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Ontario Retriever Association 2008-2010 Executive Plan & Agenda

2008-2010 Executive (Proposed 3 Year term)

President – Richard Dresser
1st Vice-President – Jim Ling
2nd Vice President – Howard Simson
Treasurer – Bill Cummings
Secretary – Darlene Broomhead

Directors – Bill Kennedy, Chris Bayles, Lee Woodhouse, Medie Robinson, Chuck Dygos, Lorne Langevin and others to be appointed as necessary.

Mission Statement (Proposed)

It is O.R.A.’s mission to promote the use of Retrievers and other breeds eligible to compete in Retriever trials to conserve game while hunting Waterfowl and Upland birds.
  1. R.A. will support clubs who host field trials and hunt tests in Ontario. We will encourage the proper training and competition of these dogs in trials and hunt tests and encourage the participation of young and handicapped competitors.
    1. R.A. will also ensure that the National Open and National Amateur will take place in Ontario by either supporting the hosting Ontario club or hosting the event.
Executives Statement:

It is the intention of this executive and board of directors to initiate & institute the following programs and agenda items in their elected term of office. All efforts will be made by all parties involved to see these items through to implementation. These are categorized by importance in the opinion of the executive based on the comments and suggestions brought forward by attendees of the O.R.A. meeting held October 19th 2008 in Tottenham Ontario. It is the executives opinion that the implementation of these projects will help in the final goal of keeping Nationals hosted in Ontario by strengthening all Ontario field trial clubs through increased membership, stronger financial positions and possibly the acquisition of additional grounds for Field trial club use. Obviously, not all suggestions brought forward at the meeting are possible to tackle all at once, but the executive feels that we have covered a broad range of items and future executives may choose to proceed with further items at later dates.


Agenda Items:

  1. Judges Seminars – We believe that through the education of our judging pool through seminars, the game can be improved and kept somewhat consistent resulting in better testing which in turn should lead to better retention of newcomers to the game. The executive intends to implement a series of seminars which will be free of charge to any member of O.R.A. in good standing, and open to non-members at a nominal fee which will include membership to O.R.A. The first seminar is in planning now and will be held in April of 2009 at Tiny Marsh in Elmvale, Ontario. It is the executives intention to have a panel of 3 very experienced and respected AA judges as well as a moderator from O.R.A. set up a FT test scenario and run a small group of dogs through the test, then go indoors to a classroom set up for discussion of the results with the attendees and comments from the panel as well as discussion of relations of the results to the rule book. O.R.A. President Richard Dresser & 1st VP Jim Ling will head up the committee overseeing this important project and seek input from other experienced FT judges and competitors in developing these seminars. Hopefully, some video and audio can be collected at the first series of seminars eventually being developed into an A/V presentation and manual for future seminars.
  1. Communications – We further believe that opening the lines of communications between O.R.A., the R.A.C. & C.K.C. will help to strengthen the FT game, as well as communications between all Ontario clubs, FT & HT. It is the belief of the executive that O.R.A. director Bill Kennedy will be very beneficial in the task of maintaining the mandatory judges test implemented by the C.K.C. as he is involved in the R.A.C. Through the implementation of a website for O.R.A. we hope to help better the scheduling and timing of the Ontario FT circuit, implement a judges directory to assist in clubs acquiring judges, track & post high point Ontario dogs, plus any other projects members may want such as classified ads.
  1. Promote the game – Through a Provincial Amateur Championship to be held annually in Ontario which will be open to any Ontario retriever that has placed in an AA stake or placed 1st in a Qualifying stake at an Ontario field trial, handled by an amateur who resides in Ontario, in the 12 months preceding the event. We are also investigating the feasibility of a hybrid FT/HT event which will also be open to any Ontario retriever that has passed a CKC Master or UKC Finished test in Ontario, handled by an amateur who resides in Ontario, in the 12 months preceding the event. This would help to bring the FT and HT world together and strengthen both programs through possible cross participation at weekend events for both programs. Plans are underway for the first of these events to be held in August 2009 at a location to be announced under the guidance of FT chair Bill Cummings (O.R.A. treasurer) and FT secretary Darlene Broomhead (O.R.A. secretary). We would also like to help Ontario clubs self promote through the organizing of retriever demonstrations at outdoor events and development of a booth and possibly literature for member clubs to use at these events. There exists trophies for high point Ontario dogs and we would like to track these down or replace them and re-institute the tracking and posting of top Ontario dogs and present these trophies every year at a banquet preceding the Provincial Amateur Championship.
Financials:

The O.R.A. currently has a small bank balance of $530.00 attained through donations at the first meeting which will suffice until we can attain the memberships of all Ontario clubs and some individuals not associated with a club. Some fund raising is also possible to help finance these projects as well as the possible sponsorship of some corporate entities in the future. Without the commitment of Ontario clubs through membership and involvement in O.R.A., these projects will not be possible. These funds will allow O.R.A. to acquire necessary insurance and cover the operational expenses through the short term.

Membership Structure:

We propose the following structure and fees for O.R.A. membership:

Club membership - $100.00 annually. Includes 5 votes on any O.R.A. agenda item brought forth as a motion at the Annual General meeting, or as deemed necessary by the executive at any time, and any club members attendance at O.R.A. hosted judges seminars

Family membership - $35.00. Includes 1 vote on any O.R.A. agenda item brought forth as a motion at the Annual General meeting, or as deemed necessary by the executive at any time, and attendance at O.R.A. hosted judges seminars by any direct family member (spouse or child)

Individual membership - $20.00. Includes 1 vote on any O.R.A. agenda item brought forth as a motion at the Annual General meeting, or as deemed necessary by the executive at any time, and attendance at O.R.A. hosted judges seminars


In Closing:

It is the intention of this executive to bring to reality the wants and needs of the FT community as communicated to us at the first meeting of the current O.R.A. In order to do this, we need the full support of all Ontario FT clubs through membership in this organization. We take seriously the faith that the FT community has put in us to get this association off the ground and are very willing to take on these tasks as well as the behind the scenes efforts required such as developing a constitution and all paperwork necessary for this association to thrive. We will make ourselves available for any input from members on any issue we may need to become involved in and will do what is necessary to keep Nationals in Ontario when no club will come forward to host it.


None of this can happen without funds and funds will not be available without club memberships, so please join and get involved.

Your O.R.A. executive.
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