Saturday November 12 -- NRC Meetings

The Headquarters Hotel in Oakdale is busy with the opening day activities of the beginning of the 2011 National Retriever Club Championship. The selling booths are lined up down the sidewalk at the Headquarters with contestants filling the booths and milling in the parking lot.

Brenda Little has the sun reflecting off two tables of her handmade Lucky Lab jewelry. It's still pretty cool here and the polar fleece and sweatshirts being sold by the Merchandise Committee are being snapped up and everyone was expecting a warmer welcome from California. 

Mark Smith just came by the Retriever News table and pointed out the room that he stayed in for the 1991 NRC. It has been rumored that his initials are still to bee faintly seen in the wall!! This is also an anniversary of sorts for Wayne Curtis...they BOTH ran their first National here 20 years ago.

Speaking of Retriever News, they have published and have available for sale the latest Performance Book 2003-2008. They would be happy for you to consider one of these for the upcoming holiday gift-giving season.

Speaking of gifts, Molly Schlachter will have some new choices to showcase your dog at the National. Be sure to check out her booth and say "Howdy."
 

Here are a selection of "Snaps" of the afternoon and all the activities. 

The Meetings begin at 2 pm with the Retriever Advisory Committee and at 3 pm with the General Meeting and the Draw for the starting dog. Bitch check to follow.....

Jerry Cacchio from Purina talks David Carrington from Avery

Tellus Calhoun shoots a smile over Craig Stonesifer's shoulder as Kelsi Toth looks on.

Tellus Calhoun, Mark Medford and Kelsi Toth

Gwen Jones and Molly Schlachter "GET DOWN!!"

Toni Boyett and Ann Rauff are selling raffle tickets!

Mitch Patterson and Martha McCool

Mark Smith and Jim Beck are "SHOPAHOLICS!!"

Our "Hats Are Off" to the Merchandise Committee

Rick Dirmeyer from Eukanuba and Tellus Calhoun

Ed Haskins and Craig Stonesifer

Nancy White and Ken Neil

"The Sales Pitch....."

We're off to the meetings....Pix & copy to come!

Retriever Advisory Committee

Headed at the speaker table: John Goettl, Lisa Carroll, Bill Dailey, Katherine Simonds, Nelson Sills, Jerry Mann with AKC.

The meeting started at 2:05 pm with the Retriever Advisory Committee presiding. They just passed the Rules Report from 2011. There were no new rules, merely a clarification of current rules. They went over these clarifications at the National Amateur in June, 2011.

The clarification was regarding moving the Amateur Stake start time. The question arose if the published start time for a club is Saturday, and the club finds out that more than 65 dogs are entered in the Amateur Stake, can they change the start time to Friday. The club can now make the change if they contact everyone entered. Provisions must be made for anyone who cannot come to run on Friday. They will be run first on Saturday morning.

The second item was a reminder that when a blind is set up, a dog must remain in sight almost all of the time. The Rule Book says that the test should be planned so that the dog is in sight all of the time. A dog that is out of sight is not under control. There can be a small amount of out-of-sight time, due to normal terrain. They ask that the Judges use proper discretion.

Clarification #1: Definition of a Pro. If raw dollars or compensation are derived directly from handling a dog, you are a pro. An amateur can receive compensation from doing a video, holding a seminar, writing a book, or teaching another handle to handle a dog.

Linda Haskins asked if these same rules apply to a Judge. The same rules apply to a judge. A judge cannot be a pro. In the Retriever Advisory Committee’s opinion, a field trial committee may make a decision if a person is a professional or an amateur. It is only for that trial, and does not mean that that person will be classified as a pro. It is just for that weekend.

A.     One can file a protest to the field trial committee alleging someone is a pro for a $10 fee. The field trial committee meets, invites the protestor to testify, that person can bring someone to present evidence, and the alleged pro also attends. This hearing is very similar to misconduct hearing. If the is pro “masquerading as an amatuer, it is misconduct” and “treated as misconduct.” If the committee finds the person is a pro, the progress goes through through the same channels as misconduct. There must be a report to the AKC within seven days.

When a protest is filed, it is not filed against a person. It is filed against the dog, alleging that the dog should not be run in the Amateur.

Audience member question: raising puppy, socializing? Kate’s answer: Housebreaking, getting used to other people, traveling, exposure to various situations, teaching to be good citizen. Once start bird boys, collar conditioning, etc. “You have to have some sense. You have to use your common sense in these things. … This is a sport that is supposed to be made up of people of honor. This business of trying to cheats the sport.”

Clarification #2: In June, there was a discussion regarding layout blinds. The general consensus was that they are undesirable. Dangerous. Bird boys get hurt. Someone’s grandson reportedly had 40ish spider bites. Some people said they were ‘a real plus.’ If nowhere to retire a gun, etc. Comments were solicited .comments. Kate stated she lives in the East and never has been in position to use. She wants to hear from people who use them.  Necessary? Or, ban?

Audience: man. Use a lot in the Midwest. Texas. Flat. Limited trees. Necessity. Used four years without anyone getting position. Position: FOR.

Man: Cited there were cases where they used in trials he believes could have used another method. Tool that should be available to a judge. Judgment call if used. OPTION OF JUDGES.

Man: Field trial chair has obligation to work with the judges. Scorpions, rattle snakes and red ants – in desert. Hot. 80 degrees and above. ANTI but ok if not dangerous to the bird boy.

Man: In Montana. Questions whether should use in this Nat’l “with these gunners.”

Woman: As a judge, if I don’t want to lay in that thing for 10 hours with dead ducks, I would not ask someone else to do it.”

Kate: If not banned, might add cautionary stmt. Might disallow dead ducks.

Man: “We are unable to totally use common sense. We cannot depend on us to use common sense.” OUTLAW. Several others concurred.

Man: Dog in area of the fall, man with face exposes. “Very likely someone will get hit in the face by the dog’s feet and they can’t defend themselves.”

Man: “I agree that sometimes common sense is not used.”

Kate: If use and “have a bad accident, are we not all responsible for that?”

Hand vote. Kate: “Pretty even.” PRO & CON.

Suggestion: 15 dogs in Derby & Dow is 98, “You would do a lot of subtracting.” Committee not in favor. “Would add a lot of layers of bureaucracy.” Might bring it up again – pros with a lot of dogs, with some minor stake dogs, do more to hold up the minor stakes than anyone else. Disallow pros to run both minor and Open if running concurrently or have the pro bring an assistant.

Woman: Marshal at the open stake can coordinate. Send over one or two at a time. APPLAUSE.

Man: There already is a 15 minute rule to cover that. Kate: “You don’t to invoke that.”

Man: Wasn’t a rule considered to give full refund if someone couldn’t get a dog over to a minor stake. Problem – can’t predict whether Open will end on Sat or Sun morning.

Man on far left of speaker table: “What if it was the tenth dog in a Derby?”

Woman: Amateurs will hold-up stakes as well. Unreasonable to put the blame on a professional.

Kate: The pros tend to have more dogs than the amateurs do. Summarized: More of a marshal’s job than a rule issue.

Woman: “Every dog on the pro truck belongs to an amateur. Shouldn’t punish the pros.” Pros won’t go to certain trials if they can’t run amateurs’ dogs in a certain state.”

Clarification #3: Excessive lining: Have had complaints. “There are apparently some pros that teach excessive lining to their clients.” There is a rule that says you can’t partake in excessive lining. Judge has two ways to handle: “Joe Blow, I’m going to call for the birds. And, call for them. The other way is to ask the handler to take the dog off line, explain, come back, call for the birds.” Asked for comments.

Woman: 2^nd & 3^rd bird. Speaker: “Sometimes, apparently, it’s on the first bird.” Distinguishes when judges should be “more aware” - for handlers who do it on multiple birds.

Man: When dog has seen all the birds, and the dog doesn’t know where the bird is. “Fiddles and fiddles and fiddles.”

Dennis Bath: If judge “gets tired of waiting,” can just call for the bird.

Man: Called into play years ago, more often than not. Only judge was Tom Quinn, other than Bill Woods, to tell a handler “don’t do it again.” One handler retorted “I can continue to fiddle with my dog, or he won’t get the bird.”

Standard closing day: Example: Tuesdays before the trial. ? “This takes away some flexibility from the clubs who have always been able to choose their own closing day, within reason, of course.” Now secretaries do comparatively little. Now, “Much simpler” to have standard day. On the other hand, still have premiums, & presumably can read.

Audience: All ‘no’s.

Man: Discussed in board meeting this am. Should be left up to the clubs. APPLAUSE.

Man: Changing the time, so sec can check things out before goes to bed? Kate: Like 10 o’clock? If change the time from midnight, “there’s always some idiot” who wants to enter at 11:45.

Man: “Problem that EE is currently having, give the option to the club not to publish who has entered until after the Closing.” Present system, allows a person to decide whether or not to enter based upon who else already has entered.

Speaker: Seems to be in favor of changing the day, but not the time.

Man: “Clubs that have a numbers issue, would like the pros to look and see how many dogs are here.” In the Intermountain area, not an issue. Have to order birds, etc. Don’t know how many are needed because have to wait until almost the Close. Encourages people to enter “in a timely fashion.”

Man – Rules, Pg 26, 3^rd sentence from the bottom. Said new to him. Kate: has always been in there. Once dog is sent, the dog is done. Man on the far left end: “That’s not how it was done the year before – between the 10 and the 9 book.” Lots of hubbub at the speaker table and in the audience.”

General Meeting

Gary Ahlgren said, “Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of our dogs and friends we’ve lost in the past year.” (Paraphrased.)

All the contestants have been asked to sign catalog for Tommy Sorenson who is in a rest home.

Bart Gallant told the audience that this Nat’l dedicated to Dick and Claudia Fenner for the long-time commitment. Just an extraordinary contribution. He asked that we “Stop and shake hands with a legend and express our appreciation.” Second – “warm round of applause.” STANDING OVATION!

Quorum declared. Dispense with formal role call. Moved.

Mitch Patterson, Sec/Treas:

The good news is that the 2010 Nat’l in Vicksburg, Miss had a net gain of $17K. Joe Broyles, put on the trial. “We’re doing very good financially right now.”

But the bad news is that the 2012 NRC entry fee will be $350. “I think everybody kind of understands.” The NRC Board feels “a little bit extra money is going to be needed in the next few years.”

Moved for acceptance.

The 2012 National will be held in the area of Montgomery, Texas
Judging the event will be Julie Cole, Tommy Parrish and Dave Seivert

Handler's Instructions

Bill Kolstad Chairmanof the Marshall's Committee addressed the assembled crowd.

First test: 2 holding blinds mandatory. Probably will have three, if not four. 

It's a short walk to the test and Bill cautioned that it would move quickly. This test will consist of a double and a blind using all Roosters. Handler on mat. 

Rotation = 41, 63, 85, 18. 

Please dispose of training birds in the dumpsters at Boatright Ranch... use double bags. 

The first caravan leaves Cindy’s Market, Save-More Market at 5:30 am. 

Bitch check – in front of the school in front of the meeting. Across the street, pkg lot. 

No birds: 1^st = 6 dogs. 2^nd = 6 dogs. 3^rd = at the end. Test dogs: 6:30 am. Competing dog at 7 am.

During gun changes, there will not be a dog in the first two blinds. Dog in the 3^rd blind will move to the first blind & the next two blinds will be filled. 

Gun changes every 22 dogs. 22, 63, 85, 18. 

There will be signs from town to the test site. 

Bill said “I’m going to put a target on my back and on my co-chair’s back.” So no one should have a problem finding them.

Cocktail party: 6:30 pm tonight. 243 N. Stearns Rd, to the left. Near Cal Cadmus’ vet clinic. “Dress code: Dinner jackets and dressy clothes.”

Announcement: Molly Schlachter’s assistant, Laura Owens, will be taking photos after the first series tomorrow “so wear your tie.” Kidding.

Gwen Jones is going "Back to School!!"

Molly Schlachter, Official Photographer for the NRC with Craig Stonesifer and Joe Broyles

Becky and Mark Edwards

Bill Dailel, Kate Simonds and Nelson Sills of the RAC

Paul Sletten and Dave Smith

Lo and Rick Dirmeyer from Eukanuba

Dennis Bath

Bruce Doing and Rich Smith

John Goettl, Lisa Carroll, AKC Rep, and Bill Dailey

Kate Simonds, Nelson Sills and Jerry Mann, AKC Rep

Arnie and Linda Erwin

Gwen Jones and Joule Charney...Reporters from Retriever News

Lo Dirmeyer and Al WIlson

Ty and Dave Rorem

Mitch Patterson and Gary Ahlgren

Craig Stonesifer and Joe Broyles

Bart Gallant honors Gun Captain, Dick Fenner for all his years in service

Gary Zoellner and Steve Carr, standing in for Jim Cope

Judges Lee Jolley, John Goettl and Ed Haskins

Mitch Patterson gives the Treasurer's Report

Dennis Bath thenks the Sponsors.......Chris Ledford representing Tritronics

Brenda Little, Vendor, and Ken Neil

Dean Reinke from Purina

Rick Dirmeyer from Eukanuba

Rick Dirmeyer from Eukanuba presents Paul Sletten, the 2010 NRC Winner, with his Chris Chantland painting

#41 is chosen as the starting dog.

Ed Haskins receives his Judges bronze statue

John Goettl receives his Judges bronze statue

Lee Jolley receives his Judges bronze statue

Thanks to all of our Judges for all their hard work during set-up week and for the long week of testing to come!

Gary Zellner presents outgoing President Gary Ahlgren with a bronze statue also.

Bitch Check in the parking lot.

Cocktail Party

Here's a selection of snaps from tonight's Cocktail Party. The food was bountiful and the drinks were flowing and everyone had a good time. But....early to bed, early to rise....tomorrow morning will come quickly!