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Northern Michigan Chapter
North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association

Newsletter Archives - March 2000

Random Ramblings - Chris Raymond

First of all I need to personally apologize for the delay in publishing this newsletter. As you will notice, the annual membership dinner is quickly upon us. Normally we would have preferred providing a little more advance notice on the specifics of this event. As sometimes is the case unfortunately, other responsibilities and commitments take over. So again, I apologize for the short notice.

It seems as though cabin fever is setting in for most of us. Hopefully with the previous warm weather, some of you were again able to take advantage of all our area has to offer. Some of you may have tried your luck on the spring steelhead run, others may have tried their hand at one or more of the clay target games, while even some have been patiently waiting for the return of the beloved woodcock. Regardless of these ancillary pursuits however, attention is once again turning toward things dog and training.

With that in mind, some brief reminders for the upcoming training season:

• We have scheduled the chapter’s spring and fall tests for 19, 20 & 21 May and 19 & 20 August respectively. Please note the spring test will be a three day event in order to accommodate more participants. Individuals interesting in participating should contact Judy Balog at 231.938.4426 for further information. While the Test Chair positions have already been filled, member help in other areas is always needed. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Rick McPhall at 231.276.6470 for the spring test and Kurt Bard at 231.267.9376 regarding the fall test.

• The opening of the training grounds has been tentatively established for 1 May 2000, however, this has not yet been fully set. Once this date has been officially locked in, it will be communicated.

• Our annual sporting clays shoot and shotgun is scheduled for Sunday, 6 August 2000 at Denny Norman’s Action Shooting Sports in Manton. Details and directions will be provided at a later date. If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Chris Raymond at 231.929.7537 or craymond@ptway.com.
  

Annual Membership Dinner - Kurt Bard

This year’s membership banquet will be held on Saturday, 25 March 2000 at the Traverse City Elks Club. The event will begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m. and be followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. The cost for this event will be $12.00 per individual and a reduced price of $6.00 per child for those under six years of age. A cash bar will be available.

This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with other members and find out more about the organization and the events scheduled for the 2000 calendar year. Additionally, in order to get an early start on this year’s shotgun raffle (our annual fund-raising event) tickets and instructions will be distributed and presented to members present. Please RSVP your attendance plans to Kurt Bard at 231.267.9376 at your earliest convenience.

Train the Trainer - Lance Vernam

In the last issue we presented information on Clyde Vetter’s training seminar which our chapter will be sponsoring on 10 & 11 June 2000. While interest has been strong, some vacancies still exist. If you have not yet signed up for the training opportunity, please contact me at 231.938.1324 or vernams@infinitecom.com to reserve your spot.

Again, this seminar is being 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 10 & 11 June 2000. Attendance will be limited to sixteen (16) dogs and their handlers with preference given first to chapter members. The cost for this event will be $100.00 per dog for chapter members ($125.00 for non-members) which will include: training birds, handler lunch, and beverages. Each registered dog and its handler will be provided with at least one (1) hour of one-on-one instruction with Clyde as well as the opportunity to observe other participants during their individual sessions. Only registered participants will be allowed to be in attendance at this event. Interested individuals should contact Lance Vernam at 231.938.1324.

Dues Reminder - Chris Raymond

Again, we would like to remind everybody that if you wish to continue your chapter membership please complete, if you have not already done so, the enclosed form and submit it and your dues no later than Saturday, 25 March 2000. Alternatively, you may bring these items to the annual dinner as well. Please note, this will be the last newsletter if membership is not renewed.

As a reminder, your local membership is kept on a calendar year basis, your membership with international may be on a different twelve month cycle. As previously mentioned, membership with the international organization is requirement for chapter membership. In the past, the Northern Michigan chapter has been incorrectly allowing members to join without requiring membership in NAVHDA International. As we go forward, all chapter members will be required to maintain their international affiliation as well. Fortunately, this will not affect many current members. In looking at last year’s international membership roster, we can proudly say that over seventy percent (70%) of our members had duel affiliation.

Your Help is Needed - Chris Raymond

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has given the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) verbal advice to the effect that field trialing and the use of exotic birds are no longer acceptable activities on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) purchased or supported with Pittman-Robertson (PR) funds. This has caused the MDNR to cancel all trialing at Holly, Sharonville, Lapeer and Allegan WMAs; this includes bird dog, retriever, beagle, NSTRA trials, and NAVHDA/AKC hunting tests.

While this USFWS ban started in Illinois in 1998 over horseback bird dog trials and exotic bird releases, it has spread to Michigan and now involves virtually every sporting dog game played. The USFWS is convinced that field trialing of any sort is contrary to the goals of the Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration act. The decision as to what wildlife management practices are consistent with P-R is entirely up to USFWS.

The P-R Act recycles sporting firearm, ammunition and archery equipment sale excise taxes, typically 11%, to the states for approved wildlife and hunter-safety projects. About $140 million annually is involved, $3.5 billion to-date. If the USFWS staff decides it doesn't approve the way a state handles P-R money, it forces a change by threatening to turn off the spigot: in this case, $5.3 million for Michigan. The USFWS appears to take great delight in publicizing the fact that hunter use-days on P-R lands are less than 50% of the total and approach zero on some tracts. Wildlife observation, nature study, photography and environmental education are normally compatible uses during the non-hunting/trialing seasons, but none of these users have paid the bills since 1938!

Write, e-mail, and call the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, your state delegates, Governor, Congressman, and Senators. Tell them:

• you're mad as hell about USFWS's action,

• it's your money USFWS is threatening to withhold from DNR,

• the MDNR knows what's best for Michigan wildlife, not a federal bureaucracy,
  you expect them to do something about the situation and to write you back telling you what's happening.

Now is the time to take action; your help is needed!

Want to Provide Input to the Chapter?

We would like to remind everyone that issues of chapter interest or concern can be presented to any of the board members for discussion at the next board meeting. They can be contacted as follows: Lance Vernam, 231.938.1324, Judy Balog, 231.938.4426, John MacNeal, 231.929.0929, and Chris Raymond, 231.929.7537.

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
Duane Jorgensen	Birch - EGS	Bill Chalfont	Reba - GSP

Green Books

The chapter still has some copies of the official NAVHDA training bible otherwise known as the “Green Book.” If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact Lance Vernam at 231.938.1324. Their cost will once again be $10.00.

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.

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).