National Samoyed Rescue Board Members

The Cherished Samoyed Artwork copyright 2005 by Annie Reid

Jim Becklund
Board Chair

Greetings All,

My name is Jim Becklund and I am the current Pack Leader for National Samoyed Rescue (NSR). I’d like to take this opportunity to provide you with a little background on myself.

I was born in 1950 in a small mid-Michigan community. I was a member of a family of four—my mother and father and an older sister. My childhood was not graced with a dog as a family pet, but I grew up respecting and cherishing the human bond with animals.

Although I have been fascinated and in love with the Samoyed breed since I was a small child, my first didn’t come in to my life until 1987. From that point on I was hooked.

Leksi was my working dog. He was “semi good” at Obedience but excelled in weight pull. He gained his W.D. and W.S. titles doing the thing he loved best. My second Samoyed, CH. Silver Echo’s Major Motion, taught me a lot about the breed and how mischievous and stubborn they can be. My third Samoyed, CH. Moon Bear’s Starr Gazer, was my one and only trip into the show world and my one and only journey into whelping and raising a litter of puppies. 

My current Sams are (Starr daughter) Silver Rapids Taraza Moon K.T. (Katie for short) and my little rescue boy (who isn’t so little at 55 lbs) Cordy (C.B. for short).

I joined both SAMD and the Samoyed Club of America in 1988. I have proudly served the interest of our breed as a SAMD Board member, Vice President, and President. I have been a supporter of Samoyed Rescue since SAMD set up a regional rescue group in the early 1990s. As a volunteer for regional rescue groups, I have done just about everything--“gofer,” transporter, foster home, and rescue coordinator.

In the late 1990s I began to work on several projects for national Samoyed rescue. Through these projects, I realized the potential of what a national rescue organization could become and could do, and I wanted to be involved. I became an NSR Board member in late 2003 and coordinator in January 2005 and served as Rescue Liaison to the Samoyed Club of America for two years.

My goal is to foster an ever important communication link between all members of the Samoyed Community.

I hope you can spend some time looking around our website and maybe joining us in our Forum section for discussions, learning, exploring our wonderful breed, and some fun things besides.

Marsha Hahn
Treasurer

Marsha has been owned by Samoyeds since 1980 and has been a member ot Therapy Dogs International since 1998. As the name indicates, these dogs visit various institutions, hospitals or special programs offered and act as healing agents to the people that the dogs come in contact with.

Marsha is currently involved with rescue and will help any breed to the extent that she is capable.

Sandy Phifer
Secretary

My husband and I purchased our first Samoyed in 1979. It wasn't until we purchased our first home that we also got our second Samoyed, back in 1987. At that time there were very few rescues out there so I decided to look into the possibility of starting a rescue in this local area, which ended up being the Delaware Valley Samoyed Rescue.

Over the years more rescues have been started and things are always changing, so therefore we try to go with the changes. I have been both President and Secretary for a local all-breed club, for which I am now the Show Chairperson. I have also been involved with the Delaware Valley Samoyed Club for years and our local All-Breed rescue and Owner Handler Club.

Tom Delaney
Board Member

Anne Gannon
Board Member

TBD

Pam Hofmann
Board Member

TBD

Carol Kinne
Board Member

Founding member Houston-Mercer Dog Run Association, New York City (1972-80):
Involved in meetings with city, dealing with anti-dog types, and then designing and maintaining the facility after it was approved.

Founding member MVDTC Inc. obedience club, Utica, NY area (1988 to present):
Have served as officer and/or board member. Involved in club obedience matches as co-chair 3 years, head steward 6 years, grounds and site preparation since founding. Maintain web site for club.

Central NY Samoyed rescue contact for Minuteman Samoyed Club Rescue (1996-present):
Handle inquiries, adoptions, surrenders, transport, and work with local shelters, and coordinate foster homes and other assistants. Member rescue committee. Maintain rescue web page for MSCR.

Member of Organization for Working Samoyeds OWS (1986 to present, board member 2006 to present)
Member Samoyed Club of America, SCA (1990 to present)
Member National Samoyed Rescue Board (2009 - )

My dogs have earned AKC obedience, herding, and working Samoyed titles for weight pull, therapy, herding, and packing. Also have handled two of my dogs in conformation. There are presently 4 Samoyeds and 1 Newfoundland in the family and occasional Samoyed foster dogs.

Jackie Parchman
Board Member

Our family bought its first Sammy in 1964—from a backyard breeder.  It was an accidental breeding, but it was from very good bloodlines.  Frostie was everything we wanted in a dog—and then some—and we never considered a different breed after that!  He was my first obedience dog.  Then came Gambler from a prominent kennel.  Then Chloe who was a rescue.
Then Cheers who was a breeder hand-me-down.  I certainly loved them all, but Cheers was my very special girl because of all the things she accomplished for me.  And now, I have Captain, a Sammy mix, who came as a foster, but didn’t find his forever home—except with me.

I was never tempted to show in conformation, but have put titles on all my dogs in obedience.
I also have titled dogs in agility, herding, tracking, CGC and have had them temperament tested
And one was a therapy dog and Dog Scout of America and earned several merit badges.  

I can’t remember exactly when I started working in rescue, but I have fostered a half dozen or so dogs, and for the last five or six years, I have been very much involved with St. Louis rescue.

Lori Chapek-Carleton
Board Member

I obtained my first Samoyed in 1985. I am a member of Samoyed Club of America, Inc. and am currently Recording Secretary on the SCA board of governors. I am also a member of Samoyed Association of Canada, Samoyed Association of Metro Detroit (currently President), and  the Organization for Working Samoyeds. I live with a houseful of Samoyeds and husband Gordon, and occasionally pursue non-dog-related activities. I have been a supporter of Samoyed rescue for years.