Merrylee Malanowski

I   would like to sincerely thank the nominating committee for my nomination of Treasurer for the years 2023 (September) thru (August, 31) 2025.

I am a 32-year member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association and currently hold the office of Treasurer.  At the 2023 National I was recently honored as the recipient of the 2023 ASSA Outstanding Service Award.

Over the past 50 years when I became interested in the Shetland Sheepdog breed, I have raised, trained and showed or had shown Shelties in breed, obedience, agility,  rally and herding venues.   I have owned home-bred or co-owned champions in all of these venues.  I also was very active with the 4-H and was a leader when my children were young.

I have been in the field of accounting for most of my adult life and enjoy the challenges that it brings.  I oversaw seven diverse companies, plus a Disney rental house agency and an advertising firm all out of one office where I did the accounting for all.  My boss was  an entrepreneur.

Club service has been an ongoing passion for me. I am a 41-year Life Member of the Chicagoland Shetland Sheepdog Club and currently their Treasurer, Corporate Registered Agent, Membership Chair and webmaster for the past 20 years plus. Before that I served over the years as President, Vice-President, Trophy Chair, Breeds/Sweeps Chair, Steward, and on the Merit Awards Committee, Ways & Means Committee, as Auditor, Show Chairman, Show Secretary and Co-Show Secretary, Judge’s Hospitality, Raffle Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair. I was also instrumental in developing a Specialty Show Manual for the Club’s Specialty shows.  I also fill in whenever needed.

I was a member of Interlocking Shetland Sheepdog Club for 27 years and held offices of Corresponding Secretary, Show Chairman and Board Member, plus was on the Rescue committee, Nominating Committee Chair, Raffle Chair and Judge’s Hospitality several times.

It is a pleasure and an honor to serve the Officers, the Board, and the entire ASSA membership and to fulfill the duties in the capacity of ASSA Treasurer.  The changes that I have recommended over the years as Treasurer have been considered by the Board to be for the betterment of the organization.

If elected I will continue to dedicate my time and efforts to do the job of ASSA Treasurer in a professional and caring manner.

Merrylee Malanowski

BIO – Janita Jaster

As owner of Camelot Isle Shelties, I purchased my first Shetland Sheepdog in 1979.   I have been involved in showing Shelties in Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Agility and Herding since 1982 as a breeder/owner/handler.  I have served in many positions in local dog clubs as well as the ASSA.   I have assisted and worked in aspects of the ASSA outside of my Performance Chair position to make the National show a success.  My goal as a small breeder is to continue to have conformation and performance dogs, striving for quality– not quantity in my breeding program.   As a longtime accountant, I would like to serve the ASSA membership in the field of my career expertise.

I have served as:

• ASSA National Performance Chair and/or ASSA Asst. National Performance Chair since 2013.
• Board Member and Treasurer for the Tyler Obedience Training Club since 2021.
• Tyler Obedience Training Club, Obedience and Rally Chair since 2018.
• Tax Auditor for the Texas Comptroller of Public Account since 1991, Auditing the books and records of thousands of taxpayers nationwide.  Auditing small companies through fortune 100 entities.
• Accountant for Getty Oil Company / Texaco Inc from 1981-1991.
• Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with 2 degrees; Bachelor of Accounting and Bachelor of Business Management.
• Member of the Trinity Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club.
• 2008 Winner of the Best All Around Sheltie at the ASSA National in Greely, CO.
• Owner/Breeder of Champions in conformation and performance events.

I would be honored to be elected as the ASSA Treasurer with the goal of serving the membership.   Thank you for your consideration,

Stephanie Trautman Riley

About myself, I bought my first Sheltie during my Junior year of college (1991) while a pre-vet student at the University of Florida. She was a two year old Ch. Macdega Maserati daughter out of a Macdega bred bitch. ‘Maggie’ was my introduction into Shelties and dog sports (obedience, agility and herding) and was the catalyst for what is Trilliant Shetland Sheepdogs. I am a past member of the Shetland Sheepdog Club of SE Florida where I served as Vice President and on numerous committees. I was a member (and still am) of the Tampa Bay Area Shetland Sheepdog Club where I served on committees, the board, and was also the trophy solicitation chairman for several years. Currently I am also a member of the Nashville Kennel Club. I joined the ASSA in 2002 and just recently resigned from the position of National Trophy Chairman after serving for several years.  I have bred, co-bred or owned over 25 AKC breed champions and one Ch./MACh/VCX. I have bred a Runner Up in Futurity winner, two Award of Merit winners, and an ASSA National High in Trial Obedience & Reserve High in Trial Herding-Sheep  winner. I have also been the co-breeder of a ROM dog and most recently am the breeder and owner of the ASSA’s 2022 Top Producing Dam.

I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the ASSA as a Director At Large.

Lisa Graser  ( Blue Heaven )

 I have been involved in this breed for over 30 years. I started in Shelties in obedience in 1989 obtaining a CDX on my first two shelties. I bred my first litter in 1993 as Lisa Bush and started the kennel Blue Heaven. Along with my husband Lloyd Graser, Blue Heaven has bred/owned/finished 130 American Champions, over 115 of those being homebred.

In 2022 we were Awarded Breeder of the Year and Top Producing sire and the OFA  Champion of Health Award. In 2020 we were Awarded the ASSA 3 Top Breeder Awards

Breeder of the Year, Top Producing Sire and Top Producing Dam. We have been the breeder/owner/handler of the 2018 ASSA National Specialty Best In Futurity, Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch. We have had 3 National AOM winners, 30 Best in Specialty Show dogs, 9 Champion ROM’s , 4 Top Producing Dams, Top Producing sire and two All Breed Best In Shows.

In 2023 I had the ultimate privilege to judge dogs at our ASSA National Specialty.

I am currently licensed to judge the Herding, Terrier and Toy Group,  BIS, and 14 Sporting breeds. Shelties are my TRUE passion, I am actively involved in showing, breeding and am constantly involved on a daily basis in the world of pure bred dogs. I would be honored to be voted in as a director-at large and represent our members  voices   keeping them informed of all that is happening with our National Club.

Yvonne DeFreitas (Bio, Director at Large)

It would be an honor for me to represent ASSA as a Director at Large. In the position of Director-At-Large I would do my best to approach issues from a position of neutrality; weighing them based on their merits and how they

contribute to the overall interest of the ASSA. I would work to understand, digest and present issues brought to me by individual members in an even and forthright manner and represent them to the ASSA Board backed with both fact and examples.

I have been an ASSA member in good standing since September of 1987. During that time, I have filled numerous roles including but not limited to being a member of Ringside Education, a member of the nominating Committee and a member of the life Membership Committee. I’m currently President of Pacific NW SSC but have served many other positions. I also co-chaired a very successful raffle that netted PNWSSC close to $30,000.00. No matter where I have served, my goal is for the betterment of the organization and the people who are involved.

Today, no matter where you reside, dog laws are everywhere and are here to stay. Every dog organization and parent club must listen, act, and continue to be there for the breed and individuals who are also passionate about the breed. It is my desire to act in this capacity.

Thank you for your consideration to serve as Director at Large.

Jennie Hynes

As you consider your choice for ASSA Director at Large, I would like to reiterate my commitment to the ASSA and our wonderful breed.  I have been involved and committed to the Shetland Sheepdog my entire life.  At age 10, I joined Tri State Shetland Sheepdog Club.  I am still a member today.  As a child I served the club as Trophy Chairman for several years.  Since that time, I have served the club in many capacities including, several terms as president, several years as show chairman, breeder referral chair, vice president, board member.    I am presently the President of Longshore-Southport KC.

In my years growing up in Shelties in the Northeast, I had the opportunity to interact with so many of our Sheltie Icons and realized the commitment and dedication they showed towards local clubs, ASSA, and our wonderful breed.  I carry with me today the responsibility and commitment I saw in them.

Having joined in the spring of 1987, I am a 25-year member of ASSA and as of 2019, an ASSA Life Member.  It has been my pleasure to serve ASSA in many capacities.

I was the ASSA Conformation Trophy Solicitation Chair for 7 years and coordinated and presented the “Sheltie Standard Study Group”, an educational program for newcomers and established breeders… This seminar offers a classroom component and a hands-on portion that was well attended at several Nationals.

I have served as ASSA Region 1 Director for 3 2-year terms and Director At Large for the last 2 years.   I have attended all Board meetings held during my time in office.

For the past four years, I have been responsible for coordinating the ASSA booth at Meet the Breeds in New York City. This is a stand alone Meet the Breeds event held the weekend prior to the Westminster Kennel Club show. Meet the Breeds is one of ASSA’s best opportunities to introduce the beauty of our breed to the public.

I am also serving on the Judges Education Committee.

The ASSA is an important factor in maintaining the breed and its integrity. I take my responsibility to Shelties and ASSA very seriously and will bring that sense of duty with me if elected as a Director of Large.

Thank you for your consideration.