SECRETARY’S REPORT

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Minutes from the January 2, 2005 meeting at Canine Mastery in Seekonk, MA.

Members Present: Jean Janotta, Dottie Duclos, Sharon Ruppel, Diane Johnson, Pete Dolan, Kathie Chouinard, Paula Andrus, Linda Gray, Pauli Haggis, Bill Haggis, Cindy King, William L. Pechka-King, Jackie Owens, Gull Reidy, Dianne Barrett, Donald R. Johnson, Donna Johnson, Brenda Dean, Heather Robinson, Rita McDonald, Susan Winters, Sheila Dolan, Matt Mason, Loretta King, Donna Hakala, Tina Walsh-Spivey, John Spivey, Ethan Spivey and guests Joanne Gray, Cindy Booth.

Meeting called to order 12:00pm by President Jean Janotta.

Introduction of those present.

Secretary’s Report – Diane Johnson

Secretary's report from the November 2004 meeting was accepted as published in newsletter.

Treasurer's report – Dottie Duclos

ASCNE Treasury - $23,312
Rescue Treasury - $4,990
November 13 & 14 Breed & Obedience in Seekonk, MA – gross receipts - $2,018.00; expenses - $1,726; profit - $292

Affiliate Report – Sharon Ruppel

ASCA is changing to Therion International for DNA Testing.

BoD Report - Linda Gray

The new DNA testing lab is Therion International. The test can be a cheek swab, blood drawn in a tube, or blood cards. The blood cards need ten drops of blood and can be sent by regular mail. Cheek swabs can be done only once. If there is not enough DNA from the cheek swab, blood will need to be sent and there will be a full charge for the additional blood test. Therion anticipates being caught up with the backlog by the end of January 2005.

Committee Reports

Agility: Pete Dolan reported that the agility rule book was rewritten last year. Discussions are occurring on the following: the appropriateness of the current automatic invite of ATCHs to the Agility Finals; creation of a Junior Handler division for Gamblers in 2005; and submission of electronic results for agility and questions about whether the software might currently be capable to do this but no one has the knowledge of how to do it.
Bylaw: Linda Gray stated the bylaw changes were printed in the Aussie Times and ASCA is waiting for comments to come back from the membership.
Conformation: Linda Gray reported that there is a new chair for this committee, Liz Smith. There is a discussion amongst the committee to charge lower entry fees for altered classes to increase the participation. Discussion at this meeting centered around the effort put forth to make the altered program equivalent to the championship, and how this would now give it a lower ranking.
Dispute: no representative present.
DNA & Genetics: Linda Gray discussed the lab change, etc. mentioned above.
Juniors: Cindy King reported that there is a new chair, Claire Augustisan. There was also a discussion about whether juniors should have to qualify for the Nationals (currently the requirement is that they’ve shown at the Open level sometime during the qualifying year) or is their presence and interest at the Nationals enough.
Stockdog: Bill King reported that there are rule book changes coming, particularly concerning clarification around the junior program.
Tracking: Linda Gray reported that Sue Schroeder has joined the committee.
Versatility: no report.

Library Report - Cindy King

The library was available in the vehicle if anyone needed a book or books. Cindy is hoping to have DVD & VHS tapes available in the future.

Sunshine Report:

There was nothing to report at this time.

Event Updates:

Please check the web site: http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~ascne for additional information on events
February 5 & 6, Breed & Obedience in Seekonk, MA: Sue Winters reported that they are working on sanctioning, there is also a need for course stewards and someone to take over the workers' & judges' food.
February 18-21 Barb Demascio Agility Seminar in West Brookfield, MA: Lyn Scribner is handling this event and there are still lots of openings.
March 6, Annual ROM Banquet & Meeting in Holyoke, MA: MaryAnn reported to Jean that everything is lining up well. Flyer will be posted to the website soon.
March 26 & 27 Rescue Show - Breed & Obedience, Paws 'N Effect in Hamden, CT: Brenda Dean reported that things are moving along. $220 has been received to date towards trophy purchases. Items for the raffle on Sunday are always wanted.
April 2 Tracking Clinic at the Strafford County Court House in Dover, NH: Celeste Kelly will be organizing this event.
April 10 Tracking Test in Stratham, NH: Celeste Kelly will be organizing this event.
July 29, - 31 Moose-a-Mania in Skowhegan, ME: contract has gone out to secure the location.

OLD BUSINESS

New Members – The following have been accepted for membership: Kathleen Buckley, Lorraine E. Wentworth and Dianne Barrett

2005 Calendar

Please check the web site: http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~ascne for additional information.
April 23 (rain day April 24) - Intro to Herding Fun Day - Tenley Dexter, CT
June 2, 3, 4, 5 - Bob Vest Sheep Clinic in CT
June 6, 7, 8, 9 - Bob Vest Sheep Clinic in NH
June 11 & 12 - Bob Vest Cattle Clinic in CT
June 19 - Stock Trial in CT
August 6 & 7 - Stockdog Trial in Webster, NH - Matt Mason. Trial will consist of ducks, sheep & cattle with Maarten Walter as judge.
November Breed & Obedience: Fran Swanson suggested taking this show off the 2005 calendar because of it’s proximity to the National dates.

2005 ASCA National Pre-show Update

The contracts have been mailed to GAASC
Getting together after this meeting to discuss details of trophies, ribbons, etc.

New England ASCA Nationals Exploratory Update

Pete Dolan reported that the biggest drawback has been and still is finding a suitable number and quality of stock, cattle in particular.

NEW BUSINESS

Membership applications- Kathie Chouinard

Member	Sponsors
Joanne Gray	Sharon Ruppel Donna Johnson
Robert & Mary Tripp	Kate Viles Barbara Barreiro
Cynthia Booth	Kathie Chouinard Dottie Duclos

DNA Epilepsy Blood Draw Proposal - Sheila Dolan & Sharon Parr

University of Missouri is involved in a dedicated research project to identify a marker gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Aussies. As members of the fancy, we can help by donating blood samples of affected dogs and their close relatives.
At this year’s Nationals at Paso Robles, AussieGENES (a branch of the Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute) sponsored a highly successful blood draw for the University of Missouri. But since very few of us here in New England were able to attend this year’s specialty, we would like to hold a blood draw of our own to do our part for the success of this critical project.
Proposed Place and Date: The home of Terri Altergott (in Uxbridge, MA) on Sunday, February 27, with a snow date of March 13.
We already have roughly a dozen potential donor dogs, and hope to reach as many as a dozen more whose contributions could be valuable to this research project.
THERE IS NO COST involved for the owners of donor dogs…all we ask is that you appear and allow your dog to donate blood.
Cindy King made a motion for a $200 donation by ASCNE for expenses, Linda Gray seconded the motion and it was passed.

Membership Meeting Frequency - Jean Janotta

Jean had asked for comments and or suggestions to increase the attendance at the meetings and received input from Celeste Kelly only.
There was discussion concerning reducing the number of meetings each year based on attendance. The purpose of each of the meetings was talked about – January-affiliate renewal paperwork; July-begin setting next year’s calendar; September-catchup; November-presentation of proposed officer slate ever other year. It was decided to hold at the current number of five.
Members present felt having activities on the day of the meeting (prior to or after) might entice members to attend. In addition holding meetings in alternate locations might help.
If you’re interested in hosting a meeting at your home or if there’s a facility local to you that would be relatively inexpensive or if you’d like to organize an activity for a meeting, please contact Jean.

Request for Agility Trial Co-Sanction - Jean Janotta

Dianne McCormick received a request from the Southern CT Agility Team to co-sanction their agility event on June 11 & 12 in Southington, CT
Motion made, seconded, and unanimously approved.

Request for Show Site Waiver - Jean Janotta

WASCUNY requested a waiver allowing them to host a breed and obedience event in North Adams, MA on April 16 & 17, 2005.
Motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.

GSASA 2005 Show Format – Jean Janotta

GSASA is trying a different format this year – they will be doing 2 conformation shows one day, then doing 2 obedience shows the other day.

Achievements - Jean Janotta

ASCA CH Arboretum's Winterberry - Wendy Dreyer
ASCA CH Timber - Kathy Hubbard
Dasher & Ed Jakubowski second place in US Disc Dog Nationals
AKC CH Bluff Cap Spellcaster, owned by Lorretta & John King, co-owned & bred by Nancy & Gil Gagnon

The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm

Next meeting will be March 6, 2005 at the Log Cabin Restaurant in Holyoke, MA.

Respectfully submitted, Diane Johnson

ASCNE 2005 Calendar of Events

January 2 – Meeting – Canine Mastery, Seekonk, MA
January 15 – newsletter cutoff date
February 5 & 6 – Breed and Obedience, Seekonk, MA – Sue Winters
February 18 - 21 – Barb Demascio Agility Seminar, West Brookfield, MA – Lyn Scribner
February 27 – DNA Blood Draw – Home of Terri Altergott in Uxbridge, MA – Sharon Parr (snow date March 13)
March 6 – Annual ROM Banquet and Meeting, Log Cabin Restaurant, Holyoke, MA – MaryAnn & Joe Stoddart
March 12 (Breed-2 shows) & 13 (Obedience-2 shows) – GSASA
March 15 – newsletter cutoff date
March 19 & 20 – LEAP Agility Trial – So. Hadley, MA - ASCA co-sanctioned by ASCNE
March 26 & 27 – Rescue Show – Paws 'N Effect, Hamden, CT – Brenda Dean
April 2^nd – Tracking Clinic – Strafford, NH - Celeste Kelly
April 10^th – Tracking Test – Dover, NH – Celeste Kelly
April 16 & 17 – SNEAK Agility Trial – Brooklyn, CT - ASCA co-sanctioned by ASCNE
April 16 & 17 – WASCUNY – Breed & Obedience - North Adams, MA
April 23 –Intro to Herding – Tenley Dexter (rain date April 24)
May 15 – newsletter cutoff date
May 21 – GSASA Breed & Obedience
May 28 & 29 – ASCA/NADAC Agility trial and Try Stock-n-Go, Contoocook, NH
June 4 & 5 – Breed and Obedience, Auburn, MA – Keli Gaunt
June 2-5 – Bob Vest Sheep clinic in CT – Tenley Dexter
June 6-9 –Bob Vest Sheep clinic in NH
June 10-11 – Bob Vest Cattle clinic in CT – Tenley Dexter
June 11-12 – SCAT Agility Trial – Southington, CT – ASCA co-sanctioned by ASCNE
June 12 – Stockdog trial – CT – Tenley Dexter
June 18 & 19 – SoBAD Agility Trial – Granby, MA - ASCA co-sanctioned by ASCNE
July 10 – meeting at the Griffin's home, Douglas, MA
July 15 – newsletter cutoff date
July 29, 30 & 31 – Moose-a-Mania, Skowhegan, ME – Clara Grover
August 6 & 7 – Stockdog Trial – Webster, NH – Matt Mason
August or September – Post Advanced or Ranch Trial – CT – Tenley Dexter & Linc Keiser
September 3, 4, & 5 – GSASA Agility
September 11 – meeting at the Adamczyk's home, Warren, MA
September 15 – newsletter cutoff date
September 23, 24 & 25 – Harvest Moon Mania, Westfield, MA – Peter Kontos
October 8 – GSASA – Breed & Obedience
October 22 - 29 – ASCA Nationals, Georgia
October 23 – Agility Pre-show by ASCNE, Georgia – Jean Janotta
October 24 – Conformation Pre-show by ASCNE, Georgia – Peter Kontos
November 6 – meeting at the Janotta home, Raymond, NH
November 15 – newsletter cutoff date