ESSFTA Committees & Task Forces

Overview

The President, Executive Committee or the Board of Governors may each year appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Club in such matters as dog shows, obedience trials, trophies, annual prizes, membership and other fields which may well be served by committees. Special committees may also be appointed to aid it in particular projects. All committees are always subject to the final authority of the Board of Governors.

Termination. Any committee appointment may be terminated only by the Board of Governors.

Committee guidelines can be found in the Committe Best Practices document that was approved by the Board of Governors on February 5, 2025    Committee Best Practices

AKC Gazette Editorial Board

The AKC Gazette Editorial Board welcomes ideas and information from our membership for use in writing Springer breed columns for the AKC Gazette. Columns focus on Springer performance events, activities, training, grooming, socializing, health education and concerns, and enhancing the bond between Springers and their people.

  • Sarah Ferrell, Editor
  • Advisors: Alvin Eng (Obedience)
  • Virginia Huxley (Genetics & Health)
  • Nancy Johnson

Archives

  • Connie Kieckhefer
  • Tim Baker
  • Cathy Flanders (Corresponding Secretary)
  • Florence Giles
  • Terri Hallman
  • Nancy Johnson, Chair
  • Alex Kerr
  • Dell King
  • Danelle Oliver

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee is responsible for the ESSFTA awards which are presented at the ESSFTA National banquet. These awards include all challenge trophies, show/obedience/agility/rally yearly awards, as well as multiple-title certificate and medallion winners & versatile springer recognition. Statistics are tabulated on a monthly basis from information collected from AKC records. These are then posted quarterly, as well as a final year end tabulation.

  • Polly Mumma, Chair
  • Kim Berkley
  • Alvin Eng
  • Betsy Baird
  • Randy Capsel
  • Nancy Johnson
  • Linda McGrady
  • Alice Mushbuger
  • Danielle Oliver
  • Shannon Shepherd

Awards Committee – AKC Sportsmanship Award Task Force (December 2024 on)

  • Beth Fink
  • Pam Holt
  • Mike Nolan
  • Josh Riddle

Breeder’s Education Committee

  • Donna Larson, Chair
  • Kate Bremser
  • Kim Bullard
  • Julie Fong
  • Erin Kerfoot
  • Holly Boggess

Budget/Financial Committee

  • Ted Lagala, Chair
  • Kathy Nestor
  • Liz Prkaple
  • Lori Nieto
  • Missy Ling
  • Steve Hoostal
  • Terra Collver

ByLaws Committee

  • Randy Capsel, Chair
  • Cathy Flanders
  • Sue Ellen Healy
  • Dawn Horock
  • Nancy Johnson
  • Mike Nolan

Communications

  • Dawn Horock, Spotlight Editor
  • Randy Capsel, Cathy Flanders, ESSFTA website
  • Cathy Flanders, ESSFTA Announce
  • Debbie Schoene, Field Trial Newsgroup Moderator
  • Sarah Ferrell, AKC Gazette Columnist

Field Trial “Blue Book” Revision

  • Holly Boggess, Chair
  • Bill Boeckman
  • Bob Childs
  • Chad Betts
  • Dan Murray
  • Dean Koehler
  • Mark Geebert
  • Morgan Haglan
  • Mike Nolan

Field Trial Judging Apprenticeship

  • Lisa Pyle, Coordinator

Field Trial Gunning Committee

All Field Trial Gun Captains are required to be “Graduates” of the ESSFTA Field Trial Gunning Seminar conducted throughout the Interclubs. Seminar attendance is mandatory to gun at any ESS Field Trial, effective Sep 1, 2005.

  • Morgan Haglin, Chair
  • East Interclub Chair: George Akkouris
  • Mid-East InterClub Chair: Mike Elasser
  • Mid-East Assistant:
  • Mid-West Interclub Chair: Morgan Haglin
  • Mid West Asst:
  • Rocky MT InterClub Chair: Donny Pyle
  • West Interclub Chair: Gary Riddle
  • West Interclub Assistant: Josh Riddle

Field Trial Best Practices Committee (formerly the Rules Advisory Committee)

  • Mike Nolan Chair
  • Bob Iversen
  • Ted Lagala
  • Tom Meyer, AKC Representative – not an ESSFTA members

Health & Genetics

The Health & Genetics Committee serves the membership, Board of Governors, and other ESSFTA Committees in an advisory role on health and genetic aspects of the breed. The committee provides updates on the latest developments in Springer health and suggests guidelines to help promote sound breeding practices.

  • Virginia (Ginger) Huxley (chair)
  • Amanda Brown
  • Patty Meiser
  • Jordanne Smith
  • Deanne Keller
  • Advisors : Erin Kerfoot, Jennifer Carl-Howard, Elizabeth Purkaple

Hunting/Working Dog

The ESSFTA Working Dog/Hunting Test Committee oversees the ESSFTA Working Dog program and associated records, and provides support, oversight, and manages finances for AKC spaniel hunting tests conducted under the ESSFTA license.

The chairperson, or delegate, approves requests from clubs requesting to host a spaniel working dog test and wanting to include English Springer Spaniels as part of the test. The committee ensures working dog test forms and guidelines are updated and provided to requesting clubs. Once a working dog test is completed the host club will submit completed paperwork/score sheets to the committee. The committee is then responsible for issuing certificates to those English Springer Spaniels earning a Working Dog (WD) or Working Dog Excellent (WDX) title. A database is maintained by the committee for all English Springer Spaniels earning a WD or WDX title and this information is regularly updated onto the ESSFTA website.

The committee also assists the National Specialty Committee with planning proposed AKC spaniel hunting tests conducted in conjunction with the National Specialty. This support is either provided directly by the committee in conducting the test or providing financial support and guidance to a local club hosting the hunting test. The committee also oversees the ESSFTA Master Hunting Dog Excellent program, an ESSFTA specific titling event, should requests be submitted from a club wishing to host an event.

The committee maintains a specific checking account for the ESSFTA Hunting Committee for which funds can be utilized for the WD Program or ESSFTA spaniel hunting tests. The committee also provides the Board of Governors an annual activity report and a budget summary of the past year along with a proposed budget for the upcoming year.

  • Jim Brueggemann
  • Jeff Budde
  • Marilyn Burke
  • Randy Capsel
  • Duane Maki
  • Cathy Pullian, Chair
  • Jack Weiss

Working Dog Test Rules Task Force

  • Randy Capsel, Chair
  • Henriette Schmidt

Judge’s Education (Conformation) Updated January 2025

The Judges Education Committee is composed of a Steering Committee and Several Tasks Forces.

The Steering Committee is a group of high-level advisors and experienced subject matter experts who represent various shareholders (this might not be the right word-maybe groups?). They play a vital role in educating and assisting individuals who want to become judges or want to know more about English Springer Spaniel judging. They provide presentations for AKC judge seminars, other judge’s group that requests a program, the National Specialty, and encourage regional clubs to invite them to present at their specialties. They are responsible for developing and implementing training sessions, the ESSFTA Breed Illustrated Standard, and educational materials.

Task forces offer guidance, advice or direction on specific projects from its inception until its completion.

Steering Committee:

  • Erin Kerfoot Chairman, Breeder
  • Dana Lodge Member, AKC Judge, Breeder
  • Robin Novack Member, Handling, Breeder
  • Linda Riedel Member, AKC Judge
  • Clemencia Saavedra Member, Breeder, Board of Governor 2024
  • Judy Vanderlip, Member, AKC Judge, Breeder

Ringside Mentoring Sub-Committee (includes the steering committee) Individuals who have the necessary education and experience to mentor anyone at a show who is interested in the breed or to become a future judge. Members include the Steering Committee. Ongoing

  • TBD

Breed Illustrated Task Force: The ESSFTA Breed Illustrated Task Force works on updating the breed standard and illustrations. May 2023 to completion.

  • Joan Beck, Illustrator
  • Erin Kerfoot
  • Linda Riedel
  • Judy Vanderlip
  • Bench Board of Governors

Legislative

The Legislative Liaison cultivates alliances with other sporting breed clubs and AKC breed club delegates and defines ways to communicate with the English Springer Spaniel clubs regarding current animal legislation.

  • Susan Sorbo (appointed December 2024)

Marketing Committee

  • Sarah Ferrell, Chair

National Amateur Championship (NAC) Committee – 2026

  • George Akkouris – General Chairman
  •  TBD – Field Trial Chairman
  • Elaine O’Keefe – Secretary Treasurer

Mean Seed Task Force

  • John Dunn
  • Cristy Joy
  • Dean Koehler

National Bench Specialty

  • Kathy Patregnani – Co-Chair
  • Liz Pike – Co-Chair
  • Patty Mortara – Webmaster
  • Elizabeth Purkaple, Treasurer

National Specialty – Top 20 Task Force

  • Laura Edwards – Co-Chair
  • Laurie Green – Co-Chair

Nominating Committee – 2024

  • Paula Fluckiger – Chair (Field Governors)
  • Collin Pickrel (National Amateur)
  • Jean Dockendorf (National Specialty)
  • Carol Hathaway (Bench Governors)
  • Beth Fink (President’s Selection)
  • Kathy Nestor (President’s Selection)
  • Clemencia Saavedra (President’s Selection)

Pro Plan Liaison

  • Dean Reinke
  • Debbie Schoene – Event Delivery Contact

Pro Plan Allocation

  • Not currently active

Spotlight -2023

  • Dawn Horock, Spotlight Editor

Website Committee

  • Holly Boggess – Chair
  • Cathy Flanders
  • Mark Gebert
  • Cristy Joy
  • Patty Mortera
  • Liz Pike
  • Cassie Sammons