EASTERN REGION ELECTION
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Joey Edsall
I am honored to be nominated to serve on the MARC board as a Director for the Eastern Region. I have been involved in this game that we all love at a high level, while still working a demanding full-time job. I understand at a very personal level the constraints on a working amateur. Land and time are scarce commodities where I live and I hope to bring this perspective to the Board. In terms of my hunt test and dog experience, I bought my first retriever in 1995, a Labrador Retriever from/with show lines. We managed to get to senior and ran one master test. (He also went from Novice A to Utility – probably the most expensive CD on the planet!) I am never one to shy from a tough problem. We have learned a great deal since then! Under the guidance of a professional I have now trained 4 dogs to master and 4 to senior. I have owned and titled both field and show bred dogs to master. (Four of the dogs were bred by me.) I own, bred, train and handled the 75thCH MH Labrador Retriever (only the 20thbitch to have this title in 35 years). I have run my dogs at the master national and master amateur, taking sabbatical to do it. I am an AKC master hunt test judge with 8 points at all levels, having worked my way from junior to master. In terms of participation in AKC events, I have competed in obedience, rally, and conformation. I value cross-disciplinary viewpoints, both at work and in my hobby. I truly understand how difficult it is to manage working a full time job and succeeding in this venue – this is a perspective I can bring to the board.
Administratively within our dog world, I have chaired hunt tests and served on boards (Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston). I’ve been a marshal, blind planter, and winger operator. I also chair our judges selection committee and organize my local club’s weekly training group, so I have lots of experience with organized chaos. I have also served on several boards in my professional life. My professional background includes over 10 years as a Materials Engineer for the US Army Research Laboratory and my current position as a University Professor in Plastics Engineering (rubber being my specialty J). My administrative experience includes Director for several different centers – many in collaboration with other Universities (most interdisciplinary in nature). I am familiar with coalescing diverse opinions into a workable solution (e.g. I spend a lot of time thinking through which judges work together well – about which judges meet the club’s criteria).
Our sport has grown over the years and with growth come challenges. What’s known is the amateur is the foundation of our sport and an essential part of our community. I joined as founding member because I believe in the importance of this program; we need to find a way to grow and engage our amateurs - new and experienced. Without this growth we run the danger of even more challenges to our sport. My job is a consensus based environment - unlike private industry, a university can only be successful if the group comes together to move forward. The views of all are considered, improvements made and where necessary, a vote to decide the path forward. This creates more robust programs and engages the community. I would work to do my best to bring this sense of community to the amateur retriever trainer and find ways to encourage growth. Hearing the concerns of the working amateur and collaborating on creative ways to solve these problems together will help grow the Master Amateur Retriever Club. I hope my expertise in working with diverse opinions can help bring a sense of community to the different opinions in the retriever community. Let us growth this sport together.
Joey Edsall
I am honored to be nominated to serve on the MARC board as a Director for the Eastern Region. I have been involved in this game that we all love at a high level, while still working a demanding full-time job. I understand at a very personal level the constraints on a working amateur. Land and time are scarce commodities where I live and I hope to bring this perspective to the Board. In terms of my hunt test and dog experience, I bought my first retriever in 1995, a Labrador Retriever from/with show lines. We managed to get to senior and ran one master test. (He also went from Novice A to Utility – probably the most expensive CD on the planet!) I am never one to shy from a tough problem. We have learned a great deal since then! Under the guidance of a professional I have now trained 4 dogs to master and 4 to senior. I have owned and titled both field and show bred dogs to master. (Four of the dogs were bred by me.) I own, bred, train and handled the 75thCH MH Labrador Retriever (only the 20thbitch to have this title in 35 years). I have run my dogs at the master national and master amateur, taking sabbatical to do it. I am an AKC master hunt test judge with 8 points at all levels, having worked my way from junior to master. In terms of participation in AKC events, I have competed in obedience, rally, and conformation. I value cross-disciplinary viewpoints, both at work and in my hobby. I truly understand how difficult it is to manage working a full time job and succeeding in this venue – this is a perspective I can bring to the board.
Administratively within our dog world, I have chaired hunt tests and served on boards (Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston). I’ve been a marshal, blind planter, and winger operator. I also chair our judges selection committee and organize my local club’s weekly training group, so I have lots of experience with organized chaos. I have also served on several boards in my professional life. My professional background includes over 10 years as a Materials Engineer for the US Army Research Laboratory and my current position as a University Professor in Plastics Engineering (rubber being my specialty J). My administrative experience includes Director for several different centers – many in collaboration with other Universities (most interdisciplinary in nature). I am familiar with coalescing diverse opinions into a workable solution (e.g. I spend a lot of time thinking through which judges work together well – about which judges meet the club’s criteria).
Our sport has grown over the years and with growth come challenges. What’s known is the amateur is the foundation of our sport and an essential part of our community. I joined as founding member because I believe in the importance of this program; we need to find a way to grow and engage our amateurs - new and experienced. Without this growth we run the danger of even more challenges to our sport. My job is a consensus based environment - unlike private industry, a university can only be successful if the group comes together to move forward. The views of all are considered, improvements made and where necessary, a vote to decide the path forward. This creates more robust programs and engages the community. I would work to do my best to bring this sense of community to the amateur retriever trainer and find ways to encourage growth. Hearing the concerns of the working amateur and collaborating on creative ways to solve these problems together will help grow the Master Amateur Retriever Club. I hope my expertise in working with diverse opinions can help bring a sense of community to the different opinions in the retriever community. Let us growth this sport together.
Joey Edsall