We Did It!
October 2nd was a big day for us, for Anita’s non-profit and for the homeless dogs in Clermont County Ohio. Recall Anita’s leading the effort to save over 90% of all animals entering our County’s Animal Shelter while I’m leading the effort to affect change politically. On October 2nd they both came together when Clermont Pets Alive! (CPA) was awarded the 2013/2014 contract by the Board of County Commissioners as their K-9 Designee. After much patience and a 50 page proposal to the County that was due the 5th of July, CPA was awarded the right to rescue dogs from the euthanasia list at the County Shelter with 24 hours notice. The contract only covers dogs because Ohio law still does not recognize cats as property (a project for another year). Since the 1st list was issued by the local “Humane” Society, CPA has rescued virtually every animal made available (including dozens of cats and kittens).
We’ll Do It!
While “negotiating” the changes to the County’s Shelter contract for 2013, the County’s Administrator made me a promise they would bid the shelter contract out for the 1st time EVER in 2014. As November came and went we held little hope he’d be able to make good on that promise. Then I received the email that will change everything. The County IS planning to accept proposals for the 2014 shelter contract and Clermont Pets Alive! will submit a proposal!! This means Anita and the group of dedicated volunteers she’s attracted will likely have the opportunity they desire – access to EVERY animal entering the shelter. Apprehensive – yes, excited – yes, scared – yes (be VERY careful what you wish for). For the 1st half of 2013 I carried a goal card in my pocket with the Clermont Pets Alive! logo across the front of the County Shelter with the phrase “$300,000+ by April 1st, NO JOKE!” across the photo. The photo was changed to a local kennel Anita almost bought and the date of the goal was modified a few times as it came and went, but the goal remains the same – supporting Anita’s efforts to make Clermont County the 1st No Kill Community in southwest Ohio! Thoughts are things, we give them substance by the actions we take and the people we attract. Watch out Clermont County Humane Society – HERE WE COME in 2014!
We Made Time
Running an organization that saves 100’s of animals a year is more than a full-time job. Anita works tirelessly, day and night, to support their needs. I’m still working as a contractor for Procter & Gamble, finished one diaper project, continuing the 2nd and picked up an IT project that has me working near full-time. I’m working from home every day now and REALLY enjoy the commute.
I still teach a Junior Achievement class every winter (2nd graders this year), am serving as the Vice President of Public Relations for my TV Toastmasters Club, lead a Mastermind Group based on the principles of Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich, participate in a weekly prison ministry, lead the Fix Clermont organization to guide the political portions of Anita’s mission, manage the web sites for the local No kill Initiative and a Google adwords campaign with a $10,000 a month budget.
Despite our seeming lack of time, we attended the American Pets Alive! conference in Austin, Texas (watch my TV interview) after stopping in Dallas to visit Cheryl and Clint Rodenfels, returned to DC for the annual No Kill Conference (visiting George and Martha’s place in Mt. Vernon), celebrated a Barron family reunion at Lake Marion, SC, and I enjoyed the coldest spring break in recent history in Panama City Beach with my granddaughters Mia and Anna, visited family in Richmond while interviewing for a job (I didn’t get it) and visited my Mom for a week in Laguna Beach.
We Finished!
I’d been entertaining the notion of competing in a triathlon after hearing a Toastmasters speech describing the different types a few years back. The seed that was planted in 2011 was nurtured in 2012 and bore fruit this year. On October 6th my friend Reuben and I completed our first triathlon, I finished in 3:18, while he finished two minutes ahead of me at 3:16. The Little Miami Triathlon is one of the largest in the country and consists of a 6 mile canoe trip, a 5.5 mile run and an 18 mile bike ride. I started the year with the Flying Pig 5k, added the Olde Williamsburg 5k, nursed my wounds after a bicycle accident, Ran Furr Rescues with Reuben, and finished the Panerathon 10k in just over an hour.
We’ve yet to sign up for the 2014 spring event but I’ve already enrolled for the Flying Pig 10k hoping an early 10k race will get me out of the house and onto the road earlier in 2014.
We’re Very Fortunate
The sound your face makes bouncing on the pavement (without a helmet) is one I know I’ll never forget! Ask me about the story the next time you see me, you’ll smile at the number of obvious “hints” I missed that maybe a helmet would have been a good idea. I exited the experience with a minor concussion, a bit of road rash on my right arm, shoulder and right cheek, five stitches in my left hand and a pinkie that’s just now returning to normal in terms of my sense of touch, but that pales in comparison to the bullet Anita dodged this year – skin cancer!
Anita had a small blemish under her left eye that didn’t exhibit any of the traditional signs of cancer. She had the insight to schedule an appointment with me when I visited the dermatologist to follow-up on a rash around my eyes (which turned out to be an allergy to detergent). He recognized the blemish immediately as basil cell cancer and took a biopsy which returned positive. After Mohr’s surgery to remove the cancerous cells and plastic surgery to repair the damage, she looks and feels as good as ever. We’re BOTH sold on the benefits of a yearly skin exam, regardless of how much time you think you’ve spent in the sun (I’m the one that baked for 3 summers in a life guard chair)!
We’re Very Proud
While the joy and satisfaction of knowing she’s helped another homeless pet or enabled a volunteer to pursue their passion are enough for Anita, I’ve sought opportunities to raise visibility of what Anita’s accomplished to bring more resources to her aid. To that end, I nominated her for the 2013 Orpha Gatch Citizernship Award sponsored by the Clermont County League for Women Voters (did you know men can be members?). Anita was interviewed for a video that was presented before those in attendance at the award ceremony. Although she wasn’t selected as the 2013 award recipient, I’m VERY proud of my Woman of Action. She’s also done a few radio interviews promoting Clermont Pets Alive! and I’ve got a contact with a local television station trying to get her scheduled for their morning show.
We’re Close
We love Cincinnati but it’s definitely not close to family or many of you with whom we remain in touch, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t feel a connection to you. We try to remain in touch via phone and through facebook, but there’s often much that goes on without our active participation. That’s definitely the case with the kids in our lives. Mia is now 17 and a junior in High School, Anna is a teenager and in the 7th grade. The ladies are still in Florida and we miss them dearly. Kendra and Eric’s son A.J. is in the 5th grade and serving his fellow students as a crossing guard. Andrew, Grace and Will keep Tina and Kevin hopping through school and sports. Mom is very active in her church, enjoying life in Laguna Beach.
We lost Sphinx this year and are down to four kitties – Wolly, Simba, Misty and Diva. Diva has started to warm up to me but Misty still hisses when I get close.
We’re Blessed
It’s difficult to express in words every year the magnitude of blessings we’ve received throughout the year. We count you among those blessings and look forward to sharing time with you in 2014. Our lives are VERY full, but never too full to be reminded that it’s WHO we spend our lives with that counts. We have high hopes for 2014 and hope we’ll be able to share our journey, our time and our resources with you. May you be blessed with health, happiness, peace of mind and a sense of love and well-being in 2014. Please stay in touch via email, facebook, telephone and snail mail (we’re in the book).
With All Our Love,
and 
P.S. The new version of Internet Explorer no longer renders the slideshows on the web site correctly. I started using a different technical solution in 2013 that displays correctly in ALL browsers and will endeavor to transition the historical photos as time permits (yah – right!). I apologize for Mr. Gates decision years ago to write his own standards that no one else followed.