Jim Ellison
Jim Ellison, President
The Pet Companions Club of PebbleCreek will hold its first regular membership meeting of the fall on Wednesday, Nov. 1. We will meet at 3 p.m. in Room 100 of the Eagle’s Nest Activities Center. All PebbleCreek residents, whether club members or not, are invited to attend.
Jim Ellison, president of the Pet Companions Club, will be discussing whether the Pet Companions Club will remain viable as a nonprofit organization. In order to continue as a nonprofit rescue organization, we will need dedicated board members and also residents to train as rescue volunteers. Our most immediate rescue requirement is for someone to coordinate dog rescues.
Be aware that without a PebbleCreek rescue organization there will be no one to rescue PebbleCreek strays, return them to owners, or vaccinate, spay, and medically treat these strays. Before the Pet Companions Club as a nonprofit existed to perform these duties, most of the stray dogs in our community ultimately ended up at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. I am sure our residents would not like to see this happen. The decision whether to continue or disestablish the nonprofit will be made at the first Board of Directors meeting after our November membership meeting.
The Pet Companions Club was founded in 1997 as a club for PebbleCreek pet owners and transitioned into an IRS approved Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Animal Rescue Organization with an effective date of July 9, 2004. The Pet Companions Board of Directors has experienced frequent turnover over the years. Jim and Marge Ellison are now the longest-serving members. Jim and Marge have been doing animal rescue for over 40 years, 28 of those years as PebbleCreek residents.
In order to ensure the future survival of any organization, there must be an orderly succession of officers and directors. That is especially critical for the Pet Companions Club because of the limited pool of candidates. Marge is serving her final term as vice president, which will end in January 2024. Jim is serving his final term, which will end in January 2025.
PebbleCreek residents have generously supported the Pet Companions Club with their dues and donations every year enabling us to exist as a rescue. Residents now need to volunteer their services as well so we can start preparations and training for a successful and viable board transition for our club. The future of the Pet Companions Club depends on filling these critical board vacancies.
We do not expect the president, or any of the directors, to do anything but those duties as specified in the bylaws of the Pet Companions Club. Each rescue coordinator, whether it is for dogs, cats, or birds, will only be required to do those duties. The same will be true for any other special committee or duty assignment as specified by the Board.
Please address any questions to Jim or Marge Ellison at 623-935-6651.