Representatives Committee - 2008/2009

The responsibility of the Representatives Committee is to:

Increase awareness among Jack Russell Terrier owners of the existence of the Jack Russell Club of America.
Help and advise Club members and other interested Jack Russell Terrier owners with any and all matters pertaining to the Club and to the breeding, raising, owning, selling or showing of same.
Assist, when requested, the Complaint Panel and Disciplinary Committee with disciplinary problems among the Representatives by making recommendations to the Board of Directors for appropriate action.
Handle all day-to-day Club business pertaining to the Representatives.

Representatives Committee Members

Donna Curnow (Reps Committee Chairperson)

I was raised in Santa Barbara, California along with 8 siblings; we were a hunting and ranching family. All of us grew up with great respect for hunting, horses and dogs. My oldest sister and two brothers are experienced hunters.

I have one daughter, three sons and seven grandchildren with one on the way. We always had animals in our lives but it was not until my daughter brought home a Jack Russell Terrier in 1986 when we lived in Oklahoma that I really knew what they where about. I spoke with the breeder and they gave me the information about the JRTCA and I called and spoke to Ailsa Crawford, needless to say I was hooked. I moved back to California with my family in 1987 and I got involved forming an affiliate club, became very active with trials and being from a hunting family we started working our terriers on the ranch we had settled on in Southern California. All of my terriers have worked in the field.

Since joining the JRTCA in 1987, I have served as an elected JRTCA board member and served on the Breeders and Reps Committee. I became a Go to Ground judge in 1995 and State Rep in 1997, I have been serving as Chairman of the Reps Committee since 2005. I also helped with Russell Rescue in the 90's fielding phone calls, housing and placing terriers. I have worked at the National trial for many, many years and look forward to many more years to come. I moved to New York this year along with my 13 year old terrier Moe who has earned his Bronze Medallion and my corgi XO. We really love it here in the North East and I look forward to working more with the Club and the great people that I have met through this wonderful little white dog.

Jane Griffin (Vice-Chairperson)

Born and reared in Alabama, I grew up on the family farm and fished and hunted with my father. At our house we always had hunting dogs for fox, coon, deer and rabbit and the house pet was a white bodied "fiest" with a bob tail that would tree squirrels and rid the barns of rats. Needless to say, these dogs all made an impression on what I thought a dog should be - one that worked well.

In 1991 I attended my first JRTCA affiliate club fun day. I was like a kid at a carnival. I couldn't get enough of watching the dogs in the performance events and then was amazed when my little ten inch pudding, Gilbert, wanted to participate. We attended our first JRTCA trials where Gilbert raced, did agility and go-to-ground. I soon was marveling at the beautiful dogs in the conformation classes and bought my first correct terrier, Sarah. The breeder invited us to go on a hunting trip and I could not express my pride at seeing her go into a tunnel and work a groundhog. We both were hooked. This was better than opening gift packages - it was always a surprise to see what was home in the earth. My kennel name, Wit's End Terriers, came from the antics these first terriers performed whenever they could sense I was at my wit's end. They could always put a smile on my face.

In the years since joining the JRTCA I have worked at trials, been the chairperson for trials, become a State Rep, serve on the Reps Committee and served on the JRTCA board of directors. My kennel is home to eight Jack Russell Terriers (four Wits' End Terriers have earned Bronze Medallions) and one rescued Airedale Terrier that is there for comic relief! We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia and I work as a salesperson for a manufacturer of panelized buildings and mezzanines. We hunt as often as possible and enjoy seeing our terrier friends at trials all around the East Coast.

Patti Podliska

My name is Patti Podliska, I am the Nebraska State Representative.

I became a member of the JRTCA in 1998. I was born in Norfolk, Nebraska. I have lived in this area all of my life. I married my husband Dana in 1988; we have 3 active children ages two boys and one girl ages Ross 16, Zachary 12 and Sara Sue 10. We live on 12 acres of pasture and trees.

Our children have grown up with the Jack Russell's. Hunting Jacks, upland game birds and fishing. It is our way of life too. We have 7 Jack Russell's right now, we also have a Brittany for the bird hunting, a German Sheppard that is suppose to guard the place, and a Jag terrier rescue that helps the Jacks when needed.

The last week of June we help put on the Mid-America Working Terrier trial. The whole family helps. I couldn't do it with out them nor would I want too.

My family and I are proud to be a member of the JRTCA and we all will work to protect, preserve and work the Jack Russell to keep it true to its breed and the club.

Marina Sauer

My name is Marina Sauer. I am on of the North Carolina State Reps. I have aliases of Maria, Rita, and Rina. I live in Kenly, North Carolina which is southeast of Raleigh, north of Smithfield for the past 11 years. I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. I have been a member of the JRTCA since 1991 and have been a state rep for almost as many years. I was active in Russell Rescue for @ 10 years and still field calls regarding "problem children."

By natural instinct, I am a veterinary technician and have been in the profession since 1984. I have a special interest in "behavior issues and breeding issues." For the past 7 years, I am working in a mixed practice and let me tell you that is a challenge! I also work part-time when the mood strikes as a bartender at a local steakhouse.

I am currently owned by (7) Jack Russell's, (4) Lakeland Terriers, (1) Coon Hound, a Chow/Lab mix, a Chihuahua (Chihuahua!) and (6) cats. My hobbies are hunting my dogs, going to dog shows, visiting friends, and trying new adventures at least once.

Shelly Firestone

My name is Shelly Firestone and I live in Fairbanks Alaska. I have been the JRTCA Alaska State Representative for 8 years and a member for 10 years. I have worked for the Mayor at the Borough (like the county) as a purchasing agent for 19 years. I live with my husband (Jack) and my 4 Jack Russell's, so I guess I live with "5 JACKS". I saw my first Jack in 1997 in Florida at a Polo match and had to have one. I had Labradors Retrievers at the time and I competed in Field Trails, where my husband and I trained and hunted our Labs. It has always been challenging training dogs in Alaska in the winter time. Keeping them exercised is difficult when winter starts in October and sunrise is 10:30 am sunset at 2:00 pm and 55 below is not uncommon.

I enjoy the companionship and thrill of hunting with my Jack Russell's in Alaska, as well as in the mid-west and eastern seaboard country side. My hobbies are: Riding horses, collecting vintage sterling western horse tack, sewing and making crafts. Growing flowers in my yard is my passion. I love to watch how large everything grows with the sun up almost 24 hours in the summer. When winter arrives, the moose come to our garden and snack on what is left from the summer harvest.

My husband and I love to travel to remote villages in Alaska and experience the local customs. We have been fortunate to see many wild animals such as polar bears, grizzlies, herds of caribou and of coarse moose. This summer in our woods we had a red fox take up residence and raise 4 kits. This is life in the land of the midnight sun and northern lights.

Tressie Cowen

My name is Tressie Cowen and I have had Jack Russell Terriers since December 1995. I have been a member of the Gulf Coast JRTN since 1996 and a member of the JRTCA since 1995. Currently, I have 5 terriers total. However, my son tells me that he has 2 and I have 3. I have one son that will be five years old in December. He has been raised around the terriers and is looking forward to competing in the child/youth handler classes.

I actually live in a small town called Burton (just outside of Brenham), but I work for Texas A & M University in College Station right at 40 miles one way from my house. At Texas A & M, I am a Training Supervisor in the Comparative Medicine Program. I have competed in all of the different terrier sports at trials. My terriers seem to like racing and go-to ground the best, I really enjoy agility.

Traveling to different parts of the country visiting with other terrier owners is something that I really look forward to during the year. It is always nice to spend time with friends that you don't get to see very often.