PSDC Spring Meeting

at
Gennetti's Best Western
Hazleton, PA

Saturday May 3rd, 2008

Spring General Membership Meeting and Annual Awards Ceremony

Event Updates:

April 5, 2008: Added Chris Bannister's candidate information below to those already posted.

Registration Form:

The registration form is available for download here: Registration Form. Please see the "Documents Available for Download" section near the bottom of this page or the "Forms and Documents" link on the left side of the page for any other downloadable forms or documents related to this event.

Deadline to register for dinner is April 28.

This Event Will Offer:

  • Hear our guest speaker
  • Check out vendors
  • Socialize "off season"
  • Participate in our general membership meeting
  • Vote on club officials and become part of important club issues
  • Participate in our Silent Auction
  • See our exciting annual awards ceremony
  • Enjoy a relaxing meal with fellow club members

Event Description:

The Annual Spring Meeting and Banquet serves as a wonderful opportunity for "off-season" musher recognition and socialization. Members are recognized for their achievements throughout the season, memorial awards are presented and gag awards are enjoyed by all at a banquet style dinner. Members will enjoy a speaker, this year 2009 Iditarod hopeful and past PSDC sprint musher, Kim Darst. A detailed review of the 2007-2008 season and planning for the 2008-2009 season will also take place, along with voting for club officials at the Spring General Membership Meeting.

Important Election Information:

Elected Offices Needed for the 2008-2010 (two year) Term Job Descriptions:
  • President
    • Oversee all Club functions.
    • Supervise all race related Club activities.
    • Nominate persons to vacancies which occur in the elected positions, such nominations subject to Executive Board approval.
    • Plan executive and general membership meetings; such planning subject to Executive Board approval.
    • Officiate and act as parliamentarian at all Executive Board and general membership meetings.
    • Sign all contracts on behalf of the Club.
    • Appoint the Club newsletter editor, such appointment subject to Executive Board approval.
  • Treasurer
    • Manage all club monies; including receiving, holding and paying (all payments to be approved by the Executive Committee).
    • Keep complete, accurate and organized records of all Club financial transactions.
    • Quarterly Treasurer's reports shall be published in the Club newsletter
  • Directors and Their Duties
    • There shall be five directors, all to be elected by the general membership.
    • Directors shall
      • Serve as liaison between the Executive Board and the general membership.
      • Participate in the Club decision making process as directed by these By-Laws.
      • Perform duties as requested by the President.
Absentee Ballots:

Absentee ballots are available through the Secretary, Christina Gates (315) 831-2025 or christina@subzerodogs.org. Requests for absentee ballots must BE RECEIVED no later than April 20th. Please note, according to the PSDC by-laws, you may only vote via absentee ballot if you were present at, and signed in to the previous (Fall 2007) General Membership Meeting. If you meet this criteria an absentee ballot can be mailed to you along with instructions. All absentee ballots must be returned to Christina Gates by April 30th, in order to be counted in voting at the Spring 2008 Meeting. Those voting via absentee ballot may only vote for those individuals who have been nominated for and accepted nomination to run prior to the Spring 2008 Meeting. Below you will se a list of those (some with candidate statements) that have currently been nominated for and accepted nomination to run for elected offices of the PSDC Board of Directors for the 2008-2010 term.

Board Candidates Spring 2008:

President (one position only):

  1. Kathy Murarik:

    How can it be, two years have gone by and my President's term is coming to an end. Is this what they mean when they say "time sure flies by when you're having fun!" Well, in the past two years it has been work and fun. The work is getting the club members to keep communications open and expanding in areas that are new with regard to making money for the club. The fun is getting to know everyone, encouraging new ideas and seeing the satisfaction of accomplishment from our members. Our club continues to move in a positive direction of education. More and more requests are sent to me for demonstrations, school programs, etc. My goal as president has been to provide education about our sport to all who wish to hear about it. We are not just a RGO (race giving organization); we are an educational resource that delivers a quality product. Thank you all who have helped with the delivery of our product. If elected for another term, I will continue to keep our communications open within our board of directors and club membership.

    Thank you all for your support over the past three years that I have been President. As you know I fulfilled an unexpired term of President for one year, saying when I did it, that this is it, I would not run for a new term. Now after completing two more years, I am excited about the future and will to work at making our club a club that our members enjoy being a part of.

  2. LuWanna Krause:

    I am currently Vice President of PSDC an would like to run for president. I have been involved in the club for many years, serving as a board member, treasurer, secretary, president and currently vice president. I feel that I have much to offer the club if I were to be elected as president. I feel that I have plenty of past experience to handle the tasks and challenges of the presidents position.

Treasurer (one position only):

  1. Nancy L. Aubrey:

    I have served the past two years as PSDC Treasurer and enjoyed the job very much. I believe that I have done a good job of updating club treasury records and maintaining correspondence regarding these records with other board members. I look forward to the opportunity of another term as Treasurer.

  2. Joy Heitz:

    I feel that I have a general understanding of the commitment that it takes and a good knowledge of how the club operates. I have been the newsletter editor in the past for the club. I also have many years experience in bookkeeping and accounting. I will do my best to see that clubs monies are kept in an orderly fashion with the understanding and ease for the board and its members to be able to oversee the operations of the treasurer that it will be run smoothly and that the needs of our members are met. For those of you who do not know me, I have been involved in sled dog racing for twenty plus years for recreation. We live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Our entire family enjoys the sport. Our kennel consists of 12 Siberians, 1 Alaskan, 1 Whipollie, 1 Chihuahua and 1 Yorkie. Our family Doug, Bryan and Bradley devotes a lot of time to helping new people get started into the sport and giving educational talks and demonstrations to schools and community groups.

Board Seat (total of three positions):

  1. John K. Gates:

    I have served the past two years on the PSDC board as a director. I have also maintained the club's website and aided in timing at race events using ISDRA's Raceworks program. I believe that these jobs are intertwined and my experience makes me a valuable board member. I look forward to reelection in the 2008 election.

  2. Chris Bannister:

    I am excited to have the opportunity to run for an executive board member seat for a second term. During my first term I have successfully put together a fun and exciting dryland race that will be held for a third year this coming December, the Fair Hill Challenge. While with the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club board, my main focus has always been to give honest input and new ideas to help ensure the club's future and success. If re-elected I promise to continue to serve the PSDC with honor and respect for every member of our great club. I look forward to serving another term and appreciate everyone's love and support.

  3. Cindy Eddy:

    No statement yet.

Annual Memorial Awards Description for Spring 2008 Banquet:

Each Spring the general membership nominates, and then the Board votes on, members of the PSDC who demonstrate special characteristics. The Jim Gauger Award and the Harvey Saltzer Award are indeed very prestigious for our members. Please take a moment to look over the below descriptions for these awards. Send your nominations to Christina Gates (315) 831-2025 or christina@subzerodogs.org no later than April 20th. The Board members of the PSDC will be honored to announce our distinguished Memorial Award winners at the 2008 Spring Meeting and Banquet in Hazleton, PA.

Jim Gauger Award:

This award was put in place by the PSDC Board of Directors in 1983 in honor of past club member Jim Gauger. This is awarded to a person(s) who exhibits the good sportsmanship so many of the members remember in Jim Gauger. The club will not be bound by a time frame, or a limit on the number of persons eligible for this award. There may be years when no one is nominated or that the board feels no one stood above all other club members.

Harvey Saltzer Award:

The Harvey Saltzer award shall be awarded annually to the person or kennel, which in the opinion of the Board of Directors, best exemplifies all mushers' love and concern for their own dogs as well as for sled dog sports and dogs in general. Nominees for this award must promote a positive image of sled dog sports within the sled dog community, to the public at large, and to the media through both their words and actions. The winner of this award shall be presented with a trophy. In addition the PSDC will donate $100 to the humane society of the winner's choice in memory of the work done at the East Shore branch of the Harrisburg Humane Society by the late PSDC president, Harvey Saltzer.

Event Schedule:

Saturday, May 3, 2008:
8:00AMVendor Set Up
8:00AM - 12:00PMBoard meeting (Location to be announced)
12:30PM - 2:30PMSpeaker Kim Darst
3:00PM - 4:30PMGeneral meeting & election of officers
6:00PMCocktails
7:00PMDinner, Silent Auction Conclusion & Awards Ceremony

Entry and Event Fees:

Sorry, but we cannot accept foreign currency. All fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.

EventFee
Speaker$10.00
Adult Dinner$25.00
Child Dinner$15.00
Dinner & Speaker$32.00
Vendor Space$25.00

Event Organizer:

LuWanna Krause
Address: 20 Sunny Bend, Newark, DE 19702
Phone: (302) 368-9130
E-mail Address: luwannakrause@comcast.net

Event Information:

Featured Guest Speaker:

Kim Darst is a PSDC member who has qualified for the 2009 Ididarod. Kim will be sharing her story with us. Kim will be selling t-shirts to help raise support for Ididarod 2009.

Event Registration Notes:

When making room reservations - you must say you are with PSDC for the discounted rates.

Auction:

A Raffle basket will be available and a silent auction will be held.

We are asking for items to be donated to the silent auction.

Vendors:

Vendors will be available at the event.

Gag Awards:

If you have any "nominations" for gag awards, please contact Nancy Molburg via arcticstarsleds@yahoo.com or LuWanna Krause at (302) 368-9130 or via luwannakrause@comcast.net.

Food:
Dinner:

Menu:

  • Salad
  • Oven Roast Sirloin of Beef
  • Sliced Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • Baked Herbed Tilapia
  • Potato
  • Pasta with Marinara Sauce
  • Rolls
  • Vegetable
  • Assorted Cold Salads
  • Dessert
  • Tea & Coffee

A cash bar will be available from 6 - 9 p.m.

Reservations must be made by April 28.

Question & Answers e-mail: Name, luwannakrause@comcast.net

Event Registrar:

LuWanna Krause
Address: 20 Sunny Bend, Newark, DE 19702
Phone: (302) 368-9130
E-mail Address: luwannakrause@comcast.net

Deadline to register for dinner is April 28.

Make checks payable to the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club or (PSDC).

Documents Available for Download:

Directions to the Event:

You can click this link to visit Mapquest to get directions to the race site (site address is preloaded).

Directions are also available from the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites Website, at http://www.genettiinnandsuites.com/hotel-information.htm.

To use your GPS or electronic instruments to find the way for you enter the coordinates: 40.984022N, 75.980680W

From I-81:

Take EXIT 155 toward Dorrance, follow .2 miles, turn slight left to take the ramp toward PA-309, and Turn left onto Blue Ridge Trl. Follow for .3 miles. Turn right onto S Main Rd and follow for .7 miles. Turn slight right onto N Hunter Hwy/PA-309/Wilkes Barre-Hazelton Hwy. Continue to follow PA-309 S for 7.4 mi. End at 1441 N Church St Hazleton, PA. Hotel is on the left.

Onsite Lodging:

Details about the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites is available at http://www.genettiinnandsuites.com/