Agility Dog Association of Australia Ltd

From the ADAA Chair ... January / February 2006

Each year, at the first Board Meeting following the Annual General Meeting, your Board of Directors is charged with electing an Executive. They are:

• Chair - Cathy Slot
• Vice Chair - Loyd Barker
• Secretary - Lisa Ruberry
• Treasurer - Natalie Kirkwood

In addition, the Board also declared a casual vacancy for the new Board Position, Director Judging. As nominations have now closed, I would like to congratulate Steve Drinkwater on his appointment to the position in accordance with Article 39 of the Association’s Articles of Association, and he will also take up an Executive position.

I would especially like to thank Marion Allen as our outgoing Chairperson (who will continue as a Board Member) for her contribution during the past year. Marion has championed a number of projects, including heading up the Grand Prix Sub-Committee culminating in another extremely successful G/P (with good weather I might add), a key role in the ADAA Training Camps (including travelling to NSW to instruct their camp), and coordinating all of the Handler Awards, let alone Marion's networking that culminated in a meeting with the Queensland State Premier to discuss acceptance of Agility as a sport. Marion did all of this whilst still judging at many competitions during the year. The Association is extremely fortunately to have people like Marion who are prepared to make such a HUGE contribution with much self-sacrifice. On behalf of all members, thank you Marion!

The Board held its annual planning meeting in January. During each planning meeting the Board undertakes a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) analysis, reviews the past 12 months accomplishments against its 12 month plans, considers its ongoing 5 year plan and then sets about developing both short and longer terms plans. Of course all of these activities are achieved through the efforts of a bunch of exceptional volunteers. Without them, access to Agility could not be delivered at the exceptionally low cost that it is.

One thing I would like all members to consider, perhaps before asking what ADAA, your Directors, your Judges, your Clubs (ie all those volunteers) can do for you, is to ask “What can you do for ADAA”? Sometimes this can be as simple as seeing a need and instead of asking someone else to do it for you, to do it yourself and then pass it on. With that in mind, we are looking for people to help the responsible Board member with:

• Information (particularly on the veterinary side) regarding current quarantine requirements for bringing dogs to/from Australia
• Competition Management/paperwork to allow ADAA to hold more competitions
• Liaison with airlines with a view to obtaining sponsorship and/or reduced rates for members to fly with their dogs
• Networking with media outlets and promotion of ADAA and Agility
• Networking with government bodies and sporting bodies in relation to recognition of Agility as a sport, and to support our members
• Organisation of the Grand Prix, as ADAA’s premier annual event
• Development of ADAA’s Risk Management strategies and supporting clubs with development of their own plans

I hope you have had a great break during Christmas/New Year. Those who attended the Bundaberg New Year’s Eve competition certainly had a great party to see in the New Year. Thanks to NSW members who participated in the working bee, especially to Loyd Barker, Ronnie Shawyer and Mal Williams for their organisational efforts. The calendar for 2006 is quickly filling up, so make sure you add to your diary the Training Camps (to be held on the same weekend in both Queensland and NSW), the Grand Prix and the Pet Expo’s. Information on the Brisbane Pet & Animal Expo is currently being dispatched.

Don’t forget, as the year progresses to ensure that you support your local club/training group. Remember the best way to learn something yourself is to teach someone else. But even if you don’t feel up to instructing there are many other tasks that need to be done that you can help with.  Always remember to support those who do volunteer with your thanks and acknowledgement.

May your enjoy your training with your dog and achieve your goals.

Cathy Slot
ADAA Chair

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