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Region 18 Membership Meeting Minutes

 

 Region 18 Winter Membership Meeting

Region 18 Officers present:  President - Andrew Helgerson, Vice President (WI) - Josh Stenseth, Vice President (MN) - Chris Cichosz, Secretary – Nicole Rasmussen.

 

Region 18 Trustees present: David Pavlak, Todd Maas.

 

National Officers present: Jason Brodt.

 

Meeting was called to order at 1910 hrs.

  

Treasurer’s Report:   As of October 15, 2011, we had $16,732.87 in our account.

  

Secretary’s Report:

 

·         As of today’s date, Region 18 has 184 members.

 

·         Please continue to send in your 2012 membership renewals. Make sure to get them in by the end of the year if you want to avoid any lapse in membership benefits. Membership forms can be found on the Region 18 website: www.uspca18.com

 

·         If you plan on judging at any USPCA events in 2012, make sure to get your membership forms in. We had problems in 2011 with people who judged at mini-trials, but were not current members. When this happens, the entire trial record gets held up and cannot be completed by the national office.

  

Vice President’s (MN) Report: 

 

·         Case of the Quarter:  There are 8 winners in patrol and detector cases for 2011. At the end of the year, the cases will be sent to a committee to determine the top case for patrol and detector work. The top case in each category will win a handgun.

·         Please continue sending cases in so that our members can be recognized for the work they are doing. If you need help with a case of the quarter submission or are the only handler with your agency and would like someone else to submit the case, you can send your report to Josh Stenseth:  joshuas@co.saint-croix.wi.us

   

Old Business:

 

·         Christmas Party & Winter Detector Trial: The Region 18/12 Christmas Party had to be canceled, due to low numbers of registrations. Duluth & Superior PD have offered to host the Region 18 Winter Detector Trial for 2012. They will work on organizing a Christmas Party, but without a theme. Registrations would need to be in earlier, so that if numbers were too low and we had to cancel the meeting room, the hotel would not lose out on the money. If any members have suggestions for next year’s party, they can contact a board member. As of this evening, 39 narcotics dogs have registered for the trial. A member requested that we consider pushing back the start time of the trial in the future if the number of dogs registered is low enough.

 

·         Muzzle/tracking training with Winnipeg – Region 18 provided $1000 to help support a training course in tracking and muzzle work. The Winnipeg trainers traveled to Eagan to teach the four day course. The training was outstanding and the region will likely bring them back for more training.

 

·         National PD1 Trial, Detroit Lakes – The host members did a great job organizing the trial and it ran very well. Thank you to everyone who assisted with and helped support the trial.

  

New Business:

               

·         National Meeting – Jason Brodt reported on the meeting. There are two rule changes that will be effective January 1, 2012. The first change is that the catwalk steps will be required to be 2x6, instead of 2x4. That came out of Region 18 and was based on a dog getting hurt after falling off the catwalk. The second change is for the Explosive Detector Dog, with the trial now including a package/parcel venue. This means that as of January 1, Explosive Detector Trials will include four venues: Odor Recognition Test (18 cans); Vehicles; Rooms; Package/Parcel Test (15 items). A member asked whether the add-on of packages for explosive dogs will be seen in the future for narcotics dogs also. Jason stated that, based on the discussions during the rule change proposals, it is likely that those changes may be proposed in the future for narcotics testing. ·         Compensation for board members – Andy Helgerson requested membership approval for financial compensation to the Region 18 Secretary. He stated that the Region board would explore what other regions and the national office are doing and come up with an amount to bring to the membership for approval. This would likely make it easier to fill the position when it is up for election, as it requires a significant time commitment of personal hours. All of the membership at the meeting voted in favor. A member requested that a vote be taken at this meeting to compensate the Secretary with half of whatever amount the national secretary is receiving. All of the membership at the meeting approved this vote.  

Andy also stated that he would like approval to compensate Region officers who assist at Region 18 trials. The compensation would be for travel, food, and lodging expenses. This is based on the belief that we should have a Region officer present at all Regional trials (including mini-trials). The compensation would only apply to Region trials, unless the board specifically requested compensation for a Region training event.

 

·         Equipment updates – Josh Stenseth arranged for the Region’s purchase of a trailer to hold all of our trial and training equipment (articles, clipboards, cones, 18 yrd light, pelican cases, 3 tents). The trailer has the Region 18 information printed on it. The Region will arrange to have the trailer brought to Region 18 trials and other events that it is requested for.

 

Region 18 purchased a new laptop computer for the Secretary position. Some of the other board members may also be purchasing new laptops for their positions – it is up to each board member to determine what computer is needed for their position and bring the request to the full board for approval.

 

·         Spring Detector Trial – Woodbury has expressed interest in hosting the trial, but the Region has not received a formal request yet. They will be granted the trial if they make a formal request. If not, St. Croix has offered to host the trial again. A date of March 18, 2012 has been suggested for the trial, as this will avoid conflicts with other Regional events.

 

·         2012 PD1 Trial – Eden Prairie, June 10-12 – Jess Irmiter spoke about the planning for the trial. He stated that all of the trial locations/events have been lined up and they are just working on some of the details for the demo, etc. Mark Darnell will be the Chief Judge for the trial. Eden Prairie has a very generous financial donor for the trial and there is good community support for it.

 

·         Upcoming training events – There will be a Region 18 narcotics refresher training on February 15th, in Lino Lakes. This will be focused on a trial format, to help prepare for the Spring trial. Information will be up on the website soon. If you are interested, you will need to RSVP for it.

 

Another Cats/Skidds course is being held in Anoka County on March 8-10, 2012. If there are members who want to go to this training event or others that are offered, but are unable to afford the event,  let a board member know, as the Region may be able to help out.

 

If members have contacts outside of this area for people who would be beneficial to bring in for training events, get Andy Helgerson their information so that he can contact them.

 

·         Board Elections: 

 

One of the Trustee positions (Jason Sykora) was up for election. David Pavlak nominated Jason Sykora. Mike Davis seconded.  Jason Sykora will continue in the Trustee position for another three year term. 

 

The Vice President (MN) position was up for election. David Pavlak nominated Chris Cichosz. Mike Davis seconded. Chris Cichosz will continue as the MN Vice President for another two year term.

 

The Vice President (WI) position was up for election. Jason Bade nominated Josh Stenseth. David Pavlak seconded. Josh Stenseth will continue as the WI Vice President for another two year term.

 ·         Proposed Changes to Region Certifications – the Region 18 board recently sent out an email to determine how much member support there would be for a change to a pass/fail trial system. It was originally proposed that members would still receive their scoresheets. However, scores would not be published to the Region and no trophies would be handed out. This proposal was sent out based on member discussion and requests for such a format. It had nothing to do with the cost of trophies, etc. During an email vote, a total of 80 members responded.

50     members voted for a change to a pass/fail system.

30     members voted against such a change.

 

The following are some of the discussion points from the meeting:

 In favor of the change: The overall goal of our trials should be to certify police dogs, and this change would help keep the focus on that goal. A change to a system of non-published scores/no trophies could lead to the region running 3-4 one day trials each year. The trials would be run in different areas of the region, to allow for members to trial without having to spend money on travel & lodging. Benefits of a change to this format would be increased efficiency, decreased cost to departments & handlers, and less time spent on trials; more time spent on the street. One day events would keep k9 handlers more viable for agencies, particularly at a time when administrations are looking at cutting k9 positions to save money. Several handlers who live far from the metro mentioned how difficult it is to attend the region trial events. This is highlighted for agencies in which the K9 handler may be one of only several officers in the agency and the agency cannot afford to lose that handler for a 3 day certification event. Most K9 handlers are self-motivated people and want to excel. K9 handlers who train to pass will continue as such; K9 handlers who train to excel will continue as such ...whether scores are published or trophies given out will not change this. For most handlers, success on the street is the priority and highest reward. The trophy environment is causing some to lose sight of this and putting the emphasis in the wrong area. Members who wanted a trophy could still go to another Region’s trial or a National trial and compete for a trophy. 

Not in favor of the change:  there are benefits to competition, including that it makes for better handlers.  Concern that control will decrease.  A change to a one day format may hurt the demo portion and result in a loss of public support. Concern about litigation (Jason Brodt responded to this that nothing on a national level in regards to litigation would change at all – the same information would be available from the national office). A member stated that supervisors would still want to see scores, even if they weren’t published. Some small departments need trophies for credibility.

   

The meeting was adjourned at  2130 hrs