FBA Nominations for 2010

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Nominations for Officers and the Board of Directors for 2012

All comments are unedited.
Where there are multiple candidates the names are listed alphabetically.

For President

Dana Hillis
I wish to run for the position of president of the FBA. I appreciate all the support I received the last several years from all the members, judges and teams and will continue to work hard for positive growth of this great organization. We have grown considerably since I first joined in 2007 and I have learned a lot as a board member for 2 years and vice president this past year. I have studied hard on all issues and items that have arisen and put a lot of time in learning the right, legal and financially responsible resolutions needed. I promise to work hard and make 2012 a big year for our organization and to all my friends and bbq family I promise to make you help me. Thanks for your support

For Vice President

Anthony Wolfe
I have been an active member of the FBA Board this past year as Director at Large and Judges Committee chair. As such, I have been a point of contact for many members and judges. I have displayed a willingness to listen to concerns and have worked with members of FBA and the Board to get these concerns addressed. I want to serve as your FBA Vice-President because I feel that there is much more to be done. I feel I am very apporoachable and open-minded. I may speak my mind, but you always know how I feel. The FBA board is aswerable to the membership and I am seeking ways to get the membership much more involved.
One of our greatest challenges is also our greatest opportunity. We need to become more involved as members. I would like to see more members on committees (such as the judges committee, a sponsorship committee, and a by-law committee. I will actively seek members to serve on these committees. I would also like to see a founding members representative on the board to help keep the orginial ideals of the FBA in mind.
I feel that I work hard for the members of the FBA and have worked with many different people in the organization. I may not know all the answers, but I keep working until I find out the answers.
No matter who you choose to vote for, please vote. This is YOUR organization and can only improve with your support and participation!

For Secretary

Gail Cushing
My name is Gail M. Cushing and I would like to introduce myself as your candidate for FBA Secretary.
There are over 700 members in our club and I do not believe that I will be able to meet and greet everyone of you before the election date. I would love to though, and I will wander up and meet those of you who are at the contests we are both attending.
I am campaigning differently from the other candidates this year. I am not going to box myself in by listing my strengths and weaknesses here on the FBA website. Nor am I going to tell you why you want to vote for me and not the other guy or gal.
What I am going to do is incorporate the FBA facebook site into my campaign. We all use facebook, most of us on a daily basis. So I am going to call my campaign for FBA secretary; 53 Days of Gail. And for the next 53 days I will post a point, ditty, strength, weakness or personal comment about me that you do not know, but it will give you a better understanding of who I am, how I think, and what makes me the gal for the job as FBA secretary.
To start my "53 Days of Gail" campaign out I will share a strength here on the website for you.
I accurately state points, spell properly, and use proper, clear and concise English. I am computer literate and can report findings and information. I am also and idea setter. You see this as fact since no one else has come up with the idea to share themselves continuously throughout their campaign as I will on the FBA facebook page.
I look forward to your comments added to my posts as they will give me and understanding as to who you are also.
See you all on the FBA facebook page

Pamela Marmar
Since joining the FBA in 2009 I have come to appreciate what a great organization it is and all the hard work that is involved in running it.
Some of my previous work experiences include managing a drug store, managing a real estate office, managing the office of the local telephone directory, and working in the Performance Improvement Department at FPL's Turkey Point Nuclear Plant. I consider myself retired even though I still work at our home-based fishing reel repair business. All of these positions instilled in me a work ethic which would lend itself to this position.
If elected, I would do my best to fulfill the position of Secretary.
Thank you for your consideration.

For Treasurer

Ricky Ginsburg
When I joined the FBA at the founding meeting, I sat in a crowded room with a group of people who had a dream. It was one that I shared - to build a barbecue sanctioning body that would be revered, respected, and looked upon as a leader in the years to follow. Now, some eleven years after that first meeting, much of that dream has come true and I am both proud and humbled to be a part of it.
I have been the treasurer of the Florida Bar-B-Que Association for nine years, a board member longer than anyone else in the organization. I have seen our membership grow from that small group in Orlando to over 700 members, several of them - including myself - who have become Life Members, showing a commitment to the FBA unheard of in any other sanctioning body.
Once again, I place my name in nomination to be your Treasurer, to pay the bills, to protect the assets, and help this fine organization weather the worst economic times many of us ever seen. When you consider who to vote for, don't base your decision on anything other than who has done, and will continue to do the job you elected them for. This is not a place where politics should take precedence over quality of performance. Thanks.

Board of Directors

Rob Bagby
I have been an FBA member for 8 years, and have 5 years of service including BOD at-large, secretary, vice president, and president for 2 years. Jimmy Brod was a fantastic asset to me as my vice president and the FBA during that time and I am happy to see him running again. We have had some great success in these years and have grown in every facet. I want to see the FBA continue to do the right things, and I want to continue to be a part of the group that sees it happen. Thank you for your consideration.
Rob "Rub" Bagby

Jimmy Brod
Dear FBA BBQ Friends
FBA I have decided to change my nomination to Board Member at large. I think Tony and I have equal abilities to perform the job as FBA Vice-President. I also think Tony's judging and cooking background should provide a diverse perspective that the FBA needs right now. I also think I can perform the tasks I have performed for the FBA BOD in the past concerning public relations, sponsor relations and jack of all trades in the same capacity in 2012 as a board member at large. I endorse Dana Hillis as FBA President 2012 and Tony Wolf as FBA Vice-President 2012. With the help of the FBA membership I hope to apply my experience and work with Dana and Tony and move the FBA on to bigger and better BBQ in 2012
Thank you for your support.
Jimmy Brod
Pit Master (Smokin' Cracker BBQ Team and Everglades Seasoning BBQ Team)

Louis Goldman
I am seeking election to the 2012 Board of Directors as one of the three members at large. In addition to being a Master Judge for FBA I have also judged for KCBS, GBA, IBCA, CBBQA and Best of the Best and I've learned a little at each contest.
Before judging BBQ contests I spent over 30 years in residential and commercial real estate, construction and land development both as a company owner and investor. Most of that time was devoted to dealing with people, solving problems and creating results. That's what I do best!
The FBA has come a long way in the past 10+ years and we have to give credit to the officers and members of the previous Boards of Directors. I am retired, I have the time and I'm willing to work for the FBA - I sincerely believe that together we can move the FBA up to a new level of excellence.
I appreciate your support in this election. My email is open for any questions, comments and/or suggestions that you may have. Thank you.

Ed Hartwig
First of all, please allow me to thank you very much for bestowing upon me the honor of representing you the past two terms as an At-Large Member of the BOD. I have decided to run again for a third term because there is still much to be done and accomplished in the FBA.
I am very qualified. I am a retired High School chemistry and sports medicine teacher from suburban Cincinnati. I also served my community in elected office, and own and ran a BBQ catering business for 10 years. I am currently a Master Judge, the Rep. Coordinator , and have been assigned for the second year to act as an Organizer for the TC event in Perry, primarily helping Miss Dawn Taylor, the local Organizer. Now the question must be asked, "what have I done or tried to do for the membership the past two years on the BOD"? First of all, I have tried to strive for transparency in conducting FBA business. We have dramatically improved in this area, and you have a really good chance of finding out what is taking place by phoning in on the monthly meeting.
I have been been behind the JOTY program the past two years in an attempt to honor our fine, conscientious judges who do so much for our organization. I am the record keeper of data for this program. Our Judges deserve to be honored and this is our way of doing this.
I have been, for two years, trying to get our books audited as is required by the directives in our By-Laws. Why this has taken so long is absolutely beyond me, but it is very close to finally happening. As Rep coordinator, I have been trying to strengthen our rep. corps. I asked Dennis Schmitz and Ida Isaacs to develop a formal qpplication form and put in place a procedure for selectign and training new reps. They have done a beautiful job for us and we now have in place a formal curriculum for training reps. They also are responsible for selecting candidates, recommending the candidates to me, and I then submit the names to the BOD for final approval. This is too important a task to leave to one person to do, and this way we are minimizing the possibility of mistakes.
If you believe I am doing a good job on your behalf, please vote for me. If you do not think I am doing the job, then, of course, do not vote for me and I will ride off into the sunset, probably madder than hell!!!!!! Thanks for your kind consideration
Ed Hartwig, BOD At-Large Member

Ray Lesko
Hello my fellow FBA members. After considerable thought I decided to run for the position of Director at Large on the FBA Board.
For those who don't know me I have been an FBA member for more than 3 years and I am currently a Master Judge and a Contest Representative. During my working career I was involved with computer software being an operator, programmer, applications manager and a Vice President at a large firm based out of Texas. I am now retired which allows me time which I can dedicate to working on FBA projects.
The reason I want to be on the Board is to be an advocate for improvement, including written and especially unwritten rules. Our present By-laws have done well but could use a review. Cookteam rules are working well but also could stand a review. Our Sanctioning agreement definitely need review (along with related documents) and our unwritten rules/guidelines need to be reduced to writing and have the same meaning to all users without ambiguity.
I am NOT a loose cannon who wants to change the world. I believe some modifications to many of our current rules could improve efficiency and effectiveness. I am strongly in favor of a true Reps Committee reporting to the Board, consisting of ALL full fledged active Reps with a Chair appointed by the Board. This would allow better communications and the exchanging of ideas among the Reps and the Board.
If you believe I can do a good job I would appreciate your vote. If you can't vote for me at least vote for someone. Your vote is precious.

Damon Wooley
In 2008, I became acquainted with former FBA President Rob Bagby. He invited me to attend the annual FBA Funcook where I joined the FBA and participated in the judges training. That weekend, I met many people who have become lifelong friends. Since that time, I have become very passionate about the sport of competitive barbecuing and the Florida Barbecue Association! Having organized the Smokin' on the Suwannee BBQ Festival for the last two years, I have gained an appreciation for who the FBA is and what they do! I believe that if elected as a board member for the FBA I can bring enthusiasm, education, energy and EFFORT to the table! I feel that I am qualified to serve as a board member. I hold a BS in Education from Florida State University and have been teaching high school for the past 12 years. I also have prior experience serving on a Board of Directors, as I was the Northwest Regional Director for the Florida BASS Federation for four years. I would appreciate your support! Thank you!

Home Contests Sanctioning Rules Judges TOTY Join BBQ Joints Teams Contact Links FAQ

For President
Dana Hillis	I wish to run for the position of president of the FBA. I appreciate all the support I received the last several years from all the members, judges and teams and will continue to work hard for positive growth of this great organization. We have grown considerably since I first joined in 2007 and I have learned a lot as a board member for 2 years and vice president this past year. I have studied hard on all issues and items that have arisen and put a lot of time in learning the right, legal and financially responsible resolutions needed. I promise to work hard and make 2012 a big year for our organization and to all my friends and bbq family I promise to make you help me. Thanks for your support
For Vice President
Anthony Wolfe	I have been an active member of the FBA Board this past year as Director at Large and Judges Committee chair. As such, I have been a point of contact for many members and judges. I have displayed a willingness to listen to concerns and have worked with members of FBA and the Board to get these concerns addressed. I want to serve as your FBA Vice-President because I feel that there is much more to be done. I feel I am very apporoachable and open-minded. I may speak my mind, but you always know how I feel. The FBA board is aswerable to the membership and I am seeking ways to get the membership much more involved. One of our greatest challenges is also our greatest opportunity. We need to become more involved as members. I would like to see more members on committees (such as the judges committee, a sponsorship committee, and a by-law committee. I will actively seek members to serve on these committees. I would also like to see a founding members representative on the board to help keep the orginial ideals of the FBA in mind. I feel that I work hard for the members of the FBA and have worked with many different people in the organization. I may not know all the answers, but I keep working until I find out the answers. No matter who you choose to vote for, please vote. This is YOUR organization and can only improve with your support and participation!
For Secretary
Gail Cushing	My name is Gail M. Cushing and I would like to introduce myself as your candidate for FBA Secretary. There are over 700 members in our club and I do not believe that I will be able to meet and greet everyone of you before the election date. I would love to though, and I will wander up and meet those of you who are at the contests we are both attending. I am campaigning differently from the other candidates this year. I am not going to box myself in by listing my strengths and weaknesses here on the FBA website. Nor am I going to tell you why you want to vote for me and not the other guy or gal. What I am going to do is incorporate the FBA facebook site into my campaign. We all use facebook, most of us on a daily basis. So I am going to call my campaign for FBA secretary; 53 Days of Gail. And for the next 53 days I will post a point, ditty, strength, weakness or personal comment about me that you do not know, but it will give you a better understanding of who I am, how I think, and what makes me the gal for the job as FBA secretary. To start my "53 Days of Gail" campaign out I will share a strength here on the website for you. I accurately state points, spell properly, and use proper, clear and concise English. I am computer literate and can report findings and information. I am also and idea setter. You see this as fact since no one else has come up with the idea to share themselves continuously throughout their campaign as I will on the FBA facebook page. I look forward to your comments added to my posts as they will give me and understanding as to who you are also. See you all on the FBA facebook page
Pamela Marmar	Since joining the FBA in 2009 I have come to appreciate what a great organization it is and all the hard work that is involved in running it. Some of my previous work experiences include managing a drug store, managing a real estate office, managing the office of the local telephone directory, and working in the Performance Improvement Department at FPL's Turkey Point Nuclear Plant. I consider myself retired even though I still work at our home-based fishing reel repair business. All of these positions instilled in me a work ethic which would lend itself to this position. If elected, I would do my best to fulfill the position of Secretary. Thank you for your consideration.
For Treasurer
Ricky Ginsburg	When I joined the FBA at the founding meeting, I sat in a crowded room with a group of people who had a dream. It was one that I shared - to build a barbecue sanctioning body that would be revered, respected, and looked upon as a leader in the years to follow. Now, some eleven years after that first meeting, much of that dream has come true and I am both proud and humbled to be a part of it. I have been the treasurer of the Florida Bar-B-Que Association for nine years, a board member longer than anyone else in the organization. I have seen our membership grow from that small group in Orlando to over 700 members, several of them - including myself - who have become Life Members, showing a commitment to the FBA unheard of in any other sanctioning body. Once again, I place my name in nomination to be your Treasurer, to pay the bills, to protect the assets, and help this fine organization weather the worst economic times many of us ever seen. When you consider who to vote for, don't base your decision on anything other than who has done, and will continue to do the job you elected them for. This is not a place where politics should take precedence over quality of performance. Thanks.

Board of Directors
Rob Bagby	I have been an FBA member for 8 years, and have 5 years of service including BOD at-large, secretary, vice president, and president for 2 years. Jimmy Brod was a fantastic asset to me as my vice president and the FBA during that time and I am happy to see him running again. We have had some great success in these years and have grown in every facet. I want to see the FBA continue to do the right things, and I want to continue to be a part of the group that sees it happen. Thank you for your consideration. Rob "Rub" Bagby
Jimmy Brod	Dear FBA BBQ Friends FBA I have decided to change my nomination to Board Member at large. I think Tony and I have equal abilities to perform the job as FBA Vice-President. I also think Tony's judging and cooking background should provide a diverse perspective that the FBA needs right now. I also think I can perform the tasks I have performed for the FBA BOD in the past concerning public relations, sponsor relations and jack of all trades in the same capacity in 2012 as a board member at large. I endorse Dana Hillis as FBA President 2012 and Tony Wolf as FBA Vice-President 2012. With the help of the FBA membership I hope to apply my experience and work with Dana and Tony and move the FBA on to bigger and better BBQ in 2012 Thank you for your support. Jimmy Brod Pit Master (Smokin' Cracker BBQ Team and Everglades Seasoning BBQ Team)
Louis Goldman	I am seeking election to the 2012 Board of Directors as one of the three members at large. In addition to being a Master Judge for FBA I have also judged for KCBS, GBA, IBCA, CBBQA and Best of the Best and I've learned a little at each contest. Before judging BBQ contests I spent over 30 years in residential and commercial real estate, construction and land development both as a company owner and investor. Most of that time was devoted to dealing with people, solving problems and creating results. That's what I do best! The FBA has come a long way in the past 10+ years and we have to give credit to the officers and members of the previous Boards of Directors. I am retired, I have the time and I'm willing to work for the FBA - I sincerely believe that together we can move the FBA up to a new level of excellence. I appreciate your support in this election. My email is open for any questions, comments and/or suggestions that you may have. Thank you.
Ed Hartwig	First of all, please allow me to thank you very much for bestowing upon me the honor of representing you the past two terms as an At-Large Member of the BOD. I have decided to run again for a third term because there is still much to be done and accomplished in the FBA. I am very qualified. I am a retired High School chemistry and sports medicine teacher from suburban Cincinnati. I also served my community in elected office, and own and ran a BBQ catering business for 10 years. I am currently a Master Judge, the Rep. Coordinator , and have been assigned for the second year to act as an Organizer for the TC event in Perry, primarily helping Miss Dawn Taylor, the local Organizer. Now the question must be asked, "what have I done or tried to do for the membership the past two years on the BOD"? First of all, I have tried to strive for transparency in conducting FBA business. We have dramatically improved in this area, and you have a really good chance of finding out what is taking place by phoning in on the monthly meeting. I have been been behind the JOTY program the past two years in an attempt to honor our fine, conscientious judges who do so much for our organization. I am the record keeper of data for this program. Our Judges deserve to be honored and this is our way of doing this. I have been, for two years, trying to get our books audited as is required by the directives in our By-Laws. Why this has taken so long is absolutely beyond me, but it is very close to finally happening. As Rep coordinator, I have been trying to strengthen our rep. corps. I asked Dennis Schmitz and Ida Isaacs to develop a formal qpplication form and put in place a procedure for selectign and training new reps. They have done a beautiful job for us and we now have in place a formal curriculum for training reps. They also are responsible for selecting candidates, recommending the candidates to me, and I then submit the names to the BOD for final approval. This is too important a task to leave to one person to do, and this way we are minimizing the possibility of mistakes. If you believe I am doing a good job on your behalf, please vote for me. If you do not think I am doing the job, then, of course, do not vote for me and I will ride off into the sunset, probably madder than hell!!!!!! Thanks for your kind consideration Ed Hartwig, BOD At-Large Member
Ray Lesko	Hello my fellow FBA members. After considerable thought I decided to run for the position of Director at Large on the FBA Board. For those who don't know me I have been an FBA member for more than 3 years and I am currently a Master Judge and a Contest Representative. During my working career I was involved with computer software being an operator, programmer, applications manager and a Vice President at a large firm based out of Texas. I am now retired which allows me time which I can dedicate to working on FBA projects. The reason I want to be on the Board is to be an advocate for improvement, including written and especially unwritten rules. Our present By-laws have done well but could use a review. Cookteam rules are working well but also could stand a review. Our Sanctioning agreement definitely need review (along with related documents) and our unwritten rules/guidelines need to be reduced to writing and have the same meaning to all users without ambiguity. I am NOT a loose cannon who wants to change the world. I believe some modifications to many of our current rules could improve efficiency and effectiveness. I am strongly in favor of a true Reps Committee reporting to the Board, consisting of ALL full fledged active Reps with a Chair appointed by the Board. This would allow better communications and the exchanging of ideas among the Reps and the Board. If you believe I can do a good job I would appreciate your vote. If you can't vote for me at least vote for someone. Your vote is precious.
Damon Wooley	In 2008, I became acquainted with former FBA President Rob Bagby. He invited me to attend the annual FBA Funcook where I joined the FBA and participated in the judges training. That weekend, I met many people who have become lifelong friends. Since that time, I have become very passionate about the sport of competitive barbecuing and the Florida Barbecue Association! Having organized the Smokin' on the Suwannee BBQ Festival for the last two years, I have gained an appreciation for who the FBA is and what they do! I believe that if elected as a board member for the FBA I can bring enthusiasm, education, energy and EFFORT to the table! I feel that I am qualified to serve as a board member. I hold a BS in Education from Florida State University and have been teaching high school for the past 12 years. I also have prior experience serving on a Board of Directors, as I was the Northwest Regional Director for the Florida BASS Federation for four years. I would appreciate your support! Thank you!