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                                               March 2010 Newsletter                                                

          Hello Everyone, Welcome to the Conyers Kennel Club Newsletter.  Our meeting this month will be Monday, March 8 at IHOP in Conyers. 

          We meet at 6:30 to eat and the meeting starts around 7:30.

CONYERS KENNEL CLUB

Meeting Minutes – February 8, 2010

President Don Watson opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. by welcoming members and guests.  He thanked all the members who helped

make the February Show a success.

-Don asked for any corrections or additions to the Minutes of the January meeting as published in the newsletter.  No changes required. 

Motion to accept the minutes as published made by Rhea Spence and seconded by Mike Houchard.

-Treasurers report was not distributed for review.   Rhea stated that the final checks from LKC and SMKC have been received.  Total

profit from the August show has not been tallied at this time.  The insurance and deposit for the Expo center have been made.

-Don reported that the February show went well.  There were only two issues that included one woman suffering heart problems that

was taken to the hospital by ambulance and Natalie and Holly Roseberry’s car was hit by a RV in the parking lot.  Natalie and Holly were

not in the car at the time and everyone is fine.  Jackie Dilworth and Linda Jackson thanked everyone for helping with the trophy table set

up on Friday night.  Linda advised that the table linens needed to be cleaned after every show.  Nancy Donahue volunteered to bring them

to be cleaned and stored for the August show.  We need someone to take responsibility to pick up supplies from the storage locker before

every show.  Mike Houchard will make sure that the signs are picked up.  The table skirt clips were borrowed by Ouida from LKC, Linda

will make sure that the clips are brought to the Coalition meeting where Mike Houchard will pick them up. 

-Clean out of the storage building will take place on February 27^th.  Don, Steve, Nancy, Jackie and Mike will meet to sort and dispose what

is no longer needed.

-After speaking with many exhibitors over the weekend, Don has proposed that we lower the entry fee for puppies.  The number of 6-9

and 9-12 month old puppies has been very low.  Many exhibitors stated that the cost of entering these puppies is expensive for what is

mostly practice for such young dogs.  Don proposed a cost of $10 for 6-9 months and $15 for 9-12 months.  This is in line with what

many handling classes cost and will hopefully increase the total entries.  Theresa Hesterley made a motion to reduce the entry fees,

seconded by Linda Jackson.   Suggestions of where and how to advertise these new entry fees were discussed.  The members voted

to pass the new fee structure.

-Discussion took place concerning the selection of judges that is believed to be hurting the number of entries.  CKC only hires a judge every

three years.  There is no way to limit a judge from working other local club shows around our show.  It is necessary to hire judges that can

judge multiple groups and/or breeds to keep costs in line.  Members need to give their input on the judges that they would like to see. 

-Sue Shelton reported that the Match will be held on Sunday, May 2^nd.  We will not be able to set up the site on Saturday as the facility is

reserved by another party.  We will begin set up at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and will need help from every available member.  Steve

Donahue and Mike Houchard will cook the hotdogs and hamburgers.  Jackie Dilworth will get the food and trophies.  Merry Carol Houchard

will do the books.  Rhea Spence will take the entries.  Linda Jackson will help line up the judges.  Suggestions from members, who know

of anyone who needs a judging assignment, please get with Linda.  The porta-potty needs to be ordered and needs to be able to be locked

to keep it from being used on Saturday. 

-Linda Jackson reported that Handling Class will begin the spring session on Tuesday, April 6^th at 7:00 p.m. and continue through May 7^th. 

The cost will remain at $5.00 per handler and the last class will include a graduation party as usual.

-The RDOD will not be able to be held with the Wildlife Festival like we did last year as the festival will be the same weekend as the August

Cluster show.  Further discussion will be needed to determine when this event will be held.

-Don reported that the judges have been hired for the August show.

-Randall McCurry reported that the Trophy cards were done by Sandra McCurry and thanked her for a great job.  Randall will look at

replenishing the card stock so that the cards can be printed in color in the future.

-Mike Shelton wanted to thank Erin Mayfield for another great job handling the hospitality for the show.

-Dixie Westmoreland thanked Sandra McCurry for setting up the Obedience Table in her absence.

-Board members Rhea Spence, Mike Shelton and Anne Crum had no reports at this time.  Jan Moore thanked everyone.

- Don passed an invitation from the City of Auburn for any interested members that would like to bring their dogs to their

“Love of Dogs Festival”. Due to our match on May 2^nd, Jerri Dandelske will send our regrets for not being able to attend. 

Jerri will post the invitation and registration form on the website for anyone that may be interested. 

-Mike Houchard reviewed the nominees for the upcoming election at the March Delegates meeting.  Each candidate was discussed

and Mike was given the top four candidates that the members would like to see voted in.  Mike will vote accordingly.

-Don sent around a letter from the Rockdale Food Bank thanking the club for their support in these difficult times.

Brags this month:

   *Gaylord Cleveland reported that Luigi was named Working Dog of the Year for 2009

   *Mike Shelton reported that Myst won WD on Friday and BOW on Sunday in his first show

   *Renae Watson reported that Sadie finished her title winning WB and BO in Fla.

   *Audrey Lycan reported one of the last breeding took a 4 point major at the Specialty

   *Merry Carol Houchard reported that Chris Miller had a great weekend with Kate taking   WB all three days and BOB on Friday,

Gibson took BOB on Saturday and Sunday, Gibson also achieved his Rally Novice, and Vala took BO on Saturday and Sunday.  

With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned.

Recorded by Jerri Dandelske  Secretary

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 

--Celebrating the Work and Dedication of America's Search and Rescue Dogs -- 

New York, NY - With the recent earthquakes in Haiti, much attention has been brought to the search and rescue dogs working to free trapped citizens from the rubble. With certain capabilities far surpassing those of a human, these dogs have saved innumerable lives - and after working long shifts without complaint, these animals also provide comfort to their handlers in distressing conditions, making us appreciate the extraordinary canine-human bond and the innumerable ways dogs contribute
to our lives in the most incredible ways!

Locally, New York Task Force One, sponsored by the NYC Office of Emergency Management and staffed by NYPD and FDNY personnel, deployed to Haiti with four search and rescue K-9 teams in early January to assist with earthquake recovery and relief efforts. After a more than a week-long deployment in Port Au Prince, the dogs and handlers returned with six rescues under their belts, including freeing 10 and 8-year old siblings from the rubble.

In recognition of their efforts, the American Kennel Club and AKC Companion Animal Recovery Canine Support and Relief Fund have donated $25,000 to the United States Police Canine Association Region 7, which includes New York City, to enhance ongoing search and rescue education of law enforcement K-9s and their handlers wanting to further their training in detecting and locating lost, missing or injured persons.

The AKC and AKC CAR have a long history of supporting SAR teams. The AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund was created in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in response to the exemplary work and dedication of the search and rescue dog first responders. Since its creation, the Fund has provided $3 million to date in search and rescue grants as well as disaster relief in response to hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

The fund accepts both donations and applications for grant money at the following sites: http://www.akc.org/donations/ and http://www.akc.org/dogny/grants.cfm.

The American Kennel Club has also recognized search and rescue dogs since 2000 by awarding an AKC Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) in a search and rescue category. Over the past nine years, search and rescue ACE winners have located lost Alzheimer's patients, children, and people with mental disabilities; have worked at Ground Zero at the World Trade Center on 9/11; and served in Iraq, at the Texas A&M bonfire collapse, the Oklahoma City bombing site, the Columbia Space Shuttle recovery operation site, and in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

We're especially proud of our purebred search and rescue ACE winners including Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies and other sporting, hunting and herding breeds. For a job requiring a well-socialized, healthy dog with predictable instincts and work ethic, purebreds are the dog of choice. If you know of a deserving search and rescue team please nominate them for the 2010 ACE at: http://www.akc.org/news/ace/

We hope that you join us in saluting these brave dogs and the important contributions they make in supporting our country and world in the worst disasters, as these search and rescue teams truly represent the best of what dogs have to offer.

Sincerely,

Ron Menaker
Chairman  

Newsletter-Sandra McCurry                                   

 southforkgolden@aol.com