Meet the 2017 MFGRC Officers and Board

As we’re into another year with the Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club, we wanted to let the members get to know a little more about the officers and board members who are leading our club this year.

The officers and board of the Mid-Florida Golden Retriever Club for 2017 include (front row, left to right), Betty Lambert, board; Michele Throm, board; Kristin Sipus, board; Pat Kopco, board; Ann Rowe, vice president; Anney Doucette, board. Back row, John Blair, president; Mike Orloff, board; Andy Hall, secretary; Ted Misilo, board; and Dee Thibodeaux, treasurer. (photo by Rosa Blair)

OFFICERS

John Blair – President (in his own words)

My wife Rosa and I joined MFGRC in 2001 just in time to help with the 2002 National Specialty. I helped on the grounds committee as well as the agility and obedience trials while Rosa helped on the merchandizing committee. We were both previously on the board in 2010 and 2011. I was the agility chair in 2010 thru 2012 as well as chairing the agility trials at the 2011 and 2014 GRCA National Specialties. I have also chaired the MFGRC hunt test under the tutelage of the late Susan Fullenwider. I was on the board last year and am now serving as club president. Currently we show our dogs in conformation and lure coursing, with hopes to get back into obedience, hunt tests and dock diving. We have previously tilted dogs in conformation, agility, obedience, rally, hunt and WC/WCX. We have owned/bred four AKC Champions. I am most proud of the agility 1st place Excellent JWW placement my dog Star and I achieved at our 2002 National Specialty. We had our picture posted in the GR news!!! Not so bad considering I didn’t get to walk the course beforehand because I was helping in the standard ring. Rosa and I have been breeders since 1999 and have whelped over 160 puppies. Rosa is a professional dog groomer working one day a week at Cocoa Veterinary Hospital and the rest of the time out of our home. I am retired after 32 long years from Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. where I spent most of my time managing the assembly and launch of unmanned spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Ann Rowe – Vice President

A member of the MFGRC since the club started in 1984, Ann has served two terms as the club’s president and has held her current position of vice president multiple times, as well as serving as a board member. In addition to her duties as vice president, Ann also is membership chair for the club and she hosts the club’s annual “Fun Match” at her home. The owner of Magik Goldens in Sorrento, Fla., she has been breeding and exhibiting Goldens for more than 30 years in both Central Florida and around the country. She has owned or bred many champions in various types of competitions. Her two proudest moments: when her dog Stetson got High in Trial in Obedience at a Specialty in what was their first time competing in the Open class. Also, this past November at a show in Ocala, Fla., on the same day, three dogs that she bred were Winners Dog, Winners Bitch and Best of Breed.

Dee Thibodeaux – Treasurer

An active member of the MFGRC since 1990, Dee has been president twice and also has held the officer positions of vice president and her current position of treasurer, as well as serving as a board member. This year she is chairing the club’s two agility trials and in past years has worked at nearly every type of event the club has staged, including judging hunt tests and WC tests. She has competed in breed, obedience, agility, field and dock diving, and this past year she and her husband John’s Golden Mach Deauxquest it’s A Hot UD RN MXC MJC DJ (Sizzle) was the Versatility Dog of the Year and Obedience Dog of the Year for the MFGRC. John also was the recipient of the club’s “Above and Beyond” award for his work in support of club activities. Dee, who lives in Sorrento, Fla., is most proud of her bred-by champions and the Machs she has won. She is retired from a career as a life underwriter.

Andy Hall – Secretary

In his first year as Secretary after having been a member of the board for the first time in 2016, Andy also this year is chairing the club’s obedience trial in August. He’s worked as a volunteer at many of the club’s other events the past three years and received the Lloyd Kiernan Award for 2016 for service to the club. He and his wife Barbara live in Port Orange, Fla., and became family members of the club in 2014. Barbara has earned Obedience and Rally titles with Mo, their three-year old Golden boy, and Andy has just started training for Rally with their nine-year-old girl Marley, who he also plans to show in some Veterans conformation events. They also have competed in conformation with Mo. Andy has worked in sports and television PR/communications for 35 years and is a communications director for ESPN, responsible for SportsCenter, motorsports and golf.

BOARD MEMBERS

Anney Doucette

Anney Doucette brought home her first Golden in 1992 and joined MFGRC shortly after. She currently lives in Gainesville, Fla., and is a graphic artist, owner of K9-Design.com. She competes in conformation, field and obedience with her Golden boys, having owner-trained and handled three AKC Champions, three Master Hunters, two High In Trial winners and two Dual Dog Hall of Fame dogs. She earned the MFGRC’s Fallchase Owner-Handler Award in 2016 and her dog Ballyhoo was Field Dog of the Year for the club.

Patricia (Pat) Kopco

A member of the MFGRC since 1994, Pat has served the club as president and as a board member. She also has been active with the Golden Retriever Club of America, serving a four-year stint as Eastern Director for the GRCA Board of Directors. She and husband Mike Orloff have titled dogs in obedience, agility, conformation and field, and she has been an AKC field judge for five years. Pat’s proudest titles were for her dog Jagger’s Dual Dog Hall of Fame title (CH/MH) in 2011/12 and Ozzy’s Reserve Jam in the Qual at the National Specialty field trial in Wichita Falls, Tex., in 2013. She currently has four dogs that all do or will compete in field, obedience and conformation. Pat is a divorce lawyer and former prosecutor and before she went to law school, she worked for NBC News for 15 years based in Miami covering Latin and South America. She lives in Dover, Fla.

Betty Lambert

A member of MFGRC since 2004, Betty has served on the board six years and was the Club Secretary for three years. She has been the proud owner/co-owner of five dogs from Magik Goldens over the years and has done Rally, Obedience, Tracking, and Conformation with her Goldens. Her most proud moments in the ring came when her boy Kasey, most often along with his brothers Jack and Chippie, helped their awesome dad, Stetson, win the Stud Dog class over the years at specialties and once at the International show in 2007. “I was not an official co-owner of Stetson but I loved him dearly and those were very happy, proud moments when he won that class with Kasey in the ring with him,” she said. Betty has worked for the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years and is a Human Resources Specialist but works primarily in recruiting and background investigations, processing applicants hoping to be hired as sworn law enforcement officers.

Ted Misilo

A familiar face at most MFGRC events, Ted is in his second term as a member of the board after having served as the club’s president in 2016. He first joined the club in 2013 and has worked at the club’s hunt tests as well as the annual Specialty, the Obedience Trial and more. His volunteer efforts at club events helped Ted earn the 2014 Nancy McCune Member of the Year for service to the club. Ted’s sons Tom and T.J., who maintain the club’s website (mfgrc.org), were named “Members of the Year” for 2016 for their contributions to the club that also included working at numerous club events. Ted and his family have competed in conformation with their Goldens and in a WC test. Originally from Massachusetts, where he worked as an electrician, Ted is retired and lives in Palm Bay, Fla.

Mike Orloff

Mike Orloff, who annually chairs the MFGRC’s two hunt tests, has been a member of the club since 1994. In addition to the hunt tests, he also has worked at the club’s agility trials and other events. He and his wife Pat Kopco compete in field, obedience, agility and conformation. Some of Mike’s proudest moments came when their dog Jagger earned his Master Hunter title in 2009, the first such title one of Mike and Pat’s dogs had earned, followed by Jagger’s son Ozzy earning his Master title at the age of two in 2012. Their dog Axl earned a Master Hunter title at the age of three in 2014. Mike is retired after 30 years as a television news technician, a job that required travel all over the world. He lives in Dover, Fla.

Kristin Sipus

Around Goldens since her parents bought their first one when she was one year old, Kristin Sipus’ lifetime association with the breed continues as a member of the board of the MFGRC. She first joined the club in 2006 and has been a board member since 2014. She has been active in helping stage many of the club’s events, including serving as head marshal/volunteer coordinator for hunt tests and WC/WCX secretary and has volunteered at most other events. She currently competes in conformation, hunt tests and field trials. In the past she has competed in obedience, tracking and agility, and she hopes to return to obedience and tracking soon. She has trained and handled two dogs (mother and daughter) that are members of the Dual Dog Hall of Fame (breed championship and Master Hunter) and she is working on her third. Her first to finish her breed championship did so by winning back to back five-point specialty majors (owner handled) at the MFGRC specialty and the eastern regional in 2012 and earned her MH shortly after. Her daughter finished her MH in the spring of 2014 and her CH that same fall. Kristin has a degree in Equine Science and Stable management. She and her husband, who is a retired jockey, own and operate a thoroughbred training center near Ocala, Fla., where they buy, sell and train young race horses.

Michele Throm

Michele has been a member of MFGRC since 2012. She served as Club Secretary in 2015 and 2016 and currently serves as a board member. She has volunteered at all of the club events at various times over the years and lives in Casselberry, Fla., with her Golden girl Bella. They have earned titles in Agility, Rally, Obedience, and Dock Diving, as well as earning a WC and CCA. They have also competed in hunt tests and conformation. Michele works as a Sales Manager for a major sports equipment distributor responsible for education sales in the Southeast.

Notes and Reminders

To All MFGRC Members:

 Thanks to all of you who attended our general meeting and pot luck lunch at the Ocala show! It was the biggest turnout we’ve had for a meeting in a long time and it was great to see members socializing and getting to know each other better.

MFGRC Specialty

Entries close Wednesday (Nov. 23) at noon ET for our annual Specialty, which will be held Friday, Dec. 16, in Orlando. The premium is here.

Christmas Party/General Meeting

Our final general meeting of 2016 will be our annual Christmas Party. At this meeting, we’ll install the officers and board members for 2017 and celebrate a fun and successful year for the club.

We ask that everyone please bring a side dish (we’ll provide main courses) and also please bring a gift for the gift exchange! (does not have to be dog-related)

Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016

Time: 6:00 pm—?

Where: Home of Dee Thibodeaux, 36752 Nashua Blvd., Sorrento, FL 32776

Membership Renewals

Membership renewals for 2017 are now due. Rates will remain the same – $25 for individual, family or associate membership categories.

Please indicate your category, make your check payable to MFGRC and mail to:

Dee Thibodeaux
36752 Nashua Blvd.
Sorrento, FL 32776

If you will be attending the Christmas party, you can bring your check to Dee there. Also, people who have become club members in November do not have to renew for 2017; their membership will carry over.

MFGRC Title Rosettes

 If your Golden earned any kind of AKC title in 2016, MFGRC will recognize that title with a special club rosette. Please send information on the title earned (type of title, location, date, and your dog’s name) to Ann Rowe (magikgldn1@aol.com) as soon as possible. The cutoff date for events is Nov. 20, and any titles won in the rest of 2016 will be recognized in 2017.

MFGRC Events for December

Dec. 9-10-11 – MFGRC Winter Hunt Test, Golden Oaks Ranch, Clermont, FL
Dec. 16 – MFGRC 2016 Specialty, Orange County Convention Center – West Building, Orlando, FL
Dec. 17 – MFGRC Christmas Party/General Meeting, Home of Dee Thibodeaux, Sorrento, FL 

Trophy Sponsors for December Specialty

Dear Mid-Florida Members,

Thank you so much for your support of our December specialty. We couldn’t do this without you.

All trophies are sponsored. I think this might be a record. for the earliest commitment to this sponsorship. We usually run down to the wire but we may even be in time to get the list in the catalog.

Your support is appreciated and your quick response to my plea has made my life so much easier.
If you would like to contribute to the general fund in memory of that special person or dog, you can still do so. Your contribution to this fund will help defray the other expenses of the specialty.

Please carefully review the sponsorship list and let me know if there are any corrections, additions or deletions. I am planning on sending this to Caroline this week so she can try to get this in the catalog.

For those of you who have sent in your checks, thank you. For those that haven’t, could you PLEASE send them as soon as you possibly can? I would like to close the books on this before the craziness of the holidays begin. My mailing address is 3015 Delaney Street, Orlando, FL 32806. I am still holding the checks so they will not have cleared your bank. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hope to see you at the specialty on Dec. 16. You will have the opportunity to see the trophies you so generously sponsored.


Camille N. Doehring
mischiefgolden@gmail.com

Please find the below the 2016 Trophy List – Updated on 11/01/2016

Class Description Cost Sponsorship
BEST OF BREED 6 PIECE WINE SET 100.00 CONNIE & BOB ADAMS IN MEMORY OF DEVLIN – MISCHIEF’S NOTORIOUS WINDSOR UD,RAE,JH,WC,THD,VC,CCA, CGC
BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX CHEESE PLATTER 75.00  SUE  & CHARLIE HICKS IN MEMORY OF GATOR & AJ
BEST OF WINNERS CUTTING BOARD 65.00 NANCY SIGMON IN MEMORY OF QUESTAN IN HIGH COUNTRY’S ICE LOVE LUCY
WINNER’S DOG DRY ERASE BOARD 60.00 ROSA & JOHN BLAIR  JAZZIE’S GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
WINNER’S BITCH DRY ERASE BOARD 60.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
RESERVE WD COASTERS 50.00  ROBIN HUGHES IN LOVING MEMORY OF STETSON – MAGIK GOLDENS
RESERVE WB COASTERS 50.00  CAROLINE KENDRICK,  INGOT GOLDENS AND CAMILLE DOEHRING, MISCHIEF GOLDENS
BEST JUNIOR HANDLER DRY ERASE 65.00  CHRIS & JENINFER HUPPERT
BEST VETERAN TIN SIGN 75.00 BOB YOUNG IN LOVING MEMORY OF JEANETTE YOUNG
BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX VETERAN CUTTING BOARD 65.00 BOB YOUNG IN LOVING MEMORY OF JEANETTE YOUNG
1ST PLACE – 6-9 MONTH DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
1ST PLACE – 9-12 MONTH DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 SHEREE MELHUISH IN LOVING OF MEMORY OF SAFFIRE’S BLACKMAIL
1ST PLACE – 12-15 MONTH DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
1ST PLACE – 15-18 MONTH DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
1ST PLACE – AMAT/OWN HANDLER LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BETTY LAMBERT IN LOVING MEMORY OF KASEY, MAGIK GOLDENS
1ST PLACE – BRED BY DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BOB YOUNG IN LOVING MEMORY OF JEANETTE YOUNG
1ST PLACE – AMERICAN BRED DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BARBARA AND ANDY HALL IN MEMORY OF COSMO
1ST PLACE – OPEN DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 KRISTIN & GENE SIPUS  RICHWOOD GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE – 6-9 MONTH BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BARBARA AND ANDY HALL IN MEMORY OF COSMO
1ST PLACE – 9-12 MONTH BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
1ST PLACE – 12-15 MONTH BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 FLORIDA GULF COAST GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
1ST PLACE – 15-18 MONTH BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JULIE WAND
1ST PLACE – AM/OWN HANDLER LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BARBARA AND ANDY HALL IN MEMORY OF COSMO
1ST PLACE – BRED BY BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BOB YOUNG IN LOVING MEMORY OF JEANETTE YOUNG
1ST PLACE – AM BRED BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BETTY LAMBERT  IN LOVING MEMORY OF TYME, MAGIK GOLDENS
1ST PLACE – OPEN BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 KRISTIN & GENE SIPUS  RICHWOOD GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE NOVICE JUNIOR LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE NOVICE INTERMEDIATE LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE NOVICE SENIOR LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE OPEN JUNIOR LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE OPEN INTERMEIDATE LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE OPEN SENIOR LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE MASTER LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JANET NAURSKA  – SHENENDOAH RETRIEVERS
1ST PLACE 7-10 VETERAN DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JOHNANN GOINES
1ST PLACE 10-12 VETERAN DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 PAT KOPCO & MIKE ORLOFF
1ST PLACE 12 & OVER VET DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 PAT KOPCO & MIKE ORLOFF
1ST PLACE 7-10 VETERAN BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 JOHNANN GOINES
1ST PLACE 10-12 VETERAN BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BARBARA AND ANDY HALL IN MEMORY OF COSMO
1ST PLACE 12 & OVER VET BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 SHEREE MELHUISH & HALEY WHITCOMB  IN LOVING MEMORY OF  CH SAFFIRE’S MISS COD DUCK BVSS
1ST PLACE H R DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 PAT KOPCO & MIKE ORLOFF
1ST PLACE H R BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 SHEREE MELHUISH  IN LOVING MEMORY OF SHR SAFFIRE’S ALL FOR EH WOMAN JH WC
1ST PLACE STUD DOG LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BETTY LAMBERT IN LOVING MEMORY OF STETSON, MAGIK GOLDENS
1ST PLACE BROOD BITCH LUGGAGE TAG 12.00 BETTY LAMBERT IN LOVING MEMORY OF SKYE, MAGIK GOLDENS

 

2016 Sweepstakes Trophy Listing

Class Description Cost Sponsorship
BEST IN SWEEPSTAKES CUTTING BOARD 55.00 ANNEY DOUCETTE
BEST OF OPPOSITE IN SWEEPS DRY ERASE BOARD 45.00  SUE  & CHARLIE HICKS IN MEMORY OF GATOR & AJ
BEST IN VETERAN SWEEPSTAKES CUTTING BOARD 55.00 JUDI VOLPE- IN MEMORY OF HICKREY AND LACEY
BEST OF OPP VETERAN SWEEPS DRY ERASE BOARD 45.00  CHRIS & JENINFER HUPPERT

 

Congratulations to the 2016 MFGRC Board

MFGRC Officers
President Ted Misilo tedmisilo@gmail.com 321-951-3113
Vice President Ann Rowe magikgldn1@aol.com 352-735-3565
Secretary Michele Throm michelethrom@yahoo.com 407-923-2731
Treasurer Dee Thibodeaux deejohn@me.com 970-396-6121
Board Members
  John Blair jazziesgold@att.net 321-773-3476
  Anney Doucette jpgrigold@aol.com 352-262-1874
  Andy Hall andyhall58@hotmail.com 321-402-3365
  Pat Kopco baddogs@tampabay.rr.com 813-441-4858
  Betty Lambert blambert18@cfl.rr.com 407-301-4084
  Mike Orloff baddogs@tampabay.rr.com 305-343-3315
  Kristin Sipus kjsipus@aol.com 352-229-1575