Approved Minutes of the Board Meeting held on July 15, 2008 in Bethany, CT. Approved at the General Membership Meeting in New Fairfield on Thursday, September 18, 2008. [No meeting was held in August 2008].
The July, 2008 board meeting of the CVVC was held on Tuesday, July 15 at the home of Rick and Mary Ellen Diotalevi and their three Vizslas.
In attendance were: Crystal Ashe, Rich Bennington, Rick and Mary Ellen Diotalevi, Henry Grant, Joan Heimbach, Kim Karkut, Ida Kavafian-Tenenbom, Rich Loomis, Val Mendizabal, John and Linda Morris, Jan Norris, Carol Phelps, Susan Potocik, and Joan Toepke.
The group assembled, labeled, and stamped the “Vizsla Tales” Summer 2008 newsletter. At about 8:00 p.m., President Rich Loomis called the meeting to order.
Treasurer’s Report - Treasurer Rick Diotalevi reported the balance in the main checking account. Discussion of budget issues relating to specific events was deferred until respective Chairs presented their reports.
Communications – Rich Loomis received a thank-you note from Kim Himmelfarb to the Club. Kim expressed her appreciation for our touching acknowledgement of Saul’s passing in the recent newsletter. Ida gave the note to Val Mendizabal, the incoming Communications Secretary.
Breed Rescue - John Morris had no updates to report.
Conformation - Carol Phelps proposed revising our current policy of offering up to $150 to a sweepstakes judge for a hotel reservation. After discussion, it was agreed that reimbursements to sweepstakes judges for all travel expenses will be offered on a sliding scale. If requested by the judge, we will reimburse up to $50 for judges traveling under 100 miles, up to $100 for judges traveling 100 to 250 miles, and up to $150 for judges traveling over 250 miles. All present concurred with the proposed guidelines.
Ida Kavafian-Tenenbom presented the final report for the Greenwich Kennel Club (GKC) and Longshore Kennel Club (LSKC) dog shows held on June 7 and 8, 2008. Actual expenses were lower than estimated, income was higher than expected, and the raffles were very successful, so the final cost for CVVC was $464.22, less than a third of the estimated costs of $1, 545. The outcome was a great bottom line. Copies of the full report were submitted to the Board. Results of the weekend shows are published in the Summer 2008 newsletter. Ida also noted that LSKC offered to hire an additional judge due to the large entry.
Carol Phelps reported that the Conformation Committee has created the following list of sweepstakes judges for upcoming shows (in descending order of preference): Sarah Barr, Judy Saddlemire, Elizabeth Trainer, Olga Evelyn, David Miller and Linda Pruitt. Ida and Carol noted that Sarah Barr will be invited for GKC 2009, Judy Saddlemire will be invited for LSKC 2009 and Olga Evelyn will be invited for Springfield Kennel Club (SKC) 2008.
Val Mendizabal will be the judge contact person for the GKC and LSKC 2009 shows; Kim Karkut will be the judge contact person for SKC 2008 and Garden Specialty Association (GSA) 2009. Prospective sweepstakes judges will be asked not to judge a sweepstakes assignment within 300 miles of the show location in the six months prior to the show, and they will be asked to avoid the Vizsla ring on any day prior to their judging assignment at a circuit. The Conformation Committee will soon be considering and voting on a new list of regular judges for use at upcoming shows.
Carol reported that the SKC asked CVVC to accept Judge Carol Beattie as a replacement for our original judge choice, Walter Shellenberger, who may be ill.
At the February, 2009 GSA in Secaucus, New Jersey, Peter Green will judge Sweepstakes and Judith Goodin will judge regular classes.
October Hunt Test - John Morris reported that the American Kennel Club (AKC) has approved the proposed judging panel for the hunt test planned on October 4 and 5, 2008. As the date approaches, we need to recruit people to help with hospitality. Also, the Club may want to consider giving higher compensation to the hunt test judges, who work hard for very modest sums.
The Field Trial Committee is using a program document provided by Secretary Audra Jaconetti. It’s a simple format that does not require any special computer software.
April Field Trial – Joan Heimbach submitted a detailed report to the Board and a complete summary to the newsletter. The trial at Flaherty Field on April 18 – 20, 2008 was a huge success, attracting over 140 dogs in 10 stakes. The Amateur Walking Puppy stake was particularly special due to the interest and enthusiasm of the participants. Photos will be posted on the CVVC web site. Trial results are published in the CVVC Summer 2008 newsletter. Overall, the Field Trial greatly enhances CVVC’s reputation for professionalism. Everyone who contributed is to be congratulated for an outstanding event.
A December 6, 2008 walking trial is being planned at Flaherty Field and a list of judges is being compiled. We need waterproof pouches for the radios but they have not yet been ordered.
Generally field trials are large-budget events, i.e., $7,000 for one weekend. Judges and horses are the largest expenses. We need to recognize that we may not always make a profit because field trials can be high risk and volatile.
AGREEMENT - After some discussion, the group agreed that profits made by specific events will go into the general fund and will not be segregated for future use only by that type of event.
CVVC Fun Day – Rick Diotalevi reported that the Fun Day on June 28, chaired by Dennis Witzke and Debra Steele, was a great success and showed a profit of $180.48. Congratulations and thanks go to Dennis and Debra for a job well done.
CVVC 2008 Hunting Dog Championship – On June 29, 2008, the annual Hunting Dog Championships were held with 26 entries in two divisions. Joan Heimbach submitted a summary of the event to the 2008 Summer newsletter, photos to our web site and the newsletter, and with event Chair Audra Jaconetti, submitted a detailed report to the Board. This event has grown over recent years and attracts enough interest to be a standalone event. Thanks to Audra, Deb Malachowski, and to all the people whose efforts made this year successful, proving there is sufficient interest in this type of friendly yet competitive event.
CVVC Merchandise – Ida reported that Sandy Jacobus suggests that we offer T-shirts in kids’ sizes and in more colors. Hats are a popular item. The newsletter is a help in selling merchandise. The Treasurer will need gross and net sales to be totaled and reported.
Health Committee – Crystal Ashe reported the blood draw at Manchester Veterinary Clinic on Sunday, July 13 was very successful with 17 blood samples and 38 tails. Susan Nakamura will write a report.
Meeting Program Committee – Susan Nakamura has identified a prospective speaker who can address the Club about Penn Hip, an alternative to OFA certification of hips. The September general meeting was suggested as a possible forum for this speaker.
Membership - Twelve new members have recently joined CVVC; their names are published in the Summer 2008 newsletter. Val Mendizabal’s phone number in the membership directory and in the Summer 2008 newsletter is incorrect. Val’s correct phone number is 860 286-2866 (not 286-2862).
Upcoming meetings
August, 2008 – No meeting
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 – General membership meeting (Val Mendizabal will look for a suitable meeting place)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 – Board meeting
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 – General membership meeting
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Jan Norris
