At the board meeting Sunday night, the BRH Board made three important decisions. First was the election of Jay Moore to become a Joint Master of Bull Run. Accordingly, Jay will resign as President of BRH effective immediately. Second was Fred Burks, Vice President of the BRH Board, per our bylaws, becoming our President to serve out the remainder of Jay’s term. Third was the appointment of Jerry Wade as Field Master of Bull Run Hunt.
Jay’s selection was submitted to the board by the Masters after months of careful consideration. On behalf of the Masters, Rosie submitted Jay’s nomination to the board with the following commentary of Jay’s unique qualifications to serve:
“While we are fortunate that Bull Run Hunt is currently in a very strong position, fox hunting in general is under threat. Fox hunting as a sport and a way of life is looking for a way to survive into the future. In 2011 there were 208 paid professionals and 156 hunts active, according to the MFHA. Today there are 180 paid professionals, and many of those are being paid just gas mileage and costs. And in 2016 there are 144 hunts. In five yearswe’ve lost 12 hunts and 28 professional hunt jobs. The trend for fox hunting in America is Downward.
The Masters need someone who has a keen knowledge of the economy, budgeting and investment, someone who can help us define a strategy that not only keeps us more than barely solvent, but who can help us define a way to grow and prosper.
We believe that Jay has a calm, positive, knowledgeable way of dealing with economic and business issues, and understands both the local and national economy, and someone who can help Bull Run Hunt grow, rather than struggle.
The bottom line is this… there are new hunts coming on board nation-wide, that’s true. But there are more hunts that are declining, losing territory, and having a hard time finding a way to make a fox hunting pack economically stable. This is a strategic issue, it is an economic issue, and we need a calm positive approach to move into the future. We think Jay can help us do that, and we Masters feel we need him. It’s not about merit badges, gold stars, or titles. It’s about what Bull Run Hunt needs most, right now.”
Mike added that Jay has demonstrated strong leadership and diplomacy skills as our President and is in a position in his life where he can commit the time, resources and willingness to hunting and hunt affairs. Mike particularly noted that Jay will be very effective with critical Master responsibilities including landowner relations, MFHA efforts to protect fox hunting from legislative attack, employee management, asset management, new member development and a long term strategy for the development of Bull Run.
With Jay vacating the office of President to assume his Master responsibilities, we are delighted that Fred Burks is willing to serve as our President until our next board elections. Thank you Fred.
Of special note, the board passed the following resolution:
“After many years of faithful service to Bull Run Hunt as an informal field master, leading the first field, when called upon to do so, with energy, enthusiasm and an extraordinary understanding of hounds, horses and foxes, Bull Run Hunt would like to recognize and formally appoint Jerry Wade as a Field Master of Bull Run Hunt. As a Field Master of Bull Run Hunt, Jerry will participate in the rotation with Hunt Masters in leading the first field for Bull Run Hunt.”
Thank you Jerry for all you do for Bull Run and we look forward to your leadership in the hunt field.
These are important events for our club and we are so appreciative of the contributions these individuals have made to Bull Run and their willingness to continue to serve us in their new roles. Please join us in congratulating Jay, Fred and Jerry.