Retriever Advisory Meeting

Most of the meeting was dedicated to voting on the rule change proposals concerning various minor, moderate and serious faults. These changes had been discussed at several previous National meetings and published in the "Retriever News" on several occasions. Here they were again briefly reviewed prior to each club delegate casting votes for or against each proposal. (A numbers of clubs had sent  their ballot instead of voting at the meeting - none chose to change their written vote, which was allowed.)

Afterwards Chairman Pete Simonds explained that the votes will be tallied and certified before the results are released in the near future.

Prior to adjournment Joe Broyles asked to whom the new AKC video on gunner safety had to be shown - live bird gunners, popping gunners, the Trial committee ? AKC VP Bill Speck replied that all gunners should be shown the video prior to their gunning an event. How and when was up to the discretion of each club. Perhaps the club's annual meeting would be appropriate. He also said there was no change in the age restriction for gunners/poppers. Mary Knapp asked that in lieu of the video, would AKC (Speck) accept a hunter safety certificate instead. He said he had no objection to that. Shortly after, the meeting was adjourned.

National Retriever Club Annual Meeting

Immediately after the Advisory meeting, the Annual NRC meeting began in the same room at the Dornick  Hills Country Club. Highlights included the election of the 2001 slate of Officers. They are:

            President - Clint Joyner
            Vice President - Jackie Mertens
            Secretary/Treasurer - Larry Wharton

            Reps;
            Grayson Kelley
            Bill Daley
            Jim Cope
            Stan Safranski

Later, 2001 FT Chairman Grayson Kelley announced the the stake would be held in Cheraw, SC from November 11-17, 2001 on much of the same grounds as the 1997 stake had been held. Judges are: Barbara Butcher - Cross, Linden Strandberg, and Dewitt Boice. Chief Marshal is Dr. Bill Goldstein.

Auburn Animal Sports medicine representative Dr. Rob Gillette thanked the organization for donations, explained the various research project in progress and offered to help those having questions or concerns about related canine health problems. He was then followed by Deborah Lynch from the AKC Canine Health foundation who provided some additional information on research in progress and offered all a chance to receive newsletter mailings. She also promised to send reports to the Retriever News for publication.

Shortly after, the meeting  adjourned with an invite for all to attend the upcoming cocktail party at 7 p.m.