"Bringing It All
Together"

Site Map

Main Page
Announcements
Can you help?
Why Rescue
Local Rescue Groups
Goldens as pets
Rescue Highlights
Links
Golden Retriever Club
of America
NRC Committee Members
Log In (Local Rescues Only)
Local Groups: 
Contact your Regional
Representative for Access Information:
   Eastern 
   Central
   Western
   Find your Region

 

GRCA-NRC Golden Starfish Award

The Starfish Story

A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a
beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish
have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old 
man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one
starfish after another and tossing each one gently
into the ocean. 

"Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?," he
asks.

"Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and
if I don't throw them further in they will die."

"But, old man, don't you realize there are miles and
miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can't
possibly save them all, you can't even save one-tenth
of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your
efforts won't make any difference at all."

The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick
up another starfish and throw it into the sea. "It
made a difference to that one."



2007 recipients

Group Award
Retrive A Golden of Minnesota

Individual Award
Richard and Jane Fish and
Patricia Duke

2008 Award Winners

GRCA's National Rescue Committee is pleased  to announce the 2007 Starfish Award winners.  While the Awards are presented in 2009, they reflect activity in behalf of Golden Retriever Rescue programs during 2008.
 
Thanks to each person who carefully and thoughtfully prepared nominations.  There are so many people in Golden Retriever Rescue that are such a source of pride to their fellow rescuers and to our Committee.  The selection of the winners was a difficult task but we think that our selections truly are worthy and represent fully the Legend (and the spirit) of the Starfish.
 
Individual Category:  Susan Sampson -- Fairbanks Golden Retriever Rescue Since before the founding of Fairbanks Golden Retriever Rescue; Susan Sampson has been taking in and saving Golden Retrievers in Alaska. Alaska is a huge state, with a limited road system and small population. GRRF is the only Golden Retriever Rescue in more than 570,000 square miles. Susan has never taken a break from volunteering, and works extremely hard. She always has room for one more dog, and sometimes travels 600 miles to promote the cause of Golden Rescue or pick up a dog. Susan is the vice president, adoption coordinator, web master, volunteer coordinator, intake coordinator, bookkeeper and public relations. Susan does it all. GRRF rescues 90-100 dogs each year, and Susan is personally involved with every dog. Susan has an outstanding relationship with shelters, and the Midnight Sun Golden Retriever Club in Anchorage. Susan Sampson is the face of Golden Retriever Rescue in Alaska.
 
Individual Category:  Deborah Nicolle -- Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue Within it's founding year of 2008, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue saved over 300 Golden Retrievers. This was done in large part by the efforts of Deborah Nicolle. When there is a dog that her group cannot rehome, Deborah makes the 7 hour one way drive to Homeward Bound to see that the dogs have a change at a new life. She sometimes makes the drive several times a week, in addition to all the driving in Southern California to pick up dogs. She spends the better part of each day driving to all the shelters in the area. Deborah is always "on call". Deborah's dream is to have a sanctuary for Golden Retrievers in Southern California, and with Deborah's efforts, it will become a reality.
 
PROGRAM WINNER: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary Since 1998, Homeward Bound has been rescuing Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes in the Sacramento and northern California area and also accepts dogs from across the United States. They take dogs in need, and show them perhaps the first kindness and love they have known. Last year, 2008, Homeward Bound rescued 810 dogs. Homeward Bound also runs one of the few sanctuaries in the country where Goldens and Golden mixes can live out there life if adoption does not occur.
 
The Starfish Awards will be presented at Goldstock (Pennsylvania) in early September and again at the GRCA National Specialty's Annual Meeting.
 
National Rescue Committee, Golden Retriever Club of America
(Carol Allen, Arlene Blouch, Patricia Campbell,  Shereen Farber, Martha Greer, Deb Haggerty,  Dean Lake, Jane Moore, Jenny O'Brien, Edell Schaefer, Betsy Sommers, Joy Viola, Diane Williams)
 

The Golden Starfish Award is presented on an annual basis to
one or more rescue groups or individuals that make a difference.
By the ones or by the hundreds, each group contributes to the 
effort, and we would like to recognize these groups both large
and small for their devotion to rescue. 

 

Past Recipients
Year Group Individual Team
2007 Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota Richard and Jane Fish and
Patricia Duke
 
2006 Not awarded Nancy & Alan Kiesler
Jody & Mike Jones
 
2005 Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue Carole Cappelini J & L Golden Retriever Rescue
Gulf South Golden Retriever Rescue, Golden Beginnings of Texas
Dallas/Ft. Worth Metro Golden Retriever Rescue
2004 Rescue A Golden of Arizona Chandler Rudd  
2003 Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue Pauline Stevens  
2002 Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue Gail Lustig  

 

The National Rescue Committee is a committee of the Golden Retriever Club of America. For more information about the GRCA Please click on their logo to the left.
Acceptance and use of the information contained on this web site constitutes an acknowledgment
that the user hereby releases and indemnifies the GRCA, and its officers, directors, members, and
agents from any and all liability.

Copyright 2002 - 2007 - GRCA All rights reserved

Except to the extent that any additional limitations appear on the face of any
article or feature, permission is granted by the GRCA-NRC and/or the Author for links to this site
and/or printing of the articles to any rescue group, club or individual to be used for educational
purposes, provided the articles are unedited and full credit on authorship is given. The GRCA-NRC and/or
the author reserve the right to deny or revoke such permission to any individual, rescue group or club.