TOTC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

AUGUST 5, 2010 AT MCALISTERS

After a presentation from a representative from Nutro Dog Foods, President Harry Steelman called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING: A motion was made, seconded and approved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the July meeting.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER: Treasurer Don Etheridge was not present. President Harry Steelman reported for Don that we are in good financial shape.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT: Vice President Mary Jenkins let us know that our next General Membership Meeting will be our annual picnic. It will be at Lucky Dog Park beginning at 6:30 PM on September 2nd. We’ll have catered barbeque and games. For this event we’ll have a group to call all of our members. Other upcoming TOTC activities are:

September 29 – East Texas State Fair Demonstration

October 9 – Lindale Country Fest, it’s been a couple of years since we’ve been able to send a TOTC group to demonstrate

October 11 – Longview Kennel Club meeting, LKC has invited us to do a demonstration at their membership meeting to be held in Gladewater.

October 16 – Tyler Rose Parade

Mary asked that if you worked at the Longview show to make sure she knows so you will be given credit for the next Quarter Prize. Belinda also needs a list of those who helped Sunday so we can be given credit for lunches by LKC. They pay for the lunches for our workers on Sunday since it is their show. Mary passed around a list for those present to sign.

REPORT OF THE TRAINING DIRECTOR: Training Director Joyce Anderson passed around a list for teachers and assistants to sign up to help with upcoming classes. Our first Fall registration is September 7th. She is considering changes for the 2011 schedule and this is the time to make your ideas known. Please email or call Joyce – her TOTC email is: Trainingdirector@tylerotc.org One of the things being considered is having both Obedience and Agility on the same night. That way the Obedience classes would be able to see the Agility classes and hopefully that would promote interest in Agility. Joyce is also working on whether to leave the Obedience classes at 6 weeks or make them longer. She is tentatively carving out 7:45 on Thursdays as Drill Team and Member Training. The Drill Team is going to try to be ready to perform at the Fair. Anyone interested was encouraged to join them at Lucky Dog on August 12. Experience is not necessary – come on out and try it! Another opportunity Joyce is planning is an Instructor Training day for instructors and assistants. It is tentatively set for Saturday November 13 at Lucky Dog. Anyone interested in teaching or assisting is invited to attend. More details will come later. Joyce also asked that if you have not received TOTC Bucks for helping with a class/classes please contact her.

REPORT OF THE TRAINING SECRETARY: Training Secretary Carl Strange said he is preparing for the next class registration and will need helpers.

COMMITTEES:

Obedience & Rally Trials July 31 & August 1, Longview, TX – Trial Chair Don Etheridge was not able to attend the meeting but Cheryl Etheridge passed on a big Thank You! to those who helped. We will have a more complete report soon. Belinda Steelman let us know that the donations for lunches were disappointing. We barely broke even on the food. On the flip side, if we actually charged for the lunches we would have to pay more for a permit and be scrutinized more closely by the Longview Health Department. This is why we ask for donations. A question was asked about whether we send in any kind of evaluation of our judges to AKC. One of the judges was very rude and mean to her stewards. No, there is no formal process we are aware of, but Pat Gannon needs to know if there is a problem since she coordinates our judges for us. That way we won’t use them again.

Agility Trials 2011 – Cheryl Etheridge said she is working on getting judges and filling out our applications for 2011.

ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS:

First Reading – None

Second Reading – Mary Bayes, Charlesie Bowers, Debbie Collins, Patty Kirby, Cindy Plummer, Kelly Ritch and Judith Truelove were each nominated for membership and voted in as members. Welcome!

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Robin Visniski received enough email replies interested in a massage therapy seminar that she will work on finding a date to hold one. Cheryl Etheridge is still holding member training heeling instruction on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM through the month of August

NEW BUSINESS:

Dave Visniski announced that they are adding a climate-controlled room to the side of the current building at Lucky Dog. Once construction begins (scheduled for Monday Aug 9) we will have to enter from the back gate. He will put up snow fencing but everyone needs to be aware that some regular fencing is down and take care to keep their dogs out of harms way. The new room, 50’ by 75’ will also have indoor plumbing! We will just have to work around the construction during the Fall class sessions. Robin Visniski thanked everyone who had supported her during her surgery and now rehab. She is doing great and her goal is to be able to run agility by November. Go Robin!

Harry adjourned the meeting at 8:20 PM.