message to the AWPGA membership

Good Morning Members

I need to address this body, You see, most of you are very active in our club. I felt my post yesterday was appropriate addressed to you. However my post has not gone without criticism. I really do not care, I have a right and a need to speak to you, the active members of this club. 

I have no need to address the membership at large as they are good hardworking people who don’t care about any of this turmoil. That is my nature too. I am more saddened about the last few months than you will ever know. Miss Sheila has ordered this club and even some of her so called friends out of our home forever. I guess I will be renewing as a single.

I want to give you some of my council, the ones who want to be breed police would not listen to anything I had to say, as the history of this is long.

The code of ethics is a good thing. It allows us as breeders and exhibitors to align ourselves with people with like principals. It is a code, not law. When us, as breeders sign it, it is not to submit to the breed police. When an exhibitor joins our club after reading the code, he or she does so, to align with people of similar values. 

This code was not meant to be a policing tool. Mary Kiblan wrote the board of directors about this when she submitted the code for there approval in August of 2000.  I hope to be the one and only example of using this tool as a policing document. I have nothing to lose by being the center of this. If I lose an election, I can live with that. It would be honoring my sweetheart’s wishes. And save me a bunch of cash that could be used to improve my kennel.

This is a dog club. We have a mission. We all do different things to do what we think is right, We have a common interest. Period. I’m not going to submit my actions to the breed police. They have no authority to judge. If what we have is egregious, such as animal cruelty or puppy mill like behavior then obviously that is when we may have authority. 

Some have taken to personal insults, published in the minutes. Some want to amend minutes to add insults. I follow the charter. They can do what they want, just follow the rules. If they are successful in prosecuting me, then I cant imagine any of you will be a member of this club, as who would be willing to submit to that? 

If you don’t like me, that is irrelevant. This is about you. If you can’t see that then you should contact me and I will tell you the truth.

One last thing and I will get off this list for a while so I can go to work.. If you keep spreading rumors about me, then know this. I’m a man of honor, if you want to use my compassion for things to beat me with, then you will answer to a higher power.

Jon Pease

Tired President of the AWPGA

response to Ann, Jay and Philippe

It is as a member of the AWPGA, that I am addressing you.

We have an election coming soon, which, under normal circumstances, I would be happy about. I think the more people wanting to serve, the better.  I have led this club to the best of my ability and feel most of you know exactly what we have accomplished. 

As President I have no authority to share this with you, however as a member I can speak about it as openly as I choose.

Formal charges against me were received yesterday. I have been charged with misconduct prejudicial to the best interest of the club and breed. These charges were brought by Ann Allen AWPGA Central Region Representative, Jay Hoth AWPGA Treasurer and Philippe Roca, AWPGA Vice President. 

My first thought is not to dignify these charges with an answer publicly.  I know what I have done and wish we lived in the age of dueling. But since we live in the information age I will share the situation with you. Please forward my comments to anyone you wish.

The facts of the charges, which concern my conduct, are known by all on your board of directors.  That is because they only know what I told them. 

I had a litter at the end of January. 8 sweet puppies with homes that are a perfect fit. I had been hearing from AKC about their new microchip and thought I would give them a try. On or about the time I weaned the pups (3-4 weeks old), I registered the litter and ordered the microchips with the AKC, (I called the AKC this morning to verify the dates and the AKC confirmed the timeline.) It is my practice to file all of the AKC owner registration paperwork when the puppies are picked up. I can do this because I do not ship puppies. I also want to look every owner in the eye.

 

I received the paperwork from the AKC in mid-March. I had owners target their arrival date for April 1st. I had people flying in from New Jersey to Alaska.. I was still waiting for the microchips to come prior to taking the pups to get their health certificates for their big trip home. I have since found out, all microchip shipments were delayed by the AKC, as it was a trial promotion and the chips were to be sent directly by the AKC instead of by their vendor. 

 The day came when  people arrived to get their pups and  I had no chips. I apologized and arranged to get the chips to them. You see the chip is so new and advanced that the box of chips has its own injector system ( Only 1 injector per box ). I took 1 pup to the vet and had her injected, and then I put the injector in the box and then placed a chip and a address label and postage in 7 specific envelopes and started the box on its way from New Jersey to Alaska. I have kept a watchful eye on the boxes progress. I have 3 pups not chipped as of today; the box should be to Colorado by now. You see each person must receive the box and then find time to get their baby to the vet. I trusted these people with taking a puppy and many of them have spent a significant amount of time with Sheila and I. They came here from a great distance; I trust them, when they say they injected the chip.  All of the pups are registered with the AKC and AKC/CAR.  If you think my actions are misconduct prejudicial to the interest of the club and the breed then you agree with some of your board of directors. This is the basis of Ann, Jay and Philippe ‘s charges against me.

There are other charges against me, regarding the conduct of others that I (and the rest of the board) knew about. Out of respect for others I will not comment on others conduct here. I can tell you that their alleged violations of our the Code of Ethics occurred prior to the club adopting the code, Thus these charges are invalid.

However it does bring me to this conclusion. We passed the Code of Ethics with the appropriate attentions. It was never intended to be a policing document. I have no desire to be the breed police. If others do, I’m sure the 3 breed police we have now, would appreciate your support. I do not want this to harm our club. I appreciate the support of so many. Please do not do things to harm one another or our club. We all need each other if we want to achieve good things.

Now as President,

I promise you that I will follow our charter to give these charges the proper consideration and respect such a serious charge should receive. I have also decided not to campaign for President in the up coming election. I will let those who support me do that. 

I apologize that this has to be an issue. I hope you have a blessed day.

Sincerely,

Jon Pease

Presidents message to AWPGA, May 2007

 

Greetings My Fellow Griffonniers. 

I hope you have all seen the current issue of Gun Dog magazine and our clubs advertisement in the issue. I thought the breed feature / article was a fair representation of what was told to the author. I know the article will be seen by many people who will be considering owning a Griff. I hope that these prospective owners will read the article in its entirety and after careful deliberation, contact one of you about obtaining a Griff.

 I’m been planning on attending the AKC Parent Breed Club Conference in Atlanta with Lonnie Carroll. I will be looking for help from other clubs with issues we have and will have as we continue to grow. If you are interested in any particular issue, please contact Lonnie or me by July 15th.

We have lots of new project going on throughout our committee’s. I encourage you to read the minutes to follow the status of these projects. We should all be excited about the things our members are doing. Remember, if you want to help or start a new project, contact your regional representative. 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer; it is time to start training for the fall season. I hope to see all of you at the 2007 Specialty in Washington State. The committee has done an outstanding job getting out all the material in a very efficient matter. You have all of the information already, so don’t delay. Enter an event and make your reservations today.

Enjoy this issue of the Griffonnier and may God Bless You.

Jon Pease

President