Thank you for taking time to review the questions and answers prepared by these four candidates for the upcoming election for two seats on the board of directors of ESRA. (The two board seats that are being filled with this election have been held by Anthony DeMarnello-Roybal and Dan Spahr.)

Click on each name to review their responses. Presented in alphabetical order by last name.

A Meet-the-Candidates Webinar was held Thursday, July 25, 2019, at 8 p.m. EST.

View the Meet the Candidates webinar

Ballots will be sent July 30, 2019. Look for your personal ballot by email if you have given electronic consent.

For those that have not yet consented, you will be receiving a ballot by mail. They will go out via USPS on or shortly after July 30, 2019. Voting closes on August 30, 2019.

The views presented are those of the candidates and do not necessarily represent the views of English Springer Rescue America, Inc., its members, or its board of directors.

If you have questions, please email elections@springerrescue.org.

How long have you been an ESRA member?

I originally found ESRA about 10 yrs ago when I was searching to adopt a rescue Springer Spaniel. I found my first rescue thru here and drove to Austin TX for my Maxwell. I remained in contact with ESRA thru the chat boards and the newsletter. I thought my membership was active back then, but there was a discrepancy and I refiled my paperwork to join and be an active member of ESRA in 2016.

What volunteering have you done for ESRA?

I am currently a foster parent, transport on occassion in New Mexico when needed, and I currently serve on the board of Directors. My recent foster, Sammy, has just been adopted to a wonderful home and I am waiting for my next opportunity to foster again.

Where do you see opportunities for continued growth in ESRA, and in what ways can you help bring about this growth?

We need to continue to work in growing the memberships and foster parents. Along with that also to ensure our new members and foster parents are aware of the policies of ESRA and abide by them. One of the great things the board has started is doing welcome calls to new foster parents and letting them know we are there for them.

What would be your top three goals as a board member?

1. Continue to work with the board to provide a positive face of ESRA and the organization.

2. Explore ideas and options to increase membership and foster parents.

3. Continue to work with the board ensuring our positive financial stability into the future.

Nominated by himself

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How long have you been an ESRA member?

I have been an ESRA member since 2006 and have served this organization in several different roles over the past 13 yrs.

What volunteering have you done for ESRA?

My volunteer activities for ESRA have included but have not been limited to:

• Fostering

• OH Adoptions Coordinator 2007 – under Judy Manley as Coordinator

• OH State Coordinator 2008 – as a temporary fill-in for Judy Manley until the position was permanently filled by Mary Guttieri who was an OH resident at the time

• Midwest Regional VP 2008 - 2010

• Emergency Transport Team Founder/Chair 2008 - 2009

• ESRA Board Member 2009 - 2010 – I was appointed to the position to fill the vacancy of prior Board Member Leah Grady upon her resignation

• Special Needs Coordinator – 2017 - Present

• Newsletter Team Member/Contributor – 2018 - Present

Where do you see opportunities for continued growth in ESRA, and in what ways can you help bring about this growth?

While ESRA’s growth has been strong in the past 3 years, both financially, and through volunteer participation, I would like to continue promoting team-building by supporting our volunteers. Our members should have leadership that they feel are approachable (as our current leaders are) who can assist them with decisions (some quite difficult) and provide educated guidance either through previous experience or research. Coupled with acting as a liaison between other rescues that share a similar vision, I feel these two components are very important to our continued success.

. What would be your top three goals as a board member?

My top 3 goals for ESRA if elected to the BOD would be:

1, Support membership and management by leading ESRA’s oversight committee which has become inactive during the past year

2. Promote ESRA’s continued financial stability and longevity by working with various committees and volunteers to raise public awareness to the plight of Springers in need, support fundraising opportunities, and act in a manner that represents ESRA in a positive, professional and inspiring manner

3. To act in the best interest of not only the Springers in our care, but our volunteers, our organization, and the community as a whole by making myself available to support requests for assistance or facilitate additional support if/when required

Nominated by Barbara Stone Davis

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How long have you been an ESRA member?

I adopted Emily & Brooke from ESRA in 2010. They crossed over the Rainbow Bridge 50 weeks apart in 2018/19. Scout and Dakota were adopted from ESRA in 2019. I was asked to complete the unexpired board term of my friend, Christi Cooper.

What volunteering have you done for ESRA?

As a board member these last few months I have been apart of the new Member Services team & Strut Your Mutt. I have been telephoning new members welcoming them to ESRA. Our goal is to personalize ESRA and reinforce their volunteering. I have been assigned to several other teams (Charitable Giving) which have not yet functioned. Last month I participated in a owner surrendered Springer. I took a day and drove 350 miles to interview the owner and visualize the Springer to see if this was a dog ESRA wanted to accept. I submitted a report to my area coordinator. The coordinator decided we would accept this Springer. The following week I returned 350 miles to pick up that dog, get it to a veterinarian for an update of all shots and grooming. I transported that Springer back to my home where it spent the night, then put it on an airplane the next morning. A very rewarding transport.

Where do you see opportunities for continued growth in ESRA, and in what ways can you help bring about this growth?

This ESRA Board is a very high performing group and I am humbled to associate. My skills are in the area of motivating people to donate. My 40 years in financial services, including serving The Salvation Army both as Development Director in Tucson, AZ, and Plan Giving Director in Cincinnati, OH, I bring ESRA a fresh set of skills. Also as a new/replacement board member I have a fresh set of eyes and ideas to existing procedures.

What would be your top three goals as a board member?

I have observed the most glaring need in ESRA is for new members, new fresh blood to continue our work of providing a life for Springers who have been displaced. The ESRA Board admits our volunteer base is aging and needs to be increased. The ESRA board desires its mission to endure way into the future. In whatever capacity, I want to be apart of that enduring mission. I have experienced the marvelous gift of Brooke & Emily and now Scout & Dakota. I want others to enjoy the love these Springers have given me.

Nominated by himself

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How long have you been an ESRA member?

A friend at work had a litter of Springer Lab mix puppies. I brought home Gabby and discovered the breed. A few years later I purchased Wembley from a breeder and then adopted Lucy. I was completely in love. I attended my first Springer National in 2007 and discovered ESRA. Gabby, Wembley and Lucy brought me so much joy and love that I knew I wanted to give back and help other Springers. I went back to Texas and began volunteering with ESRA in 2008. I adopted my first ESRA Rescue Linus in 2010.

What volunteering have you done for ESRA?

I've been involved in a variety of activities in both Texas and Illinois, including phone interviews, home visits, inter- and intra-state transports, and anything else that I was asked to do by the local coordinator. I help manage the ESRA Instagram page and write the ESRA blog as a volunteer on the Social Media team. I've had the opportunity to attend several National Specialties and helped with the ESRA booth tear down.

Where do you see opportunities for continued growth in ESRA, and in what ways can you help bring about this growth?

ESRA has an outstanding group of dedicated volunteers but I believe we could help more dogs with more hands. My team building experience and training and a cohort based MBA, along with my work on the Social Media team would be used to help grow our membership base and better use the talents of our volunteers.

ESRA always seems to need foster homes and I believe we can increase successful fostering by providing "tools" such as information and guidance to our volunteers. Through the use of Social media we could also provide additional information about what it's like to foster for those that have wondered but never asked.

We've made so many positive changes in recent years to our organization and I would like to continue to work on improving our image and standardizing national processes using my background in process improvement, technology and business experience at a variety of companies, including as a Compliance Manager at a Fortune 500 company.

What would be your top three goals as a board member?

1. Help to grow our volunteer base.

2. Take the mystery out of fostering and improve the fostering experience for the dogs and the foster homes.

3. Continue to work on improving our image and standardizing national processes.

Nominated by Nicole Bellemare

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