Don is an individual that stands out as a true sportsman and representative of USMRA. Besides the dedication that he shows as a judge, he is an incredibly kind and gentle human. He genuinely cares about each person in this organization and will go above and beyond on the field and off the field to help someone. Don truly tries to bring everyone together and work with them on whatever level they are at. During events that he is judging, he helps nervous handlers with encouragement and calming breathing techniques. Don takes the time to describe Mondioring to all spectators who have an interest in our sport. His desire to see the sport grow and be a community that shares ideas and training methods is exemplified through all of his actions.
Don Lee has been a member of USMRA for many, many, MANY years. He is a judge and he STILL competes with dog after dog. In 2022 and 2023, USMRA struggled with getting enough Judges and assignments for trials, and Don stepped up in a big way. He was gone more than half of the year, leaving his job and his family to be able to judge trials for USMRA. Besides the dedication that he shows as a judge, he is an incredibly kind and gentle human, he genuinely cares about each person in this organization and will go above and beyond on the field and off the field to help someone. I have seen him help handlers with breathing techniques and encouragement time after time. And besides all of that, Don still actively competes with his current malinois. We all know that training a dog, traveling to train, plus working full time, we barely have any time left, and Don somehow makes time to do all that and Judge a huge portion of our USA trials. Everyone loves trialing with or under Don and everyone knows that Don is an amazing human being.
I nominate Don Lee for the Sportsmanship Award as he exemplifies good sportsmanship on and off the field, as a competitor, as a Judge and as a former Board Member.
As a new member to USMRA I have experienced both sides of attitudes from other existing members of the sport both positive and negative. One individual that I believe stands out as a true sportsman and representative of what USMRA would want from all of its members. Donald Lee is more than a judge for the sport he truly tries to bring everyone together and work with you on whatever level. During events that he is judging he takes the time to describe Mondioring to all spectators in case there are those just coming to watch that are interested in the sport. He never is unwilling to share knowledge and you never here an ill word about others out of his mouth. Don has strengthened this community with consistently being a fair judge and ready to teach others regarding the rules and handling. Last year alone there probably would not have been the number of trials in this country were it not for Don Lee. I believe his desire to see the sport grow and be a community that shares ideas and training methods is exemplified through all of his actions. I know for me he has single handed helped me work on handling skills when I have attended seminars he has been at to be able to walk on the field with my first dog and pass the first leg of my MR1. I believe the organization would have a huge void to fill if we did not have him as a judge, representative of the sport and competitor.
Don is an individual that I believe stands out as a true sportsman and representative of USMRA. Besides the dedication that he shows as a judge, he is an incredibly kind and gentle human. He genuinely cares about each person in this organization and will go above and beyond on the field and off the field to help someone. Don truly tries to bring everyone together and work with them on whatever level they are at. During events that he is judging, Don takes the time to describe Mondioring to all spectators who have an interest in our sport. I believe his desire to see the sport grow and be a community that shares ideas and training methods is exemplified through all of his actions.
