Appointments of NAFA Members to the various committees of our organization are made by the NAFA President based upon Board recommendations, the Member volunteering his/her time and talents and the suitability of the volunteer Member to a particular committee. Only NAFA Members may serve on committees, however committees often seek the advice and input of others when gathering information or developing strategies.

NAFA Committees are where much of the work of NAFA gets done. The committee then reports its findings and recommendations to the NAFA President and Vice President who, in turn, reports those findings and recommendations to the NAFA Board of Directors for consideration. It is not uncommon for an issue or matter of concern to be referred to a committee for research and development of a "staff" recommendation.

NAFA Committees are:

Conservation Committee
Passage Peregrine Take Sub-Committee
Eagle Committee
Ethics Committee
Executive Committee
Finance Committee
Legal Team
Strategic Planning Committee
Technical Advisory Committee
 

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Executive Committee: (Standing Committee)  

• Develop and publish NAFA Board and Membership Meeting Schedule.
• Develop all NAFA Board and Membership Meeting agendas and present agendas to the NAFA Board of Directors for approval, addition, or amendment.
• Ensure that all materials necessary and appropriate for Board review in support of each Agenda are provided to the NAFA Board along with the proposed Agenda at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting.
• When appropriate, develop preliminary policy to present to the NAFA Board of Directors for consideration and possible inclusion as an agenda item.
• Develop initial strategic planning documents for presentation to the NAFA Board of Directors.
• Ensure that all Committees are timely staffed, resourced, and appropriately monitored to effect the Committees' purpose and NAFA Mission.
• Address all other issues that are not properly within the purview of existing NAFA Committees, as directed by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Chair – President –Bob Welle
Vice President - Scott McNeff
Treasurer – April Rice
Corresponding Secretary – Donna Vorce
Membership Secretary – Brandi Nickerson
 

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Technical Advisory Committee: (Standing Committee)  

General responsibilities 

• Receive and assess information regarding state and federal falconry regulations and make recommendations accordingly.
• Develop guidance documents relative to falconry to assist members, state agencies and/or state and local falconry clubs/organizations.
• Communicate with federal and state regulatory agencies regarding falconry regulations or issues.
• Assess potential impact on falconry from proposed regulations and communicate those assessments to the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.
• Provide information and assistance of a technical nature to state agencies, state clubs and NAFA members upon request.
• Provide research regarding regulations, state and local laws or regulations to the NAFA President, other NAFA Officers, the Board of Directors and others as required or requested.
• Coordinate response to Federal Register notices with the NAFA President and provide technical advice regarding the proposed changes relative to falconry regulations, including but not limited to changes to international treaties.
• Coordinate with international organizations and provide research and information upon request.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations, via the NAFA President.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Committee Members

Chair - Todd Sherer
Member - Scott McNeff
Member - Larry Dickerson
Member - Scott Keniston
Member - Ron Clarke
Member - Jeff Broadbent
Member - Ron Kumetz

CITES TAC Sub Committee

Based on requests from NAFA members, an ad hoc committee was formed. President Cecchini created the NAFA CITES Subcommittee, and placed it under the long standing Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). This subcommittee will develop an action plan which can be shared with the NAFA membership and will include:

US Pet Passport Issuance for temporary out of country travel (principally between Canada and US) with falconry birds for hunting trips. The action plan will address:

• how to simplify the process
• how to speed up the process of acquiring permits/passports
• how to make actual crossing quicker and less confusing
• provide a plan on how the USFWS can adopt the new recommendations
• recommendations to the USFWS CITES office to more easily and effectively manage CITES export permits for raptor breeders, including recommendations for short-term interim relief on exporting captive-bred falconry birds.
  
  Committee Members:
  Chair - Dan Pike
  Member - Charles Schwartz
  Member - Mark Williams
  Member - Bob Hollister

APHIS TAC Sub Committee

With more and more emphasis on interstate, intrastate and international travel, importation and exportation of animals, NAFA finds it imperative to monitor regulatory and potential regulatory actions by the USDA / APHIS and provide reviews and recommendations regarding the potential impact of existing and new regulations on falconry. Newly enacted regulations under the Animal Welfare Act are potentially and increasingly encroaching on activity of falconers.

Committee Members:
Chair - Arnaud Van Wettere
Member - Dan Pike
NARBA - Lance Christensen
NARBA - Bill Cornatzer
 

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Conservation Committee: (Standing Committee) (combined with International Hybrid Committee - 1998)  

• Provide research and information on conservation issues regarding falconry and birds of prey and prey base.
• Be the avenue for NAFA's continued involvement in the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and other organizations by attending national meetings as necessary as well as attending national meetings (as appropriate) of other organizations involved in conservation concerning raptors and other species which may impact falconry.
• Provide conservation related information regarding wild take of raptors for use in falconry.
• Recommend modifications/actions to various Acts, Treaties, rules and/or regulations that will ensure continued wild take of birds of prey for use in falconry.
• Provide research and information and formulate Federal Register response to DEA’s regarding passage peregrine take as well as other DEA’s effecting falconry, falconry related issues and conservation of birds of prey and prey base.
• Monitor the impact of treaties with Native American Tribes as well as international treaties such as CITES.
• Assess modifications to the Endangered Species Act and assess impact on falconry, birds of prey or other conservation issues of interest or concern to NAFA.
• Provide research and recommendations to state agencies, state clubs and or NAFA members who have conservation questions, bird of prey population study requests, etc.
• Monitor propagation regulations and proposed modifications to insure compatibility with sound conservation principles.
• Monitor and gather information from anti-hunting groups or anti-falconry groups and report findings to the NAFA President.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations, via the NAFA President.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Passage Peregrine Take Sub-Committee Members

Member – Andrew Bullen
Member – Martin Geleynse
Member – Dwight Lasure
Member – Scott McNeff
Member – Ralph Rogers

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Eagle Committee: (Standing Committee)

General Responsibilities

• To review regulations, CITES, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act to ensure current and future use of eagles in falconry.
• As appropriate, research potential conflicts in regulations between the various states and federal regulations.
• Make recommendations for regulatory modifications regarding eagles in coordination with the Technical Advisory Committee.
• Ensure conservation recommendations and guidance regarding eagles is adhered to. Recommend modifications to various Acts, Treaties, rules and/or regulations that will ensure continued wild take of eagles for use in falconry.
• Coordinate with various state and federal agencies relative to use of eagles in falconry.
• As appropriate, required or requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors, develop policy and or ethics regarding eagle use in falconry.
• Assist in providing technical guidance to weathering area personnel or others regarding eagles and handling of eagles in emergency situations during NAFA meets.
• Coordinate with the Conservation Committee, information regarding use of eagles for falconry.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations, via the NAFA President.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Committee Members
Chair – Brian Kellogg
Member – Ron Clarke, Director
Member – Jack Hubley
Member – Scott Simpson

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Ethics Committee: (Standing Committee)

General Responsibilities

• To develop recommendations related to standards of conduct and activities that will help to ensure a high level of ethics in North American falconry.
• Review the NAFA Code of Ethics for possible updating if appropriate.
• Recommend By-laws changes related to ethical behavior, if appropriate.
• Provide input on any matter of ethics that may come before the Board where a perspective outside of the Board's might prove valuable.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations, via the NAFA President.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors. 

Committee Members
Chair - Bill Oakes
Member – Ken Felix, Past President
Member – Doug Pineo
Member - Marek Plater

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Legal Team (Standing Committee) (Legal Co-Counsels)

General Responsibilities 

• Provide legal counsel to the Board of Directors, the NAFA President and other officers.
• Provide legal insight and advice concerning the By-laws and Rules and Procedures of NAFA.
• Provide review of regulations (federal) and advice regarding response or modifications.
• Provide general advice and guidance on legal language in regulations and treaties.
• Provide legal interpretations and application of NAFA insurance. Provide legal interpretations of NAFA By-laws, petitions and voting issues as appropriate.
• Provide other input and advice regarding organizational matters of the Association as directed by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations, via the NAFA President.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Team Members
Chair: General Counsel – James Maynard
Associate General Counsel – Brian Clayton
Associate General Counsel – Ryan English

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Finance Committee: (Standing Committee)  

Goal

Objectives

• Provide an oversight role of the NAFA finances.
• Receive, coordinate and/or determine the Board of Director’s requirements for budget items.
• Coordinate with the Treasurer and ensure informal audits of NAFA’s finances are carried out annually and in an appropriate manner. Assist the Treasurer, as required or requested in development of the annual budget.
• In coordination with the Treasurer, develop and issue financial statements for Board meetings.
• Provide additional relative financial services, advice and coordination as directed by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept informed, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations.
• Provide recommendations to the Treasurer and the NAFA Board to improve NAFAs operational efficiencies, profitability, marketability and overall financial well-being.
• Receive and review Small Grant requests and make recommendations for disbursements to applicants based on available funding.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Membership of the Committee

• The Finance Committee will consist of a Chairperson appointed by the NAFA President, the Treasurer and  regular Members appointed by the Chairperson or the President.
• Appointments to the Finance Committee will last for a period of three years or in the case of elected officers for their period of office (i.e. Treasurer).
• The Chairman of the Finance Committee, may, at his discretion consult other individuals to assist the Committee to provide for those situations when expertise or specialist advice beyond the experience of the Committee is needed.

Committee Members
Chairman - Bill Johnston 
Member – April Rice, Treasurer

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Strategic Planning Committee (Standing committee)  

General Responsibilities 

• Conduct or cause to be conducted a survey of NAFA Directors and Officers and key NAFA stakeholders.
• Conduct strategic planning in three to five year planning stages to be approved by the Board.
• Submit to the Board periodic and timely reports and recommendations.
• Ensure planning goals and objectives are carried out.
• Seek funding as appropriate by developing and submitting, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.
   

Diversifying Revenue Workgroup

• Maintain and expand existing and explore new sources of revenue.

Committee Members
Chair - Ron Clarke, Director
Member - Greg Thomas, Director

Future Meets Workgroup
(Note: Moved from standing committee to SPC as a workgroup at request of the President, concurrence of the chair and with Board approval on May 24, 2012)

General Responsibilities

• Determine the next “host” state in a rotating schedule.
• Solicit and/or appoint a meet chairman (or co-chairmen).
• Advise the NAFA President and/or NAFA Board of Directors regarding the future meet.
• Coordinate and serve as liaison to the meet chairman and other meet committee members.
• Coordinate resolutions and make recommendations to resolve problems or issues at future meets.
• Serve as an “advance/interface team” for NAFA to provide onsite assistance to the meet chairman and/or meet committee as required or requested.
• Provide “past history” information and recommendation guidelines to the future meet chairman.
• Carry out other relative functions as directed by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.
• Develop and submit, via the Treasurer, a proposed budget for the Committees' activities for the upcoming fiscal year, such as long distance phone charges for telephonic committee meetings, etc.
• Ensure that the NAFA Board is kept notified, in a timely manner, of the Committees' activities and recommendations.
• Carry out other duties or functions as requested by the NAFA President and/or Board of Directors.

Committee Members
Chair – Sheldon Nicolle
Member - Michael Kuriga
 

Increasing Membership Workgroup

• Increase membership consistent with our organizational purpose.

Committee Members
Chair - Paul Domski, Director
Member - Pete Rodas, Membership Secretary
Member - Scott McNeff, Director

Systems Analysis Workgroup

• Identify existing systems and procedures and desired improvements based upon Association needs.

Committee Members
Chair - Bob Welle, Vice President
Member - Dianne Moller, Director
Member - Peter Tirrell
Member - Danny Pickens

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