Board of Directors

Secretary – Laura Ragas

Secretary – Laura Ragas

Executive Secretary
My name is Laura Ragas. I am a long standing member of the NFSS. I live in South Louisiana and have had an interest in aviculture since childhood, raising various finches and small hookbills as a young teenager. Approximately 30 years ago, I began to focus my breeding program on zebra finches exclusively. Thanks to...
Rebecca Mikel

Rebecca Mikel

President
Join the NFSS & become part of a really great flock. I’d like to encourage every hobbyist & breeder to join and become involved – without being nervous/afraid because of a lack of experience. I think initially a lot of people are hesitant to get involved because of that. We have members at EVERY level of  knowledge —...
Sally Huntington

Sally Huntington

1st Vice President
AFA Delegate
Education
Past President
Judge's Panel
Model Aviculture Program certified. Life member of the AFA. Charter member of the Nat’l Avian Welfare Alliance. Two term president of the NFSS. Participant in the NFSS’ Finch & Softbill Save program. Member of the Aviculture Society of America. Past president & life member of the Finch Society of San Diego County. 5 time winner...
Laura Tinker – Judge’s Panel Director

Laura Tinker – Judge’s Panel Director

4th Vice President
Judges Panel Director
Panel Judge
I have been keeping and breeding a variety of birds (psittacines, passerines and columbiformes) for over 30 years. My interest in passerines began in 1993 with a pair of cutthroat finches I won on a raffle table at a local bird club meeting. Although I have kept a multitude of species over the years, my...
Lauren Ogburn

Lauren Ogburn

Affiliate
Awards Director
I invite your club to affiliate with the NFSS. We hope to support your organization with information, education, socialization, and communication. Join today, I will be happy to help you navigate the forms, procedures and opportunities.
Paula Hansen

Paula Hansen

Leg Band Secretary
Webmaster
(aka Hacker) Personal Information: A native New Yorker. My best quality I think I have is honesty. Married for 49 yrs. to husband Henry. He bought a canary for Valentine’s Day in 1990. A yr. later an aviary was built, I joined a bird club. My History in Aviculture: 1991-Starting with the basics Florida Fancy Zebra...
Laura Watkins – Membership Director

Laura Watkins – Membership Director

Membership Director
NFSS Judge's Panel
My bird journey started when I was a child, thanks to my mom – she always seemed to have a Canary or pair of Finches in the house. After the typical childhood budgie and then a cockatiel, I acquired a pair of Green Singing Finch which raised babies in my dining room! Then came an...
Roland Cristo

Roland Cristo

Legislative Liason
I am what is called a true “birdaholic.” I was born in the San Francisco Bay area of Northern California, and I’ve been watching birds in aviaries since I was born as my dad raised birds most of his life. I was also going in and out of aviaries at an early age, and I remember...
Amber Kincheloe – Facebook Group Moderator

Amber Kincheloe – Facebook Group Moderator

Executive Secretary
My name is Amber Kincheloe. I spent my first year on the NFSS Board as your Advertising Manager. I am also the owner of Blue Ribbon Finches. I specialize in Society Finches, Zebra Finches and Java Sparrows. I also have Fife Canaries, Button Quail, a Cockatiel and an African Ringneck. As far as my non-avian...
Sara Roberts

Sara Roberts

Treasurer
I have raised a variety of birds throughout my life including chickens, pigeons and finches.  Most recently in 2010 I started breeding finches (Gouldians, Fire Finch and a few others).  I joined NFSS in 2014, wanting to support education for maintaining and breeding of finch species. I am retired from banking and finance and live...
Daniel Maldonado Regional VP 1

Daniel Maldonado Regional VP 1

Regional VP 1
Region 1: CT, DE,MA, ME, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, Canada Hi, my name is Daniel Maldonado. I have bred, banded and exhibited canaries since 1991. Currently I breed Glosters, Parisian Frills, Northern Dutch Frills and Southern Dutch Frills. I began showing Glosters in 1992 and added the Northern Dutch Frill and the...
Regional VP 2 – Kurt Faudel

Regional VP 2 – Kurt Faudel

Region 2 VP
Regional VP 2 covers these states: Region 2: AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, VA, WV, PR, Caribbean Basin Inquiries email to: Region2vp@nfss.org I grew up in Denmark and as a teenager had various species of finches, budgies, cockatiel, doves and quail. The exotic bird hobby was quite popular there in the 1970s. Then for...
Susan Stieve – Regional VP 3

Susan Stieve – Regional VP 3

Region 3 VP
Regional VP 3 covers these states: Region 3: AR, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO, OH, WI, TN, Australia, Bermuda, England I have been an NFSS member since 2011, I joined the NFSS Board of Directors in 2014 I enjoy raising and exhibiting finches and specialize in Austrailian species and Societies I have been an...

Regional VP 4 – Vacant

Region 4 VP
Regional VP 4 covers these states: Region 4: IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, OK, SD, TX, AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY Inquiries email region4vp@nfss.org  
Doug White – Regional VP 5

Doug White – Regional VP 5

Region 5 VP
Regional VP 5 covers these states: Region 5: AK, CA, HI, OR, WA I am a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer and currently work as a Senior Recruiter for Allstate Insurance at the NW Regional Office where I look for individuals to be Agent/Owners. I have owned and bred birds off and on for...

Volunteers Needed

 

For more information or to volunteer, send questions and/or resumés to Bob Peers 2nd VP in charge of publications (Journal & forums) at 2ndvp@nfss.org.

We are looking for member & non-member submissions of articles, photos, or even re-print suggestions. Anything pertaining to keeping finches & softbills is pertinent information we could include in our next Journal issue.

• Want to see your name in the next copy of the NFSS Journal?

• Have you written an article in the past for the NFSS or your own personal use?

• Ever been to a bird-related event and would like to recount your experience?

• Have you purchased an item or book and would like to write a review?

• Got some advice for other hobbyists and breeders of a certain species?

• Have you purchased a new flock member and would like to tell us your story?

• Ever written a blog post for your website/social media or someone else’s?

Send your submissions or suggestions to editor@nfss.org

 

 

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