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North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association
Newsletter Archives - December 2000
Random Ramblings - Chris Raymond
Please bear with me as I take a few minutes to share with you some personal reflections on procrastination during the holiday season. Yes, it’s that time of the year again and the chaos is upon us!
First of all I have to emphatically state that I am not a shopper, nor am I a fan of elbow-to-elbow mall cruising with its congested parking. The extent of my shopping desires are limited to what I “need” at Fieldsport, a wing shooting shop here in Traverse City, or one of the various catalog distributors. Unfortunately, my shopping and congestion intolerances create, at least during the holidays, an opportunity for severe procrastination during what would otherwise be a very pleasurable and rewarding time.
Each year I make what I fully believe are firm holiday resolutions—that I will buy gifts for family and friends before the mass purchasing migration begins (usually on the day after Thanksgiving), that I will get and help decorate our Christmas tree on the first Saturday of December, and that I won’t wait until the week before Christmas to mail our cards. Even with my wife providing gentle, and even not so gentle persuasion when appropriate, I always stumble. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why my normally Teutonic approach toward discipline continually fails. Each year I try to rationalize my holiday procrastination with excuses like, “Honey, I just can’t get into the Christmas mood without snow” and “Things are really busy at work; I’m tired would it be possible to do this next weekend?” to even “with only three more weekends of grouse season, it would really be a shame not to work the girls some more.”
Unfortunately in putting off these activities until later, it just compresses time that much more, not only for me, but in some cases for my wife as well. To her benefit, I always take this into account when I’m dashing around at the last minute trying to find just the right gift that expresses my gratitude to her for putting up with not only me, but this obvious character flaw as well. Plus, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have enough dog houses to go around. Two dogs, two kennels, the only option for me would be the ground and that wouldn’t be too comfortable.
Further complicating my procrastination efforts, is the fact that our anniversary falls during December and that our respective birthdays occur in December and January as well. I know what you’re thinking, this should give me additional excuse opportunities for procrastination with holiday activities, right? Well, maybe if I really wanted to push it, but I usually burn up all available and approved techniques in dealing with the holiday items. All joking aside, even thought I run around at the last minute to get everything done, it always seems to get taken care of.
If any of you find yourselves in the same predicament that I’m usually
in for last minute gifts, I’ve got a great stocking stuffer idea. How
about a year’s membership to your local NAVHDA chapter and to NAVHDA
International? Maybe you’ve a friend that’s asking advice about
how to train their dog, or maybe a neighbor or two that has shown interest
in your yard training sessions. Sorry for the membership plug, but I couldn’t
pass up the opportunity to help others with a similar procrastination flaw!
I hope everything finds you and your family well during this holiday season..
Chapter and International Membership - Chris Raymond
It’s that time of the year again, well at least it is for me anyway. Organizational memberships are expiring, NAVHDA included, and magazine subscriptions are running out, so it’s time to once again start writing checks.
It goes without saying that we encourage each of you to renew your membership in both the Northern Michigan chapter and NAVHDA International. While the reasons for membership are many, some of the more popular ones include:
- being able to utilize training resources and areas which would not otherwise be available or open,
- being able to network with a group of other like minded, dog and hunting oriented individuals,
- broadening one’s hunting pleasure through greater canine performance and increased camaraderie between man and dog,
- participating in a non-competitive, hunting oriented testing format that objectively evaluates canine performance and the success of an individual’s training program.
For me at least, membership costs have been returned many times over if for no other reason than for the friendships that I have formed and the experiences I have gained since joining both the local and international organizations.
Enclosed within this newsletter are membership
forms which will aid you in renewing your affiliations. While your local
membership is kept on a calendar year basis, your membership with international
may be on a different twelve month cycle. It would be appreciated if you
could return your completed form no later than Monday, 29 January 2001.
Again, all chapter members will be required to maintain international affiliation.
If international membership lapses, we will have no choice but to discontinue
chapter membership, participation, and privileges as well.
2000 Fall Test Results - Judy Balog
Please take the time to congratulate all those members who tested at our fall test on 19 & 20 August. The time and effort they put into their dogs was well rewarded; please click here for the results of the runnings.
Test Packets
Please complete and return the test packages enclosed within the paper
copy of your newsletter at your earliest convenience if you are interested
in running your dog(s) at either of these year's events.
Welcome
We would like to provide and warm and hearty welcome to the following new members and their dogs:
| Member | Dog & Breed | Member | Dog & Breed |
| Mike Grace | Curly - EGS | James Echelberger | Sarge - WEI |
| James Nowland | Sunny - VIZ |
Club Clothing
The chapter will once again prepare a clothing
order of interest warrants. Individuals interested in ordering clothing
should contact Chris Raymond at
231.929.7537.
Training Poppers
The NAVHDA (International) Promotions Committee has secured a purchasing
plan for training poppers. Beikirch’s, a New York ammunition and firearms
dealer, will provide NAVHDA members with special pricing for both Winchester
AA and Ken popper loads. July 2000 prices were $7.89 and $7.49 per box respectively.
To order, contact Beikirch’s at 800.622.3006 and ask for Kasey. Credit
card purchases will include a 3% processing fee. Shipping costs will be
added.
Test Volunteers
We’re always looking for Spring and Fall Test volunteers. If you
are interested in helping with either of these activities, please contact
Rick McPhall (Spring Test Chair) at
231.276.6470 or Derrick Garnett
(Fall Test Chair) at 517.733.8919.
Another Vetter Training Clinic
The chapter will once again sponsor a training seminar coming summer.
Similar to last year, this one will be lead by one of NAVHDA’s more
preeminent trainers--Clyde Vetter. Clyde is a full-time, professional trainer/breeder
whose training accomplishments include numerous Prize 1 Natural Ability,
Utility Preparatory, and Utility dogs. Furthermore, he has produced, trained,
and handled many dogs through the rigorous and prestigious Invitational
testing process resulting in their receipt of the coveted Versatile Champion
title.
This Purina sponsored event will be held at Norm Licht’s property on
the weekend of 21 & 22 July 2001. Reservation and pricing information
will follow in subsequent newsletters. Please put this date on your calendar.
2001 Chapter Officers
The chapter officers for the 2001 calendar year are, and can be contacted, as follows: Lance Vernam (President), 231.938.1324, Judy Balog (Vice-president), 231.938.4426, John MacNeal (Treasurer), 231.929.0929, and Chris Raymond (Secretary), 231.929.7537.
Classifieds
If chapter members have dog training or hunting related items they would like listed for sale in newsletter and web site, please submit a short description with contact information to Chris Raymond at 231.946.4070 (fax).
The following items are available:
Vari/Porta Kennel (Large and Extra Large) - Both clean and in good condition. If interested, please contact Chris Raymond at 231.929.7537
Wire-framed Kennel (Extra, Extra Large) - Stores completely flat, as new condition. If interested, please contact Chris Raymond at 231.929.7537.
Dogloo (Extra Large) Dog House - Nitrogen filled, no door panel, no pad. If interest, please contact Chris Raymond at 231.929.7537.
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