Effective January 01, 2005, Bogdan Sergo is once again approved to officiate at USA events. He is no longer an official of the WDA and still retains his SVF ( SV Foreign Judge ) Judge's license.

   Mark  F.  Przybylski
  USA  Director  of  Judges

Congratulations to our 2004 National Champion,  Wallace Payne and his dog Merlin  ... Wallace had outstanding performances in all 3 phases with a 294 final score ... please join me in congratulating Wallace and Merlin on their championship!   2nd place was Gary Hanrahan and Bastin.  Again, congratulations!  Also we had a total of 15 competitors from the Southeast region and I would like to offer my congratulations to them for many wonderful performances and outstanding sportsmanship ...  Lisa Jaquin and Agar, Lewis Lundy and Henk, Martin Gnyp and Zarko, Joni Gnyp and Yel, Eric Eisenberg and Zillion, Nona Luth and Kimmi, Butch England and Wulf, Gary and Bastin, Pam Hanrahan and Ali, Ray Beaty and Lery, Ray Jeffers and Brix (also a youth award winner) Harry Hamilton and Maik, Wallace and Merlin, Robin Ayling and Yavo. Thank you Southeast region competitors! ...  A congratulation also to Arthur Collins, who was one of the four helpers chosen for the event. That is quite an honor!

Also a few additional notes: We had 11 delegates seated for the General Board and the final meeting minutes should be available on USA website soon …Officers were reelected with a new secretary, and we offer our congratulations to Jim Elder and his board. 

National events for next year include the AWDF championship,  April 1,  Nashville ... North American,  April 30 weekend,  Fayetteville … Sieger show, late May early June, Reno  ... Nationals,  November.  Gilroy California ... We are also in the process of scheduling a youth trial in the southeast region in early March ... and our Regional championships are also on the schedule for '05 ... Please email me if you have questions and good wishes for a happy upcoming holiday season! 

Vicki

Vice-President- Lyle Roetemeyer 

Secretary - Sara Wallick 

Treasurer - Bill Plumb 

Director of Judges - Mark Przybylski 

National Breed Warden - Karen McIntyre 

Executive Board Members at Large:   (4 positions)
· Terry Macias 
· Al Govednik 
· Howie Rodriguez 
· Mike Hamilton 
· 
Board of Inquiry:  (5 positions & 2 alternates)
· John Koerner, Chair
· Jeff Lawless 
·   Richard Quinn
·   Heather Grey 
· Michelle Scarberry 
.      Jeff Pomeroy - alternate
.      Tom Shaftoe - alternate

USA Judge for Judges Committee - Floyd Wilson

Auditing Committee: 
· Kay Koerner 
· Kris Taves 
· Gordy Esselman

World Championship Committee:  (4 positions)
· Lisa Jacquin
· Howie Rodriguez 
· Gary Hanrahan 
· Thomas Vollrath 

Vicki 

 Results E-ballot #30-04 (2005 Passing Score Requirement)

Motion by Lyle Roetemeyer, seconded by Al Govednik to defer indefinitely, the adoption of the 2005 requirement of a passing score at a Regional Championship to participate at the GSD National Championship. Motion Passed.

VOTE: Yes-17, NFD-2 

To the best of my knowledge, this is an accurate tabulation of the votes in E-ballot #30-04.

Regards,

Diane
 
 
 

9-30-04 Note from Regional Director Vicki Keller

SE region clubs…I will be at the WUSV from Oct 6-13,  if you need anything please contact Arthur….Also I hope everyone has made arrangements to send delegates to the General Board meeting in November ….if you need help please let me know…as you know this is an important election year for selecting officers.  You should receive your board materials soon…please study the issues and discuss with your clubs…thanks

Vicki 
 

9-22-04 From Vicki Keller: 
Regional Championship Date Change Proposed

The host club for the 2005 regional championship would like to request a date change from February  to Sept. 30 and Oct. 1-2 with the same judges, Al Kerr and Nathaniel Roque ... each club has one vote, and votes are due by Oct. 6, 2004.   This is for our regional championship next year…thank you,  and the majority of votes cast decides the vote… 
***
Just to clarify a potential issue with moving our championship date….

The executive board has voted in the past week not to allow any regional championships on the dates of the WUSV or FCI…I do not know those dates for next year so I do not know if WUSV would affect our regional championship or not….but that ruling has to be approved by the General Board and that vote will not take place until November….there will also be an additional motion for the general board to offer waivers for the international team members with the stipulation that they must show at the HOT or North American in place of a regional championship in which case we do not need the motion to avoid the international event weekends…our region has been very fortunate in the past to have 4-5 members from our region who participated in these events each year and this year we have 2 members…Gary and Wallace…and they both participated in the NA so it seems workable that the vast majority of our members would still be able to participate in our regional championship and our international participants would also be eligible to go to the nationals….there is also a motion to allow North American or HOT scores to count as regional participation for entry into the nationals…so that is the current situation…lots of if’s and not many weekends in the fall that are available given our heat factor in the south….probably about 6 given that no trials are held in the 2 weeks preceeding our nationals…and if we take out for the WUSV and FCI…that leaves us about 4 possible dates and we have not even begun to consider all our football teams….I could not begin to host a regionals on a UT football weekend here…. there are 110,000 fans in town….

That’s the scoop….thanks…I will be at Butch’s this weekend so if you need information it will be Sunday evening before I get back to you.
 

9-9-04 News updates from Vicki Keller

For those competitors planning to enter the Nationals in Nashville … blind search starts to the handler's left and tracking is hay fields, which will be cut and baled by Oct. 1.

The FCI was cancelled by the French government as there was a rabid dog that came in to the country last month from Morocco …you can check the AWDF site for more information…

Hope everyone is recovering from Frances!
 
 

9-6-04 Results E-ballot #25-04 (Tattoo Variance)

Motion by Mark Przybylski seconded by John Oliver that the VDH requirement for having a tattoo or microchip on your dog is not required at local events only.  Effective January 1, 2005 all entries to our championships (Regional and National) are required to be tattooed or microchipped. Owners of dogs that are micro-chipped are responsible for providing the necessary equipment for the identity check. Motion Passed

Vote: Yes-15, No-1 , NFD-3 Abstain-1, No Response-1 
 
 

Executive Board: Regional participation may be waived for '04 Nationals

8-30-04 - Member clubs…The executive board has just passed a request to offer waivers for the regional championship requirement for entry in the 04 national championship.  If you would like to request a waiver please email me with your reasons for requesting a waiver…you still have to meet the 270 entry requirement at a club trial…I would like to get these waivers done in the next few weeks so there is no confusion when it comes time to send in entries….this is a one time deal in my opinion and at the general board we will be discussing these requirements and whether the North American, HOT, or FCI/WUSV participation could be substituted for a regional participation…so be thinking about that for next year…

Also the board passed a budget amendment granting 3,000 to the host club of the 05 North American…so if anyone is interested please let me know….of course several clubs can share the hosting responsibilities…

Have a great holiday!

Vicki 
 
 
 
 

  Fall Southeastern Regional Championship idea found not feasible

From Regional Director Vicki Keller

8-8-2004 - There will not be an additional fall regional championship. I was informed this week that it would require executive board approval, a process that requires at least 2 weeks.  Even if approved, this delay does not allow enough time to secure a judge, ask for approval, post a three-week notification and secure necessary helpers, tracklayers and volunteers and to avoid previously scheduled trials.  I would like to thank all the clubs for their support; we had positive votes from 14 member clubs (6 did not respond).  Also I would like to thank our president Jim Elder for his support and best of luck to our members who are traveling to the mideastern region to qualify their dogs for the nationals…

Thank you,
Vicki 

7-17-04 - There are murmurings at the executive board level that it might be possible for the southeast to host an additional regional competition … I need to know our competitors' feelings on this topic … please let me know if you are for, against, or indifferent to the idea. The month would be September and the location is as yet undetermined. This event would benefit those who were unable to show at the Feb regionals due to injury, sickness, new dog or other reasons (new baby) Please let me know ASAP, as if we are to host an event it will need to be pulled together rather quickly. Thanks. Also,  if you are willing to host the event, please indicate. 

Vicki 

7-2-04 Southeast region clubs…please review the attached rescue dog program and let me know your views as I would like to vote accordingly … as always, I hope you are enjoying a great summer and great training … also please be reminded that each club is invited to send a representative to Mike Caputo’s seminar how to maximize your points at no cost on July 31 ... the seminar is free at no cost to clubs but you must pre-register by email to me ... again details are on the website  ... Mike will also discuss the new rules and that is always helpful ... I look forward to seeing all our clubs represented … it would also be a good idea to reserve your rooms in Gadsden soon as there is always something going on in terms of river festivals at that time of year ... thanks. 

Vicki 
 

6-23-04 Motion by John Oliver seconded by Vicki Keller:

USA encourages and supports sportsmanship and camaraderie among all USA members; however local clubs reserve their right to refuse entries at their events.  In the interest of good sportsmanship, entries should not be unreasonably denied.

The exception to this rule will apply to the host club for national and regional events where the right of refusal rests with the sponsoring organization.  National Events are: USA National Championship. North American and FH Championship and Regional Championships. 
MOTION PASSED
VOTE: Yes-9, No-8, NFD-1, No Response-3

(Clarification: this modifies 1986 wording, which read as follows:

1986 EBM Sacramento 10/24

Clubs right to refuse trial entries: A club can refuse any entry except for the host club for national events where the right of refusal rests with the sponsoring organization. National Events are: National Championship, SchHIII Tournament/North American, FH Championship, Regional Championship, and Zone Trials. )

From Regional Director Vicki Keller: Input sought on board question

A question has come before the board and I would like input from our members ... then if a vote comes I can vote according to your feelings ...

A member of USA was denied entry to a trial ... it was a personal issue not the trial being full etc ...our current rulebook states that all USA members have the right to enter trials ... we also have a policy that states that individual clubs can refuse entries ... so it appears we need to resolve this … also many trials are held on private property and there is a strong sentiment that property owners can refuse or invite who they want on their property … please discuss this with your club members and let me know your feelings …

Vicki

Mid-eastern region championship can be a nationals qualifier
From Regional Director Vicki Keller: 
For those members who need a regional competition to enter the nationals … the mid-eastern region has agreed to change their trial to a 3-day trial to accommodate our members who did not get to show in our February regionals due to various circumstances … 

The trial is Labor day weekend and Walter Hoffmann is the judge.

It is my understanding that Kelly will use the trial scoresheet results to determine whether the dog is eligible for the nationals … if the dog is listed on the scoresheet then the entry will be accepted ...

If you have suggestions on next year's qualification process and please email me ...

Vicki 

Input sought on recent regional  helper seminars

Southeast region USA clubs….To develop our fall education events we would like your opinions of the last 2 helper seminars (September 03 and February 04 at the regional championship).  Please respond if you attended or were on the helper committee that presented the seminars…if you would like to send your responses without identifying information, please mail to  830 Bluff Drive Knoxville TN 37919 or you can reply via email…  thank you in advance for your time…the following clubs sent representatives so I need answers from these clubs!

Carolina

CASC

Chattahoochee

Coastal Carolina

Georgia-lina

GASA

Jacksonville

Nature Coast

Piedmont

Raleigh

Seminole

South Metro 

Please rate the past 2 helper seminars….This will greatly assist in planning future events that best serve you and your clubs

1= poor 3 =average 5 =excellent 

1. seminar leaders
2. location and facility 
3. content(the skills that were covered) 
4. my improvement as a result of the seminar 
5. the individual attention I received 
6. What did you enjoy most about the seminar? 
7. What did you think should have been omitted or left out? 
8. What changes would you suggest? 
9. What location would you suggest for Fall 04 seminars 
10. What topics or content would you suggest for Fall 04 seminars? 
 

Thank you Thank you

Vicki 

I am pleased to announce that Arthur Collins is our new Assistant Regional Director….Please join me in welcoming him to the position.  Thank you Arthur! 

Have a good weekend and wonderful spring dog training….also please plan to attend this year’s nationals in Nashville…it is an election year and I am counting on the majority of our clubs showing and voting!

The following clubs need to schedule trials for 2004…

Asheville 
Carolina 
Nature Coast 
Piedmont 
Hundesport of Florida(former Spirit) 
Triangle 
We currently have 20 clubs and one club in the affiliation process…

Vicki Keller, Regional Director

From Arthur Collins, Assistant Regional Director:
Hello
        I would like to thank the Southeast Region for electing me as their Assistant Regional Director. I am honored and look forward to the challenges. My goal is to provide  invaluable assistance to the Regional Director  and continue to maintain our region's reputation. I would also like to special thank Vicki Keller who showed nothing but outstanding support.

Thanks 
SFC Arthur Collins 
ACofS G6 COMSEC 
396-6405 
dawgkop@yahoo.com 
 
 

From Regional Director Vicki Keller

A few announcements…

1. Mountain Empire Schutzhund club(Jim Hall) will be hosting a club trial on June 26 with Carla Griffith as the judge.  This trial will be held 16 miles north of Knoxville TN and will be limited to 12 Schutzhund dogs and 6 BH dogs….Tracking will be hay fields and will be cut 6 weeks before the trial…Entries are first come basis….

2. Jefferson-St Clair will be hosting a trial July 31 with Mike Caputo as judge….again entries will be limited as it is a night trial for obedience and protection…Mike is also hosting a  seminar for our region clubs on maximizing trial points…it is free for each club in the southeast to send a representative and 35.00 for additional club members….reservations are required…

3.  Entry forms for both trials are on canine concepts website, www.canineconcepts.com
Click here for Mt. Empire trial entry form
Click here for Jefferson-St. Clair trial entry form
4.  I have not received an nominations for assistant regional director position.  If I do not receive any nominations by May 5 I will make an appointment until elections are held in FEB 05…Thanks very much

And I would like to thank everyone who helped make the North Americans such a success…we had great representation from our region…The host clubs…South Metro and Greater Atlanta….Front Half helper Tracy Betenbaugh and alternate Ray Jeffers…all our track layers….Jerry Wilkins …Bill McClure….our tracking coordinator Floyd Wilson…. and Butch England was always seen helping

All our competitors from the southeast….and anyone that I have forgotten…please be assured your efforts are deeply appreciated!

Thank you

Vicki 

4-19-04  Floyd Wilson resigns as Assistant RD
Southeastern Region: Please see the following message from Floyd and join me in thanking him and wishing him all the best in his new region.

Also send me your nominations for assistant regional director  by May 5, and we will vote on a new assistant RD by May 15. 

Thank you very much.

Vicki 

From Floyd Wilson:
After joining the NE Region, I resign as Southeastern Assistant Regional  Director.  Please make this effective as of 4/14/04.
The reason we joined NE Region is because it is so hard to train for the Regionals in the Southeast because of the weather.
Thanks
Floyd Wilson

Please note that the following positions are up for election in November ... if you are interested in serving, please contact me by email and I will make sure that the nominating committee has your name and can follow up ... We need your help!

Vicki Keller, Regional Director 

2004 ELECTIONS

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Director of Judges

National Breed Warden

Executive Board Members at Large (4)

Judges Committee (1 USA judge)

Board of Inquiry (5)

World Championship Committee (4)

Auditing Committee (3)

4-3-04 Rulebook changes now available 
I have rulebook changes now and if anyone bought a rulebook from me last year I will be happy to sent them the updated changes. There is no charge for the updated new rule changes. Just email me with your address.

3-10-04 Note from Regional Director Vicki Keller
I hope everyone has received their magazine and has had a chance to read the wonderful article on Floyd.  Please join me in congratulating Floyd and Bobbie and adding all our best wishes and thank yous …

As has been said by Team Bama …we will always remember long tracks …big gunfire ... and long courage tests!  Thanks for the memories! 

Also our newest club is hosting their affiliation trial this weekend … Please join me in welcoming Bill McClure, Marcus Roseman and their fellow club members of Georgia-lina  Schutzhund Club…We look forward to their continuing support and participation in our regional and national events…

2-24-04 Message from USA Director of Judges

Subject: re: BH Test 

To quell any rumors, the USA Judges have a copy of the BH written examination that USA will be using to meet the requirements that we follow SV trial rules. 

The judges will administer the test at all trials starting March 01, 2004.   The only people that need take this test are those that have no former trial experience.   For those that say they are exempt, they must have proof that they have shown in a trial before.

The test itself is but 20 questions and they are fairly easy, if you know the routine and the rules covering the BH, there will be no problem with the test whatsoever.

It can be done in 10 minutes without much effort at all, an individual may miss 6 out of the 20 and still score a passing 70%.   There are no questions on dog laws as they vary from state to state, nor are there questions on breeding, nutrition or the health of dogs.   This test was put together by the late John Mulligan and he did a very nice job and insured that it was most definitely passable. 

First-time handlers must pass the BH written examination to continue on to the practical part of the B title. 

As I said above, the USA Judges will start administering the test on March 01, 2004, so the first time anyone would see this test will be the weekend of March 06 / 07, 2004. 

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me about them. 

The office does not have the test so please do not bother them with your questions, please let all of your clubs know the facts and also tell them they have nothing to worry about. 

                                                                                  Mark  F.  Przybylski
                                                                               USA  Director  of  Judges

From Vicki Keller: 

Please let me know if your club is interested in hosting the schutzhund regional championship in 2005 ( wealso will be voting  to move the event to a later time in the calendar) or a regional conformation championship in 2004 or 2005…We will be voting at the regional meeting on Saturday night February 21….thank you.

Vicki 

Tracking
 

• Size and material of the articles must be strictly enforced.

• In SchH1 and SchH2 it is possible to place first article upon judges instruction on first track leg.

• Numbering of articles is not necessary for local club trials.

• Command “Such” only at the start and after the articles. Repetition of the command as well as praising during tracking is not allowed. 

Obedience

SchH 1 – 3

• Report off leash.

• Top of 1 meter jump has to be steady, (No broom or flip-flop). 

• Check weight on dumbbells.

• It is not allowed to use your own dumbbells. Only dumbbells provided by hosting club are allowed.

• In the go ahead exercise the command “platz” only upon the judges signal. 

Protection

• Marking  the trial place for the different exercises is absolutely necessary even in local trial. 

• In the blind search only the same command during entire exercise, either “voran” or “revier”. Using one command on certain blinds and another one at other blinds is not allowed.

• Place of handler during blind search in SchH1 is between blind 4 and 5. In SchH2 place is between blind 3 and 4. 

• After the exercise bark and hold the dog needs to be called to heel. Only in SchH1 it is still allowed to pick up the dog.

• The protection routine needs to be terminated when the dog can not be called out of the blind with 3 commands.

• In the attack after the escape the dog will not be driven towards the handler.

• The disarming of the helper is done without helper raising his arms.

• Handler does not go with dog behind blind in the “long bite”, but will send dog from marked point. 

Judges can only use the new judges form.
 

Please get your entries in for the southeast regionals ASAP.  Entries close in 2 weeks and the catalog will be exceptional with dog’s pedigree (include with your entry) and dog/handler photo (include with your entry).  Click here for latest trial information

Please help us make this event the best ever!  Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation!

Vicki Keller

PS  tracking is looking great!

 *****
Just a reminder about the helper seminar to be held Friday before the regionals …  As we did in the fall, each club can send a helper and we will pay a small stipend to each club ($50) for the helper to attend the seminar.  The seminar will take place Friday at the field below the stadium and will review briefly the material covered in Asheville and also continue with the escape bite, frontal attacks and new rule changes for schutzhund.  Please let me know who from your club will be attending.  Helper tryouts will follow the seminar.  Thank you in advance for your help.  Please let me know by Feb. 10 who will be attending from your club.

Vicki 

All Southeast region clubs ... please make this change on your scoresheets ... all trial participants must  have USA scorebooks…and the handler must be a member of USA, AWDF, or DVG. This is my interpretation of the following … as always if you have questions, email me.  Click here for the formal announcement.

Vicki Keller, Regional Director

From Diane Madigan, USA Secretary

Board,

Per Mark Przybylski, please advise all clubs that the rules for required membership for entry to all USA events must be enforced.  Trial Secretaries should amend their club's entry forms to include this information. Membership numbers should be placed on all judge's sheets.  Exact wording regarding this rule can be found on page 5 of the current rulebook.

From our current rulebook page 5:

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:

Events are open to all entrants having correct score books.  (USA or USA certified only) 

Participants in an officially scheduled USA sanctioned event may be any dog handler who can show for himself and for the dog's owner (if the handler is not the owner), proof of current valid membership in a VDH or FCI-recognized club or organization.  For those residing in the US, this includes membership in USA, DVG, and all other AWDF member clubs. 

Regards,

Diane Madigan, USA Secretary

1-4-04 Input sought from regional members on education program needs

USA is currently working on a member-education program. I would like input from our member clubs on the types of activities that would be most useful in developing dog-training skills for all USA members.  Please ask your club members to answer the following questions, and return to me via email or fax,  865 522 2149.
 

1. What area of Schutzhund should be the training priority ... tracking, obedience or protection? 
2. What is your current training goal and how much time do you spend each week with dog training? 
3. What method of dog-training education do you prefer ... books and videos ... seminars ... local training with your club training director? 
4. Do you support the concept of asking club training directors to attend seminars and then share information with club members by video tape or other methods?
5. Would you consider your primary training methods motivational or force based?
6. Would you rather have USA members as seminar leaders, or SV or Belgian seminar leaders? 
7. How far would you travel to seminars and how often? 
8. Would you utilize a lending library of dog-training books and DVDs if they were available to the regional clubs? 
9. How could the organization best prepare members for trials … would mock trials or run-throughs with practice judges be of benefit to members? 

Thank you for your time!