NEWS! at SpanielsInTheField.com

7.11.07 ECSCA FTC Minutes
Telephone Conference Call Meeting

Present: Vicky Thomas, Rumi Schroeder, Sue Rose, Paul McGagh , Martin Bell, Barbara Haupt, Tawney Crawford

These minutes are combined with a brief meeting held June 27th. Nancy Murphy also present at that meeting.

Vicky is investigating the possibility of including an electronic field trial entry system into Fieldcockers.com. Joe Cody has created such a program that is in use in Canada. It also includes an automatic catalog system. Buzz Benson has been asked to chair a committee to look into the Canadian programs. He, along with some other key individuals, will determine the viability of electronic entries. It would be some time before this could be implemented and it would require the complete approval of the trial giving club. Thoughts are that payment could be made through PayPal, which takes a 3% commission. The website could also take a 2% commission to help support field trial events like the NCC. The Fieldcockers website costs $120 a year that is currently being paid privately by Sue Rose. Because of its non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service, the ECSCA has not been involved with Fieldcockers.com.

The 2008 NCC judge’s ballot will include the top 8 names selected by the FTC committee. Sue Rose will assemble the final list to be sent to the owners of qualifying dogs. The ballot should be out about the first of August.

Rumi says 2007 NCC is coming along fine. Fox Valley English Cocker Spaniel Club is continually reviewing the grounds and keeping them groomed. Sue Wilson is in the process of composing the letter to send out for patrons.

Nominations for the Harold Bixby Award are now being accepted by Chairman Vicky Thomas. Committee members are asked to send their nominations to her with a letter of explanation as to why they think that person is worthy. If possible, the winner of this award is to be kept secret until the NCC Awards Banquet. If it is certain that the winner will not be at the banquet, then a special invitation should be sent. A discussion at the June meeting determined that FTC members are eligible for nomination.

Only one club has ratified the Gun Program so far however, it is possible that all the club &/or groups have not had a chance to meet since they were sent out. An observation from the general community was that a gunner should have a valid hunting license, but not necessarily from his/her home state. This is an excellent suggestion and will be changed in the final version.

Vicky brought up again her concerns about the loss of trials and would like to discuss this at the next meeting. A joint meeting between the HTC and the FTC has still not materialized but is still wanted. Nancy Murphy will continue to try and put this together.

The next telephone conference meeting will be determined by email.