Spoon River NAVHDA Chapter

I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in switching training day locations. With everyone kinda spread out I thought that it would be interesting in switching them different parts of Illinois so that we could build the excitment level of seeing and training in places.  Also it would put the training locations closer to some members depending the location. Picking a north, south, east and west for the summer.  Shae and I trained at Des Planes this weekend and it was great to train and see new land, brings some freshness to the whole training. It also gets the dogs into new situations. I think it would increase the numbers that attend because of this most have to drive anyway so a new place once in a while would good.  Des Plains, Kickapoo state park, Rend lake,  or any other ideas anyone can come up with.

Let me know what you think.

Clint

  I really think it’s a good Idea and will bring excitement and freshness for the members and dogs. I also think it will increase the attendance because of the freshness and it will bring NAVHDA closer to some depending where we choose. Also some members have people they know on the edge of joining but just haven't pulled the trigger. I think it would be easier for some of us to get them to come and get hooked if it was a bit closer.  But I think we should do a North, South, East and West. Just trying to create some excitement and keep the energy going by mixing it up a bit. Training in places rock!

Rend is a great spot.  Ramsey Lake and Carlyle are also good spots to train. 

My weekends are limted and my traning days are even harder to come by , but sounds like a good thing to do . I have be able to plan ahead .                                               Sponsering a traning day would be aplace to start .                                                                   I am interested !   GO!!                                

I think it's a good idea.  Don't know how far north we could really go without encroaching on another chapter's area.  But we could look into a joint day. 

I'd be willing to host one at my farm, once we get cattle out of the pastures.  I have 3 designated dog training areas where we can release birds.  Would have to check with the property owner where I do water work to see if we could go down there.  There is a creek through the property and easy access to a place to introduce pups to water and get them swimming.

I am a fan of this suggestion.  It would be great to have a training day in the Central IL area (near Champaign, Bloomington, Decatur).  Not sure where the best place would be.

Hi to All

   I am a member of the Western Illinois Chapter and we have been moving our training days for the past three years. It really seems to be efective and it gets our members more involved.

   Usually we have our "wild game feed" in February and at that time we arrange our calendar for the year... each member that feels they have an idea for training grounds offers to "try to set up" a venue that would be appropriate for the weather conditions... field work to fall on the cooler months and water work for the hot months... it works for us...

AHHH! Great Idea. This always sparks interest in the members. And creates more access for other members, as mentioned. Murk- I like the wild game feed idea! We havent thought of that. Good Idea.

We have touched on this topic of offering other training sites before. And the discussion part goes over great. Where it falls apart is after that. Theinterest is definitely there. But someone has to actually take the idea and make it work. That would mean make sure that we can all legally train at the site. Are permits required? If so someone has to oversee that. Are training birds allowed to be released? If so someone has to take orders and bring them for pick-up. And then you must also know the grounds and how to split up groups so that you dont have 6 groups standing waiting for a turn to train 2 hours later. Its not alot of work, but there is some involved. And usually just enough that every time this is brought up, they drop the idea. Seems like most likes ideas, but not the work envolved.

 I am willing to help set these up, But I encourage anyone that has the idea to do some of that basic homework to make sure that it is going to work. Just check in to see how many can train in a group. Is there enough ground if say 12 people show up. Can we use live birds? Do we need special permits. Is there water available for waterwork? Then find someone to start taking bird orders, someone to take head count for lunch (sandwich,chips soda) someone to bring a duck launcher or canoe,etc. I am ready for us to take action on this motion. So I encourage everyone to offer ideas, and thier help in some way

The big thing here is it gets other members involved and gives your chapter some new takes on training.... when you look at it from a work stand point, it spreads the load out through out the membership... only 9 training days a year with one being a "wild game feed"... that leaves 8 and with one handlers clinic, that leaves 7, one trainig day used to put on the fun hunt, that leaves 6... now we can use the same property twice and not get bored with it...so all we need is 3 different training areas...simple... we have had some great results from this little change of pace... it works for us....