Annual Banquet: The annual banquet and club awards program will again be held at the Iron Ridge Inn on Saturday, January 7th. The dinner will again be family style and the two meats selected are whole roasted turkey and tenderloin tips. Hors d’oeuvres will again be served prior to the dinner. Stu and Wendy Wellnitz, again, will be purchasing raffle gifts but are asking the members to donate raffle items. Club members are asked to contact Stu and Wendy if they have items to donate to the raffle. The price will remain the same as in the past, $20 per person. Dick Reesman, again, will handle the Trophies and Awards Program.
Membership
Membership Report/Issues-Work Hours: The secretary distributed a list of all the members and the work days they had credited to them for 2011. Jim indicated that this will be the information used to prepare the invoice sent out to members letting them know if they owe money for unworked days.
2012 Membership Application/Renewal/Ballot: Membership renewal forms and Board Election Ballots have been sent to all members. Please complete the ballot and renewal form, indicating the periods you may be available for work and forward with your dues payment to Secretary Jim Powers by January 1, 2012. Non work day assessment is $75 per day for 2011.
Life Membership: Gary Goffin presented a letter to the board stating that he wished to be considered for life membership. Gary has met the requirements and the Board granted him life membership. Congratulations Gary.
Events
Fall Field Trial Report: The secretary distributed copies of the fall trial financial report. Co-chair Dick Reesman gave the report. Reading from the report, he stated that the trial took in revenue of $12,081.59 and has expenses of $6,992.95 for a net profit of $5,099.64. Contributing to the profit were minimal judges’ expenses. The cost of ducks continues to be a concern.
Grounds
Grounds Improvement:
Chair Pat Corteen said the grass has taken hold on the mounds and it looks fine. He is looking for suggestions for improvements for 2012 and beyond. Suggestions included shaving some of the big points on the clubhouse property, making additional improvements to the Ev Hosea grounds. There is need to prioritize our projects. Pat said that the committee will go back to the master list that was started last year and go from there.
Grounds Committee: The chair did not submit a report. It was mentioned that Kevin Krueziger has stored the chemicals for the winter so they would not freeze. The club needs to return to a regular plan for treating the ponds. The clubhouse ponds were infested with milfoil. Tom McLeod said he would develop a duty list for 2012 projects.
Grounds Improvement: Chair Pat Corteen said the grass has taken hold on the mounds and it looks fine. He is looking for suggestions for improvements for 2012 and beyond. Suggestions included shaving some of the big points on the clubhouse property, making additional improvements to the Ev Hosea grounds. There is need to prioritize our projects. Pat said that the committee will go back to the master list that was started last year and go from there.
Mean Seeds-AKC Update:> There have been ongoing discussions with Prof. Lauenroth (Colorado State University) regarding the distribution of mean seeds and exactly who uses them. Among the users are CPR land seeding mixtures, Pheasants Forever, highway seeding programs, private land seed mixtures erroneously trying to restore prairie lands along with many others. Cheap costs and fast regenerating are the reason these seeds are used . Input from veterinary centers in ten states was collected but not as completely as desired. It is a slow process as it is often difficult to determine the exact seed as it is more likely than not deteriorated to the point where it can not be recognized once it is taken out of the dog. [Editors note: WAFTC grounds have NO evidence of mean seeds.]
Equipment
Equipment Replacement – Popper Guns: Dave Juedes requested this item on the agenda, however Dick Dallesasse has already purchased 3 new popper guns with cases for $330. The guns will not be replacements but will be added to the inventory. Popper guns that need repair will be identified and repaired.
Announcements and Correspondence
AKC Performance Events Department: Notice has been received from the AKC that seven new breeds are eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests. The AKC has approved versatile hunting breeds to participate in more than one hunting test program if it is consistent with the purpose for which the bred was developed. The Performance Events Department and the breed Parent Clubs feel the inclusion of the Retriever Hunting Test provides a more comprehensive and meaningful testing program for these breeds. The following versatile hunting breeds have recently become eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Tests:
- American Water Spaniel
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Spinone Italiano
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- Weimaraner
- Vizsla
A complete list of all breeds eligible to participate in Retriever Hunting Test can be found at: AKC Hunt Test Website.
Retriever Hall of Fame: Jim Powers announced that Dick Dallesasse and Candlewoods Ramblin Man have been nominated for the retriever hall of fame. Results of the voting should be known at the end of December.
Correspondence: Tom McLeod read thank you cards from the families of deceased members Ken Andrews and Ken Wappler. Memorial donations were made in name of Ken Wappler from Karen Steinke and Jackie Stapelfeldt (daughters). The secretary has sent thank you notes. This brought up the discussion of what kind of memorial the club should establish for deceased members. A memorial plaque/board seemed like a good idea. It was stated that the club needs to recognize deceased members. The club needs a master plan. Jim will look into the matter and will place this on the January agenda.
Please see the December, 2011 Newsletter Archive for the complete Newletter.
