SPECIALITY ARTICLE

Planning a Handler Clinic
by Lance Vernam

Northern Michigan Chapter
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association

Newsletter Archives - April 1998

CALENDAR OF CLUB EVENTS

Ruffed Grouse Society Fun Shoot - May 3

This fun shoot is scheduled for Sunday, May 3 at Thundering Aspens in Mesick. It is a great time and lots of fun. Our chapter will have a tent set up at this event and will have NAVHDA information and membership forms available for Fun Shoot participants. Contact George Clayton, 616.922.2231, for details. If you are attending the shoot and can assist with manning the tent, please contact Lance Vernam at 616.938.1324.

Spring Test - May 30 & 31

The Spring Test has been filled; however, there is a waiting list. The test starts at 8:00 a.m. each day and should conclude by 5:00 p.m. Location for the test is at Norm Licht's property on Cedar Run Road. We will meet at Brady's Bar after the test on Saturday at approximately 6:30 p.m. for dinner and conversation.

Field First-Aid Training - June 24

Dr. Tom Gremel, DVM, owner of Acme Veterinary Clinic, has offered to do a field first-aid training course for chapter members. Tom will cover how to handle problems and emergency field medical treatment for cuts, lacerations, broken bones, heat exhaustion, etc. There is no cost for this course. It will be held Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. at Norm Licht's property on Cedar Run Road. The course will last approximately one hour.

Rick Whitney Training Dog Handler's Clinic - July 25

Rick Whitney, who was with Bob West at our Handler's Clinic, has volunteered to assist our chapter members in a one-on-one training day, on Saturday, July 25. The training day will be set up to accommodate a maximum of 8 people. Each person will have 45 minutes with Rick to go over 1 or 2 specific problems they are having in their training. Each person will be responsible for obtaining their birds and training aids. A training table will be available. Others may watch the training session as gallery, similar to the Handler's Clinic. At the end of each 45 minute sessions, we will have an open discussion by all observers for 10 minutes. Lunch will be provided. There will be a nominal fee for this session to cover the costs of lunch and Rick's travel expenses. Contact Lance Vernam, 616.938.1324, if you are interested in being a participant or an observer. It's a great opportunity, so don't miss out!

Sporting Clays Shoot/Outing - August 23

This is a first time event for our chapter members, family, and friends. It will be held at Denny Norman's Action Shooting Range in Manton. Starting time is 10:00 a.m. There will be a cook-out at the end of the day. The shooting will consist of sporting clays, 5 stand, and skeet. Denny has shells available. Prizes will be given for the best scores and other noteworthy shooters and shots. Contact Harry Hills at 616.946.0828 if you are interested in participating.

Fall Test - September 19 and 20

The Fall Test will be held on September 19 and 20 on Norm Licht's property on Cedar Run Road starting at 7:30 a.m. Remember to provide your own lunch and water for your dog. A meeting and dinner will be held after the test on Saturday, September 20, at Brady's Bar.

Feather and Fur Hunt - October 10

As part of a fall club gathering, Ron Boehme has volunteered to organize a friendly but competitive Feather & Fur Hunt for our chapter members. No money is at stake, just bragging rights and a trophy. A separate flyer will be mailed our later in the summer with all the details. Contact Ron Boehme at 616.828.6286 for additional information.

1998 Training Day Schedule - May 9, June 13, July 11, and August 8

Formal instruction training days will be held on Norm Licht's property on Cedar Run Road May 9, June 13, July 11, and August 8, starting at 8:00 a.m. In addition, Norm is allowing members to use his property for general training on Wednesday and Saturday only beginning May 1 through August 15. Please respect Norm's property and wishes - we are his guests and this is a privilege for our chapter members. So remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. Police up all your brass and anything else that does not belong.

Training Mentor Program

Due to numerous suggestions, our chapter has decided to assign an experienced member (mentor) for the monthly formal/structured training as well as informal training for those members who so desire. You will contact your mentor and discuss specific areas to work on in field training. If you would like to be assigned a mentor, contact Lance Vernam at 616.938.1324.

Gun Raffle

Norm Licht is organizing our gun raffle this year. We will be raffling off a SKB 12 gauge over and under. Raffle tickets will cost $5.00 each. Each chapter member will receive 10 tickets to sell. In addition to the gun, there will be additional prizes given away as part of the raffle. The member who sells the most tickets will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to Fieldsport. The drawing will be held at the August Sporting Clays Shoot, remember only 500 tickets will be sold.

INSIDE THE GAME POUCH

Spaghetti Dinner - March 14

Our Second Annual Spaghetti Dinner was another great success. Thirty members and their families attended the gala event at Harbor West Yacht Club. A special thanks goes our to Pat and Susan Cole for putting on the dinner. We appreciate all the hard work and effort - as well as the delicious food and savory suds!! A thank you also goes to John DeMeyere for pitching in and helping the Coles.

Quail for Sale

Scott & Joan Olds have raised 1000 quail for our chapter. Since we are not going to be using quail in our training this year, this leaves Scott and Joan with a whole lot of quail. Since their intent was to help our chapter, any support you can give to them will be appreciated. Their number is 616.269.3413.

Chapter Clothing

Your response for clothing in our questionnaire has been heard. We will be selling t-shirts, sweatshirts, and safari style shirts. Harry Hill will have these items available at the Spring Test for viewing and ordering. Also those who expressed an interest will receive a telephone call shortly with additional information. Any questions please contact Harry Hill at 946.0828.

New Tailwaggers

Congratulations to our new tailwagging members:

Member	Dog	Breed
Vince Balog	Bliss	WIM
Ron Boehme	Daisy Von Timberwolf	GWP
Lance Vernam	Jasmine	GSP
Paul Fischer	Murray	WPG
Bruce Anderson	Tye	ES

Puppy Note: Grow Slow - Hunt Hard - Learn Quick - and chew all boots

Professional Dog Watchers

Congratulations go out to Dave Nordquist and Ron Boehme for becoming involved with NAVHDA by entering the judge apprenticeship program. Good luck and watch where you step.

Training Books

Green training books and NAVHDA Aims & Goals Manuals are available for purchase from our secretary. Training books are $10.00 and Aims & Goals Manuals are $2.95. Contact Harry Hill at 946.0828.

1998 NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Following are area businessmen who are dog lovers and hunters that support our chapter through sponsorship of our Paw Prints Newsletter. Please show your gratitude by patronizing their various businesses.

Name	Business	Address & Phone
Pat Cole	Brady's Bar	401 South Union Street Traverse City, MI 616.946.8153
Randy Hanson	Grand Traverse Gun	1132 South Garfield Traverse City, MI 616.935.3100
Bryan Bilinski	Fieldsport, Ltd.	3313 South Airport Road Traverse City, MI 616.933.0767
Dr. Jerry Harrison	GT Vet Hospital	3805 Veterans Drive Traverse City, MI 616.946.3770
Jim Shroger	Northsport	305 US-31 South Traverse City, MI 616.943.3030
Denny Norman	Action Shooting	1872 North 41 Road Manton, MI 616.824.6378

ENLIGHTENING COMMENTS BY COLONEL LEADLOAD SURESHOT

Hey, Winter is over. Get off the couch. Get that fat dog off the bed. Spring is here. It is time to think about getting ready for hunting season.

Let me start by saying that I am very proud and surprised to see how well this chapter has developed under the guidance of General Lance Vernam and Her Majesty Judy Balog. Membership has increased and your calendar is full of upcoming events so I guess it's time we all got involved. AS for me, my New Year's resolutions included spending more time peeking through doghouse doors and in the back of hunter's kennels. I promise not to miss anything that I feel the rest of the readers should know about. Therefore, I hope will help me by sending juicy little tidbits care of this newsletter to me along with a $20.00 bill, I will be glad to elaborate on your secret information.

To show you that I did not rest or shirk my responsibilities during the long, cold winter months, I will provide you with a few winter antics. Lets start with our President. He spends his non-hunting season assisting Carol, his wife, with her interior decorating business. lance gets on of Judy's weird haircuts and Carol uses the new hair style to stucco customer's walls. Lance ends up with a headache, but Carol has an original pattern.

Judy spend the winter looking for another dog. She is spending her spring on hands and knees begging Vince to believe that she just couldn't help herself. Poor Vince is in for another couple of years of raising and training the world famous cement-head breed Weinnie Roamer. Good luck Vince.

Your lazy, Michigan deserting secretary, harry Hill, spent the winter training his Griffons, Beau and Haley, to paint and retrieve chameleons in Florida. Beau just cannot understand how those lizards can run out of his mouth before he can close his teeth around them. Both dogs will return home sporting great tans, flower shirts, and sunglasses.

Here's something for your sweet tooth. Please buy Halloween candy early this year because our legal advisor, John MacNeal, pheasant hunter extrordinaire, will miss opening day of pheasant hunting in Iowa. He made a promise to his son, Gus, in the heat of the moment last hunting season that Dad would be home for Halloween 1998. Unbeknownst to John, opening day and Halloween fall on the very same day this year. Because of this dilemma, John will accept large quantities of candy in an attempt to bribe Gus into letting him go early. Good luck. Happy Halloween John, Gus, and Sharon.

Once again, the Colonel is here to help all members with their wives during hunting season. Please send $50.00 and a picture of your hunting dog and I will come up with a reason why you must go hunting instead of spending quality time with the little missus. See you next issue.

The Colonel