CENTRAL POINT, OR – Since 1992, the Sam’s Radio Hams Chapter of the Good Sam Club has been paying it forward to Dogs for Better Lives (DBL). Recently, they reached a big milestone – raising more than $100,000 throughout their 30 years of support for DBL.
Development Manager Wanda Cockey and Sam’s Radio Hams Vice President Pamela Elliot at the DBL campus in 2020.
“The people who love the lifestyle offered by recreational vehicles also tend to be animal lovers in general and dog fans especially,” says Pamela Elliott, the vice president of Sam’s Radio Hams. This chapter of the Good Sam Club has been active for 41 years and fundraising for DBL for 30 years.
“We had a member who was deaf, and our group wanted to support Dogs for Better Lives for that reason,” Pamela says. “We’ve all had someone we’ve known who could benefit from one of these service dogs. It’s a great organization to support.”
Their chapter of about 50 RVs is distinct because the members are also licensed amateur (or “ham”) radio operators. The group has monthly campouts ranging around California, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. When they meet up, they often have a fundraiser of some type for DBL. “One of our member’s sells plants and another makes and sells the most fantastic breakfast sandwiches,” Pamela says. “One member donated a quilt for a drawing. We have a banquet at Christmas every year and all the donations go to Dogs for Better Lives.”
Through consistent acts of service and fundraising, the results really add up. The Sam’s Radio Hams chapter has donated almost $100,000 to DBL since 1992. Some of the club members visited DBL last year for a training demonstration and tour.
“It’s what the staff do and how they do it that’s very impressive,” Pamela says. “From getting the rescue dogs and the selective training to how they make the dogs available to the people who need them. It’s all funded through donations.”
“My wife Lynne and I have twice hosted a campout at Train Mountain in Chiloquin, OR and on the most recent campout we visited the Dogs for Better Lives facility. On that visit the members enjoyed the visit at DBL, along with the beautiful drive over Hwy 140 and stopping for lunch on the return trip at Lake of the Woods Resort,” said long-time club member Dick Miller. “We hope to return to the facility again in 2023, but in the meantime will continue our mini raffles benefitting DBL at all campouts.”
