Our freestyle committee has elected to host the annual trial in July. There will be fewer entries, and TONS of social distancing, with a total of about 40 people in the entire building!
Gloves and masks will be provided, and we need HELP! Spectators will not be able to sit in the room and watch, so your only chance to see world class level freestyle competition in Ohio is to VOLUNTEER!
We are excited that some of you are back earning titles on your dogs (safely, we hope!).
The form to submit titles for your dogs is now available on the website. Please note, we have radically changed the submission form this year. No more check boxes! Just type the venue and title you earned into the box along with your personal information and the dog’s info! In the long term, this should make sorting and searching to see if you submitted the title and forgot that you did easier!
Both the submission form and the list of what has been submitted are currently available from the membership login area, just look for the Submit 2020 titles box after you’ve logged in, it’s under the list of board members. The form to submit does NOT require a log in, however, the link to view the submission (with email addresses and names) is a restricted page and you must log in to view it.
As many of you know, we have been in contract to have a new roof put on for over a year now. With the tornadoes devastating so many homes and businesses, we politely agreed that the roofers had more important locations to take care of. Last night we got word that our roofers (Miami Valley Construction Services) will be at our location starting as early as tomorrow (Wednesday)! We are very excited to be able to remove the buckets from our rafters! Replacing the roof could take up to a week.
Our board met earlier this month, and we talked about many other exciting things. As you have all been made aware, we are getting ready to dip our toes back in to classes. Please try to remain understanding as we limit class sizes, limit the number of classes available, and look for new instructors. This also means that in some cases, we will be using the great outdoors for our classes at the Land. We are currently on summer break per our schedule, and to save on cooling costs, have opted to keep that same summer schedule for the most part.
As a board, we also discussed Volunteer hours. Look for creative ways for everyone to be able to gain volunteer hours in a future email.
Many of you have been worrying about our finances. I’m pleased to announce that our treasurer is NOT as worried as many of you are! We may be asking members to pay member price rather than use vouchers for a couple sessions, but do not anticipate a large financial hardship due to having to cancel classes and trials at this time. We will let you know if we need this type of assistance in the future.
Many of you have been going to Facebook to gain information. I know that this seems like an easy way to ask questions, but please remember, the “Friends of Gem City” Facebook group is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. It is not restricted to only club members, and does not always contain the most up to date information or the best path to reach the answers you are looking for. Our website gcdoc.com is kept up to date with the most recent trail cancellations, premiums, and information about classes restarting.
You can log in to our website at any time to gain access to being able to send an email to our Sunshine Chair. Maybe you know someone in the club who has lost a pet or close family member. Please use the form on the website to contact the sunshine chair so they can send out a card to that club member.
We are in an ever shifting world with the pandemic, and much of this is subject to change if Ohio should happen to shut down again. Please continue to play safely with your furry friends, and be polite with providing distance and safety precautions for others who may not be as fortunate as you in their health. I think we can all agree that we want Ohio to STAY OPEN!
Chris Kiefer
President & Webmaster
Gem City Dog Obedience Club
The Agility classes will be doing a shortened “soft opening” for the students who were already in an upper level class beginning June 29. If you were in a class you will be contacted by Maggie Melton with a registration form. This session WILL NOT include the foundation or beginner series classes, since they may require closer contact with a student.
This shortened session is to see how our Covid 19 protocols will work and if we need to change anything.
Session 4 will start August 10 for our regular 7 weeks. Our class numbers will be more limited, so that we will only need 1 instructor for the near future. As this shortened session nears the end we will evaluate whether we will have the beginner levels in session 4.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during our restart growing pains.
Sherri Heizer, Agility DOT
Classes will resume session 4 starting the week of Aug 10. Registration
will open on line the week of July 20th. We will have a few classes at the
land and when times are firmed up I will get a list out so you can plan.
Our intention is to offer classes that our members want to take, such as,
Rally Obedience, Freestyle and Novice Obedience. We are also offering a
CGCA/CGCU titling class.
It has also been suggested that we offer members
an opportunity to earn the rally novice virtual title. If you are
interested in using the clubs rally signs and space at the club to video for
this title please contact me at myeltneb@aol.com or text 937-838-6042. We
will assist with set up and reserve the building for you, you will need to
provide the videographer and trained dog. There will be a $20 fee, for 20
minutes of ring time (does not include set up time), that will be put toward
building improvements.
Pamela Murn
Director of Obedience
Gem City Dog Obedience Club
There is still some work to be accomplished, removing trash trees and
honeysuckle around Northcutt. Need exercise? Need hours? The job entails
use of your own cutting equipment. You will need large loppers, or a
pruning saw, a small chain saw would be wonderful. Starting at the rear of
the building brush needs to be cleared from the hillside around the
building. Herbicide to treat the stumps will be provide by Gem City. The
process is to cut the brush flush with the ground and immediately treat the
stump, thus clearing the hillside for future mowing. Brush can be stacked
on the pavement such as not to interfere with the dumpster or future eating
of the dumpster. A plan to remove the brush piles will be needed. This job
entitles the workers to double hours. Bring a buddy and practice social
distancing for safety. Contact Pam Murn myeltneb@aol.com or text
937-838-6042.
Pamela Murn
Director of Obedience
Gem City Dog Obedience Club
Opportunity for Volunteer Hours:
Join the “Trash Brigade Gems!”
Tidy our club property on the outside:
– You select your time to tidy (even though the Club is in “Break mode,” the accumulating trash did not receive the memo).
-Choose your preferred section (see the map) and sign up online, in the Volunteer Opportunities section.
-Sections should tidy quickly but you will receive 1 hour credit for the effort!
-We ask for a 1 month commitment (work around your schedule) and tidy approximately every 2 weeks.
– Any dog messes go in our “potty cans” and trash sacks can come into the club if it is open. The dumpster is kept locked so, if no one has the building open, please take the trash home with you.
-Text your “tidying” date, name and section to Cathy Wright at 937-409-0881; She will report your hours.
* Please tidy with a friend (a family member will also earn credit for you!). Please practice Social Distancing at all times. Wear gloves to protect hands from trash and boots when damp. You do not need to go under any overhanging brush!
This program runs from May 1, 2020 to November 1, 2020 (or until revised by the Board of GCDOC).
Section A: South side of building and around to back stairs (often needs boots)
Section B: Front of building (beds and steps) and parking lot to street
Section C: North side of building (flagpole to back) and parking lot on that side
Section D: Back of building on top level (around dumpster and to cemetery) and parking lot on that side.
Need hours, need exercise? Brush, trash trees, and honeysuckle bushes, need to be removed from around the Northcutt building. The job entails use of your own cutting equipment. You will need large loppers, or a pruning saw, a small chain saw would be wonderful. Starting at the rear of the building brush needs to be cleared from the hillside around the building. Herbicide to treat the stumps will be provide by Gem City. The process is to cut the brush flush with the ground and immediately treat the stump, thus clearing the hillside for future mowing. Brush can be stacked on the pavement such as not to interfere with the dumpster or future eating of the dumpster. A plan to remove the brush piles will be needed. This job entitles the workers to double hours. Bring a buddy and practice social distancing for safety. Contact Pam Murn myeltneb@aol.com or text 937-838-6042.
Pam Murn
A message from AKC Below:
AKC Rally® Novice Virtual Pilot Program
During this time of necessary social distancing, we want to give our beginner AKC Rally® exhibitors a reason to continue training their dogs and to stay engaged with the sport of Rally. The AKC Rally Novice Virtual pilot program will provide these exhibitors an opportunity to stay-at-home and enter an AKC Rally® event.
The pilot program is designed to have a Rally Novice competitor set up a pre-designed AKC Rally® course in the safety of their own yard, record the performance and submit it to AKC. In turn, AKC will assign a pre-selected AKC Rally Judge to virtually review and score the team’s Rally performance.
AKC will have five pre-designed official rally courses published on the AKC website for the exhibitor to choose from. The exhibitor will follow the setup instructions provided, video the performance, upload the video to YouTube, set the required YouTube viewing options, and submit the video link with the entry form and fee to AKC.
Once the required information is received, and the dog’s records are verified for class eligibility, the video link will be assigned to a judge for review. The judge will score the team’s performance and will provide a report to AKC. All qualifying scores will be recorded on the dog’s AKC record and applied toward the Rally Novice title requirements. AKC will notify exhibitors of the results of their submission.
This pilot program will end at midnight December 31, 2020 and all video submissions must be received by that date and time. We are excited to offer this virtual option to our Rally Novice exhibitors!
See Program Information Here
If you have questions after reviewing the information, please write to Rally@akc.org.
I certainly hope that everyone is doing ok and staying healthy and home!
We have a very large membership and many folks we seldom hear from. And Kathy Roberts would like to organize a group of willing volunteers check in on our members.
Please let her know if you are willing to call about 10 members to make sure everyone is ok and not in need of help or supplies (see contact information below). We need to take care of our family!
If you’re willing to make some calls, please let Kathy know and she will divide the membership directory up so there’s no duplication. If someone else would like to spearhead this she will happily turn it over to you and provide calling support.
Stay home and if you must go out please wear a mask over your nose and mouth and follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing. I know it sounds somewhat trite, but this comes from the heart. “We are all in this together!”
Call or text 937-750-9000 (Please leave name if you are texting) OR email — katmoose@prodigy.net