Officers

President (pick 1):

Jack Cassidy (Emma)
My name is Jack Cassidy and have held the office of Vice President on the board the last 2 years. I have been a member of the park for about 5 years. My dog Emma, a yellow Lab really enjoys the park because she gets to chase her tennis ball in a safe environment. I enjoy the many new and interesting people I have met/continue to meet at the park. About 4 years ago I ran for office as an At-Large- Board member, then ran for VP and became a part of a board that embarked upon many physical improvements to the park. We installed lighting, running water, new fencing/wall along 3rd street, purchased new park benches and built a new bulletin board. If elected my pet project will be the installation of new fencing around the entire perimeter of the park. I would like to continue to be a part of this board as its President and work to improve the park for the dogs and its membership.

Vice President (pick 1):

Anne Waginger (Rocky & Howie)
I started using the park in early 2001, when my dog, Rocky, was four months old. I now also have Howie, who appeared at the Park over three years ago, dirty, flea bitten, collarless, and miserable looking.  I have served on the Board for six years. For the last four years I have served as President. I am committed to continuing to work to improve the Park and to ensure that it serves the community more fully. I am currently chairperson of the Events & Fundraising Committee and would like to continue doing that. I also participate on the Membership Committee, leading orientations and approaching new users to explain the requirements of Park use. I think I could be of use in the position of Vice President, helping with the transition for the new President, and assisting him or her with their duties.

Secretary (pick 1):

Eman Abouelseoud (Cubby and Kirby)
Hi! My name is Eman Abouelseoud and I am running for Secretary.  I have two dogs, Cubby and Kirby, who both love coming to the park to play.  I believe that the park is a wonderful place to socialize, both for canines and their human companions.  I am committed to ensuring that the park remains a happy and safe place for everyone, and would be grateful for the opportunity to serve my community and the board as secretary.

Treasurer (pick 1):

Dan Blum (Koufax)
I am running for FOOHP Treasurer for a second term. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve the dog park membership once again.  Generally, I believe the Board should take a laissez-faire, live and let live approach to managing the park.  During our last term, difficult decisions were made as we struggled to deal with significant membership growth, increasing maintenance costs, and other ongoing issues such as park safety.  A new term brings opportunity to refine processes and improve the things that matter most to the members of the park.  Personally, I would like to focus on much needed capital improvements to the park (for the pups) and bringing back the social aspect of the park community (for the owners).  Should I be elected again, I will continue to keep the park’s finances in order and maintain records as I have in the past as Treasurer.  Please feel free to stop me for a chat in the park or around the neighborhood if you have questions about my stance on any particular issues.  Thank you.

At-Large (pick 5):

Kelly Diffily (Baxter)
I have served as the Park’s Secretary for the last four years, and during that time, I have contributed significantly to the Board’s successes.  You probably know me as the Board Secretary from all the emails I’ve sent to the membership, although this year I am running for an at-large position.  I’ve been busy in my capacity as Secretary, managing all communications with the membership, taking meeting minutes and acting as the project manager/liaison with a web developer, as we upgraded our website and developed an online application for 2010.  I also played a key role in the development of the new application and orientation process for 2010.  I am an extremely active member of the Board, and am committed to continuing to improve the Friends of Orianna Hill Park over the next two years, and I hope I can count on your support.

Chris Garber (Frankie and Sam)
I nominate my husband, Chris, for a position on the board of directors for FOOHP because he upholds the ideals of the park as evidenced by his courage yet humility during an altercation with a youth who was not a member. Chris brings our dogs (Frankie and Sam) to the park daily and interacts with other members, educates non-members about park policy, and is an active and concerned animal lover. Recently moved to Philadelphia from Brazil, Chris’s work as a self defense instructor (and member of a world champion Jiu Jitsu team) can lend stability to the sometimes dangerous atmosphere of our city. For his empathy toward his neighbors (and their dogs) Chris would be an excellent addition to the board. –Suzanne Garber

Walt Gilpin (Bobyk)
I have served two terms as a Board member.  I ran the Beef & Beer fundraiser for three years, and have organized Hound-o-ween.  I hope to continue with these functions, and see the park progress.

Kelly Gushue (Harlan)
I am an animal trainer. I would like to contribute my knowledge of animal behavior.

Jonathan Sher (Freya)
As one of the founding members of Friends of Orianna Hill, I have cared about the park for almost fifteen years. Having served two terms as President quite some time ago, I would like to return to serve on the board to work on keeping the park true to its roots as a community owned park open to all. The pressures of rapid growth have led to a gradual move toward restricting the park’s use by the public, even going so far as to discuss locking the park. The by-laws written when the park was created clearly state that Friends of Orianna Hill Park is to “maintain the property. . . as a green space open to the public”. Orianna Hill Park is a fantastic place, an asset to not only the local community but to the city, and should serve as an example, resource, and leader in making Philadelphia a great city.

Sharyn O’Mara (Talula & Ramona)
I decided to run for the FOOHP Board this year because I know that the park is a really important part of my life, and I want to be able to contribute more to its upkeep and to planning its future. I love the community of the park – the people, the dogs, and the spirit of a group of neighbors who have come together to create a beautiful place for dogs to socialize and exercise in our neighborhood. I have two dogs: Tallula (a French Shepherd) and Ramona (a German Shepherd). I am a volunteer at the PSPCA where I work for the Director of Behavior and Training, assisting with obedience classes and working with the individual shelter dogs to try to teach them basic obedience and social skills that will make them more adoptable. I also help to place shelter dogs in new homes. Professionally, I am a sculptor and head of the Glass Program at Tyler School of Art. Last summer I worked with a small committee of artists to design a sculptural mural for the new retaining wall of N. 3rd Street. This project will be in production this summer, and was conceived as a great opportunity to raise some much needed funds for additional park improvements.  I’m looking forward to completing this mural, and to developing new ideas to raise funds for the park. Based upon my experience working with dogs and many years of teaching and administrative work, I believe that I can make a very positive contribution to the FOOHP Board and to our park, and would be honored to do so.

Zoe Wells (Pippin)
I have served on the board for the last year and have enjoyed contributing to the park’s changes & successes tremendously.  I have been an active member with near-”perfect” attendance to meetings and was a significant help in last year’s Beef n Beer event by bringing in an excess of fundraising prizes for the park and its members.  I’m educated in dog behavior and training and have contributed that knowledge in hopes to make the park a safer place by helping to cultivate a better-educated and happily-active member base.  My favorite aspects of being a board member is that I’m able to be an active part of the northern liberties and dog park communities, as well as offering an open mind to new and old issues at hand.  Although I have encouraged the last incarnation of the park’s membership protocol, I am also interested in honoring and maintaining the relaxed “old school” feel of the park by investigating ways to balance both agendas.