ADOG inches closer to its fundraising goal

Date: 6/28/2013

By Carley Dangona

carley@thereminder.com

AGAWAM — The Agawam Dog Owner's Group (ADOG) has collected $6,500 towards its $25,000 goal and participated in the PetSafe "Bark for Your Park" contest in its efforts to establish a dog park.

On its website, ADOG states the group formed in 2011 with the goal of creating a five-acre dog park on the proposed site of Shea Field. ADOG is a volunteer organization whose members seek to establish a fenced-in, off-leash dog park for their canine friends. The cost of a park is estimated between $20,000 and $50,000. ADOG chose its fundraising goal to create a financial base for the project.

Debbi Sanchez, newly elected president, said, "We are constantly looking for novel ideas and fundraising opportunities for our group. One such idea was to nominate Agawam for the PetSafe 'Bark for your Park' competition. One grand prize winner will win $100,000 while other winners will win $25,000."

She continued, "Unfortunately, we did not find out about the contest until it was well under way and did not make it to the final round. But we will try again next year and get the word out early to vote."

Sanchez was voted president for a two-year term. Other officers include Dennis King, vice president, one-year term; Annmarie Lomonaco, secretary, two-year term; Brad Jameson, treasurer, one-year term; Cheryl Barnhart, member at-large, two-year term; Anna Beard, member at-large, one-year term; and Barbara Lussier, member at-large, two-year term.

The newly finalized bylaws determined that ADOG will consist of four officers and a seven-member Board of Directors.

Most notable is the ninth bylaw, that states, "Upon dissolution of ADOG, its assets remaining after payment, or provision of payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed pursuant to Chapter 180, Section 11a, to one or more organizations with similar purposes and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code, as determined by the directors of the corporation."

In addition to merchandise sold on its website, http://agawamdogpark.com, ADOG sponsors trips and events to support its cause.

The recent trip to the Bronx Zoo raised more than $300. The newest event is scheduled for Oct. 17 and will feature psychic medium Lisa Lanno. A location is yet to be scheduled.

The next ADOG meeting will take place at the Agawam Public Library, 750 Cooper St., on July 19 at 7 p.m.