SARL Board of Directors
Lori Bertrand - President, has been involved with SARL since April of 2001 and has been the President since April 2004. Lori took early retirement from the photography industry and was eager to find a way to give back to the community when she found SARL. She is a current member & advisor of the NH Federation of Humane Organizations and stays active in local and state legislature. She has a passion for community enrichment and that is reflective of all the new programs SARL is involved with. Married to Jack for 26 years, they share their home with three rescued dogs Cooper, Buttons & Casper & three rescued Persians: Hawke, Morgan & Amber - all alumni of the rescue league. Lori's dream is that "shelters, communities and citizens all working together are able to eliminate euthanasia of healthy & treatable animals. This is an attainable goal and one that is necessary for the humane treatment of companion animals".
Martha Adamovich - Vice President , been 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.
Ron Kimball - Treasurer, As the result of his care and compassion for all animals Ron has been a strong supporter and generous contributor for the Salem Animal Rescue League since 2003. Ron is a semi-retired accountant with a BS in Accounting and has over 45 years experience in the accounting field. Ron has had many special dogs in his home and in his heart for over 50 years. He is committed to seeing SARL grow into a great shelter, permanently based, in Southern New Hampshire. Ron, currently, has two SARL adopted dogs that share his home; one a Siberian Husky, and the other a cross between a Dachshund/Golden Retriever mix. These two forever companions travel with Ron, constantly, wherever he goes.
Valorie Hayes - Community Relations Coordinator, 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.
Barbara Lessard - Board Member - Discovered the Salem Animal Rescue League when a high school friend, Lyn Schwager, a huge supporter of Sarl, asked her to attend a wine and cheese event at SARL. Barbara had recently lost her beloved Shih-tzu after 14 years and thought it would be a good way to help with the pain of her loss.Barbara is a life long resident of Salem, having attended Salem schools and Merrimack College. She has been married to her husband Bill for 46 years and have 5 children and 10 grandchildren. Barbara worked for the Town of Salem for 25 years, 23 of them as Town Clerk. She retired in March of 2008 and began volunteering one day a week at SARL working for the development office. She was asked in September to join the Board of Directors and believes that with her knowledge of the people who live in Salem and her vast experience in the town she may be helpful through Sarl's capital campaign.At the present time Barbara does not have any animals of her own. Barbara has jumped in and offered to foster dogs before she leaves for Florida where she spends her winters with her husband.
Elizabeth Dobbins - Board Member - 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 - Board Member - Marilyn 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.