Membership

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.

Please click here for a membership form to renew your affiliations. While 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, 3 March 2003. Again, all chapter members will be required to maintain international affiliation. International membership expiration can be verified by contacting:

If international affiliation is not kept current we will have no choice but to drop an individual from the chapter rolls and discontinue their chapter privileges. Thank you in advance for your timely assistance in preventing this from becoming an issue.

2003 Testing

Please click appropriately for testing applications and 2003 test information for the Northern Michigan chapter. During the last couple of years, our chapter has received ever increasing interest in its tests. As such, the tests tend to fill to capacity quite quickly. If you are in the least bit interested in running your dog(s) in either of these two tests, it is highly recommended that you complete and submit your respective registration as quickly as possible. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Judy Balog, test secretary for both tests, at 231.938.4426.

International News

Apprentice Judges - If you have not already done so, please remember to turn in your year-end reports.

DNA Testing - NAVHDA now offers DNA testing...a cheek swab is all that is needed. We have contracted to offer DNA testing with the same service that offers it for AKC, FDSB & UKC, The cost will be $50.00 per sample. The original 30 samples we are offering at $40.00. We need 30 initial samples. Since these certificates are produced by the DNA company, they will be accepted by AKC. Any of you that have a dog to be tested, please contact the office for a DNA swab kit and help us get started. Keep NAVHDA on the leading edge.

Membership Banquet

Please join us on Tuesday, 4 February 2003 at the Traverse City Elks. The approximate cost will be $15.00 per person.

This event is a get to know everybody dinner that we hold annually. It provides an opportunity to ask questions and make comments that you might have about the organization--suggestions for improving the club are always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Also, the club's officers present brief reports on the items and events within their respective areas of responsibility. This meeting really is a fun time and is a good kick off to a new training year. Please RSVP to Kurt Bard at 231.267.9376

2003 Test Volunteers and Chapter Governance

As always seems to be the case, we are in need of a few volunteers for this coming Spring and Fall Test. While Judy Balog will step up again and be test secretary for both tests, we need volunteers for test chair and others to help out where they can. If you are interested in doing so, please contact Kurt Bard at 231.267.9376.

If in the past you have enjoyed participating in chapter activities but have yet to assume some of the event responsibilities, this is an excellent opportunity to begin paying a little back to the club. These are not difficult roles and there are others who will help guide volunteers in performing these responsibilities.

Along different lines, the Northern Michigan chapter board for 2003 will remain:

Name	Position	Phone Number
Kurt Bard	President	231.267.9376
Judy Balog	Vice-President	231.938.4426
John MacNeal	Treasurer	231.929.0929
Chris Raymond	Secretary	231.929.7537

Also, we would encourage anybody who is interested in attending the chapter's board meetings to please do so. Meetings are kept fairly informal and infrequent. Rarely will there be more than four in an entire year. Our next board meeting will probably be sometime before the spring test. An announcement will be circulated once it has been set, but do not expect more than a couple of days notice.

Classifieds

If you would like to place items for sale in future newsletters please contact Chris Raymond by e-mail or telephonically at 231.929.7537.

For Sale - Ch. Side by Side's Contessa of Hilltop - Tess was tested only three times - NA 1 (112), CH/UT 1 (195) and she scored a 180 NQ at the 2000 Invitational by the age of 3+. She is OFA Good, Thyroid normal, and vWF 120. I want to sell her to good hands that will use her responsibly. Her Sire is VC Adel vom Horan's Bauernhof out of my original Cadenberg/Haar Baron foundation bitch. She is an excellent housedog and companion and has produced one litter. For details contact.