Members Absent:
 NW: Jeff McMaines, MacKenzie McMaines
NE:  Cynthia Sassen
 C:  Erin Adley
 SW:  none
 SE:  Angela Aanas, Owen Holmseth

Extension Educators Present: Laurie Magnus
Extension Educators Absent: Jon Hjelm and Kelly Strei
Center Staff Present:  Tammy Lorch and Brad Rugg

Guests Present:  Linda Allen, Anita Beckman, Rachel Beckman, Dorothy Brouwers, Tess DeBlieck, Kris Fischer, Nancy Holmseth, Vanessa Magnus, Carol Reinhart, Emily Wagner, Kirsten Weis
 

The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. by PDC chair, Cathy Steinmetz.  Everyone present introduced themselves.  The districts then met to discuss issues they wanted to have discussed during the meeting.

District Update:
NW - Why is there the rule of one show (regionals) being the qualifier?  Liked state show awards for agility, can it be extended into showmanship and obedience?  Regionals - would like to see some guidelines written as a standard used, these already exist.  Dogs are the only animals without an ID system, such as tattoos, why is this?
NE - No update
C - Would like to allow members to go from Jr. Open to Sr. Open in showmanship.  Also, we need to treat our volunteers better.  There should be more perks (ie lunch provided) at regional and state shows.
SW - Question about using Gentle Leader for beginners in 4-H.  If the loop is not over the nose does it count as a flat collar?
SE - Rules for pre-open and up in obedience you can stay in the class until you get a blue ribbon.  At regionals, if no one gets a blue you can advance to state with a red.  However, you then forfeit your right to stay in the class.  Want to address this issue, and think we should allow the member to stay in the class until they get a blue ribbon at the county show before they go on, even if you choose to go on to regionals and state.  Volunteers need to be respected and members/parents need to help when asked.

Secretary's Report (Kelly)
M/S/C (Karl O./Rhonda) to accept the minutes of the June 8, 2001 meeting as printed.

Treasurer's Report (Karl)
There is no treasurer's report to approve at this time.  Without all checks deposited, we have $6,500.   Supersession - lost $145.  There were more expenses this year, as well as more participants.  We paid more for mileage and gave volunteers some perks.  Judges training - will break even.  Center has some expenses also for judges training, regionals, and state.  Insurance cost for regionals is not known yet.  Northern regional - no information available  Southern regional - $280 profit, still need to subtract ribbons and armbands ($200 loss).  They had less participants this year.  Central regional - around $1,100 profit, without all expenses included.

Supersession Four (Leona)
Lost $145 approximately.  There were 45-50 people in attendance.  Some sessions didn't have very many people there.  There were many people doing the CGC testing.  Many people were interested in rules and how to start an agility program.

Supersession Five (Freeborn/Faribault)
June 14-16, 2002 in Blue Earth at fairgrounds.  Tammy needs information by January 1st, Dorothy Brouwers is contact person.  Bonnie Gripe (agility), Sarah Leonard (obedience), and Kathy Francis (showmanship).  Camping hookups available.  Friday night will make treats and Saturday night will be fly ball.  Suggested rally obedience or Frisbee dog as sessions.  Who covers insurance?  The 4-H Centers takes out the $1.00 per participant accident insurance.  Dog PDC reimburses 4-H Center for this expense.  If accident occurs, bill goes to county first.  Registration fees-do they stay the same?  Per person for weekend is $15, $5 Friday only, $10 for Sat. or Sun only. $60 maximum for family.  Price does not include food.  Looking to see if the fairgrounds will cost a fee, not sure at this time.
M/S/C (Cherrye/Vicki) leave the registration fees the same for this coming year and look at again next year.
Suggested after southern hosts for two years, we find a central location and rotate the organizers rather than the place.

State Fair Report (Tammy)
Dog Related Exhibit - 2000 had 24 participants and in 2001 there were 40 participants.
 State Fair Dog Project Activities/Demonstrations planning for 2002 (during Livestock weekend) - Need to have a coordinator by February meeting.  This is a great opportunity for the dog project to be shown off to the public.  Getting the dogs on the fairgrounds is difficult, suggested having a sticker for 4-H dogs for car window.  Carol Reinhart from Wright county is willing commit people to come from her county.

2002 Project Bowls (Marlene/Kelly)
Regionals -  March 2 (Todd Co.)
March 9 (Sibley Co.)
March 16 (Mower Co.)
March 23 (Beltrami Co.)
State -   April 6 (Buffalo)
New resource added for seniors only - "Future Dog"
Project Bowl Committee has a rule that the questions are not released.
M/S/C (Laurie/Rhonda) PDC will purchase one set of new references ("2000 Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" and "Future Dog").

Regional Show Reports
North (Karl O.) - Hubbard Co. It was their first time doing it and they would like to see a handbook for how to plan the show to save time.  They did have the description of how to run a show sent to them.  They had 5 rings.
Central (Tammy) - Hutchinson, first time for them also.  The show went really well and was done with tear-down around 4pm.  They had 6 rings.
South (Dorothy) - Albert Lea.  Numbers were down.    The show went well.  They had a parade of counties and tribute to America in the beginning.  They had 6 rings.

Would like to see the Central Show on the opposite day from the other two regionals, it depends on the availability of buildings.

State Show Report - Cherrye
The show went smoothly.  There was some problem with poop patrol.  Agility was on Friday.  It was suggested looking into having it on Sunday.  This has been done and Sunday is not a possibility.  Awards - All the awards were sponsored by donors.  The committee members are very vital in finding these sponsors each year.  Thank you notes really do need to go to these donors, almost everyone filled these out.  Laurie also took pictures of the members to put in with the notes.  Agility recognized the top 10 in each class, members would like to see this in obedience and showmanship.  Volunteers - mail volunteers thank you notes and also build a database of those workers.  Next year - Karl and Betty Johnson from the St. Cloud agility club volunteered their facility to be used next year, we would need to check into this with the club and is being referred to the agility committee.  Outstanding Youth Leader Awards were presented to Amber Runke from McLeod County and Dorie Illies from Beltrami County.  An Outstanding Adult Leader Award was presented to Sheronne Mulry from Wabasha County.  A Friend of 4-H award was sponsored by Lucille Belch and presented to Tammy Lorch.

Regional & State Shows for 2002 (Brad/Tammy)
There will be staff cuts in extension in the near future.  Salaries take up 90% of the budget currently and in the future they want this to be 75%.  December is when the plan will be announced.  Work will be done very differently in the future.  Things will be done more by regions rather than county.  Survey - for Regional and State show participants to evaluate the shows.  Decisions will be made at the February meeting in regard to the upcoming shows so that we can evaluate these surveys and the update of extension.  We received a draft of the survey to be sent to everyone in the dog project.
 

Standing Committee Reports

Agility -- Karl R.
Training session for judges is needed.  The advanced class did exist this year.  Height cards need to be done by more judges, they need two signatures by certified judges.  They will be meeting as a committee after the meeting today.  Dorothy Brouwer's would like to donate her mileage money for bringing equipment to the plaque fund.

Finance - Karl R.
Need to wrap up financial aspect of events within one month in order to get it done and still remember everything.  There are forms for the shows to be used as financial statements.

Judges Certification - Leona
Committee membership and applications - no new applications received, 6 terms expire on 1/1/02.  There are available positions.  Need to elect officers for next year as well.  May run two terms, but need to fill out a new application at end of each term according to the by-laws of the State PDC.  Expired terms are Owen Holmseth (Y), Dorothy Brouwers (C), Jeff McMaines (S), and Rhonda Weis (V).  The membership needs to be appointed by the State PDC.  At the February meeting we will need to do this.  If certified before the end of the year then you are no longer considered a volunteer, otherwise you remain on the committee in the position that you are first appointed to even if your status changes during your term.

Judges Certification Process - Judges are certified by the Judges Certification Committee and cannot be certified without them meeting.  The goal for this is to have a certified list to counties by December 1st.

Judges Training & Certification for 2002 - May attend certification training when under 20 years of age as an auditor.  Need promotional information to Tammy a minimum of 4 months ahead of time.  Dorothy is looking for a place for April (info by Dec.1st).

Seminar Oct.13-14 was well attended.  There are 3 people that have met the minimum requirements for certification and need to be certified.  There are 19 provisional judges.  4 people attended and are missing some information to be considered provisional.  A disk of handouts from the seminar may be purchased from Karl Reimer for $7.00.  Some handouts may be appropriate to be put on the website - the committee should decide this.

Obedience/Showmanship -Kelly
Have not met.  Kelly is stepping down from position as chair, but would still like to be involved.
M/S/C (Karl O./Laurie) for Marlene Keller to be chair of the committee.
Current committee members include:  Kelly Edgar, Marlene Keller, Nancy Holmseth, Dorothy Brouwers, Donna Sonnek
Issues to be discussed by this committee:
1.  Skip Sr. Novice and go straight from Jr. Open to Sr. Open in showmanship.  This will be looked at after doing the obedience rules.
2.  Using Gentle Leaders for beginners.  Does using Gentle Leader without being over the nose count as a flat collar in obedience?

Show - Cherrye
At a stand still until results of survey and changes within extension.  Perks for volunteers will be addressed by this committee.
Issues to be addressed by this committee:
1.  Section 7 - Would like to allow graduate novice and higher obedience class members to stay in the class until they receive a blue ribbon at the county show, regardless of if they choose to show at regionals and state.
M/S/C (Merlene K./Melanie P.) table the issue due to the controversy and debate.  Everyone should take the issue to their counties and get the opinions of others.
 

Appointment of New Members:
SE - Angela Aanas (Y) and Owen Holmseth (Y) are resigning from the committee.
Number of positions open and applications received from:
(1) NW Youth - none
(2) NW Volunteer - Tess DeBlieck, Sandie McMaines, Leticia Jensen
(1) NE Youth - none
(2) NE Volunteer - none
(1) Central Youth - Brenden Roman
(1) Central Volunteer - Marlene Keller, Linda Allen
(2) SW Youth - Jeff Steinmetz
(2) SW Volunteer - Cathy Steinmetz
(2) SE Youth - Vanessa Magnus, Emily Wagner
(1) SE Volunteer - Teri Nelson, Dorothy Brouwers, Rhonda Weis
(1) Extension Educator - none

Members appointed:
To "new" terms/slots:  NW-Tish Jensen ('03), SE-Vanessa Magnus ('03), and SE-Emily Wagner ('02)
To "unexpired" terms/slots:  NW-Tess DeBlieck ('04), C-Brenden Roman ('04), C-Marlene Keller ('04), SW-Jeff Steinmetz ('04), SW-Cathy Steinmetz ('04), SE-Rhonda Weis ('04)

Election of Officers for 2002
*New members that are filling vacant memberships are eligible to vote, however those filling new terms are NOT able to vote until the next meeting.
Chair - M/S/C (Cherrye/Laurie) to cast a unanimously ballot for Cathy Steinmetz.
Vice Chair - M/S/C (Vanessa/Jason) to cast a unanimously ballot for Rhonda Weis.
Secretary -  M/S/C (Marlene K./Tana) to cast a unanimously ballot for Kelly Edgar.
Treasurer - M/S/C (Rhonda/Kelly) to cast a unanimously ballot for Karl Reimer.

2002 Meeting Dates
Saturday, February 2, 2002 - 10:30 am (U of MN)
Friday, June 14, 2002 - 5:00 pm (Blue Earth in Faribault Co.)
Saturday, November 9, 2002 - 10:30 am (U of MN) - prefer St. Paul

M/S/C (Jason/Tana) to adjourn the meeting at 3:18 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Edgar, Secretary