08/09/2026
BONITA: I joined FWOTC with my daughter, Tamra Harris, in 2016. We attended the Public Class followed by agility classes. I earned Novice Agility Jumpers, NAJ, Titles with my dachshunds, Riley and Harley in 2016. I ran in agility trials until 2019. In 2018 I took Obedience and Therapy dog classes and earned a Therapy Dog Title, TDI, with my Miniature Schnauzer, Lexi. I am currently training and showing
my young Miniature Schnauzer, Ally, in Rally and Obedience. My husband, Ron, and I currently share our home with three dogs and continue to enjoy the activities at FWOTC.
LESLIE: I came to FWOTC with a little white dog named Stephen King in 2017 and a “Bucket List” goal of earning a CD with him in my retirement. Thanks to the club’s guidance and friendship, that journey did not end there. My dog family has grown to four rescue dogs and my bucket list goals have changed along with their achievements.
BONITA and LESLIE: Bonita and Leslie met in a therapy dog class in 2018. Their friendship grew when they took up the challenge to teach themselves virtual AKC Rally during the COVID shutdown. Day after day they met at a local park and worked their way through AKC Rally Novice to Rally Excellent together.
In 2020, Leslie, Bonita and Julia Beerman (Public Director of Training) met together to map out a
comprehensive program that would include Scent, Family Dog, Obedience and Rally classes for our club members. That initial program began with 9 members volunteering to assist and teach 12 classes. Five years later, there are 22 teachers and assistants who volunteer their time to teach 20 to 21 classes a session. It is proof that the program becomes stronger when our own accomplished members help others to learn to train their dogs.
BONITA: I graduated from Auburn High School in 1967. I meet, once a month, for lunch with many good friends from my High School days. My first job was as a telephone Operator for Indiana Bell. I became a “MOM” in 1968 and stayed home with my children until they began school. I worked for about 12 years for an optometrist followed by a similar number of years at Kimble Electronics. My employment prior to retiring was with Kruse International that later became Auctions America. Much of Ron’s and my free
time (20 Years) was spent enjoying dancing with Kessler’s Kountry Western group. We share 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren so we are always involved in some celebration or activity with them.
LESLIE: I graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1972. My degree was in education but I have done many things over the years; Physical Education and Health Teacher in a Public Middle school, coached girls Volleyball, “MOM”, Nurses’ Aide, Volunteer EMT for our rural ambulance service, Water Safety and First Aid instructor, Horse Trainer/Riding Instructor, Drawing and Watercolor instructor for the FWCS evening program. I even washed dishes in a restaurant and worked 11 years of overnights at
Meijer.
BONITA and LESLIE: We take this opportunity to thank all the instructors and the students who attend classes at FWOTC. We may be the two people who organize the classes and keep track of records but it takes everyone to grow a program.
