A Bold Platform for Action, Transparency, and Real Progress
I am running because I believe our club needs more than titles, more than politics, and more than recycled talking points. It needs action. It needs transparency. It needs people willing to roll up their sleeves and do the daily work required to move this club forward.
The membership is not asking for more confusion, more redundancy, or more gatekeeping. The membership wants communication, accountability, efficiency, and a clear vision for the future of the club.
Transparency Must Be the Standard
Members deserve timely, honest communication and a real voice within the club.
I support:
Members should not be left guessing. They should not have to chase down information, wait endlessly for updates, or rely on rumor and side conversations to know what is happening in their own club.
A Firm Stance on AKC Silver Registration
I am firmly opposed to AKC silver registration.
This is not a minor issue, and members deserve candidates who are willing to clearly state where they stand. Our breed, our standard, and the integrity of the Labrador Retriever must come first.
Stop Paying for Redundant and Ineffective Systems. We also need to take a hard look at how club money is being spent.
Paying for redundant systems while communication continues to fail is unacceptable. Paying an outside country for website and IT services is, in my opinion, absolutely ridiculous. Our website is managed by a company or individual in India. Why are we outsourcing important club infrastructure to countries widely known for scams and integrity concerns instead of seeking dependable, accountable solutions closer to home?
The current communication system is another major problem. We are paying for Constant Contact, which is a platform designed for large-scale marketing and customer campaigns. It is not built for the practical needs of a breed club trying to share minutes, newsletters, event details, and timely member updates. Because of that, emails and media sent through that system are repeatedly marked as spam, which means members either get information late or do not receive it at all.
That is not effective communication. That is wasted money and continued frustration.
The Website Should Be the Club’s Information Hub
The website needs a complete overhaul.
Minutes, newsletters, event information, and official updates should be published there in an organized, timely, and reliable way. Members should not have to search private personal websites, random Facebook pages, or scattered social media posts just to figure out where an event is being held or when information was released.
That kind of redundancy creates confusion, wastes time, and weakens trust in the club’s ability to communicate.
We need clear protocols that address:
This is not complicated if the right people are willing to do the work.
Membership Growth Must Be a Priority
We should have one of the largest memberships of any breed club. The Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved and accomplished breeds in the world. If our membership is declining, it is declining for a reason.
I believe we should aim to increase membership by at least 10% each year and make it easier, not more difficult, for people to join and stay involved.
There is clearly a problem when respected individuals who have been in the sport for decades, and who are widely recognized as ambassadors and pillars of the breed, were once rejected from membership. That is not something to be proud of. That is something we should reflect on seriously.
We also need a membership structure that welcomes Labrador owners and fanciers into the fold. Not at the same ranking as current full members, but in a meaningful way that gives them a voice, access to information, and continued education on the breed. That is how you grow interest, create investment, and build the next generation of serious participants.
We Need a Bigger Vision for Success
The club cannot exist only for one narrow version of the sport or one preferred group within it.
We should study other National Specialties and their successes. We should look at what they are doing well and how they are creating stronger participation, stronger events, and stronger visibility for their members.
We also need more meaningful year-end recognition and a broader culture of celebrating success across the breed. People who are working hard and succeeding should feel seen and appreciated.
And success should not be defined so narrowly that only a small circle feels represented. A healthy club must have an all-encompassing vision that includes all disciplines and all the people who work within them.
The Club Needs Workers, Not Just Talkers
Many who run by petition aim high, sometimes even toward presidential leadership, yet have repeatedly denounced the club altogether. That raises a fair question:
Because this is not glamorous work.
As a volunteer for the past year and a half, I can say firsthand that this work is real. I receive daily emails and calls regarding a wide variety of club matters. I help facilitate, troubleshoot, and complete tasks on a daily basis. The membership wants action, and I understand that because I am already doing the work.
You can have grand ideas. You can point fingers. You can sit back and romanticize how things once were or how you think they should be. But progress does not come from daydreaming. It comes from effort, vision, and follow-through.
My Commitment
I am running because I believe this club can do better, and because I am willing to put in the work required to help it do so.
I support:
The membership does not need more silence, more clutter, or more excuses.
It needs action.
It needs leadership that works.
It needs people willing to make a difference once they get there.
That is why I am running.
**I truly respect those who have chosen to run and the years they have given to the breed. Our community is stronger because of that dedication.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that these roles are not ceremonial. With a smaller number of Board members, the responsibilities are significant and require consistent, hands-on effort—daily communication, problem-solving, and follow-through, this is meaningful work, and it requires individuals who are prepared not only to serve, but to actively engage, respond, and contribute at a high level. I am committed to that level of effort and accountability, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve in that capacity.
The membership is not asking for more confusion, more redundancy, or more gatekeeping. The membership wants communication, accountability, efficiency, and a clear vision for the future of the club.
Transparency Must Be the Standard
Members deserve timely, honest communication and a real voice within the club.
I support:
- Board meeting minutes being prepared quickly and efficiently
- Greater transparency between the Board and membership
- Less gatekeeping of information
- Zoom membership meetings throughout the year
- Clear communication on major issues so members know where leadership stands
Members should not be left guessing. They should not have to chase down information, wait endlessly for updates, or rely on rumor and side conversations to know what is happening in their own club.
A Firm Stance on AKC Silver Registration
I am firmly opposed to AKC silver registration.
This is not a minor issue, and members deserve candidates who are willing to clearly state where they stand. Our breed, our standard, and the integrity of the Labrador Retriever must come first.
Stop Paying for Redundant and Ineffective Systems. We also need to take a hard look at how club money is being spent.
Paying for redundant systems while communication continues to fail is unacceptable. Paying an outside country for website and IT services is, in my opinion, absolutely ridiculous. Our website is managed by a company or individual in India. Why are we outsourcing important club infrastructure to countries widely known for scams and integrity concerns instead of seeking dependable, accountable solutions closer to home?
The current communication system is another major problem. We are paying for Constant Contact, which is a platform designed for large-scale marketing and customer campaigns. It is not built for the practical needs of a breed club trying to share minutes, newsletters, event details, and timely member updates. Because of that, emails and media sent through that system are repeatedly marked as spam, which means members either get information late or do not receive it at all.
That is not effective communication. That is wasted money and continued frustration.
The Website Should Be the Club’s Information Hub
The website needs a complete overhaul.
Minutes, newsletters, event information, and official updates should be published there in an organized, timely, and reliable way. Members should not have to search private personal websites, random Facebook pages, or scattered social media posts just to figure out where an event is being held or when information was released.
That kind of redundancy creates confusion, wastes time, and weakens trust in the club’s ability to communicate.
We need clear protocols that address:
- where information is posted
- when it is posted
- who is responsible for posting it
- how members can reliably access it
This is not complicated if the right people are willing to do the work.
Membership Growth Must Be a Priority
We should have one of the largest memberships of any breed club. The Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved and accomplished breeds in the world. If our membership is declining, it is declining for a reason.
I believe we should aim to increase membership by at least 10% each year and make it easier, not more difficult, for people to join and stay involved.
There is clearly a problem when respected individuals who have been in the sport for decades, and who are widely recognized as ambassadors and pillars of the breed, were once rejected from membership. That is not something to be proud of. That is something we should reflect on seriously.
We also need a membership structure that welcomes Labrador owners and fanciers into the fold. Not at the same ranking as current full members, but in a meaningful way that gives them a voice, access to information, and continued education on the breed. That is how you grow interest, create investment, and build the next generation of serious participants.
We Need a Bigger Vision for Success
The club cannot exist only for one narrow version of the sport or one preferred group within it.
We should study other National Specialties and their successes. We should look at what they are doing well and how they are creating stronger participation, stronger events, and stronger visibility for their members.
We also need more meaningful year-end recognition and a broader culture of celebrating success across the breed. People who are working hard and succeeding should feel seen and appreciated.
And success should not be defined so narrowly that only a small circle feels represented. A healthy club must have an all-encompassing vision that includes all disciplines and all the people who work within them.
The Club Needs Workers, Not Just Talkers
Many who run by petition aim high, sometimes even toward presidential leadership, yet have repeatedly denounced the club altogether. That raises a fair question:
- Are they prepared to take daily calls?
- Are they prepared to answer emails?
- Are they prepared to get on the computer, fix problems, follow through, and communicate consistently every single day?
Because this is not glamorous work.
- It is not just a title.
- It is not just a seat.
- It is not just the chance to say, “I’m on the Board.”
- It is a commitment to service.
As a volunteer for the past year and a half, I can say firsthand that this work is real. I receive daily emails and calls regarding a wide variety of club matters. I help facilitate, troubleshoot, and complete tasks on a daily basis. The membership wants action, and I understand that because I am already doing the work.
You can have grand ideas. You can point fingers. You can sit back and romanticize how things once were or how you think they should be. But progress does not come from daydreaming. It comes from effort, vision, and follow-through.
My Commitment
I am running because I believe this club can do better, and because I am willing to put in the work required to help it do so.
I support:
- faster, more efficient minutes
- greater Board transparency
- less information gatekeeping
- stronger member communication
- a firm stance against AKC silver registration
- a complete overhaul of website and communication systems
- smarter, less redundant spending
- membership growth and broader inclusion
- greater recognition of success across disciplines
- practical protocols that make this club run better
The membership does not need more silence, more clutter, or more excuses.
It needs action.
It needs leadership that works.
It needs people willing to make a difference once they get there.
That is why I am running.
**I truly respect those who have chosen to run and the years they have given to the breed. Our community is stronger because of that dedication.
At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that these roles are not ceremonial. With a smaller number of Board members, the responsibilities are significant and require consistent, hands-on effort—daily communication, problem-solving, and follow-through, this is meaningful work, and it requires individuals who are prepared not only to serve, but to actively engage, respond, and contribute at a high level. I am committed to that level of effort and accountability, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve in that capacity.
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