Stacey Bollinger-Sauter

     My name is Stacey Bollinger-Sauter; I live in Woodstock, Maryland on a 35 acre farm with my   husband Matt,   who is a full-time farmer who raises beef cattle and small grains.  I also have 3 children, Lauren, Courtney and Trent.  I work for the Department of Homeland Security at Baltimore Washington International Airport. Not only do I show rabbits, I also ride my own motorcycle and collect baskets.

      I was born in Middletown, New York.  My father’s job had us move to Levittown, Pa where I lived until I was 12. In 1984 we moved to Sykesville, Maryland, where I was a youth member of ARBA from 1985 to 1990 and in the Carroll County 4H Club.   After I graduated High School,   I went into the Marine Corps. We were stationed in North Carolina until my husband’s discharge in 1994. After that I moved back to Maryland, had 2 more children and settled in Woodstock, Md. In 1999 I got back into my true passion in life... rabbits.  Since then, I have traveled to parts of the country with Lauren, who has had the honor of winning 2007 Youth Best of Breed at the National Dutch Show and won Rabbit of the Year in Youth.  We have had many breeds in our barn, currently Dutch and Silver Martens are the main breeds. Some of our smaller herds include Britannia Petites, Belgian Hares and American Chinchillas.  I also keep a small herd of Breed I.D. rabbits for our 4H Club.

      Since my return to rabbits I was one of the founding members of the Chesapeake Dutch Rabbit Club, held the positions of President and Secretary in both that club and Baltimore & Howard County RBA, along with their show secretary for both an Open and Youth Shows. Right now I am the Secretary of the Maryland State Rabbit and Cavy Club and the Leader of the Baltimore County 4H Rabbit Club, in which all of my children are members.  I can proudly say that I am a 10 year member of the American Dutch Rabbit Club. In 2006 I obtained my Registrar’s License and have recently passed my judge’s test and am now currently working with judges to obtain my license. I am also on the committee for the Domestic Rabbits Magazine.

      I want to be your District 9 Director.   I am passionate about rabbits and about the people who show them. I believe everyone has a voice and it deserves to be heard. We have come into some hard times not only with rabbits, but with the rest of our lives. It’s hard trying to put food on the table not only for your family, but for you animals. Gas prices have made you make decisions on which shows you are able to attend.  There are many challenges that happen in daily life with our rabbits, from feed concerns to zoning in your area. There are so many other things that must come first and a lot of the time, the rabbits will be last. When you take the time to carefully plan your budget,   the money you spend on your rabbits it should be enough to make sure they have quality feed. The dues you spend for your ARBA membership should continue to serve all of us as members. You are a member of a great Association and I whole heartedly think ARBA will survive the times.  I also believe ARBA should be there to help all members, whether it is the pet owner with questions,    the breeder who shows every weekend, or the processors of rabbit meat.  All aspects of our hobby need to be encouraged and have the backing of our Association.  Our ARBA’s motto is “Fur, Fancy, Food” and I intend to make sure that will always remain the same no matter what outside influences we may have to try and change that. I want to help keep YOUR rabbits YOURS.

      I am a breeder and I am proud to be called that. Anyone who raises rabbits for the better of their breed should be proud. It takes a lot of time money and effort to do what we do as breeders. There is a lot of blood sweat and tears that go into what we do. I have been through the feed problems, the crazy weather, coats blowing right before a big show. I know what it is like to lose your best rabbit to circumstances beyond your control.  The financial investments that go into our hobby sometimes can be great, but we do it because we know that we want our rabbits to be the best.  I want you all to know that I would not only be proud but to be honored to be YOUR VOICE to ARBA. I go to work every day having to be fit for duty, I will also do the same with being the District Director, and this is a duty to all of you.  Someone once told me that “if you have nothing else, always have your word.” It is words that I live by and I promise to make sure that you will always have my word.  I am not afraid to ask the tough questions.  I will fight for YOU.

       District 9 is a strong district. I will fight to make sure that continues.  ARBA is the backbone of our hobby and that they should stand behind every person who is a member. Which includes being available to all members at all times, I WILL be available to anyone who has any concerns I make that promise to you.

Jay Hreiz

     My name is Jay Hreiz and I am running for the position of District 9 Director.  Let me first take this opportunity to introduce myself.   I was born and raised in New Jersey where I first joined 4-H and began raising rabbits.  Shortly after joining the ARBA in 1995, I moved to Pennsylvania and began raising English Lops and have been ever since.  My years as a youth exhibitor were exciting, enlightening, and gratifying.  Forever a biology nerd, I discovered early in life that not only did I enjoy raising and showing rabbits – I was fascinated with their health and treatment of disease.  Following my indoctrination into the world of rabbit husbandry and veterinary medicine in 1998 as a recipient of the T.E. Reed “Doc” Memorial Scholarship from the ARBA and 4-H, I was hooked. 

     I received my registrar’s license in 1998 during high school and have been a licensed judge (#789) since 2002.  Whether a youth or open member, I have been heavily involved in leadership positions during my time in Pennsylvania.  Positions I held included being editor of the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association (PaSRBA) magazine and membership directory for several years, creating the first PaSRBA and Lop Rabbit Club of America official websites, and serving as Vice President of the PaSRBA.  I am a former convention chairman and show superintendent of the PaSRBA Convention which has grown to become one of the largest rabbit and cavy shows in the country.  My service to the PaSRBA was recognized as I have been awarded their Distinguished Service Award three times.  In the past, I have been a state representative for Pennsylvania in District 9 and a former member of the ARBA Judges Continuing Education Committee.  I have also had the privilege of being the chairman of the past two District 9 Judges Conferences (2004 & 2008).  Currently I serve as chairman of the ARBA Rabbit and Cavy Health Committee.  You may have seen several of my articles over the past few months regarding rabbit and cavy health and I have spoken with many of you privately via e-mail or phone regarding small problems with individual animals to large herd wide epidemics.

     In 2004 I was awarded my bachelors in Animal Bioscience from Penn State University. Four years later I was awarded my Veterinarae Medicinis Doctoris (V.M.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.  For those of you who may have any doubts in my ability to manage time – consider that the majority of my leadership positions occurred during college and veterinary school!  Currently I am an associate veterinarian practicing right outside of Charlotte, NC, where I see dogs, cats, rabbits, cavies, other small mammals, birds, and reptiles. 

     Current economic trends, a growing urban and suburban society, and the increasing use of technology all present new challenges for the ARBA.  Members from District 9 need a leader who will listen to their concerns, defend them when the situation arises, keep a high level of transparency, and delegate responsibility when appropriate.  This past year in particular has been difficult given that the ARBA must provide a great service to its members with obvious financial constraints.  As your new director I promise that I will act as a liaison between you and the ARBA board, require transparency and accountability for any actions taken, and speak up when a problem arises.  For success in this economy, the ARBA board must be populated with dynamic, proactive, engaged individuals. 

     There are specific, attainable goals that I feel can be achieved under my leadership.  Despite having one of the highest populated districts in the ARBA, District 9 has one of the lowest numbers of active judges available.  This problem will only worsen unless we actively encourage members to pursue their license, a goal that can be accomplished by providing educational events like the past two district 9 judges conferences. I will work to ensure events like this become annual or biannual.  It has been over 30 years since an ARBA Convention has been in District 9 and I will actively work to make the whispers about a potential convention turn into a reality.  I am an adamant supporter of the youth program in our great hobby.  Because of its strength during my years as a youth, I continued my dedication into my adult years.  This trend must continue and will be a top priority under my leadership. 

     My history and dedication are a testament to the hobby.  I became a judge when I was 19 years old because I enjoyed working with exhibitors, learning from them, and educating new breeders and youth.  My profession is one where you must be a master of communication with the general public, solve countless problems, make difficult decisions, and be the utmost advocate of animal health.  I have devoted many years of my life to strengthening, improving, and enhancing our great hobby.  I would be honored to continue this as your District 9 ARBA Director.  Please visit my website for more information on my campaign:  http://jehvmd08.home.comcast.net/~jehvmd08/

Charlene Everette

     Good morning, day, or evening to all.  My name is Charlene Everette and I would like to have your support and vote in becoming the next District 9 Director.  I joined ARBA back in 1982 when I first started showing French Angora, and then progressed to English and Giants.  I then down sized to American Fuzzy Lops, Hollands and a pair of English Angora.  I received my registrar license in 1988, have served as a state representative in Virginia under Jeff Hardin, Owen Yates, Stan Freed and Ray Brewer.  I was appointed to a state position when living in North Carolina back in the late 80’s under Dr. Terry Reed. I have served in a representative position in the Angora Club for years and written articles for the DR.  I have served as Youth Scholarship committee member under Alan Platt, graded and submit my suggestion of eligible candidates to be awarded the Scholarship fund.  I currently hold a Treasurer position with the Holland Lop Specialty club. I had the pleasure of working under Ms. Marylouise Cowan before her recent passing and with her suggestion was appointed to replace her as Chairperson at the ARBA Convention in Wichita, KS.  After being appointed as Chairperson of ARBA Research & Development, which is demanding enough to be a full time position year round, my main support is to this committee.  I have traveled to many a National Convention other than what I raise to assist as needed at the Holland Lops Nationals and the Flemish Giant Nationals.  I can tell you that my committee and Iare well appreciative of the support the membership and vendors give the ARBA Research & Development committee.   I currently hold the Treasurer position with a fast growing membership with the Holland Lop Specialty Club.  Our books are physically audited and each piece of paperwork is checked for accuracy. We lend a hand when needed without being asked, provide support to our youth, and support and provide information when needed on state and local ordinances when domestic rabbits are threaten by local mayors and their staff.  

    I would like to start off by saying that even though ARBA is a non-profit organization it is still a business and needs to be run as such, but we must remember to be reminded that we are all humans first.   We as members are the stockholder or shareholders.   We all can take part of the blame including myself on relying on others to ensure our organization is being guided and business of matters and all committees will be handled and must be held accountable in a business manner.   Each year we need to take the time to look at the ARBA Board minutes.  Believe it or not, since we are not able to attend the General membership meeting, I have relied on this report.   It gives us an outline of what the President and Board discuss each year and what actions were taken.  Each committee gives its reports and they are approved or disapproved by the vote of the Board of Directors.  All planned and unplanned expenditures on certain levels can be approved by the Executive Director.  Any expenditure after that level which needs approval from the President and possible Board of Directors need to be researched and placed out for a bid if time warrants it.   We all know of unexpected expenses that happen without any notice and must be addressed now and no time to do any research or able to do during business hours.

         We need to ensure check and balances are in place, not just on paper.  Anyone can verify a spreadsheet entry is correct, however we need to ensure that documentation supports those figures.   We are in need of committee members who can actively work and support these committees.  There are a lot of positions that do not require you to be a judge.   We have a lot of valuable and knowledgeable people who can head these positions and are well qualified.