Surf City Flyball was formed in December 2008 by a group of veteran flyball enthusiasts from Orange and Los Angeles county beach city areas. We compete in tournaments in California, Arizona and Nevada. We welcome all shapes, sizes and breeds of dogs and have classes on Saturday mornings in Huntington Beach throughout the year.
Website: www.surfcityflyball.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfcityflyball
Email: hbhaney@hotmail.com
Apart from Flyball training, Some Ruff Competition is a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy spending time together outside of the sport. The club prides itself on its positive training methods, tailored to each dog, breed, and handler to ensure safety, success, and most importantly, fun.safety, success, and most importantly, fun.
Some Ruff Competition has a track record of excellence, having been invited four times to the prestigious NAFA CanAm, and also to the AKC Dog Challenge in 2022. SRC is currently ranked as the 21st Fastest Regular Club and 16th Fastest Multibreed Club (NAFA, All-Time). Several breeds, including Airedale Terriers, Bearded Collies, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, have earned top point earnings rankings, highlighting the club’s commitment to developing individual dogs’ skills and strengths.
Led by Emily Venator, Some Ruff Competition offers weekly Flyball classes year-round at all levels. Classes are hosted at the Doggielicious Training & Event Centre and Team Practices are hosted at the Raw4Dogs Athletic Centre, among other private facilities.
We are excited to welcome new members to our community of Flyball enthusiasts. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for announcements on our weekly classes and upcoming Flyball events.
Website: SRCFlyball.ca
Facebook: SRCFlyball
Instagram: @SRCflyball
Email: SRCFlyball@gmail.com
As the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, I wanted to provide some updates on what is happening in NAFA. We certainly hear your concerns and calls for transparency, so I am happy to provide everyone with more details. I can also assure you that those of us on the BOD, past and present, are working hard to promote the sport all of us love.
At a grassroots level, we know that clubs and individuals involved in flyball play a huge role in promoting the sport of flyball. Getting people into the sport is much easier if they are already familiar with flyball and excited to try out the sport. To that end, NAFA is working to promote the sport on an international scale. We have developed a strong relationship with two of the most well known dog and sport media outlets. The AKC is the leader in promoting dog ownership and dog sports while ESPN is the global leader in sports programming. Both these companies are investing real money to promote the sport of flyball. This partnership puts NAFA Flyball out into the world at a scale that NAFA could never afford to do on our own.
This burgeoning partnership has provided extensive coverage of CanAm, through AKC’s Livestream and the ESPN Coverage of the CanAm finals with no cost to NAFA. Prior to this NAFA PAID to have a livestream service at CanAm, at a cost of around $8,000 per CanAm event. Additionally, NAFA receives money for broadcast rights. In 2021, this money was the difference between having CanAm or canceling the entire event. Coming out of COVID, CanAm 2021 almost didn’t happen. The BOD had to weigh the feasibility of hosting such a large event, knowing participation would be down from past years. The financial help from AKC/ESPN made hosting CanAm a far less risky proposition.
Hours and hours were spent in pre-production meetings helping AKC/ESPN understand a sport they had rarely covered before. The production was top notch and we were able to have the sport promoted in the US and on TSN in Canada. When AKC/ESPN offered to do a second Invitational Flyball Event, the NAFA BOD was 100% in favor. It enables us to promote the sport internationally, not just once, but twice a year. Again, this is at no cost to NAFA; AKC pays for venue rental, constructing those amazing sets, and everything else required to broadcast a professional looking event worthy of being carried on ESPN. As previously mentioned, NAFA receives funds for broadcast rights which are used in part to provide a stipend to the teams attending the Invitational event. Teams that are sent invites are told upfront that the stipend will more than likely not cover all their expenses. These teams participate in these events to support NAFA, while enjoying being on national TV showcasing their dogs and clubs. Invitationals are positive events that promote the sport and help NAFA’s finances, which took a hard hit during COVID.
We have had additional discussions about AKC.TV live streaming at various tournaments across the US. As AKC/ESPN see that investing in flyball is a positive thing, we hope that more opportunities present themselves. They have also been working to help NAFA connect with more sponsors and vendors. Flyball has a value to them, it’s something they can help build a following with the public. Many of us have watched Crufts Flyball coverage grow and improve over the years. We hope to follow in a similar vein so that we can promote more and more aspects of flyball to the general public. For those that didn’t see last year’s Invitational broadcast, they had two extensive features, one on a fantastic junior handler and another on a Boston Terrier! This is only our second invitational and both sides are learning what works and where we can improve. There is so much speculation, so many “I think” comments that just aren’t founded in any facts.
The BOD has our concerns too about how to have an invitational event in a fair manner when tough decisions have to be made. Invitational style events have a level of prestige, they seek to elevate the sport. They are showcasing some level of the best in the sport. The board took this approach for this Invitational event as well. To that end, we created an Invitational Selection Committee (composed of board and non-board members) and established criteria for those invitations. That list of criteria was posted in the September 5th, 2022 Meeting Minutes. The committee used that criteria to give a list of 25 possible clubs for the Invitational. As we knew from the first Invitational, this kind of event has feasibility issues. How many clubs can make that kind of trip? How many clubs can make the trip on fairly short notice? Many on that list will decline the invite for a variety of reasons. It’s a big commitment for a club to travel to an event like this, with no points, no prize money at stake, for a minimal amount of racing and just a small travel stipend to help offset the expense.
We have pushed AKC/ESPN to move the Invitational event to different parts of the country so that more teams will have an opportunity to be invited and for the travel to be feasible for them. An event like this isn’t just a tournament, there are many production considerations. Not only do they need to move in the set, production equipment and crew, they need facilities that are set up for filming events. Just like for the CanAm finals, a facility like the Pepsi Coliseum used in CanAm 2021 is preferred over having to build an entire set from scratch like they did for CanAm 2022. This year, Ocala, FL made the most sense.
For those that want a Multibreed part of this, we hear you, we like seeing different breeds too. The BOD has questioned this as a way to showcase more types of dogs. However, when we bring those concerns up to AKC/ESPN we are continually told that their primary desire is to have exciting, fast racing. Historically the top Multibreed teams are featured in the CanAm production. We are getting the opportunity to show lots of breeds of dogs at that event. CanAm brings together the most flyball people in one place, at one time. The most Multibreed entries you will see at any tournament. If you look at those entries, there is a large range of seed times for those teams. Considering that we have to get clubs to the Invitational location, and that many will have to say no, the disparity between Multibreed entry seed times becomes a big concern. In regards to Junior Handlers, NAFA, as well as AKC/ESPN loves to promote them, but they need to be able to be there. This is during school, this is on short notice and not every club has Junior Handlers. We will gladly feature the amazing Junior Handlers we can as was done with the Junior Handler who was able to attend last year’s Invitational.
So what is NAFA doing with the revenue from these events?
As we recover from the financial hit that COVID caused, there have been many projects that were on the back burner until NAFA’s finances improved. First of all, an antiquated website. This has been a priority for the BOD. That website development is in progress right now. We anticipate the new websites to roll out in the next 12 months. An updated CanAm website will be the first to roll out this year.
The other is technology improvements. This completely stalled out during COVID, and we couldn’t even consider restarting that until revenue improved. At the last BOD Meeting, the BOD directed the technology committee to get cost adjustments from pre-COVID prices for equipment so that we can start the process of replacing equipment.
CanAm’s broadcasting fees help offset the considerable cost of putting on the largest flyball event in the world. CanAm is an event open to all NAFA Clubs. We know not everyone can make it each year, but the opportunity is there for all. The website, the technology improvements, those are going to help all NAFA participants. A huge benefit for everyone.
What can YOU do to help?
All of you are also NAFA. Are you willing to teach classes? To bring people into the sport? To show them the fun they can have with their dog? Can you help connect them with our flyball community? With every AKC/ESPN event that’s broadcast, NAFA’s contacts tick upward. We set up a volunteer to help people find clubs in their area, sometimes they contact clubs and hear nothing. Is that your club? Is your contact info out of date? Do you just not want new people? Make that known too. NAFA does not know each club’s preferred contact method. Be sure to check your club’s contact info and send updates to webmaster@flyball.org. Do you have ideas about how NAFA should be doing things? Email your ideas to the BOD. Nominate yourself for the BOD. We elect new people every year, nominations open up in the late fall. The BOD is always looking for volunteer talent that can help NAFA run better. Send an email to flyball@flyball.org and let us know how you can help.
Finally, I encourage all of you to be an active participant! Several of the questions posed in the comments could be found in previous meeting minutes posted on the website. Our financial statements for 2022 will be posted to the website this week. However, ONLY 5 people attended the live candidate chat; 19 people attended the AGM. It’s disappointing to see such great opportunities to interact with the BOD and future candidates not utilized. We are planning to have some regional zoom chats with Steve Corona, myself and BOD members. Will anyone attend? Will you interact with us live versus just from behind a keyboard? The BOD is made up of very passionate volunteers from a cross section of regions with varying levels of experience in the sport. You, the NAFA community, voted for these individuals to represent you and our organization. We are doing the best we can, but we do have to make tough decisions. It is not possible to please everyone all the time. If you have answers to flyball problems, please bring them to the BOD, email flyball@flyball.org. We give full consideration to every contact we get. Every BOD member is willing to talk with you and if they don’t know the answer, they will try to find out for you.
I hope this message has provided additional insight into the Invitational process and answered the questions many of you had about the event. For the NAFA BOD this Invitational is an easy Yes. NAFA benefits, the flyball world benefits. The more exposure flyball receives, the more it will grow the sport and that helps us all. I also want you all to know that we hear you, we are working hard to move NAFA forward for everyone’s enjoyment. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me directly at mcjayne@yahoo.com
Jayne McQuillen
NAFA Chairperson of the Board
Dana Nichols: This is a regular part of working as a board or committee. I have often had opinions that were different than the rest of the NAFA board, or of other committees I have served. I think it is important to effectively voice your opinion and point out all issues and consequences for topics. Part of that role is also to make sure the language of any rule change or other issue adequately addresses consequences. But at the end of the vote, you may be personally against the Board’s decision. That’s why there is a vote and what makes our organization strong. Not everyone is going to agree on every issue, but ultimately there is a process for a decision, whether that be a vote of the Board of Directors or even a vote of the membership. Then it is our responsibility to abide by that decision.
Actually, I find it to be a harder situation when everyone agrees on an issue. We still need to take the time to consider all possibilities, think about how the language of the change might affect other issues, and be mindful of other opinions even when they aren’t being brought to the table.
Differing points of views is what truly makes a board strong. It means having respect for your fellow board members to be able to have a civil discussion even when you don’t all agree. We are responsible for all of NAFA, not just our own region, team, or personal views.
Emily Neal: I would (professionally) argue my case and hope that the others listened, but at the end of the day majority rules so I know I will not be in the majority of every decision and that is ok.
Paula Johnson: This is all part of participating in a board environment. Supporting what has been decided by the majority is essential. Continuing to work with the board members to find common ground is part of the role. Also, often it is not an all or nothing scenario. There can be pieces of a decision that you might agree with and can perhaps work to see if there is opportunity down the road to make minor adjustments. In the end however, it is critical that everyone is willing to support the decisions of the board regardless of their personal preferences.
Cindy Henderson: This has actually happened in my tenure on the board. What I have done is state my opinions as logically, rationally, and calmly as possible with the reasons for my opinion. I would listen to the alternating views. Assuming my opinion is unchanged I would vote based on my opinion even if I am the only differing vote. Once the vote is completed even if I “lost” the vote I would accept the decision of the board professionally and move forward. NAFA is not about what one person wants or only one person’s opinion. It is about what the community at large wants and I would do my best to try and represent the people in my home Region as well as around the entirely of NAFA – sometimes that may mean doing what the majority wants not what just I want.
Jonathan Bescher: First, you need to make sure to voice your opinion on the call. Everything that the board decides you may not agree on, but if you don’t voice your opinion, or those that you have heard from, then what is the point on being on the board. The board doesn’t need a group of followers, it needs those with new and fresh ideas. If the vote happens and my opinion is not on the popular side, then you take the decision and you support it. It is not giving in, but the board needs to have the backing of every member.
Jackie Alcott: Not everyone is always going to agree on a topic/issue. However, I am willing to listen to facts, data, and information that might be different from what I believe on any topic/issue. I will then take all of my collective knowledge and base my vote on what I feel is the best for the sport, dogs, handlers, and organization.
Paula Johnson: Given my background in marketing and communications those are both obvious committees where I see myself being able to make a positive contribution to NAFA. I do however have a real interest in Rules and Judges. I like working on wording and details with regard to rules that helps to create clarity and feel I would be able to assist in this area. Being a relatively new NAFA Judge, this area is also one where I think I could provide assistance. The recent work that has been done in education and training of judges is one I would love to continue to grow and develop.
Emily Neal: I would be interested in the disciplinary, judges, rules and technology committees. I feel my background and strengths would be best served on these committees.
Dana Nichols: The Rules Committee will always be my favorite and, if elected, I hope I get the opportunity to serve there again. I love the challenge of drafting just the right language. During my past terms on the NAFA Board, I was chair of the Rules Committee most of those years. I also love the aspect of making sure that the rules are readily available to all competitors, judges, and regional directors. Education on rule changes is an important part of implementation.
I also enjoy Election and Judges Committees. I helped transition NAFA to it’s currently online voting process. And, although I am now retired as a NAFA Judge, I also really enjoyed my work on the Judges Committee and would be honored to work with them again.
I am also happy to serve on any other committees where I am needed. I think work on committees is an important part of making sure the NAFA organization functions well.
Jackie Alcott: I would be interested in working on various committees for NAFA. Rules, Marketing, Elections, Communications, and Technology.
Jonathan Bescher: I currently am the head of the Judges, and because of that I am on the Disciplinary and Rules committee. I would also be on the Technology committee, since I have helped in this area of testing the new light tree(What we call the Thomas Tree), and with the APES and Heat Trackers that you see at CanAm and other tournaments.
Cindy Henderson: I have served on the Finance and Judges committee and enjoy both and would love to continue to serve on these committees. While not a formal committee I also have enjoyed being part of the AKC/ESPN Invitational Event planning and CanAm planning.
Jackie Alcott: NAFA is an organization that I have enjoyed playing in for ten years. I would like to give back my time and abilities to continue making the organization a fun, safe, and exciting place to come play Flyball with your dog.
Jonathan Bescher: I have enjoyed my three years on the board, although a majority of that has been dealing with COVID and how do we come back from a pandemic. However, I think the past three years has been very productive, and I would like to help NAFA keep growing the next three years. Thank you for your time and support of NAFA. I look forward to trying to meet as many people in the lanes as possible.
Cindy Henderson: I have been playing flyball for 23 years all as part of NAFA. This is a sport that I love because I believe it is for everyone – all breeds of dogs, all speeds of dogs, and a wide variety of competitors including families and juniors. The community spirt among flyball is like no other dog sport in my opinion. I am dedicated to growing this sport and would like to continue to serve on the board for another term to help in this regard. I am proud of the progress we have made – new measuring system and training program for judges to help ensure consistency and transparency, new box size limits, new jump width size, AKC/ESPN broadcast of CanAm and the Invitational event, our handling of the sport during COVID, and so much more. There is still more work to be done and I hope to be able to continue the work as a member of the board however commit that even if not elected I would like to be involved helping on committees and in other ways to help grown and give back to the sport that has given me so much over these 23 years.
Paula Johnson: I think that at the heart of any organization such as NAFA communication is the key to success. That means communication at all levels including within the Board itself, Regional Directors, and of course our members. I have heard over and over again that this is an area that needs improvement. There is no such thing as too much information being shared. I also think that finding ways to hear from our members more often is needed. If elected to the board this would be a priority of mine.
There are so many exciting things happening for NAFA, but we need to keep momentum going in order to insure the health of our sport and our organization. I would love to be a part of this and feel I have the skills and time to make a difference.
Thank you for your consideration of my nomination.
Emily Neal: My view of flyball is simple: the competition and close racing is fun, but that isn’t the point of flyball. The point of flyball is to play a game with your dog (and with your friends). At the end of the day, this is a game, a reminder that I think every single one of us has needed at some point in our careers.
Dana Nichols: I have served on the NAFA Board in the past and know how much work is involved. I enjoy contributing to our organization to make flyball better for everyone. It takes a lot of folks to run such a big organization. I currently serve as a regional director and club owner, but I’m willing to step up and serve on the Board of Directors again. It’s a big responsibility, but one I am willing to shoulder. If I’m not elected, I’ll continue to work diligently for NAFA and would be happy to contribute in any way that I can.
Cindy Henderson: I am the Chief Commercial Officer running the sales and marketing teams for a clinical research organization. In this role I have create pricing strategies, budgets for customer contracts and manage the internal budgets for the P&L having to report to executives and our board of directors on a regular basis. I have extensive experience using excel . Serving as the current Treasurer of NAFA has also provided me great insight to the finances of the organization.
Dana Nichols:I don’t have any expertise in finance or technology, but I did gain some experience regarding NAFA’s specific finances and technology issues by serving on the NAFA Board for two prior terms. We would review the financial documents (balance sheets, quarterly & yearly profit and loss statements) at each meeting and compare to previous years. During my terms we updated the current EJS systems, redesigned the database, and transitioned to the current online election system. I found our current election provider and worked with them to adapt their system to our unique voting system.
My legal background includes drafting rules, analyzing statutes, and working on committees. One of the things I love most is working on rules. I love coming up with just the right language to try to solve an issue without creating lots of other unintended consequences. That kind of puzzle is right up my alley. I was chair of the rules committee during my previous terms on the board. We also worked to train judges and regional directors on rule changes. I truly believe things should be as fair as possible. Communication and training go a long way towards fairness for everyone.
Emily Neal: I have worked in non-profit IT and accounts payable/receivable for the last 8 years. I have a master’s degree in public administration with focus on non-profit budgeting and governance.
Jonathan Bescher: I have been involved with the EJS, along with helping out Dave Thomas on the new version of the EJS. I have been the EJS coordinator for CanAm for many years, and have to reprogram multiple parts every year. Along with helping out Dave with EJS, I have also been a guinea pig for his heat trackers and APES system.
Being involved in swimming, I have brought in other ideas from another organization on different things that they do.
Paula Johnson: My background is in pubic relations and marketing as well as public speaking. I also have over 20 years experience in managing large teams of people as well as project management. I believe that my skill set in this area would be of great benefit to both the board and NAFA as an organization. Growth of our sport is a priority for me and I feel there are opportunities to market our sport to a large general population through various mediums, including social media.
Jackie Alcott: I have graphic design and photoshop skills, not as an occupation but at the amateur/personal small-business level. I have made logos for bands, t-shirts for friends, and other decals for dog sport equipment.
My previous teaching career was in the special education realm, which was team based. As the head of that team, I developed the leadership skills to coordinate, delegate, etc. and am more than comfortable heading a group or committee.
Lastly, I am currently retired from teaching and am a stay at home dog mom, leaving me ample time to work on tasks to help NAFA work on maintaining a great organization.
Jonathan Bescher: I think they are great. I would not offer so much time to help them out. When the first Invitational was offered this past May, I jumped at the opportunity to help, along with judging the event. I showed up early to make sure things were setup. When asked to be on the selection committee for the 2023 Invitational, I immediately said ‘Yes’. I think what AKC/ESPN have done for the sport may not be seen in the immediate future, but as these events keep being shown, more and more dog pet people will get interested.
As for the CanAm classes, I think it is great. It allows the best teams in NAFA to showcase their stuff in front of everyone. I realize that not all the fastest teams are able to make it every year, but they have the opportunity to go.
When you look at how many different sponsors they have gotten since the first CanAm shown, then they wanted the invitational to happen with not a lot of time, shows how many people are watching the events.
Paula Johnson: It is fantastic to see our sport highlighted on a national stage. I do however think that there are ways to build on this opportunity. For example, we need to make sure that we are showcasing not only the fastest teams, but teams that are comprised of dogs that might not be the fastest but are seen more in the general populous. People need to be able to see themselves in the lanes with the type and/or breed of dog they have at home. There are lots of these types of dogs out there in our clubs. Finding ways to ensure that these are also part of what is shown during these broadcasts is important in my opinion. Also, we need to look at how we can advertise how people can get involved in the sport at a grassroots level during these broadcasts. Small interviews with individuals about how they got into the sport for example is one possibility. Highlighting junior handlers, making them a special part of the event is another idea.
Jackie Alcott: I feel NAFA partnering with AKC and ESPN gives our sport more positive exposure and more possibilities for growth. After watching the first invitational that took place in Concord, NC I really enjoyed how they segmented the different parts to really teach people in more detail how the game of flyball is played. I also noticed quite a bit of improvement in ESPN’s production quality with each successive event. I think this shows that they are buying into the sport. Fostering that relationship further should benefit all parties.
Cindy Henderson: I love the partnership with the AKC and ESPN. This is bringing tremendous exposure to our sport. I think that this is giving NAFA sponsorship opportunities which provide funds allowing the organization to provide premier events to the competitors while managing expenses as well as being able to invest in future technologies. I hope to continue working with NAFA, AKC and ESPN on ways to expand the events across North America, showing exciting high quality racing while also highlighting the many breeds that participate in this sport. I am hopeful we can find a way to showcase more multibreed teams.
Emily Neal: I think partnered events are a wonderful way to spread the word about the sport! I know that I have had several new flyball students who wanted to try it out because they saw it on TV.
I would like to have a more equitable way to choose the “made for TV” invitational. Every year there are Regular and Multibreed regional winners, and I think hosting an AKC/ESPN tournament with those teams could be a great way to get participation from across North America and also eliminate any hints of favoritism. It would also allow people to see all different breeds and speeds of dogs playing, not just the fastest and the dogs bred for flyball. People are more likely to want to start flyball with their pets if they see dog that look like theirs on TV.
Dana Nichols: I believe these types of events are wonderful for promoting our sport. AKC and ESPN have handled production very professionally. I was present for the 2022 CanAm production. I took photographs during finals, so I got an up-close look. The video and lighting equipment involved was incredible. There is no way we could replicate such a professional set up. And their production turnaround time was incredibly quick. The program aired just a few weeks after the event. ESPN knows sports and AKC knows dogs. I think it is a perfect match for us.
The best thing about the partnership is that we can get flyball out into the public. Hopefully this will generate even more interest in the sport. I had non-dog friends (I do have a few) contact me and excitedly say they had just seen flyball on TV. This type of exposure is a great way to get new people involved.
Emily Neal: Region 15’s biggest challenge in my eyes is venue space, cost, and equipment. Many Region 15 tournaments are hosted on turf, which is not preferred by many clubs and some don’t even run on it. This limits the clubs who will play on any given tournament weekend, which limits entries and financial viability of tournaments.
Even when we can find venues to have a matted flyball tournament, costs of the rental and/or costs of matting can cause a team to decide not to host. In my 9 years in Region 15, I can think of over a half dozen venues and/or clubs that don’t host anymore.
I believe these factors limit participation. We don’t see clubs from other regions coming to our tournaments, which is very different than our neighbor to the south Region 9. Most R9 tournaments have clubs from other regions, like R15 coming. Very rarely do we see outside of region teams come to R15. While this may not be a “challenge”, per se, it is something I would like to see change. Flyball is a communal sport, that is why we play and love it. Seeing new faces at tournaments is always exciting. I would love to learn what works for other regions to try to apply it to my home region, as well as work with other regions who may be having the same problems to find solutions.
Cindy Henderson: I am from Region 13 (NY and New England states). I believe one of the greatest challenges we face in our region is how to grow the sport to allow for more club and teams to be playing flyball in the region therefore making hosting tournaments an affordable venture for clubs. The scarcity of affordable venues for tournaments is a real issue and if we are not able to get enough entries for a tournament then the host clubs risk losing money which puts these tournaments at risk of happening at all. The region is doing our best to support each to make the tournaments viable however growing the sport with more clubs and teams will be vital to the success going forward. Getting new people into the sport and helping them come together to form new clubs by providing mentorship and assistance in training and during tournaments are things that several clubs are trying to do in the region.
Jonathan Bescher: The biggest challenge has been coming out of COVID and limited tournaments. I am lucky to live in a region where multiple regions can come to, and there are tournaments about every month. We rarely had limited tournaments, until coming out of COVID. There were teams/clubs that were left out because of numbers. Now that those tournaments are starting to become unlimited again, and 2 ring tournaments, those problems are starting to go away. We also have teams that are entering multibreed teams.
I guess the next challenge is needing some smaller clubs to fill out the schedule. We have some pretty large clubs, and sometimes having to wait for them because of close races between their teams makes the racing day go slower. Another thing would be the racing format. You have the point people, and the I want to race people. Trying to find a schedule that will get enough heats in to make the point people happy, and not so many races to make the I just want to race people happy is sometimes a challenge. Luckily, everyone seems to understand and the tournament hosts do their best to accommodate both.
Jackie Alcott: One challenge I notice in the past few years with starting a new club and trying to grow is limited tournaments. Our region is fairly large and can have one or sometimes two tournaments in a month. However, I would say that recently over 75 percent of them are limited draws. These limited draws resulted in times when my club was unable to play. I understand that larger clubs are affected as well but in different ways. I would love to maybe see clubs pair up and co-host in order to help make more tournaments unlimited.
Dana Nichols: In our region, Region 19 (Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming), the biggest challenge is finding affordable and available venues to host tournaments. Unlike many regions, we are spread out over a big geographic area. Tournaments in other regions are 8-16 hours from most of the teams in metro Denver. This makes our region a bit more isolated than most. We have several teams willing to host local tournaments. Colorado’s unpredictable weather makes outdoor tournaments challenging. Most of our teams prefer to compete indoors on mats. For many years, we had a local indoor training facility that was big enough to host tournaments. It was fully matted, centrally located, included all equipment (including full time matting), and was reasonably priced. The owner lost the facility during COVID and the new facility she was able to rent was not large enough for tournaments. After COVID, as we started trying to host tournaments again, we ran into facility fees that were much higher than we were used to. Additionally, clubs now needed mats and equipment to be able to host. I was able to buy equipment, including mats & an equipment trailer, from a team that dissolved several years ago. I was able to get the equipment updated and make it available to rent for NAFA tournaments at a nominal cost. I’ve even offered to haul the trailer. I wish that had solved everything, but we are still on the hunt for more facility options.
Paula Johnson: Our region (2) has seen a significant decline in both tournament entries as well as clubs hosting NAFA tournaments. Several clubs have either folded entirely following the pandemic, or now have much smaller numbers and instead of entering 2 or 3 teams are barely able to put together one. There are various reasons that have lead to the current state and no easy solutions. I think it is important to have town halls within our regions on a regular basis, so that people can come together and hear one another’s concerns and, more importantly, ideas for solutions. Open conversation is always better, and often leads to positive change. It is hard to direct inquiries about Flyball when there is limited places for them to learn the sport and to find a team willing to take them on and mentor them. I know our club gets multiple inquiries a month. Having a “try flyball” day is one possibility to bring people out. However, there needs to be a willingness to take on new “green to the sport” people.
My background is relatively broad, both in general and with dogs. I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but my father was Air Force, so we grew up everywhere – Greece, Kansas City, Georgia, Hawaii, the Philippines, and finally Colorado. My undergraduate degree is in biology from Colorado State University and I have a law degree from the University of Colorado. I worked as a Colorado public defender doing indigent criminal defense for about 10 years. I took a three-year break during my public defender years to do civil litigation – primarily construction defect litigation and medical malpractice defense. I was appointed as a county court judge in 2007 and am still on the bench.
I rode horses growing up, competing in Pony Club, 4-H, Arabian shows, and intercollegiate competitions. When I got to law school, I no longer had access to horses and got my first dog in 1991. We started obedience out of necessity, but quickly started competitions. My first dogs were Labrador Retrievers. Over the years I did retriever hunting tests (1 Master Hunter, 2 Senior Hunters, and a bunch of JH titles), obedience, agility, rally, and tracking. I was also an AKC retriever hunt test judge.
In 2002, I found flyball. I joined the first club in Colorado, RUFF, and was secretary for our first Colorado flyball tournament in 2003. I became a flyball judge in 2005 and retired from judging in 2015. I took up photography and started shooting as Altitude Dog Photos, LLC in 2016. I primarily shoot flyball and was an official photographer for CanAm in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. I currently own Altitude Flyball Club in Colorado. We actively compete in our region, host, and travel out of state for tournaments. Since 2020, I have been the Regional Director for Region 19 (Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming). I also compete in dock diving and am training in herding & obedience. My current dogs are Border Collies, an Australian Shepherd, and several height dog mixes.
Finally, I have some direct experience on the NAFA board. I served two terms 2007 – 2012. I was secretary all but one year. I also served as chair of the Judges Committee and Rules Committee. During my terms I helped produce the first measuring training video, produced the rulebook most of those years, transitioned NAFA to the current online election format, and was a part of the first CanAm Classic.
NEW webpage: https://sandiaenchantmutts.wixsite.com/sandia-enchantmutts
Contact email: EnchantMutts@outlook.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enchant.mutts.7
Sandia EnchantMutts is a flyball club that has been around for a while but inactive over the last few years. We’re re-forming from almost the ground up. We are currently recruiting new members, so please contact us and see if this is the club for you and your dog! We’ll likely do other things together, as we grow, but right now our focus is flyball.
Our club really believes in positive training, inclusivity, teamwork and doing everything we can to help our dogs succeed in the ring.
Current brag: Our Kelpie, Cayenne, recently received her FMX. That’s not easy to do in the SW part of the US.
No one is required to compete–though we would love to have you join us. Coming out and spending a couple of hours with us, training your dog and helping us train ours is lots of fun, too.
Cindy Henderson has been playing flyball since 1999 as the captain of the Weston Whirlwinds who then merged with the Patriot Flyball team. Cindy is a Supervising Judge and has been judging for almost 20 years and was honored to be selected as a CanAm Head Judge four times and the CanAm Championship Judge twice and was named Judge of the Year in 2018.
Cindy served as the Regional Director for Region 13 for over 10 years, became a member of the NAFA Board of Directors in 2020 and has served on the Communication Committee, Judges Committee, Finance Committee and is currently the Treasurer. She is dedicated to helping grow the sport of flyball through initiatives such as the partnership with AKC/ESPN, local demonstrations and education of individuals on the sport, and increased marketing efforts.
Flyball is a sport for everyone, and every dog and Cindy is passionate about making it available to all breeds and a sport for teams at all levels to have fun with their dogs and friends. As flyball moves into the future Cindy would like to see NAFA continue to look for ways to improve and advance the sport forward for everyone. Critical to moving the sport forward will be advances in technology, being fiscally responsible, and finding ways to bring new teams and individuals to the sport of flyball.
Cindy currently has 3 dogs, an 8 year old and a 3 year old Border Collie both of whom are currently playing flyball and retired from the sport a 14 year old North American Shephard.
Hello everyone! My name is Emily Neal and I’m running for the Board of Directors. I got started in flyball with my mix breed Blanche in 2011. You may remember me as “the one with the greyhound”, as I ran my greyhound Mordecai for several years as well. I have played all over the East Coast and Midwest and made invaluable friends who are now more like family. My husband Bryan Roper is also involved in flyball and you may know him as a judge.
Personally, I have an undergraduate degree in legal studies and master’s degrees in urban planning and public administration. I have extensive work experience in non-profits and deep knowledge of non-profit leadership and administration. I’ve worked in communal services, animal rescue, and currently in historic preservation.
I started playing flyball in Region 9, but Region 15 has been my home region since 2013. I feel fortunate that I am able to straddle 2 regions, as it allows me to get to know a wide variety of clubs and hear many different thoughts and feelings about flyball and its future. I teach flyball classes in Richmond, VA and am a passionate advocate for the sport — everyone who has ever met me now knows about flyball! My mix Blanche recently retired, and I am working hard to get my rescue beagle Tannis up and running.
I look forward to serving the flyball community on the Board and am excited to answer your questions for you to get to know me better!
My name is Jackie Alcott, and I currently live with my husband and our pack of pups just outside of Charlotte, NC. Originally from “The First State,” Delaware, I’ve found a home in Region 9 where I first discovered and fell in love with Flyball.
My first real attempt at getting into Flyball was just over a decade ago. We had adopted a shelter dog who was sweet but fearful. VERY fearful. I was searching for ways to gain her trust and to build her confidence in the world around her. We decided to give Flyball a shot. We attended a few introductory classes with Turbo Paws and something clicked. I saw that sweet but fearful shelter dog turn into a confident competitor. Flash forward ten years and Nan is now an Iron Dog. Needless to say, we were hooked on Flyball.
What I learned over those first few years, and what I feel is the true “spirit” of Flyball, is that this sport is for everyone. Human and Canine, all are welcome, and all can benefit in so many ways.
Eventually, my competitive nature led me to co-found my own Club, Bitches Be Crazy. For the past several years we have been growing and improving as a club. My experiences with owning a club and captaining multiple teams has helped me to further learn the ins and outs of the Flyball world, and to appreciate the importance of organizations like NAFA.
Outside of Flyball, my background is in Special Education. I hold a Masters Degree in Special Education and Exceptional Children, with a strong focus on Applied Behavioral Analysis. I spent several years teaching students on the Autism Spectrum at the Delaware Autism Program. I led a multidisciplinary team of professionals, creating and implementing individualized education plans for our students and executing those throughout the school year. While my experience with applied behavioral analysis and teaching has translated very well to the world of dog-training and dog-sports, I’m hoping that my leadership experience can translate just as well.
I’m a forward thinking individual who believes in positive change. I’m passionate about Flyball, and hope the sport continues to grow and evolve for the better. I hope to be part of that continued growth and evolution.
My name is Jonathan Bescher and I live in North Carolina with my wife and daughter. I have been involved with Flyball since 2002. I became an approved judge in 2009, and a supervising judge in 2017. In 2020, I was elected to the Board of Directors, and I am finishing up my first term. I my first term as a board member, I was nominated to be the Chair of the Judges committee. I have also been a member of the Rules committee.
In 2017 I won Judge of the Year, and also won the Josh Beissel award. I have judged in many different regions, along with being a Head Judge at CanAm in 2012 and 2015. Since 2017 I have been the judging coordinator at CanAm. Since 2014 I have taken on the task of being the CanAm Gift Basket Coordinator. I have also judged at the first AKC Flyball Dog Challenge held in Concord, NC. I was on the selection committee for the 2020 FCI World Championships, and am now on the selection committee for the 2023 AKC Flyball Dog Challenge.
My wife and daughter both participate in Flyball, and we will travel to as many tournaments as we can. We have 3 dogs that currently play. My wife runs 2 of them with my daughter running our oldest Border Collie.
Outside of Flyball, I own my own software business, specializing in Point of Sale software and services. I also am an Assistant Coach for one of our local USA Swimming clubs. This past year I was awarded from NC the Phillips 66 Volunteer of the Year award. I have been on the board of directors for my swim team for 3 years as the Vice President.
I am seeking a 2nd term on the board because I fell that I can keep contributing to the board, especially through the judges and rules committee. I would like to keep progressing the training and the relationships between the judges and the RD’s. I feel that I listen to the flyball community and that I am available willing to answer any questions that they may come up with or help in anyway I can.
I am excited to introduce myself as a nominee for the NAFA Board of Directors director position for 2023. For those who don’t know me I am part of team Zoom! in Region 2 and a NAFA judge.
I have been involved in dogs and dog sports from a very young age, starting with dobermans and rough and smooth collies. I currently share my life with 5 dogs including a whippet, saluki, 2 miniature bull terriers and an adorable 10lb pound puppy and of course my wife Kim (captain of team Zoom!).
I have trained and competed in many different sports from obedience, rally and agility to tracking and nose work, but Flyball came into my life just over 12 years ago. It has been a blessing to find such an amazing community in dog sports.
I am recently retired from a career in public relations and marketing as the Associate Registrar, Student Recruitment at my local university, McMaster. I believe that the skills I bring to the table include leadership, change management, marketing and project development. Having served on many committees as well as being Chair of our provincial body, I am familiar with working with and leading teams of people. I have also been the President of my local dog training club for 2 full terms.
I believe strongly in giving back to a sport that has given me so much. That is the reason I decided to become a judge and why I am running for the Board. I recognize that NAFA doesn’t run on its own and takes a great deal of effort from some very dedicated volunteers. I think I bring the perspective of clubs that maybe do not aspire to be the best or the fastest, but that want to have fun with their dogs and their teammates. At the same time, I think the job of any member of the board is to represent all clubs and to learn to listen and understand their needs and balance sometimes competing ideas.
As we all come out of this pandemic (fingers crossed), we are in need of growth and rebuilding of our sport. I personally think it is an exciting time with lots of opportunities to be innovative and continue the good work that is already underway by NAFA. We can always do better.
I hope I get a chance to answer your questions and to represent you on the board.
One of the many enjoyable aspects of CanAm is getting the opportunity to race under judges from other regions that you may not otherwise see. Each brings their individual background, experiences and style to the flyball ring.
Let’s get to know them a little better.
2022 NAFA CanAm Championship Judge
Peter Wesdyk
Region 8
Breakaway Flyball
Years judging: 17
Years playing flyball: 28
“I became a judge because I wanted to do everything I could to foster and improve the sport of flyball.”
Peter currently has four dogs: Buffy (Shepherd mix) who is “just” a farm dog, Jinx (Border Collie) who is retired from flyball, Mindy (mix) who currently races, and Pi (mix) who is in training.
Away from flyball, he enjoys playing with home automation, growing his vegetable garden, playing video games, and camping.
Did you know? “I am a super geek by nature. I set up home automation, write code to make it all work and track all of the stats off my personal weather station.”
Maija Doggett
Region 18
Alaska Dogs Gone Wild
Years judging: 5
Years playing flyball: 18
“My region only had one resident judge and he never got to run dogs because he was always judging. Adding myself as a judge has given him the ability to play the game in addition to judging it!”
Maija currently has four dogs, all rescues: Diva, a Siberian Husky who has been Region 8 MVP and is Maija’s second rescued Siberian to play flyball; Busy, a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno who is ADGW’s Multibreed height dog; Buddy, a deaf Sled Dog who has earned 1,374 precious points; and Prima, a Siberian puppy recently adopted from a local shelter who is in training to perpetuate Maija’s Siberian flyball fantasy.
When not playing flyball, Maija enjoys supporting the fight against cancer for humans—and dogs.
Did you know? “I married my husband so I could have Dog in my name! Also, I love the music of Flaco Jimenez!”
Paul Ferlitto
Region 14
The Gamblers
Years judging: 21
Years playing flyball: 22
“I became a judge because I love the sport and wanted to help promote flyball.”
Paul currently has two dogs, both rescues: one mixed breed and one Border Collie.
In addition to flyball, Paul enjoys golf.
Did you know? “My wife and I have traveled with and raced 13 dogs. I have judged in at least twelve states, and my wife was Region 14 Regional Director.”
Mary McElligott
Region 2
(Plays mostly in Region 2, lives in Region 13)
Spring Loaded
Years judging: 3
Years playing flyball: 15
“Tim and I both decided to become NAFA judges in order to give back to a sport and organization that we love. Having a built-in relief judge comes in handy!”
Mary currently has four dogs: Tek, 10-year-old Border Collie, retired flyball dog; Disco, 10-year-old Miniature Aussie, retired flyball dog; Tessie, 8-year-old Border Collie, current flyball dog; and Bliss, 4-year-old Border Whippet, current flyball dog.
Before an injury sidelined her, Mary was a runner and competed in two Ragnar Relay races (200-mile team road race). Now, when time permits, she enjoys yoga.
Did you know? “I’m the mother of two incredible humans: a 28-year-old daughter who is an attorney, and a 25-year-old son who is a schoolteacher. I’m an Enrolled Agent and have been a tax accountant for the last 25 years.”
Tom Lamont
Patriot Flyball
Region 13
Years judging: 6
Years playing flyball: 12
“I became a judge because I like the excitement and the challenge. Also, because I was at a tournament in Dover, New Hampshire where Cindy Henderson was the only judge, and she was unable to get a break or run her dog because there was no backup judge, so I wanted to prevent that from happening again.”
Tom currently has three dogs, all of whom have played flyball: Jessie is 14 and retired; Dillon is 11 and still running; and Cedar is 6 and full of energy.
Besides flyball, Tom enjoys golfing, hiking, biking and kayaking on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire.
Did you know? “I am a retired police officer and a Marine. I have two sons and nine grandchildren. I have been happily married for 49 years.”
Stephanie Treviño
Hairier Jump Jets
Region 9
Years judging: 8 years
Years playing flyball: 13
Stephanie currently has three dogs: a Sheltie, a Border Collie, and a Mini American Shepherd.
Outside of flyball, Stephanie supports her two kids who are busy doing theater and dance. She’s looking forward to finding another hobby in 12 years.
Did you know? “I’m from Washington State—and I have snowboarded since I was seven but haven’t in 14 years since moving to Virginia.”
We are a small, competitive flyball club in the San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to modern, safe flyball dog training and enhancing each canine/handler team’s potential. We love our sport dogs, we love engagement training, and we love fast flyball competitions!
Our members are active in dog sports and compete in multiple activities, including Agility, Dock Diving, Barn Hunt, Bikejoring, and Canicross. We are committed to safe training and work all our dogs through a clear, concise flyball foundations program, ensuring top performance and consistent flyball runs.
Our club loves racing and running fast lineups in west coast tournaments throughout CA, AZ, NV and CO. We love competing in Division 1 and hold numerous records in multiple regions.
By Mackenzie Maidl
Since I attended my first CanAm in 2017, it has become my favorite “family” reunion and I look forward to it every year. I remember initially walking into the building and being completely overwhelmed. I had no idea what to expect. It was late Thursday night, and we were some of the last people setting up. It was dark and quiet, and the building felt so big. For anyone planning their first CanAm experience, here are a few things I wish I had known before I arrived.
Be prepared to experience all four seasons in one day! We have faced everything from snow flurries to 90°F/32°C temps. Regularly checking the forecast leading up to the weekend—and then double checking—has saved me many times from over- (and under-) packing. Don’t forget both fans and coats for the dogs, as mornings can start cold and really warm up as racing gets going during the day.
You will be able to get into the building on Thursday to set up your crating area. Your space will be pre-marked, but make sure your captain has confirmed where your club will be located. It is a big building, and you could be wandering for a bit if you aren’t sure which end you are crating in. Don’t be afraid to spruce up your area for this special event! VIP lounges, couches on wheels, and refrigerators have all made appearances at CanAm in the past.
If your club is anything like mine, the meal plan is just as important as the racing plan. Racing lasts all day and there is not a break for lunch. You are able to bring in your own food, just don’t forget the extension cord, power
strip, and duct tape to plug in the crockpots and coffee makers. There is a concession stand in the building if you don’t feel like pre-planning all your meals. You will also want to make sure you bring some extra money to grab
some ice cream from Hook’s, which is maybe a little too conveniently located directly across the street.
Depending on how many teams your club has entered you may have more free time between racing than others. I personally like to spend this time checking out the many vendors. I like to stock up on new collars, leashes, crate pads and tugs for the year. A walk around the building to check out the fun and unique crating areas is also one of my favorite ways to kill some downtime, in addition to watching racing.
Be prepared for it to be an all-day event and don’t rush out after racing! Friday and Saturday everyone comes together for awards. I highly recommend bringing a chair and a drink over to celebrate your and your fellow competitors’ success for the day. Awards are a great opportunity to get to know other clubs you may not get to see any other time during the year. After awards there will be mat time to work those green dogs and baby dogs you brought along. If at any point during the day you do need to leave and want to come back for awards or mat time, be prepared to pay to reenter the fairgrounds.
The biggest surprise to me was that you don’t know the Sunday racing schedule until late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. The Sunday seed times are based on your best time from Saturday and NAFA works hard to put together a competitive schedule for teams of all speeds and skill levels. The fastest eight Regular and fastest four Multibreed teams are invited to the CanAm Class. Those invitations are received at Saturday night awards.
Racing will be stopped throughout the day on Sunday for the CanAm Class elimination races which are fast and intense. It’s win-or-go-home racing and you won’t want to miss it! All the Classic Class Regular and Multibreed
divisions race on Sunday in a round-robin format for their chance to race on the big stage in the Division Championship races. And there are still Open division races to watch and participate in.
The Sunday finale is so exciting! Once all the Classic Class round-robin racing is complete, the final races to determine the Regular and Multibreed CanAm Champions take place. Everyone gathers around to cheer on the
teams that have worked and trained so hard for that moment. It is truly some of the most fun racing you will experience. After that come the Championship races for each Classic Class Regular and Multibreed division.
With the cancellation in 2020 and travel restrictions/limited turnout last year, I am hopeful we will see more new faces than normal at CanAm in 2022.
We are a group of friends who love playing with our dogs. We are always looking for new friends to join our team!
Contact us on our FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/N2NFlyball
Our club believes in positive, motivational training, including treats, toys, and most of all, PRAISE. The best part of our flyball club is the bond that is created between owner and their dog(s), as well as the friendships that are part of our club.
https://youtube.com/user/NoseToNoseFlyball
Some of our brags:
Dobby is the fourth top-scoring Min Pin in NAFA history and received region 3 MVP in 2017.
Diesel is the seventh top-scoring Weimaraner in NAFA history.
Josie is our highest point earner – 44,262 and is a Flyball Grand Champion.
We have several dogs who have earned their Iron Dog title!
Emily-Rose Allred: I think Nafa has been very clear in how they have handled flyball during this pandemic and have made responsible choices for their competitors. I think they could have been more clear with WHY they have gone ahead and chosen laser measuring as well as showing the reasons why carpal measuring did not work. I think many people do not understand why it was chosen, which comes down to a lack of communication.
Russell Evans: Easily accessible Board meeting agendas and minutes are examples of transparency.
Kathy Haney: The Board has been very good lately at posting dates and times for Board meetings, asking for input on important items and being available to all members of NAFA. We have done this through the NAFA website, Facebook page and meetings with judges and RDs. I believe we can be even more transparent by updating all of our social media platforms and possibly by Board members reaching out individually to as many NAFA participants in areas near and far to them. Information on reaching Board members is available on the website, but maybe part of the updated platforms could include better profiles and more information on reaching out to the Board Members.
Meagan Langs: NAFA has made a lot of recent changes and they have communicated those changes to the people quicker than in years past which I believe has been a great thing and a huge positive for our sport. For example, NAFA has made changes widening the boxes and jumps which were discussed and implemented very quickly compared to changes in the past. I would like to see NAFA be more innovative and less reactionary to changes in our sport. To do this, we will have to be even quicker with our willingness to try new ideas and communicate responses to the flyball community. If we come up with new ideas and implement them before other flyball associations then this will change the perception that is held by some that we are slow and unwilling to innovate. We can also do this by making our website easier to update.
Russell Evans: Disciplinary. I’ve learned that compassion and objectivity are needed in equal measure to effectively evaluate a disciplinary problem, and have strived to develop these qualities.
Kathy Haney: I really enjoyed being the Chairman of the Election Committee last year and, if I am elected to the Board again, I would like to resume that role or at least be able to help by being on the committee. It can be a complicated process and I believe it helps to have done it before. I am currently on the Rules Committee and would like to continue on there as well, possibly adding the Disciplinary Committee which would be a good fit with the Rules Committee.
Meagan Langs: I believe my experience as a teacher, paralegal and Regional Director would help qualify me for any of the committees and I would be happy to sit in on any of the committees. I have skills working with Drafting/Writing, Organization, Multitasking, Training/Educating, Researching, Communication, Microsoft Office, Adobe, Foxit Phantom PDF, QuickBooks, WordPress, DropBox, Social Media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Yelp and Google.
I would like to help with communications, marketing and an “idea committee”. I know there isn’t a current “idea” committee but wouldn’t it be great to have a committee that brainstormed new ideas and worked with the other committees when needed?
I would like the purpose of each committee communicated in more detail to the flyball community. Information about how often they meet and what types are things the committees are working on each month should be presented in some way. These details help people understand the work that goes on behind the scenes and also lets people know things are happening even if the board meeting notes haven’t been posted. Additionally, it would help me (and others) fully understand what a specific committee does.
Emily-Rose Allred: I think I would do a great job on the marketing committee, I’m personable and have a great love of flyball that oozes out of me. I’d love to help bring more people to this sport.
Kathy Haney: I have to admit, I am certainly no technology whiz, but I do see the need to continue to update our technology as often and as quickly as possible. The best I can offer is to support the efforts being made to have new starting systems and to get them made and out to the tournaments in a timely manner.
Meagan Langs: I believe updating NAFA’s technology should be our number one priority. Updating our technology could help us to stand out among other flyball associations and make us a leader in innovation.
Ideas: It would be great to have smaller updated lights/timers that also recorded the dogs individual runs and team times. I believe NAFA spends a lot of money on shipping the large lights from one state to the other and updating these systems could help to make the load smaller and hopefully make the shipping costs less. How many light systems could we have purchased if we didn’t have high shipping costs for the current EJS lights? Has this been researched? How many light sets do we need as we sit here today? If the lights were smaller would we have more teams willing to “hand carry” the lights from tournament to tournament?
The NAFA website needs to be updated. Updating our website will help in communications and make sure that news is being communicated quickly to all members and will help grow our sport.
Emily-Rose Allred: As a board member, how would you address and prioritize updating NAFA’s aging technology? I know our lighting system needs renovations but honestly I think our website is in dire need of an upgrade. Of all of competitors we have to have a graphic designer and coders that could help freshen up our site and make it more user friendly.
Russell Evans: Lighter, easier-to-ship timing systems. Current EJS is very heavy and awkward. A simple, low-cost “start dog” trainer (to reduce early starts). Find ways to move towards paperless tournaments.
Kathy Haney: I have been managing that for the last 3 years during which I have been a Board member. I am currently semi-retired from the business my husband and I have run for the past 30+ years. Spending a lot of time babysitting young grandchildren, but can use my flyball board time to relax from that, lol.
Russell Evans: My family life and my work have always been my priorities. Finding the required time to satisfactorily support being a board member will be a challenge, but a welcome challenge. Flyball has been an important part of my family since 2003 and we’ve always managed by working together. Communication and understanding expectations are vital in this regard.
Emily-Rose Allred: I am very lucky to have a job that allows me to take care of many personal matters while at work. I’m in a position where my job is not time intensive nor particularly emotionally needy. I have a lot of energy and time to give to another outlet.
Meagan Langs: I know that board members are expected to attend and participate in board meetings and various committees. I also know they are expected to help with the hosting of CanAm every year. If elected I will be able to actively attend and participate in board meetings, and at CanAm. I also promise to not take on more than I can handle during my term. On a personal note, my “kids” are my dogs & cat. My husband works from home and takes care of our fur kids when I am away traveling for flyball etc. I have the support of my family to live out my flyball dreams.
Meagan Langs: I understand majority rules. I also understand that I need to be supportive of the process. One of the things that makes NAFA so amazing is that we do have a say on things. Voting is awesome and I am thankful for the opportunity to do so even if I don’t always agree with the end result. I also know that just because something goes one way for a time it doesn’t mean than things can’t change down the road. I have found that many things in life and in flyball come full circle. So, if things don’t go my way at a certain time, it doesn’t mean it won’t change if I stay positive and play the long game. I am not going to quit NAFA, the board, or flyball because I don’t like a particular vote or decision, and neither should anyone else.
Emily-Rose Allred: I have worked almost a decade in and with animal rescue. I spent a lot of time compartmentalizing and having to work through decisions I didnt agree with, as well as having my mind changed over time with stances I didnt think I would ever come around to. Having an open mind is crucial in situations like this.
Russell Evans: I would always support the majority decision. That is the only way a board can function in support of NAFA members.
Kathy Haney: Absolutely. I have done it in the past, on the NAFA Board, while running our flyball club and in my professional life. None of those are dictatorships and you always have to realize that there is a reason and need for having more than one opinion. Board decisions are made by the majority after research and discussion. In order for this to work all members need to stand by the final decision, whatever side of that decision they are on.
Emily-Rose Allred: Flyball is evolving and changing. It only makes sense that the equipment should be changing. I have really liked what ive seen since the box size change and as a club have discussed the larger jumps. While I know there will be a cost factor which would be difficult for many clubs I do think that larger jumps are the way that the sport is trending. I think we need to make sure we are evaluating safety in the sport as dogs are only getting consistently faster.
Kathy Haney: I believe there is always room for improvement and that the sport of Flyball needs to keep evolving. I am in favor of any changes that improve and/or make our sport safer and more efficient.
Meagan Langs: I think we need to be open to exploring new and safer equipment and options for our dogs and people. As a team captain I fully understand what it takes to buy equipment, haul equipment and replace equipment. I also know that it will cost money, it will be more to carry, and it will be expensive. Do I want to have to buy the equipment, build the equipment, or haul bigger heavier equipment? No, I don’t. However, my inconvenience is not more important than dog safety. I have run on wider jumps as recently as last month at a flyball tournament. I can promise you it was safer for the dogs. Our dogs ran on the wider jumps one week and then attended another tournament on the usual smaller width jumps the following week. Afterwards we discussed did we see any issue with the big jumps? Did our dogs perform differently from one week to the next? Everyone I have talked to has only had positive things to say about the wider jumps. Additionally, our dogs didn’t have any issues adjusting from the big jumps back down to the smaller width jumps the following week, the dogs seemed to adjust accordingly. I believe the dogs will and could run faster on the wider jumps if given the opportunity to use them long term. If you truly don’t believe wider jumps are safer take some time to review videos of dogs crashing over the jumps. I am sure some instances you would still have injured dogs but if it decreases the amount of injury by even a few dogs isn’t it worth it? As we all know sometimes crashes happen and there is literally nothing you as a handler, or a team member could have done to prevent it. Anything we can proactively do to make the sport safer for the dogs is something we should seriously consider.
Russell Evans: I like the idea of wider jumps and would like to see this become part of the racing standard. Like you, I’ve seen collisions from time to time and all reasonable steps must be taken to avoid them.
Regarding flyball boxes, Section 1.1 (e) (v) of the NAFA Official Rules of Racing, “Judges have the discretion to declare a box unsafe and therefore not usable” is a very important point. Boxes in poor repair should be excluded when a judge makes such a determination.
Russell Evans: I’m formally trained in project management and have extensive experience with planning and writing.
Kathy Haney: Nothing specific, but I am willing to help out in whatever is needed and will put in every effort to build up our sport, making NAFA a welcoming, fun organization for people and their dogs
Meagan Langs: I am good at getting people excited about flyball, flyball tournaments, flyball practice, etc. Regardless if I am captain or a team member I have been the “team communicator” for years. I think it is important to communicate with people in a positive way. Find out what they are thinking, explain why certain things were decided, and let them know you hear them, even if what they are saying doesn’t fit with the plan right now.
Emily-Rose Allred: I’m pretty infectious on social media. I think the board has done an amazing job the past few years getting flyball out there and can only hope to help grow the sport. I think continuing an online presence and making flyball accessible is so important. Racing is only fun if we have clubs to race!
My name is Meagan Langs and I have been playing our great sport for the past 15 years. In flyball I have participated as regional director, co-captain, and most importantly, a team member. In my professional life I am a paralegal with extensive experience in assisting with drafting correspondence and various legal documents along with cross-functional expertise in social media, sales, management, training, and education. Prior to working in the legal field, I worked as a teacher for twelve years. I strive to find ways to help increase productivity and efficiency with positivity.
I live in Mesa, Arizona with my 4 dogs, 1 cat, and my husband Chris. We have had a wide range of flyball dogs: a rescue height dog, pure breeds and a purposely bred flyball mix. My background helps me see the different perspectives people have within our sport. I believe it is important to see the individual pieces that make up the big picture when making decisions as our sport moves forward and becomes more mainstream in the world of dog sports.
Hello all,
I would like to introduce myself once again to all of the NAFA community. My first term on the NAFA Board of Directors is coming to an end and I would appreciate the opportunity to continue working for this great organization.
Way back in 2001 I was watching a new station called Animal Planet and they just happened to be highlighting a dog sport called Flyball. I had a ball crazy Lab/Boxer mix at the time and thought, “Oh wow, they invented a game just for my dog!” It just so happened that there was a flyball team near me which was starting a new class. We signed up and the rest is history. I started my own club, Surf City Flyball, in 2008 and we have been running in Regions 6 and 16 ever since. Our team consists of some very fast dogs and some not so fast dogs. We love them all the same. I started with a large “pet” dog and every dog I have gotten since then has been bought or adopted with Flyball in mind. My latest dog happens to be a height dog and I think that having her has given me a much better perspective on the unique need to keep the height dog aspect of flyball intact. Making sure the measuring process is easy and fair for everyone is very important to me. I feel that I can bring some of our all inclusive viewpoints onto the Board so that we are sure to keep and attract participants with dogs of all shapes and sizes who want to have fun, but are not diehard competitors (at least not in the beginning).
I have served as the Chairman of the Election Committee last year and have been on the Rules Committee as well. I strive to be accessible to any and all members who have any questions or concerns and am always to willing to listen to what you have to say. I appreciate that you trusted me the last time I ran for the Board and hope that you will give me your support this time. Thank you,
Kathy Haney
Hello,
Personal: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, currently lives in Wheat Ridge, Colorado (Region 19). Married to Susi Evans (Launch Flyball) since 1983. One daughter, Jessica.
Work: Presently working for the State of Colorado as a System Administrator in the Office of the State Controller. I spent 22 years as a Windows software engineer for various ERP vendors and, before that, 12 years as a Security Specialist in the USAF. Attended University of Maryland, European Campus, focusing on Mathematics and Computer Science (major).
Flyball: First involvement with Flyball was as a box loader in 2004 and worked my way up to running dogs. I am very much involved with my wife in training all our dogs as well as club dogs. I run with Launch Flyball and love competing with my whippet Quid. We host 2 tournaments a year. I’d like to make a difference and have input in growing the sport and making it as safe and fun as possible for dogs and handlers.
Interests: Travel, writing, flyball.
Thank you
Russell Evans
My name is Emily-Rose Allred and I am running for the NAFA Board of Directors.
I started playing Flyball in 2012 with my shelter mix Nova. She needed an energy outlet and loved a tennis ball. I googled “Dog sports” and found flyball. From my very first practice I was all in. I have never been a family person, but have been so blessed to have found my family within the flyball community.
In 2018 I founded That’s So Fetch Flyball Club in Region 9. We started with 4 core members and have quickly grown to 12 active teammates with many wonderful dogs. In my day to day life, I am an administrative assistant for an outdoor lighting company and can be found pretty much 24/7 on the internet talking about flyball.
I share my life with 7 dogs (and a husband) all of which have played flyball or are in training. From a French Bulldog to a sports mix, I am equal opportunity in my home and in my club for all people and dogs.
I chose to run for the NAFA board because of my passion for the sport. I would like to help promote our sport and help current competitors have the best time possible. My goals would be finding ways to open dialog between competitors, as well as make resources for captains who need help and feedback. I know personally navigating as a Captain, I have needed support from many other Captains in my Region and wish there had been easier access to information or mentorship. Most importantly, I would like to serve on the NAFA board because I would love to give back to the community that has given me so much.
