January - February 2006 NEWSLETTER

SRSGDA member Jeremy Roselle
Falconry demonstration during Feb Run Trial.

National Shoot to Retrieve Association
(NSTRA)

needs VOLUNTEERS!

APRIL 15 & 16

Asotin County Wingshooters

This is a neat opportunity to participate in the NSTRA NW Region’s sanctioned trial circuit – we need timekeepers, scorers, runners, bird “baggers,” judge “handlers,” water bearers, horse holders, breakfast-lunch & dinner line helpers, maintenance crew members, and so forth beginning Friday April 14 through Sunday April 16.

Please come and help – contacts:

Ed Westbrook, 208-285-1739, Chair

Paul McCawley, 208-883-0752, Co-Chair

 This is our club’s annual “fundraiser.”  In previous years the club has made more than $1000 during a weekend sponsoring this event.  As the saying goes, “many hands make light work.”

NSTRA sanctioned trial

The SRSGDA’s annual sponsorship of a NSTRA trial is a big undertaking and the club traditionally provides the best meals in the NW and wonderful hospitality to participants and officials alike. 
This year we hope to feature, once again, the infamous Dearborn Gamebird Gumbo at a luncheon, and a “down home Texas style” barbeque hosted by club member Dan Watson.

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What's Newsworthy?

IDFG flush counts
For the SRSGDA members participating in this year’s flush counts for the Idaho Fish and Game Department, remember all counts must be conducted during the month of February.  Also, really important, contact your landowners before heading out to the property.  Many of the landowners know that the program is in place, but have very little other information.  They appreciate the heads-up and may offer use of an off-road vehicle or unlock a gate for you for easier access.

Membership Housekeeping
If you haven’t remembered to send in your membership formed mailed to you in December, please consider taking a moment now to do so.  Keep us informed when you move or change your email address or internet service provider or… we have a really hard time keeping YOU informed!

Treasury report
Newly elected Treasurer Kay Westbrook reports that the club accounts are balanced and up to date with approximately $5500 in club reserves with all expenses to date paid.

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STILL In search of: 
salient and scintillating sagas of SRSGDA members’ adventures in training, trialing, and traipsing a-field (hunting)…  Any thoughts are appreciated; pictures are nice; can be in final form or just simply “blurbs” to be edited.  PLEASE send to SRSGDA Secretary Nance Ceccarelli via USPS or
 njc@moscow.com or nancec@uidaho.edu.

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Growing Pains Prompt Interim Rules

Our February Fun Trial & Training Day was an extremely successful event.  Thank you to all members and friends who participated. This event was so successful that the demand to participate exceeded the supply of birds.  This large number of participants and dogs present unique challenges to the Trial Chairs that are not resolved simply by applying our long-standing practices.  The Executive Committee is implementing interim procedures for the remainder of this season, in order to maintain the fun in our events and provide sufficient opportunities for all members who wish to participate on any given day.  Following this test drive, the membership will vote to accept or reject modifications to the SRSGDA By-laws and Fun Trial rules at our next annual business meeting.

Modification 1—Purpose: To provide fair and equitable opportunities for all SRSGDA members to participate in Fun Trial events.  Rationale:  Birds are ordered approximately 4 months in advance.  SRSGDA executive officers balance potential demand for braces based on current membership roster against length of day (depending on time of year) and previous participation in a particular month’s event.

Members who wish to participate in a Fun Trial are initially limited to two braces, but may be able to purchase additional braces as described below.  These entries may be used for one dog participating in two braces or two dogs participating in one brace each.  This includes both the competitive and training (puppy) fields.  Braces should be reserved in advance whenever possible.  If you have not pre-registered for braces, check whether braces are available by contacting the Trial Chair or an SRSGDA Officer.

Members who are unable to reserve braces in advance and who wish to run at a Fun Trial must be on site to register before 10:00 on the morning of the trial.  Beginning at 10:00 on the morning of the trial, all unfilled braces will be available to members who are present and wish to purchase additional braces. 

Lottery Process:  The remaining braces will be allocated through a lottery. Each member requesting extra braces will be entered into the lottery (one entry per member family only).  If additional braces remain open following the first lottery, a second lottery will be drawn; and so on until all available braces are filled.

Modification 2—Purposes: a) to clarify the definition of “immediate family” as set forth in SRSGDA By-laws—Article III, Section 1; b) to create a “Guest Membership” to ensure that all Club events are in compliance with our insurance policy; c) to encourage participation in Club activities by extended family and friends; and, d) to distribute the cost of our Fun Trials.  Rationale:  The insurance policy requires that all participants in SRSGDA sponsored Fun trials and training days are club members.  This includes anyone handling a dog, shooting a firearm for a dog handler, and planting the field with birds.

Membership is defined as a “member and their immediate family.”  Immediate family is interpreted to include parents and dependent children, under the age of 20, living in the same household as the parents.

Members may also bring other family members or guests to participate in a Fun Trial, but those other family members and guests must purchase a “Guest Membership” to participate.  The cost of a Guest Membership is one-half the cost of regular membership (2006 currently $30; $15 for a Guest Member).  The Guest Member may then participate fully in the single Fun Trial and Training Day, or other club event for which the Guest membership is purchased, and may receive the newsletter via email for a period of one year.

Adult children of SRSGDA members, parents of adult SRSGDA members, or other guests of SRSGDA members who wish to participate in multiple Fun Trials and Training Days, or other club events, may choose to purchase a regular membership for the full price (2006 currently $30).  If the individual has previously purchased a Guest membership in that calendar year, the amount already paid will be credited to the regular membership price.  (For example, Guest pays $15 at Feb. 11 event and decides to return for the April 8 event.  Guest then pays a second $15 and is upgraded to a regular membership with all benefits – voting, hard copy newsletter).

Modification 3—Purpose: to clarify the existing policies for Fun Trial and Training Event awards, and to ensure good communication and safety afield between handlers paired in a brace.  Rationale:  Safety is the number one priority in all of our club events.

Individual dogs/handlers may be eligible to receive awards for individual performance within a brace at events.  However, if a brace is disqualified for any reason (for example, both dogs are disqualified because the brace harvested more than the 4-birds per brace allowed), then both dogs/handlers are no longer eligible to receive an individual award.