Category: News

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 [email protected] 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.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR FAVORITE SECTION/MONTH!

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

Click HERE to view the entire message on AKC’s website!

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 — [email protected]

Dear Membership –

The Membership meeting for this quarter was originally planned for tomorrow evening, Monday, April 27th. However, with the upcoming changes to “large group” meetings coming out, we feel it is best to delay this meeting.

Key Points for you to know:

• The next membership meeting will be Virtual, with a phone call in number for those who don’t like technology, and a video conference who want to see my cute dog in my lap. It will probably be early May.
• The board will need some time to review the new restrictions and put a plan in place.
• The club IS currently in a “vacation” state, as per the usual winter break or summer break. If you are a key holder, you may go in, however, the building is very much use at your own risk. There are no promises of paper supplies, soap, courses set, and the cleaning crew has been wisely not cleaning the building.
• Expect a notification when the building will be CLOSED coming soon so that proper cleaning can be done.
• If we should happen to get a week of sunny days (spring in Ohio?!?!?) the roofers have made plans to come replace our roof.
• All trials that have been canceled have been listed on the club website calendar. Some of the secretaries have also been posting them on the “Friends of” gem city Facebook group, however, as always, this is a public group and restricted to our members, and not everyone has Facebook. Please double check via our official website when in doubt.

With the massive effort of every business to reassure that they are doing everything in their power to be safe, I chose not to add to the email chaos by emailing over and over every time a trial canceled. As president and webmaster, I was completely swamped for the first whole month with negative and disappointing news. I simply did not want to add to that chaos with more bad news, which, unfortunately, was all I had to report. I am very much looking forward to us being able to come out of this, and I am interested to see how the new landscape looks. I cannot hope to expect that all of our instructors will be willing to risk their lives to teach classes in a semi-crowded building, so brace yourselves for limited class offerings for a time.

I pray that you are all well. I have heard wonderful stories of dog friends checking on dog friends, I have seen wondrous and amazing videos posted with dogs learning new tricks. I want to continue to encourage all of this!

I am always happy to personally review applications for Trick Dog Titles from the AKC. Please just review their guidelines and let me know where to find your video.

Sit, Stay, Play SAFE!
Chris Kiefer (and the Gem City Dog Obedience Club Board)

Due to the Stay at Home order, the Earth Dog Trial scheduled for May 2-3 has been canceled.

Two volunteers are needed to treat/spray the moss growing on the white brick wall of the building near the entrance (Northcutt) and over toward the front corner of the building.  The club has a container if Wet and Forget.  The job would entail carefully reading the label, taking all necessary precautions,  purchasing a small hand sprayer, and any necessary protective equipment, (mask and gloves), deciding the best time, in the near future, to treat the moss, and using the large ladder, to accomplish the project.  Email [email protected] for a photo of the Wet and Forget label and to volunteer for the job. Kathy Roberts will reimburse the volunteers for necessary purchases.  Double hours apply.

Pam Murn