Entries from November 2007 ↓

When I posted Operation Baghdad Pups, I was unaware of a grassroots organization called Military Mascots who’s sole mission is “…to find and make contact with folks who may be able to help their adopted friend come to the US to be with their own families prior to their redeployment.”

Supporting Deployed Service Members and The Mascots They Love

Christopher has posted an excellent article on this organization and the SPCA International on his website Border Wars.

Larry

I think the NAFA delegate voting system is due for some rethinking. I think I know why the delegate voting system was developed the way it was and if someone knows differently please let me know. It was developed so that the clubs that participate at NAFA sanctioned events are the ones that should have a vote. This sounds logical to me. Why would you want clubs to have a vote if they are not participating in the sport at NAFA sanctioned events? However, why are all the delegate votes given to the club owner?

NAFA Rulebook, Chapter 4 - Delegate Votes

(b) All delegates shall be assigned to the club owner.

The Participants

Why are the participants left out of the voting process? After all, the participants are the ones that make Flyball happen. Flyball is a team sport so why don’t the team members get a vote. The club owner can choose to divvy up the votes or not. Why should they have all the power? Without the “teammates”, there would be no team.

NAFA Rulebook, Article VII, Section 2. Delegates

The Board of Directors may designate delegates with special interest in flyball. Each Board member will individually receive a delegate vote over and above any delegate votes otherwise earned. Each Regional Director will individually receive a delegate vote over and above any delegate votes otherwise earned. All approved judges and supervising judges will individually receive a delegate vote in addition to any other delegate votes otherwise earned. Clubs will be notified of the number of delegates earned during the preceding fiscal year.

It doesn’t seem fair that the participant should be left out of the process. I think each dog entered in a NAFA sanctioned event should be given 1 delegate vote per year. Thus, if you have 5 dogs and 4 of them participated in NAFA sanctioned events during the NAFA fiscal year, the owner of the dog should receive 4 delegate votes. This sounds reasonable to me.

What do you think?

Larry

Well NAFA® election time is upon us again. It was announced this last week that only 20% of the votes had been returned. Seem like a low turn out this close to the closing of elections. Not much has been said on the flyball list this year but maybe that is because one of the usual writers is running for the BOD this time. Maybe some of the low voting has to do with the fact that some people are voting NOTA (None of the above) which was suggested by one of the candidates. Only problem with this is that ballots are to be destroyed after the election so no one will know how many have been returned with this written in. Or maybe displeasure with things is being expressed with the lower votes coming in and people just don’t care.

I see by the minutes of the last meeting that a balance and profit and loss sheet was distributed at the meeting (didn’t see a copy included in the minutes though) and some numbers are down. Light shipping is up (which I can see due to increases in shipping industry) board meeting expenses are up (hum maybe they should be shopping around for better ticket prices. I seem to be able to get good prices on flights when I look around), tournament fees and CRN registration are down (which is the only income that NAFA has). Hopefully the CRN’s were up by the end of the year due to people getting in ahead of the price increase (I know that’s the way I did it) but then that will take away from next years CRN income. Where is the money going to come from to keep this organization running with the expenses that they seem to be incurring?

Also was Cynosports an income or a loss for NAFA? We have yet to see a break down on costs to put this on. Don’t we as delegates have the right to know where our money is going?

Well it would be interesting at the end of voting to see the voting numbers. How many voted, how many were returned with NOTA and how many came back with only 1 or 2 votes on them. We have no choices for the ED position (not saying that the current one isn’t doing well) and we don’t have the choice for write in votes. Why even bother to put that one on the ballot?

What is everyone out there looking for in a candidate for the BoD? In some of the elections it was that a specialty was a plus (like being a lawyer would help the BoD) or computer specialties or whatever. I am not sure what some of the people running have to offer. I also have been unable to attend any of the candidate chats due to prior commitments (yup I do have a life outside of flyball).

Thanks Larry for letting me add to your blog.

Judy

The NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame and Regional Most Valuable Player Awards are for dogs to be recognized both nationally and regionally. The Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame is the most prestigious flyball award any flyball dog can be awarded. You can read about this year’s slate of candidates for both Hall of Fame and Regional MVP on the NAFA website.

Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

The NAFA Hall of Fame was renamed to the Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame in memory of Clyde Moore, who served as NAFA’s Executive Director and passed away of a heart attack in March 1998.

Each year, NAFA may induct up to 2 dogs into the Hall of Fame. NAFA members are asked to nominate candidates that they consider deserving of this award, using the following criteria:

• Longevity - A dog must have played flyball for a minimum of four years.

• Notoriety - How well known is this dog. Nominees should be easily recognizable within their own racing area

• Team value - What is the worth of this dog to its team, i.e. untiring start dog, height dog, most consistent dog, fast anchor dog.

Regional Most Valuable Player

This award is given to the dog deemed most valuable in their specific region. Only one candidate in each region is given this award per year. There are criteria for nominating a dog that must be followed and this information is available on the NAFA website by following the link above.

Flyball Awards

More than titles, these awards recognize dogs that excel in the sport. They may not be the fastest but they are well known in the flyball community and region. I applaud NAFA for the establishment of these awards, which is something I feel is lacking in U-FLI.

Larry

If you have or know of a special dog, and would like to have him or her recognized, please contact us using the Contact form.

I know this is another non-Flyball related post but this seems like a worthy cause to help our US soldiers and an animal in need. The SPCA International is working to bring companion animals of US soldiers serving in the Middle East to safe, happy, forever homes in the United States.

Charlie

One night, while on guard duty with the US Armed Forces in Iraq, Sgt. Watson’s squadron returned from patrol with a new buddy. Weak, malnourished, and at death’s door, a black and white puppy had decided to adopt the soldiers of the unit known as Charlie Company. Sgt. Watson wrapped the shivering puppy in a blanket, gave it some clean water, a portion of his own rations, and provided what refuge and comfort he could for a poor life he expected would sadly end in a few days – another innocent life cut short in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

But the puppy rallied back, thriving on the care, attention and affection of Sgt. Watson and the members of his platoon. A real survivor, the puppy was named Charlie (after the military unit) and before long the growing puppy bonded not only with Sgt. Watson but with the other soldiers.

Charlie became the company mascot and Sgt Watson and his men are being forced to abandon him because US Military units are always on the move. They don’t want to leave him to certain homelessness and ultimate starvations so Charlie needs transport to the United States - NOW. The obstacles are many but not insurmountable and you may be able to help.

For more information and to offer a donation please visit the No Buddy gets Left Behind website.

I learned of this from the Johann The Dog website.

Larry