Deb Motley is our outgoing President and she wrote a letter to all of us on her departure.
Greetings Members,
IRDTC is unique to Northern Minnesota. We are the only club north of Duluth that offers the public and our members so much. Our year end banquet is cause for reflection and as I was preparing for this day I looked back over the past years and some of the changes in the club since I have been around:
- The club has held yearly banquets since 1967, originally they were held in December and then moved to January finally to February as titles earned ends December 31 and the banquet committee needed time to verify and to have awards made.
- We have continued to evolve from a strict obedience club to having members involved in many dog activities. In 1999 we had 24 members, there were 4 therapy dog certified, 9 CGC’s, 4 CD’s, and 6 champions. In 2000 awarded 4 Agility titles, 4 CD’s, 1 CDX, 7 champions, 1 CGC and 4 Therapy awards (first time honoring agility titles). 2001 started honoring Earthdog, Hunting and Field awards as well as all members received a year end gift. In 2005 the club added Rally titles to year end awards.
- We have moved from the Miner’s Memorial building, after >30 years, to our own space at the mall. We have acquired heavy duty mats for the mall and acquired light weight mats so the club can have matches or trials anywhere.
- Members have also come and gone, we honor those Lifetime members that are still with us; Jean Jasinsky, Vivian Prlina, Jane Lehtinen, Bernie Ring, and Bruce Nettleton.
- Bylaws and policies have evolved as our class participants, they now receive dog information from the internet and are much more informed about dogs (though not always correct information). These participants are also have higher expectations of the people want to train various breeds that do not respond well to “compulsion” training. Thus the change in types of collars, leashes, and training styles.
- So we offer more classes-Star Puppy, Advanced Beginners, Tricks and Manners, Games, Agility for Fun, Competition classes, and skijoring in addition to our regular Puppy, Beginner’s, Intermediate and Advanced class.
- We have gone from only members teaching classes, have hired teachers, and again have members who are being mentored to teach classes.
- E-mail has taken over our method of communication. The written newsletter has gone in favor of a website.
- Seminars are being held regularly to update members on latest topics rather than having members leave the area to learn.
- In 2010 we have over 60 members, had 28 members with titles, 6 therapy dogs, 5 CGC certificates.
This is my last letter as President and it has been my pleasure to help guide the club. I want to thank all of you for a great experience, but now it is time for me to focus on my dogs and not on the day-to-day running of the club. Thanks to the Board of Directors and Officers, it is because you have dedicated countless hours of your time and talents that has allowed IRDTC to have these successes.
To the members I say get involved, it is your club and it relies on you to be involved to continue.
So I leave you in good hands as I know Penny will do a wonderful job as President. She and the Board will count of you, as I did, to be involved.
“Thank you for the good times,
The days you filled with pleasure.
Thank you for fond memories,
And for feelings I’ll always treasure.” by Karl Fuchs
Deb Motley