as we prepare to attend the 2011 Irish Setter Club of America National Specialty, I would like to first talk about our 2011 National Hunting Test, Walking Field Trial and ISCA Walking Gun Dog Championship.  This year my husband was able to attend and he had a great time videoing and taking pictures of our dogs at work.

     This year’s event was held at the Rocky Mountain Roosters Hunting Preserve in Calhan, Colorado, hosted by the Irish Setter Club of Colorado.  I would like to thank all the members the Colorado Club especially Assistant Chair Ginny Swanson.  They worked very hard and the event was very successful. Chairperson Nina Johnson showed her expertise on making this event a successful one.  Special thanks also to Karolynne McAteer and Kevin Culver for stepping up and helping with bird planting and feeding of our birds.  I would also like to extend a big thanks to Ben Garcia one of our judges and Trainer for Rocky Mountain Roosters.  Ben judged for us but also planted birds, marshaled, and supplied us with horses when needed.  He went over and above his duties and we thank him for all his help.

     The first day was our ISCA Walking Gun Dog Championship; we woke to 28-degree weather and 30 mph winds gusting to 40 mph.  TALK ABOUT COLD!!!! I had the chance to marshal in the morning on horseback and I thank Ben for allowing me to ride his wife’s horse.  The first brace went out and what a beautiful site to see.  They both had over 5 birds and worked as a team backing each other on their points.  What a way to start. By 10:30 am we had to stop to warm up since all of us were frozen.  After lunch things warmed up a little and the dogs continued to do well.   Not all braces had a successful run but all had bird finds.

I would like to congratulate the winners:

 

1.    1  NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Iskote Ani-Mosh  Owner: Spero Manson (3 point Major)

2.    2  FC/AFC Lyn Turk’s Runnymeade Ranger  Owners: Teresa Sanford & Kevin Culver

3.    3  Ch Pompei’s Look Who’s on the Way, CD, RN, MH  Owners: Nina Johnson & Annette Pusey

4.    4  NAFC Brophy’s Unleashed  Owner: Ken Ruff & Phil Ruff

   

 

The judges also handed out two Award of Merits:

AOM:  Brophy’s Rio Grande  Owners: Ed Meyer, Jay Zirkle and Sam McDonald

AOM:  Ch Lunn’s Rock Star, JH  Owner: Pat Skavlen

 

 

Congratulations to all on making our second ISCA Walking Gun Dog Championship a success.

 

   On Saturday was our National Hunting Test, the weather was much more corporative with temperature in the 60’s.  All the dogs had bird finds but some were just a little overwhelmed with the amount of birds and had more fun chasing than pointing.  It was a great day much warmer and congratulations to all who passed. We had one dog finish his title, congratulations to Ch Lunn’s Rock Star for finishing his Senior Hunter Title.

 

Master Pass: Ch Pompei’s Look Who’s on the Way, CD,RN,MH  - Nina Johnson & Annette Pusey

Senior Pass: Ch Lunn’s Rock Star – Ch Lunn’s Rock Star, JH – Pat Skavlen

Junior Pass: Memorial Rite of Spring Bright Star, JH – Matt & Wendy Czarnecki

                   Donegans Deal Me In – Trevor & Kelli Johnson & Renette Berggren

 

We decided to run our Non-regular classes a day early since the judges and dogs were available.  Congratulations to the winners:

 

1.    Can/Am/DC/Can AFTCH Highfeathers Raise ‘N Ruckus, Can FDX, CD, AM MH   Owners: Susan Russell

      2.   Cairncross Cat Ballou    Owner: Kelli Johnson & Renette Berggren

      3.   Donegans Deal Me In   Owner: Trevor & Kelli Johnson & Renette Berggren

 

     Sunday started off just beautiful with being able to see the mountains on the drive in to Rocky Mountain Roosters.  The morning began with Open Walking Gun Dog, we had three dogs that had a successful run and would like to congratulate the following winners:

 

1.    Ch Pompei’s Look Who’s on the Way, CD,RN,MH  Owners: Nina Johnson & Annette Pusey

(3 point major)

2.    FC/AFC Lyn Tur’s Runnymeade Ranger  Owners: Teresa Brown & Kevin Culver

3.    Ch Lunn’s Rock Star, JH  Owner: Pat Skavlen

4.    Withheld

 

 

   Following Open Walking Gun Dog was the Amateur Walking Derby.  Congratulations to the Winners:

 

        1.   Brophy’s Riding High   Owners: David & Vicki Tompkins & Ken Ruff

        2.   Iskot Ahnung  Owner: Spero Manson

        3.   Memorial Rite of Spring Bright Star, JH   Owners: Matt & Wendy Czarnecki

        4.   Withheld

 

     We had no qualifiers for the Amateur Walking Gun Dog and the day ended with our Amateur Walking Puppy.  The puppies had a great time running and finding the birds.  Congratulations to the winners:

 

         1.   Iskote Ahnung   Owner: Spero Manson

         2.   Russell’s Make Mine Meg   Owner: Susan Russell

         3.   Tramore On Call    Owner: Ginny Swanson

         4.   Tramore Outrageous    Owner: Ginny Swanson

 

It was a great time and I enjoyed seeing everyone compete and the dogs work so well.

 

     Prior to coming to the National I made a trip to Shanghai for business and had the opportunity to meet up with my friends from REX Kennel Club.  They own Irish Setters and I was able to visit their new kennel and play with their Red Heads.  It was fun talking about our dogs and how are dog shows compared.

 

 

  Now it is time for our National Specialty in Oklahoma City, Jeanine Wilson and her Committees have been working very hard to make this a very success national.  Entries this year are down and I am sure it is the economy and gas prices that have held people back.  To everyone who is coming to the National drive and fly safe and I look forward to seeing you all there. Let’s all make Oklahoma the best!!

 

Please do not forget if you would like to serve on the Nominating Committee or be considered by that Committee for nomination, we would like to hear from you.  In June, the Nominating Committee will be selected.  Please send your resume to the Corresponding Secretary by May 15^th, 2011.

 

I am honored to be your President and promise to do my best for you and our beloved Irish.

 

                                               Debbie Davis

 

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This year it was a long trip to Booneville, Arkansas to attend our last National Event the 2010 National Field Trial. I was on a business trip in Brazil and flew straight from Brazil to Fayetteville arriving on a beautiful sunny day.  The two-hour drive down to Booneville is spectacular with the trees just turning into their fall colors.  Due to my international flight, I missed the running of the National Championship, but heard that Jack Flynn won with a very deserving Harry now NFC/FC Harry O’Floin- in a strong entry.  Congratulations Jack! I arrived in time to be part of the Calcutta and a well-deserved glass of wine!

 

  This year the grounds were very dry – the opposite of last years heavy downpours and flooding.  With the dry conditions the grounds were very tough on the dog’s pads and the wild birds were continually moving which made it difficult for the dogs to get a point. I was excited to hear that Ed Meyer had won the Futurity with Rio.  Congratulations to all the owners Ed, Jay Zirkle and Sam McDonald on this wonderful win.

 

 

   As the sun rose the next morning we headed to the grounds to watch the Amateur Field Championship begin. It was a very brisk morning but the sun was shining and no rain.  I would like to thank Stan Noble for allowing me to ride his wonderful horse so I could watch closely the dogs run.  It was a pleasure to ride with old and new friends on these beautiful grounds. That morning the dogs had no bird work which was disappointing.  That continued for the rest of the day with know one having any luck finding birds.

  We all came back to a wonderful steak dinner and Ken Ruff spoke thanking Connie Vanacore for all her years as our delegate and friend and presented a slide presentation of Connie in the years she attended the Field Trials.  Everyone had a good laugh seeing how we all changed through the years.

 

  Saturday the handlers and dogs headed out and the board gathered for our meeting.  We broke for lunch to join the field trailers’ for lunch to find out that know one had birds in the morning.  At lunch we surprised Connie with a lovely cake and thanked her for her service as our delegate to AKC.

 

   At the end of our meeting we waited to hear if anyone had any luck in the field.  Our judges came in and announced that this year all placements would be withheld.  It was the right decision, since no dog had a solid bird find.  He stated the grounds were very dry and the wild birds were always on the move.  So, this year we will not have an Amateur National Champion.  As disappointing as it was that is the world of Field Trialing, especially when you are working with wild birds.

    I cannot thank the National Field Trial Committee enough for all their hard work, starting with our Field Trial Chairman Jeannie Wagner, who did an excellent job keeping things moving smoothly.  Big thanks to Mary Ann Gustafson as our Field Trial Secretary and all others who worked hard to make this event successful.

The winners of the events:

 

Open Derby Classic

1. Brophy’s Need a Bentley (Bentley) handled by Ken Ruff
2. Cedar Creek Gem (Gem) handled by Ed Liermann
3. Brophy’s Jameson (Jamie) handled by Phil Ruff
4. Withheld

 

National Championship

1. FC Harry O’Floin (Harry) handled by Jack Flynn
2. NFC/FC Brownhaven Burning Bright (Burnie) handled by Sherry Ebert
3. NAFC/FC/AFC Brophy’s Queen Buckaroo handled by Lee Shoaf
4. Brophy’s Sandcreek John Galt (Galt) handled by Phil Ruff

 

Futurity

1. Brophy’s Rio Grande (Rio) handled by Ed Meyer
2. Setter Downs Brown Sugar (Sugar) handled by Sherry Ebert
3. Brownhaven the Huntress (Honey) handled by Sherry Ebert
4. Brophy’s Irish Belle (Belle) handled by Ken Ruff

 

 

National Amateur Championship

All Placements Withheld

 

Congratulations to all who won and placed.

 

A reminder that you can still order your pictorials till the end of December, please get your orders in.  Also Annual Award applications will be in this Memo so make sure you mail them in by the due date.

Everyone have a wonderful holiday and be safe.

 

I am honored to be your President and promise to do my best for you and our beloved Irish.

 

Debbie Davis

Important Message from the President

 

To the Membership:

 

I am writing this “flea-byte” to answer some questions many members have regarding our Constitution and By-laws.  I have always told my employees “there is never a STUPID question, so do not be afraid to ask. Disseminating incorrect information will hurt your credibility with your customers”.  We do not want incorrect information being spread throughout the membership, so I would like to answer the three questions below:

 

Question 1:

What is the eligibility for members to run for an office or regional directors position?

 

Article IV Section 3:  A member to be eligible for any Irish Setter Club of America, Inc. office shall have been a member in good standing the previous five (5) consecutive years.

 

The word “consecutive” can have many interpretations.  To clarify the ISCA, as a parent club, contacted the America Kennel Club to clarify this question of consecutive years.

Mr. Michael Liosis, AKC/Director of Club Relations was asked the question  regarding Article IV Section 3:

 

Quote:  ”It is generally accepted that any member who has paid dues for 5 consecutive years is eligible to seek office. Please note that the requirement is NOT “five full/continuous consecutive calendar years” otherwise a member whose dues were received ONE day late would not be eligible”

 

As stated by Mr. Liosis a member may run for office or regional director if: they have paid their dues for five (5) consecutive years and is a member in good standing.

 

Question 2:

What happens if a Regional Director moves outside their region during their term in office?

 

This has happened many times in the years of ISCA.  If a director moves outside their region the board allows that director to fulfill their elected term as regional director.  When their term expires, they may, if they wish, submit a resume to the Nominating Committee to run for Regional Director in the new region.

 

 Question 3:

Does an officer or Regional Director have to resign if they are to run for another position?

 

The answer is No.  They may submit a resume to the Nominating Committee for a different position on the board.  If the officer or regional director is elected to the new position, their term will not begin until the first day of the upcoming calendar year. They would continue as an officer or Regional Director until the end of the calendar year.  The best example of this is how our nation’s President is elected.  He did not resign his Senate seat in IL until after he was sworn into office.

If the regional director is elected to the new position, and their current term as a regional director has not been fulfilled, leaving the regional director position open, the board of directors, at their first board meeting in the “new” calendar year will select an ISCA member to fulfill the remainder of the term, as per Article III, Section, 3, Vacancies.

 

I thank you for taking time to read this “flea-byte” and if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me directly at anytime.

 

It’s an honor and privilege to be your president.

 

Debbie Davis