March/April 2003 NEWSLETTER SNAKE RIVER SPORTSMAN And GUNDOG ASSOCIATION

Upcoming events:

April 19, 2003, Saturday - Annual Membership Dinner – Best Western University Inn, Moscow ID, 6:00 p.m. Social hour with no-host cash bar, dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. followed by a guest speaker, business meeting and raffle. Menu is a choice of Sliced Sirloin Steak or Teriyaki Chicken, $15.00 per adult, children’s menu available, $7.00 per child. Please use the enclosed form to RSVP (yes’s and no’s), select your meal, enclose payment, and mail to SRSGDA Treasurer John Kramer, 1415 NW Douglas Drive, Pullman, WA 99163. All reservations must be received no later than Wednesday April 16, 2003. (We will be limited in our ability to serve latecomers.)

Dinner speaker will be John Ratti, UI researcher and chukkar hunter extraordinaire! Donations for our raffle are readily accepted – all proceeds go toward support of future club events.

Non-members and newcomers are welcome to attend, however, only club members (1 per family) may vote during the business meeting. Please contact Nance Ceccarelli, 208-883-0752, or njc@moscow.com for more information.

May 2003 – FUN TRIAL AND TRAINING DAY – date TBA – Shea Meadows, Bovill ID.

DID YOU KNOW?

SRSGDA Officer elections forms are included in this mailing. Please complete the form quickly, and return it by April 15, 2003, in the postage paid, addressed envelope to SRSGDA Secretary Nance Ceccarelli, 1031 Showalter Road, Moscow ID 83843. New officers will be announced at the annual dinner April 19, 2003.

A draft of the SRSGDA Constitution and By-laws is available for your review, contemplation, and comment. You may obtain a copy from SRSGDA secretary Nance Ceccarelli via USPS or email. Please address all comments prior to the annual meeting to SRSGDA President Bart Dearborn 509-334-3774 or bartd@pullman.com. This will be a discussion item during the business meeting following the annual dinner April 19, 2003.

Calendar of Upcoming events

April Annual Meeting and Dinner, Best Western University Inn, Moscow ID

May Fun trial and Training Day, Shea Meadows, Bovill ID

June Poker Shoot , Lewiston Gun Club, Lewiston ID

July Family Picnic, Ceccarelli and McCawley, Moscow ID

Aug Sporting Clays, Outback Sporting Clays, Palouse, WA

Sep Fun Trial and Training Day, location TBD

If you have not had a moment to send in your membership ($25 per family) dues, please consider doing so at this time. We’d love to see all of you participating in the next club event!

Many, many members have paid dues for this year – THANK YOU! Additionally, the initial reports following the NSTRA trial and the Fun trial indicate that the hard work of our many volunteers paid off for the club financially! John Kramer, SRSGDA Treasurer, will provide all the details at our annual dinner, April 19, 2003.

March 2003 NSTRA Field Trial –

Hells Gate State Park

What a weekend! Four trials, in mixed weather, were aptly supervised by an opportunistic bald eagle. Many, many thanks to our co-chairs, Dick Chapman and Robert Uhrich, without whose management skills this event would not have happened. Nine club members ran dogs in the trial and 14 other club members volunteered in one capacity or another.

If you see Jerry Thiessen on the street stop and ask him how he trained and handled his English pointer “Tanner” to second and third placements in the first NSTRA trials he has entered. Three-year-old “Tanner,” also has some claim to being a water dog. Dick and Marlene Chapman probably also deserve a little of the credit for the selective mating that resulted in “Tanner”, “Tippy” Kramer and “Wacko” Chapman!

Jack Flack and Robert Lopez polished their saddles judging 10 hours of the trials. How Jack stayed awake that long was up for speculation by many in the galley. Our Field Marshal Dick Chapman was ably assisted by Bart Dearborn, Robert Uhrich, and, Ed Westbrook. The uniform bird kill across braces attested to excellent keep-them-alive bird planting techniques talents of Kelly Norwood, Fred Spencer, Tim Smith and Jay Roach, superbly seated upon Dan Watson and Robert Uhrich’s trusty ATVs. Dick Chapman’s demonstration on how to save $2 in gas (by keeping the gas valve turned off) was appreciated by allJ. Robert Uhrich, Sr. and his mules kept the water baths full.

We appreciate Becky and Terry Quinn storing the club trailer this winter. Kramer Kuisine organized and provided an abundant lunch with assistance from numerous unseen and unsung club volunteers serving, sending their deserts and casseroles and cleaning up. Thank you to the following “FRIENDS” for their material contributions and financial support: Jeff Bragg, Steve Otto, Stuart and Susan Scott, and Mike Shanaman. The NSTRA trial netted the club more money to support club activities and programs than any car wash, cookie sale or raffles could hope to provide.

The accolades could go on and on, and I hope I’ve not left anyone out! Thank you ALL!

March 2003 Fun Trial –

Hells Gate State Park

Wow! What a turn out! Sixty-six percent of the membership ran dogs in two, 12 brace fields. The high wind was no deterrent as nearly all dogs found birds. Doyle McLam, the club’s longest continuous member (20 years), and “Dan”, showed the galley how man and his dog can still find joy in the field at 87. From all of us, thank you Doyle for your leadership.

Co-chairpersons Gary Gage, Jerry Thiessen, and John Kramer did an outstanding job as they demonstrated the club rule that previous trial high point dog owners. (When you read the trial results below, please note the co-chairs for the May 2003 FUN Trial!) There is another club rule, unknown to most of us and quickly learned that blustery day, stipulating that club members who violate Fun Trial RULE 17, also must serve as co-chairs for the next trial!

New member, Dan Watson, an experienced bird preservationist, came to our rescue when he volunteered to hold the birds over from the NSTRA trial for our fun trial. Dan’s bird trap and transporter were labor saving. Dick Chapman’s trailer bird pen was again appreciated. (We all hope your leg improves, Dick.) On this particular weekend, our bird planters were outfitted with steel steeds courtesy of Jack Flack, Dan Watson and Jay Roach. Thanks to bird planters Ed Johnson, Jim and Ian McKinney, Ed Westbrook and Devon St Pierre. (Good luck with that new dog, Devon.)

Field Marshals Bart Dearborn, Robert Lopez, Ed Westbrook, and score keeper Mary McKinney were kept running every which way trying to keep the trial ahead of the sunset and scores straight. Robert Lopez presented an informative Train-the-Trainer session with an explanation of how to train dogs with live birds. The potluck lunch provided an opportunity for member volunteers to share culinary skills and fellowship. Jay and Tedi’s on-site Dutch oven nacho dish demonstration was appreciated.

	A-Field					B-Field
Place.	Name		Dog	Score	Place.	Name	Dog	Score
1^st	Doyle McLam		Dan (GSP)		1st	Jeff Daigneau	Beretta ((GSP)
	Abe Smith		Kit (EP)	780		Abe Smith	Kit (EP)	780
1st	Jeff Daigneau		Beretta (GSP)
	Gene Reno		Four (GSP)	780
2nd	Art Rourke		Shiner (ES)		2nd	Carol Ramsay	JJaeger (GSP)
	Brad Grafe		Tank (GSP)	775		Brad Grafe	Tank (GSP)	740
3rd	Jack Flack		Lizzie (GSP)		3rd	Jerry Thiessen	Tanner (EP)
	Ed Westbrook		Abby (GSP)	770		Sam Smith		675
*Derby		Skip Gabriel	Bell (GSP)	10 mon.	*Derby	Jim McKinney	JJill (GSP)	7 mon.
	Mel Taylor		Cody (GSP)	10 mon.

* The Derby Dog is the youngest, highest scoring, non-placing dog in the field.

Welcomes and “backs” to Scott, Art, Tim, Nancy, Bruce, Carol, Chuck, Cole, Brad, Sam, Skip, Steve, Bruce, Mel, and Greg.

Get well Ted Downs. We miss you!

Congratulations to Jerry and Tanner!

“Curb” Appeal??

The club needs a home for its 17-foot trailer. As many of you came to appreciate over the previous few weeks, the club uses this trailer to store its equipment, supplies, and as an office or kitchen during events. We are looking for a home that is accessible through out the year – regardless of the weather. Storage in a commercial lot costs $20/ month, $240 a year, or just about the equivalent of 10 club members’ annual dues. This is much more than the club can afford. If you have a space, or have ideas or suggestions, please contact the SRSGDA president Bart Dearborn (509) 334-3774.

CLASSIFIEDS:

(Our advertising rates are highly competitive – and we REALLY love getting your input!)

Dog Training Seminar, Pomery WA.

Jon and Cindy Hann, renowned professional dog trainers from Missouri, are presenting a three day training seminar at Vicki Maushak and Gary Stendal’s Dry Hollow Ranch in Pomeroy, WA, June 13 - 15, 2003 Dick Chapman says, “The Hann's have the best dog training approach” he has ever seen and that we may never get a better, more reasonably priced opportunity to attend. The Hann’s own and operate Perfection Kennels in Kidder, MO. Hurry, make your reservations now, as word on the street has it that the best in the northwest will be attending. For more information and to make reservations contact Dry Hollow Ranch at (509) 843-3892 or e-mail staff@dryhollow.com.

How much is that doggy…..?

SRSGDA Member Brad Grafe has a litter of German Shorthair Pointer pups that are just about ready to go to new homes. These puppies are sired by a German import DC AFC BODO Vom Waldrand MH. Please call Brad 208-445-3846.

Gordon Setter puppies whelped February 26, 2003 will be ready to go April 16, 2003. Both parents are

personal hunting dogs, are biddable, natural retrievers and backers. F.D.S.B., A.K.C. registered and O.F. A. certified. Dewclaws removed and first shots. Remaining pups – 2 Females $600; 4 Males $400. Contact Kerry Tunison, 406-295-4941.

Oh, give me a home…

A lovely, 7 y.o., male GSP can no longer live with his owner. This is a well-trained hunting companion, intact male with papers – many champions in his bloodlines. Please contact Charr Boyd, 208-818-1558 (leave message if he is unavailable)