Austin K9Xpress Agility Training Club

General  Membership Meeting Minutes

January 25, 2006  7:00PM LCRA Bldg

 

Present: Shari Kolding, Jane Trainham, Sue Lindsay, Suzanne Antonowich, Kim Galusha, Jaime Davis, Amy Shan, David Shan, Mindy Vescovo, Bill Cory. Janet Barrington, Marilyn Hammond, Jean Good, Wade Pelton, Tresha Barger, Caroline Taylor, Mary Marshall, Robert Stewart, Olivia Vescovo, Emma Vescovo, and Kaitlyn Heideman,

President’s Call to Order:

Meeting was called to order at 7:25 p.m. by Jane Trainham.

Secretary’s Report:

The secretary’s report was accepted by the membership. The previous meetings’ minutes are available at the K9Xpress website and were also available at the membership meeting. Shari Kolding moved to accept the secretary’s report, Jaime Davis seconded, and the membership voted to accept the report.

Treasurer’s Report:

Tricia Hastings was unable to attend the meeting; she sent a reconciliation report via email to the board members prior to the meeting. The information was presented to the membership present. Wade Pelton moved to accept the treasurer’s report, Bill Cory seconded, and the membership voted to accept the report as given.

Membership Report:

The members attending unanimously voted to accept the membership applications for David Mitchell and Kate Dearborn.

Training Report:

Mary Marshall reported that training is going very well. The next beginner class is full, with a waiting list. It will be held on Saturdays beginning in February. If current members are interested in the next beginners class, please let Shari Kolding know so that she can put your name on the list.

The Nadine Schramm seminar was great. Shari Kolding reported that Schramm was not only a very good trainer, she was also a good speaker, which can be a hard combination to find.

Shari Kolding reported that the Games night will resume beginning February 9, at 7:00 p.m. The Games will include a Wild Card game night, in preparation for our March NADAC trial.

Field Issues:

Bill Cory reported that the new double jump has been delivered to the field. Mike from Texas Two Step (Hutto) made the metal jump at a cost of 173.80; he made the other metal jumps at the field which are very nice and durable.

There are currently two working stopwatches at the field in the equipment shed. There are more in the NADAC trial box and AKC trial box.

AKC Labor Day Trial:

Suzanne Antonowich reported that the application for the trial was accepted by AKC. The judges for this years’ trial are Kim Crenshaw and Sheila Kaufman. Judges have been secured for the years 2007 and 2008 as well. The trial added a jump height of 26 inches to the class roster.

NADAC Trial:

Kim Galusha gave the update on the March NADAC Trial. The trial is to be held March 11-12 at the Hays County Civic Center, in San Marcos. One judge (Eric Bruce of California) had to drop out, and was replaced by Mark Buehl. Kim said there is still a need for more people to volunteer to serve on the trial committee, including the publicity spot. There have been 930 runs entered so far, which puts the trial at about 50 percent full. Shari Kolding reported that the Show N Go will be held Friday March 10, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at a cost of $5.00 per run. There will be a limit of two runs per dog. The Show N Go will be held in two rings, with 20 inch dogs in one ring, and all other heights in the other ring.

Special Presentation:

Kaitlyn Heideman, Emma Vescovo and Olivia Vescovo presented Kim Galusha with a special jump bar decorated for Pogo, who won his NATCH at the New Hope Trial over the New Years’ weekend.

Rescue/Foster dog Agility Training:

Jane Trainham brought up the idea of the club reserving one spot in each beginner agility class at K9Xpress for a dog which is a rescue or foster dog still waiting for a permanent home. The club would waive the fee for the class, and a handler would bring the dog for the beginner agility class to help make it more adoptable, and also to showcase the dog to prospective owners while in training. If a rescue or foster dog wasn’t available for the reserved spot, another handler/dog could take the reserved spot. Additionally, if the dog was adopted while still in the beginner class, the new owner could finish the class with the dog at no charge.

Janet Barrington offered to pay for the cost of one of the foster/rescue beginner classes per year, so K9Xpress would not lose the income from that dog/handler team.

Sue Lindsay made a motion to move ahead with this plan, to reserve one spot in each of three beginner classes per year, available to a foster/rescue dog. Tresha Barger seconded, and the membership voted to accept this plan. Shari Kolding said that she will make the contact with rescue groups and TAG to see about the best way to proceed with this plan. The offer, once decided upon, will probably be posted to the Austin Rescue Group Yahoo! Email list.

K9Xpress Informational Flyer:

Jaime Davis brought a prototype of the Informational Flyer she is working on for the membership to look over. It is a nice 2-sided, black and white flyer. The cost for this flyer is roughly 10 cents per copy. She will continue to finalize the flyer for the club. Jane Trainham will proof the flyer prior to printing.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Shari Kolding moved, and Wade Pelton seconded the motion to adjourn. The membership voted to adjourn.