| bio/contact info | travel | fees, expenses, etc. | my needs from club |
Mini-biography
I live with my wife Esther, three dogs and two cats. All of our animals are rescues. Scruggs, a nearly 14 year old miniature American Eskimo, Bonnie, a 5 year old miniature American Eskimo, and Stoch, a 3 year old Border Collie. We began competing in agility with our first dog, Jemma, in 1999. I became a USDAA judge in 2003, moving up to the Masters level in 2005 and judged at Cynosports in 2010, 2011, and 2017.
I am retired as faculty at SUNY, Oswego (State University of New York), where I had a joint appointment in Computer Science and Psychology. I am a WWI aviation buff and love to read.
We live in Oswego, NY, the largest US port on Lake Ontario, 36 miles north of Syracuse, NY. Yes, we get snow in the winter! February, 2007 saw “Winter in a Week” where we received nearly 100” of snow in one week. You might have seen our city on TV as we were popular with The Weather Channel and others that week :-)
I see judging as a way of contributing back to the sport of agility and to satisfy a desire to see how others “play the game” across the country. It has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know folks and to learn how others approach the sport outside of the area of the country where I compete. In addition, agility has been a great family activity, a way that Esther and I can bond with the dogs and travel together.
Contact information
Home:
103 East Sixth Street, Oswego, NY 13126
315.591.6521 (cell)
david.bozak@gmail.com (primary)
Driving
I am happy to drive to trials within about 300 miles of Oswego. Sometimes I’ll go beyond that limit. For example, it may be easier and quicker to drive than to fly to many portions of New England.
Flying
Our local airport is Hancock International Airport, Syracuse, NY (SYR). Airport parking is $12/day and travel to/from airport is 72 miles round-trip.
I am happy to book my own flights or work with someone to work out flight details. I am happy to work out return flights that get me in late (11pm or later).
Using the airline mileage programs enables me to find itineraries for flights that the clubs book.
Car rental
If the club would prefer I rent a car rather than arranging pickup/dropoff, that is fine.
Exhibitor course copies
I will make course copies for exhibitors at our local Staples.
Other
On occasion I need to board one of our dogs. Our local kennel charges $25 day/dog. Some clubs can/will accommodate this, others do not. This isn’t a major issue, but please let me know which you are, so that I can budget appropriately.
Snack, drink, etc. preferences
Drink:
Moxie (oldest and best soft drink! See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxie), water, Dr. Pepper (not the diet kind, please).
Snack:
Pringles, Twizzlers (in either case, it really doesn’t matter much…I’m easy…)
Food:
Whatever the locals think is good; avoiding the usual chains is good; micro-brews/pubs are *really* good; I hate liver, sushi, shell-fish, artichokes and broccoli :-)
Hotel:
Non-smoking room, bed-size (king, queen, twin, etc.) doesn’t matter
Shirt size:
I'm sometimes asked about what size tee/polo/sweatshirt I wear - large is good.
My needs from the club
Contact info – email addresses and cellphone numbers
Ring information – dimensions, surface, obstructions, layout with respect to scoretable, etc.
Equipment availability list
E-timers? Yes, no, maybe?
Measuring wheel? I always bring one when I drive, but should I bring one if I fly to your trial?
Coursebuilder’s preference – baseline method? I’ll make coursebuilder copies as desired
The premium, when available, and a copy of any confirmation mailing (with check-in times, etc.)
Numbers - I presume I'm to bring exhibitor course copies, so I'll need to know how many to make