Welcome NAHRA members and Friends! It is 2024 and we are already off and running. As we try to balance the cost of “doing business” and providing good value for our members, you will notice that we have increased member fees by five dollars. This is to help offset some of the cost increases for managing test data and the daily activities that go on behind the scenes to keep NAHRA operating.
As most of you know our Webmaster Suellen Appellof has decided to hand over the reins of keeping the website open and running. Suellen has been in the role helping the NAHRA organization for longer than I have been on the board. I want to give her my thanks and express my appreciation for all that she has done for NAHRA.
As a result of the change, we are revisiting the entire website. Ron Stahl is taking the lead along with Rosemary and Carol Black. Once the site is up and running, Carol has offered to act as the Webmaster/NAHRA contact point person. Please take the opportunity to thank Ron and Carol for stepping up to handle this transition and to Rosemary for taking on duties beyond her normal tasks to make this happen. I hope that you will also support Carol in her ongoing role by providing feedback and content for our expanded offering. We expect the new site to have less logon problems as newer software will reduce the security glitches, provide a wider range of information and more interaction for our members. As a note: It is likely that when we make the final transition, we will be using member’s current email address as their username in leu of their member numbers so we will be asking everyone to update their profile and review it every year.
As we announced last year, we have updated NAHRA to a new database. Rosemary is actively using the new base and working through the issues of starting a new software. As she gets her arms around the workings of the new system, we will be working on our next phase. The next phase will be to provide Test Secretaries with an electronic form that will allow them the ability to upload test results directly into the database, automatically updating individual’s and dog’s information. Stay tuned on the timing of that. In our third phase we will be introducing a member app to allow direct connection to member’s own information and all public information from the database. Phase three may be next year’s project but I wanted everyone to know the direction we are heading.
2024 is also an election year! Information has already been sent out to the Club Representatives. On the Executive Board, the positions of President and Secretary are on the docket. On the full Board there are two Regional Directors that are up for January President’s Press 2024 election: Alaska and Eastern Regions. Please provide your input at the club level to letyour wishes be known.
This is also the year that we are taking a focused effort into gathering and understanding analytical data that is available to support our fund-raising efforts, increasing membership, and developing the NAHRA brand into a strong and self-sustaining nationally recognized training and testing organization. We are working with our strongest sponsor, Kinetic Dog Food, to leverage their national sales channels to develop data and strategies for further sponsorship and growth.
Shout outs by the Pres!
It is early in the year but there are still many people who continue to make a difference! I invite each of you to be one of those! Please share your talents at the local level by judging, supporting training efforts or lending a hand with the running of your own club. Support us on the regional level by committing to attending one test hosted by another club in your region. Support us nationally by sharing your vision and abilities to grow our organization.
I would like to recognize Ron Stahl for his vision and efforts in our transition to a new website!
I would like to recognize Carol Black for her vision and commitment to support the website’s ongoing needs for access and content!
I would like to recognize Kody Bull for stepping into the remaining term of the Vice President and all the responsibilities that go along with it!
I would like to recognize Rosemary Haynes for all she does to keep the NAHRA organization functioning every day of the week.
If you have a club member who makes a difference in your local organization, drop me a line so I can recognize their efforts!
Phil Hines
