lurecoursing around 1975. This is a sportdear to my heart for so many reasons because I meet amazing people and dogs andspend a weekend outside enjoying all of these.
Onecould easily say that my life has gone to the dogs …. Or has always been there.
Atno time during my life have I been without a dog of some sort. My family always had at least two dogs and attimes even got up to my Dad's imposed limit of 4. Even in college, my dog accompanied me toevery class as well as up on stage to accept my diploma.
Borzoiwere my beginning with purebred dogs. Myhusband, at the time, and I showed and bred Borzoi. Lure coursing was a natural fit, as myfavourite place to be is outside and active. The athleticism along with the pure joy of watching the dogs do whatthey were bred to do is an indescribable thrill.
Wehad two daughters who also went with us to almost all field trials. My second daughter was practically born on acoursing field. At times I even ventured off with them bymyself. There are many that remember meslipping dogs with my youngest daughter in a back pack and a camera in my otherhand. After the girls were old enoughthat they could be on their own during a trial, I became a judge. This has afforded me the opportunity to seedogs lure course all over the county at the same time to experience someamazing runs.
Whippetscame into my life when my daughters were young and since the late 1980's I havehad only Whippets. I am now remarried toDennis McCann who enjoys our growing family at Labyrinth Whippets. At this point we have 5 living at our houseand enjoy every minute of it. During thespring and fall almost every weekend is taken up with lure coursing or openfield coursing. During the week I spend a lot of time with thedogs either biking, walking or working on their skills.
Ihave been the Field Trial Secretary for several II's, the first being in theearly `80s. I have been President ofTri-State Sighthound Club for several years. I was elected as the Corresponding Secretary on the ASFA Board ofDirectors, in 2008 and reelected in 2010. This position has been a joy asit has put me in touch with so many of the fancy all over the country.
Everyweekend we have many opportunities to attend a myriad of dog relatedactivities. The challenge is to keepASFA lure coursing a prominent choice. With your passion and contributions, together we can position andstrengthen ASFA for the future.
Dean Wright – 1stVice President
Istarted in dogs with Miniature and Standard Poodles in the early 60's. In 1967 I bought my first two sight houndsboth Ibizan Hounds. I was president ofthe Ibizan Hound Club of the United States (1974 – 1981). In 1979 the breed was recognized by the AKC. I owned the first Ibizan Breed Champion, CHSunking Eterna of Treybeau, FCh. "Eterna", who was also the first Ibizan HoundASFA Field Champion. In the 2000 ASFA Historical Book, I owned and bred the number 1, number 2 andnumber 5 Ibizan Hounds along with the number 1 all-time Greyhound and Saluki.
Lure coursing has been my passion since I sawthe reaction of my Ibizan Hounds the first time they saw the lure moving alongthe ground. One hound in particular thathad just been bored to death in the show ring and really came to life and so did my desire to help sighthounds havethe opportunity to chase the lure.
Ihave been active in ASFA since 1976. Ihave served the American Sight Hound Field Association as Regional Director(1979 – 1981 & 1984 – 1987) and First Vice President (1988 – 1998). In 2010 I was elected to serve again as theFirst Vice President of ASFA, the position that I am hoping to continue for twomore years.
Inow reside in Holtwood, PA with my wife Cackie Vroom along with our Greyhoundsand Whippets. My last remaining Ibizanhound passed away in November of 2009, my last Saluki in May 2010.
After35 years of Lure Coursing I still enjoy watching the new hounds run for thefirst time. When they realize they are off lead and their long instilledinstinct to chase kicks in, they are offdoing what they have been bred to do for centuries.
Myday job in the management end of auto repair, all these years, has helpedsupport my coursing addiction. I havelearned a lot from my business experiences that will help me be a better leaderand promoter for ASFA. I believe that you get out of something what you putinto it. I have learned so much from thepeople that I have worked with in ASFA that has helped me become successful inmy business ventures..
Mygoal when re-elected will be to work with the newly elected president, officersand RD's thru the various committee chairs to establish ASFA as the premierlure coursing organization in the USA. We were the First and are theBest, bar none.
Thom Haig, DVM – 2ndVice President
I have been a practicing veterinarian for 36years. I also have been a board member and/or officer in clubs in threeregions. After living in Nevada and coursing out west for 12 years, mywife and I moved to Tennessee in 2004. We have both Whippets and PharaohHounds as well as a variety of other critters. When not releasing dogs, Ienjoy being a hunt master and lure operator. Occasionally I also provideemergency medical assistance on the field.
As a member of many professional organizations, I am apast president of the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association and have served onthe State Board for 6 years. I am currently the scientific programplanning coordinator for the Wild West Veterinary Conference in Reno, NV. I am no stranger to committees, boards, and organizational operations.
RecordingSecretary – Karen Frederick
I grewup in the small Ohio town of East Liverpool, nestled on the Ohio River as itflows from Pennsylvania. We were known for the production of pottery and mostof us have a habit known as `plate turning'. (I'm waiting for my official card to arrive). We just can't help lookingat the production marks on the bottom of dinnerware to check where it was made.
Professionally,I am a licensed clinical perfusionist at Mercy - St. Louis Heart Hospital. Thisprofession involves the operation of a heart-lung machines during cardiacsurgery and other ancillary operations. I graduated with a degree in Circulation Technology from The Ohio StateUniversity in a class of 18. Of course, I'm a dedicated Buckeye football fanand try to fit as many games as possible around fall field trials and hospitalcall.
MyIrish Wolfhounds have had some success in lure coursing throughout theyears. Five of them have each earned atleast a single LCM title and Clare was recently inducted into the ASFA Hall ofFame. Advanced titles seem to be gettingharder and harder due to declining numbers of IWs competing.
I amthe current Recording Secretary of ASFA. I was part of the formation of the St. Louis Area Sighthounds in themid-90's and have been the National Secretary for the Large Gazehound RacingAssociation. I also completed eightyears on the Board of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America.
Iam honored to accept the nomination from the Committee for another two yearsfor the position of the Recording Secretary of ASFA
Corresponding Secretary –Bill Bowlus-Root
Coursingis a sport I truly love and actively promote. I have been involved with coursing and ASFA since 2002, as soon as my ownBasenjis were ready to participate. Exceptfor Lure Operator and Judge, I've served in every capacity on the field for myhome club, the Evergreen Basenji Club, and other coursing clubs in the area. I also serve as Treasurer and LureCoordinator for the club, which boasts some of the finest coursing Basenjis inRegion 1 and in the country. I'm proudof the assistance I have provided to get newcomers interested and involved inthe sport. As the ASFA delegate for EBCsince 2009, I attended the ACoD in 2010 and 2011. As the Corresponding Secretary of ASFA, Iwill be in a position to further the goals of the organization and maintain thefine traditions of the sport.
Mypartner Paul Bowlus-Root and I founded our kennel, Baraka Basenji, in2001. Since then, our kennel as producednumerous coursing champions in ASFA, AKC, and CKC as well as racing championsin LGRA and NOTRA. In 2007, our dogCairo was the #1 Basenji and #5 Other Breed in NOTRA. Several of our dogs have earned multiple Bestin Field awards. We are active membersof the Basenji Club of America and the Basenji Club of Canada. Our guiding principle has always been that aBasenji should be a well-rounded hound, equally successful on the field as inthe show ring. We're proud our dogsdemonstrate that versatility.
Whennot on the coursing field, I am an independent Software Design Engineer workingat Microsoft and have certifications in software design and SQL databasedevelopment and administration. Iretired in 2004 after 10 years as a regular employee at Microsoft where I wasin Developer Support, a Team Manager in that group, and later served asDeveloper Training Manager responsible for providing technical training fordevelopers across the company. My skillsand talents draw upon a wide range of occupations including financial planning,teaching, banking, and restaurant management, and from my two degrees from theUniversity of Iowa in Psychology and Education.
Chief Financial Officer –Jeff Lipps
Someeighteen years ago, while attending my first Saluki National Specialty, I sawmy first ASFA lurecoursing trial. TheSaluki with me went berserk when she saw the lure. I knew from that point that I had to give allmy Salukis an opportunity to experience that joy. Typically, seven to ten of our Salukis runregularly at ASFA Field Trials. The topthree lifetime ASFA Salukis are from our Kennel, Windrush Salukis.
Mylove of lurecoursing quickly drove me to give what I could to the sport. I have been active in the formation of twolure coursing clubs in the Columbus, Ohio area: GCSC (Greater Columbus Sighthound Club) and COACH (Central Ohio AfghanCoursing Hounds), for which I have held various Board and Officerpositions. Literally from my first daysat ASFA trials, I have volunteered to help. Over the years, I have been involved in every aspect of running a fieldtrial (from Field Trial Chairman to Huntmaster to Lure Operator to Paddock toField Clerk). In 2000, I received my AllBreed ASFA Judging License. Over theyears, I have judged and ran Salukis in nearly all of the ASFA Regions.
In1998, I was accepted into membership in the Saluki Club of America, the SalukiAKC Parent club. I assisted in theefforts to qualify SCOA for ASFA membership. To do so, we conducted SCOA trials outside of the context of theNational Specialty - something not done previously to my knowledge.
Byday, I am a corporate trial attorney. Inthat line of business, I am regularly called upon to develop strategies toaccomplish business objectives for major corporations, to defend their actions,to prosecute misconduct by others, and to lead trial efforts within specificbudget parameters to success.
Followingmy unsuccessful run for an ASFA Board position at the Baltimore ACOD, I havededicated a portion of my life to volunteering in various capacities in therunning of ASFA. Specifically, I haveserved on ASFA's Finance and Budget Committee, Contracts Committee, FANCommittee, Policy Compilation Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, andMinutes Review Committee.
Iwas ASFA's first Chief Financial Officer, a position I held for two, two yearterms. I am in my final year of mysecond term as President of ASFA. My records in both positions speak forthemselves. However, in both of my leadership positions in ASFA I have workedhard to stabilize ASFA's financial foundation, remain focused on our corecompetencies and size the organization to fit its market position. Since ASFA created the CFO position, theBoard has made great strides in accomplishing those goals. While Gary Roushleaves some big shoes to fill, I believe I have the experience and perspectiveto do just that. I believe I can contribute to sound decisions by ASFA thatwill continue ASFA on firm financial footing. My election as CFO would alsoallow for continuity in the Board on important financial matters. I would be honored to receive your favorableconsideration.
