SARL Board of Directors

 

 

Martha Adamovich - Became involved with the Salem Animal Rescue League since 2003 when she volunteered to assist with a fundraising event. Fueled by the special environment in this organization, her love of companion animals and desire to help abandoned dogs and cats find a home, turned into a passion and she has been volunteering in various capacities at the shelter ever since. Currently, she provides business leadership and fundraising support for the organization. Prior to joining the Salem Animal Rescue League, Martha had a twenty-five year career in the high tech industry where she was Vice-President of Worldwide Logistics and Customer Service at Digital and Business Operations Consultant at Compaq. Martha has a BA in Finance and Management and a BA in Biology. Martha lives in Salem with her husband, daughter, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. She is self-employed as a faux finish artist.

Valorie Hayes - Joined SARL in 2002 and was elected to the Board that same year. Valorie was deeply involved in the development of "Rocky's Place", which is our medical suite at the shelter, named after her dog Rocky. Having a vetting facility on the premises allows us to offer quality medical care to all of our shelter animals. Valorie also established a "Safe Place" program which offers protection for the pets of victims of domestic violence.  Currently, Valorie is the host and producer of "Time For Animals", SARL's cable television program, which is shown in fourteen cities and towns in Ma., and N.H.. She is also the author of a children's humane educational book, "Margarita's Puppy" and a children's workbook. Prior to joining SARL, Valorie worked for twenty five years in the field of education teaching math and science at college, high school, junior high and elementary levels. Valorie holds a BS degree in education from the University of Massachusetts and has completed advance studies in humane education, applied religion and art. Valorie lives in North Andover Ma., and Kennebunkport Me., with her husband Tim, daughter Meghan and four rescued dogs.

Elizabeth Dobbins - Discovered SARL several years ago, through watching "A Time for Animals" on the local cable access station and speaking with Lori Bertrand in a chance meeting in a waiting room.  Elizabeth and her husband, Ephraim who reside in Chester, NH had been adopting dogs and cats -- namely, the "hard luck cases" -- over the years. Elizabeth's focus is on medical care for difficult shelter cases and she holds that cause close to her heart and is a contributor to the rescue's Tulip Fund. She began her work at SARL by adopting a very hard to place cat with some severe medical problems and then moved on to help out with some community outreach events and realized that rescue work was where her heart was.  Elizabeth joined the Board of Directors this year ( 2009) to help SARL realize the dream of the Ronald R. Kimball Family Farm as the new home for the Salem Animal Rescue League.

 

Marilyn Elsmore - First came to Salem Animal Rescue League on October 31,2008, when she stopped in to meet 14 cats that had been rescued from a storage facility and had been featured on the local news. Marilyn left with two kittens and a commitment to help the shelter in anyway she could. Marilyn believes there is an overwhelming feeling of love, care and responsibility that exudes from the SARL staff and volunteers for all cats and dogs that are fortunate enough to end up at the shelter. It is because of that dedication, she jumped on the bandwagon to help raise money to keep the shelter going and growing. In May of each year Marilyn runs the Pets @ the Net Tennis Tournament in North Andover as a benefit fundraiser for SARL. She is a garden designer and has run her own business for five years.  Marilyn resides in North Andover and spends summers in Meredith, NH with her husband, Jeff.

 

Ann LaRuffa - Walked through SARL's doors on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 to donate the unused food of her beloved 14 1/2-yr old Sydney after saying good-bye to her the night before. By that Friday, she was fostering a sweet little 9-yr old dog named Shelly who was part of the Safe Home Safe Pet program. It was a great match: Shelly needed someone to love her, and Ann needed a dog in her life to help heal her broken heart. Shelly's adoption was finalized two weeks later. Ann has been at SARL ever since. There she has found an outlet to channel her love of animals by donating supplies, soliciting donations, walking and fostering dogs, and helping out with various fundraisers. Ann is a VP and software engineer for a mutual funds company in Boston and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a degree in Management Information Systems. She lives in Haverhill with her dog, two cats, and three birds.

 

Joanne Flynn - First became involved with SARL 10 years ago when she joined a volunteer at the shelter who was organizing SARL's first golf tournament.  Joanne has been a member of the PGA since 1994, and she opened the Windham Country Club in 1995, which hosts SARL's annual Fore Paws Golf Tournament.  As Director of Golf, she has many years of teaching experience and developed a solid junior program in addition to her management duties.  Daughter of PGA professional and NEPGA Hall of Fame member, Bill Flynn, she received her BS in Management at Leslie University and her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.  Joanne has received numerous awards for her efforts in golf and charity work.  She lives in Salem with her two cats.