Newsletter of the Dog Obedience Club of Las Cruces, Inc.
Nancy Chanover, Editor
4210 Sotol Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011
(505) 522-0812
chanover@zianet.com
DOCLC Club Phone Number: 527-3983
February 2004
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Dog Obedience Club of Las Cruces will take place on Thursday, February 5, 2004, at 7:30 pm at the St. James Episcopal Church. Hope to see you there!
Spring Class Registration This Month
Registration for the spring classes will take place on Monday February 9 at the Branigan Library, at 6:15 pm for returning obedience (and all agility) students, and at 6:45 for new obedience students. Please plan to help out with registration if you can -- people should arrive by 6 pm to help set up the room. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
Used Agility Equipment Available
The following used agility equipment will be available through a silent auction this spring:
The date/time of the silent auction has yet to be set. If you have specific questions about the equipment, contact Pam Smith.
President's Address
As we all face the dawn of 2004, juggling work, family, and hobbies, I would like to share a few comments and suggestions with each of you. At this time of the year, it is so easy to become lost in our schedules, knee-deep in the hoopla and mired in demands on our time.
Until next time,
Cheryl
MINUTES OF THE DOG OBEDIENCE CLUB OF LAS CRUCES
January 15, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: President Cheryl Smith, Vice-President Pam Smith, Secretary Marjorie A. Henson, Treasurer Janet Miller; OTHER MEMBERS: Lynn de Beauclair, Gene Forsythe, Julie Goodrich, Brian Owen, Kim Ramsey, Gayle Treakle, Vic Villalobos
The meeting was called to order by President Cheryl Smith at 7:30. The minutes from the November meeting were approved as presented with Gene Forsythe moving and Lynn de Beauclair seconding the motion for approval. Mail was presented.
TREASURER'S REPORT: The treasurer's report for November and December were made by former treasurer Pam Smith who then turned the office over to Janet Miller, the new treasurer.
TRAINING DIRECTOR: Julie Goodrich has the registrations for the year set up at Branigan Library. The February registration will be at a different place in the library or at a different location since the library is remodeling that room in February. Availability of another place is being checked on. The leads & collars are fully stocked now. The other dates for registration will be in May & August.
MCCONNELL SEMINAR: Janet Miller reports that we are spending quite a bit of money. The hard cost is $7000. We have no options as to food, drinks or Audio visual which must be provided by the Hilton. The club needs to decide on the cost to the general public and the amount to be used for advertising. The down side for the veterinarians that might want to come for continuing education is that behavior seminars are only _ credit/hour attended instead of 1 credit/hour. Many veterinarians and vettechs would rather go somewhere that gives the credit/hour if we charge to much. Pam Smith suggested we charge $100 for registration by a certain date. Vic Villalobos moved and Pam seconded that the club charge $100 for registration by May 15 and $130 after that date. Motion passed. Vic Villalobos moved and Pam Smith seconded that the recommended menus of Barbecue Buffet and Fiesta Buffet be accepted as the noon meals. Motion passed. Pam Smith moved and Vic Villalobos seconded we advertise in the AKC Gazette, Front & Finish and the AVMA Journal. Pam then amended the motion that the ads & flyers not exceed $1000. Vic seconded the amendment. Motion passed.
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS: There were none.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
ADOPTION OPTION: The club has been sponsoring a dog listed in the Las Cruces Sun News. Most of the ones sponsored to find a home. Brian Owen moved and Lynn de Beauclair seconded that we continue sponsoring for one year. Motion passed.
MEMORIAL FOR BRUCE COFFEY: Bruce Coffey passed away in December. The family has suggested that donations in his memory be made to the American Liver Foundation. Pam Smith moved and Vic Villalobos seconded that the club makes a contribution of $100 in Bruce's memory. Motion passed.
2004 TRAINING DIRECTOR: Since training directors are voting board members and since board members have a maximum term of 3 years in a position as stated in our constitution, our current training director Julie Goodrich needs to be rotated from this position. Anyone interested in filling this position please get in touch with Cheryl Smith.
EXCESS AGILITY EQUIPMENT: The club has agility equipment that we do not need but still has plenty of use left in it. Pam Smith will be listing the equipment in the newsletter for a silent auction to be held probably in April.
AGILITY TRAILER: There has been discussion about a trailer to store and carry the agility equipment that is used at the trials. Vic Villalobos has found a trailer for $4500 that could be made into an agility trailer. Pam Smith moved and Janet Miller seconded that the club purchases the trailer for $5000, to include taxes/licenses and stuff to fix the interior so the equipment will hang etc. Steve Stochaj and Vic Villalobos are willing to provide the labor for the interior work. Motion passed. A decision as to where the trailer will be kept will be decided later.
AGILITY TIMERS: The possibility of buying agility timers was brought up in the board meeting. There was no overwhelming demand for their purchase at this time. They are not a necessity for the club at this time. The cost/set is @ $3000. There could be programming problems if rented out to other clubs. The technology will probably improved in the future so this subject will be brought up later.
SECOND AGILITY TRIAL: The possibility of a second agility trial and location was brought up. One location was Cloudcroft's new football field in July. Lodging is short and with the distance many of our workers who donŐt have dogs to enter would not be willing to come work. Also the altitude is 9000 feet and many dogs and people would find it difficult to run agility there. The El Paso Coliseum might be a possibility especially if we could cluster with Rio Grande Dog Obedience Club for a summer trial if the place is air-conditioned. It would need flooring (dirt?) for the dogs to run safely. It was decided to pass on Cloudcroft but be open to other options. Pam Smith will check on the cost of using the Coliseum.
Be thinking about who to have for another seminar in 2005 or 2006.
The next meeting is February 5 at 7:30 at St James Episcopal Church.
Brags were made.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.
The Funny Bone
The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead", he replied.
"How can you be so sure", she protested. "I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador retriever.
As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table, and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog, and took it out, returning a few moments later with a beautiful cat.
The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly, and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150", she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead?!"
The vet shrugged. "I'm sorry. If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20. But, with the lab report and the cat scan........"