January/February 2003 NEWSLETTER SNAKE RIVER SPORTSMAN And GUNDOG ASSOCIATION

Upcoming events:

March 15 & 16, 2003 – SRSGDA NSTRA TRIAL - Hellsgate State Park, Lewiston, ID. Chairman – Robert Uhrich, 509-751-1485 or email redneckarchitect@hotmail.com. VOLUNTEERS are needed! Catering courtesy of Kramer Kuisine.

March 22, 2003 – SRSGDA FUN TRIAL – Hellsgate State Park, Lewiston, ID. Registration at 7:30 a.m. First brace at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be potluck - please bring lots to share! Chairs: Nance Ceccarelli, Gary Gage, John Kramer, and Jerry Thiessen. VOLUNTEERS are needed! We are in desperate need of a “holding” location for about 100 birds during the week between the NSTRA trial and our fun trial. We have agreed to purchase birds from the same supplier as for the NSTRA trial – quality and reasonable prices. However, the birds must be delivered at same time. Please contact Doc 509-332-7273 if you are able to assist with accommodations – or have a suggestion.

April 19, 2003 - Annual SRSGDA Membership Dinner – Best Western University Inn. Moscow ID. Dinner speaker will be John Ratti, UI researcher and chukkar hunter extraordinaire! “All you can eat” roast beef, turkey, and ham buffet dinner, tickets for adults $25.00/youth $12.50. Please join us as we install new officers, discuss club business, plan for the upcoming year, conduct a silent auction, and... Please contact Nance Ceccarelli, 208-883-0752, or njc@moscow.com for more information.

DID YOU KNOW?

Membership dues are expected in January for the calendar year - $25.00 per family! Have you sent in your check and updated membership form? Please make checks payable to SRSGA and send to John Kramer, Treasurer, 1415 N W Douglas Drive, Pullman, WA 99163. Just think, if you are NOT an SRSGDA member, you may miss out on fun and popular things – like this newsletter, social outings for you and your dog, and a chance to compete for the “high point” dog of the year trophy! What? You’ve never heard of this award? Historical files show that it in fact has been awarded to many members of this club. Well, don’t miss it this year, just make sure you pay your dues and attend the annual dinner and membership meeting in April.

Welcome to new members Fred and Vicki Spencer as well as Dan and Judy Watson!

SRSGDA Officer elections forms will be mailed to all members via USPS in mid-March. Please watch for the form, complete it quickly, and return it by April 15, 2003.

SRSGDA Constitution and By-laws will also be mailed to all members for review, contemplation, and comment.

As many of you are preparing your taxes, and reviewing expenditures from Christmas spending, our own “Doc” Kramer is reviewing the SRSGDA budget in preparation for the club sponsored NSTRA trial March 15 & 16, and the club’s Fun Trial, March 22. It is a thankless job figuring out the best insurance policy for the best price, looking for affordable birds, making sure permits are paid for in a timely manner, and tracking down membership dues not yet paid!

As of this writing, the club’s bank balance reflects a total of $3642.00. Much of this amount is a result of early entry fees for the NSTRA trial – and much of this amount will be needed to pay for birds, awards, judges, supplies, and other necessities to run a successful trial.

As of this date, we have received very few annual membership payments! Our membership roster generally is between 45 and 50 families year to year. If you have overlooked sending in your dues, please consider doing so now.

Nine members gathered at the Lewiston Gun Club in balmy fifty-degree weather on January 25, 2003. This winter has been mild! According to certain members’ reports, “Coach” Roach did a great job encouraging shooters and giving definitive tips to better shooting. One member felt that he was much improved – “hitting almost 10%!”

“Oh, give me a home...”

Gary Gage has a litter of GSP pups for sale. The pictures’ files he sent me electronically were too large for this publication – but the puppies are adorable! Please contact ggage@turbonet.com for information, or give him a call 208-285-1608.

Do you notice that there is “white space” on this page? Your editor would love to have input from you in the form of advertisements, articles of interest, upcoming events, personal stories, dog stories, and so forth. Please contact Nance Ceccarelli, njc@moscow.com, 208-883-0752

Additionally, your club officers are putting together a calendar of events for the upcoming year. Your assistance in planning, organizing, and conducting events is greatly appreciated.

March 2003 – SRSGDA hosted NSTRA trial and SRSGDA Fun Trial

April 2003 - SRSGDA Annual Dinner

May 2003 –

June 2003 –

July 2003 – Summer Family Picnic

August 2003 – Sporting Clays shoot

September 2003 – Fun Trial

What things would you like to do? I located an old newsletter with the subtitle for the association, “Dog owners enjoying year ‘round companionship with their trained bird dogs.” Sometimes I wonder who owns whom, and I’m sure others reflect on the term “trained.” Needless to say, there are many talented and knowledgeable members in our club. If you have a particular area of expertise or experience, and would be willing to share, teach or train, please consider hosting a training session.