Executive Committee Members Attending: Steve Kuhn, President; Rick Paquin, Secretary; Mary Manore,  Treasurer; Lori Koehler, Membership Chair, and Dean Koehler, 2011 Spring FT Chair..

Additional Members Attending:
Bill and Betty Boeckman, Randy Manore, Pat Gilligan, Ken
Hanson, Mark Rysavy, Mark Bielski, and Monte Meyer.

OLD BUSINESS

Secretary’s Report:
The minutes of the previous meeting were distributed to members and also have been posted at www.mhessc.org. There were no revisions to the minutes as distributed. It was moved and seconded to accept the secretary’s report. The motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report:
Mary Manore submitted a Treasurer's Report and a 2011 Spring FT Budget.  Both were distributed and reviewed. The Spring Field Trial showed a profit of $477.51. The Club's balance is at $5930.59. Of note, the club paid for insurance at $600, and purchased four new blue dot radios for $672.  It was moved and seconded to accept the treasurer’s report. The motion passed.

Membership Report:
Lori Koehler reported that we have 14 family memberships and 15 individual memberships, including the three applications for membership to be voted on later during this meeting.

2011 Spring FT Report:
Dean Koehler reported that the Spring FT went well and made a profit of $477 thanks to the judges who graciously picked up many of their own expenses. The trial was held near Owatonna MN. The grounds were nice and the spring cover was good. It was a well organized event.  Job well done, Dean!

Proposed Constitutional Amendments:
At a previous meeting Dean Koehler had been asked to review the club constitution and identify areas lacking clarity, and areas that no longer match current club practice.  Based on his review, he presented ten proposed MHESSC Constitutional Amendments. Six of the amendments are very straightforward. But Dean asked for and received input from other club members on four of the items (amendments 4, 6, 9 and 10).  He will distribute the proposed constitutional amendments to club members, and also post them at the club website  (www.mhessc.org).  The proposed amendments will be voted on at the next club meeting (Winter 2012). 

(NOTE: the proposed amendments are posted below)

NEW BUSINESS

Fall 2011 Field Trial Update:
Steve Kuhn reported for Chair, John Smith, that most everything is set for the Fall trial. The trial will be held at the William A. Miller Farm SE of Montgomery, MN. All-Age judges are Kevin Dresow and Tom Radde. Puppy judges are Randy Miller and Mark Bielske. Rick Paquin is the FT secretary.  Dennis Duerr and Pat Gilligan are the co-gun captains. Randy Manore is in charge of the Dog Food for awards. Bill Boeckman and John Smith will arrange the club ATVs, DNR permit and porta-pottys. It was asked that John Smith include the following wording in the field trial letter regarding ATVs: “As a courtesy to the owner of the field trial grounds, ATV or vehicle usage other than club ATVs are subject to approval and instructions for usage prior to use on the grounds. If you bring a motorized vehicle to be used on the field trial grounds you must report to the field trial chair or a committee member to receive permission and instructions for ATV usage. If damage occurs to the field due to use of a motorized vehicle any vehicle may have permission refused or revoked.  Accommodations will be made first for those with disabilities.”

Spring 2012 Field Trial Report:
Kevin Dresow will chair the spring 2012 field trial.

Fall 2012 Field Trial Report:
Todd Stelzer will chair the fall 2012 field trial.

MHESSC Delegates to the National Open Championship & National Amateur Championship:
It was moved that Bill Boeckman serve as the club’s National Open delegate, or to give the responsibility to another club member in attendance if they would accept.  Additionally, it was moved that Randy Manore be the club’s National Amateur delegate, with Rick Paquin as the back-up National Amateur delegate. The motion was seconded and passed.

NAC and NOC Club Dues and Advertising:
It was moved that the MHESSC pay the National Open Championship and National Amateur Championship dues of $75 each, and also purchase half-page catalog ads ($75/each) in the NOC and NAC catalogs, as has been done in the past. Payments are due November 1, 2011. The motion was seconded and passed.

Water Tests:
Bill Boeckman discussed the AKC procedures on Water Tests in regard to running them as part of field trials or as separate events. There was some discussion, but no action was taken.

Gunning:
Mary Manore mentioned that she didn’t like to see people from outside the area gunning at local trials while experienced, safe, proficient gunners who are also members of local clubs were excluded.  She also expressed concern about incidents in which a gunner interfered with a bird planter, and also made comments about dogs out loud while gunning. Pat Gilligan asked that participants and spectators at field trials observing any such issues bring them to the gun captains or FT committee members so that the gun captain can deal with issues promptly and appropriately. Pat also asked that the MHESSC not make any rule that would hamper the gun captain's ability to pick the best gun team available for each field trial. He added that he and Dennis DuErr would also continue to train new field trial gunners as well as train experienced wing gunners to take on the more difficult center gun responsibility. Pat stated that safety is always the top priority when selecting a gun team.  No action was taken.

New Members:
It was moved and seconded that Terry Sworsky. Tony Sworsky and Matt Johnson be accepted as MHESSC members. The motion passed. Welcome Terry, Tony and Matt!

Adjournment:
It was move and seconded that we adjourn the meeting.  The motion passed.

Respectfully Submitted, 
Rick Paquin, Secretary

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix to the 2011 Summer Meeting Minutes:

MHESSC - Proposed constitutional amendments:

These proposed amendments were discussed and agreed upon by a consensus of those present at the summer 2011 meeting.  They will be circulated to the entire membership and will be voted on at the winter 2012 meeting.

1)  Use gender neutrality in constitution wording (change “his” “her/his”, “he” to “he or she”, etc.)  [In Article IV, multiple times in Article VI] 

2)  Add email as an approved form of communication [Articles I, V and VII] 

3)  Clarification of Membership Chair and Secretary duties.  Change Article III, Section 4.  …The secretary shall also keep the official record of all current club members obtain current membership lists from the Membership Chair.  Add: Article IV, Section 9.  The Membership Chair shall keep the official record of club members and their contact information.  They will work with the Treasurer to collect club dues, and will provide current membership lists to the Secretary to facilitate communication with club members.

      Renumber current Sections 9 & 10 as 10 & 11. 

4)     Clarify the intent of Article III, Section 9. 

…Officers of the Minnesota Heartland English Springer Spaniel club cannot hold an office in another club promoting English Springer Spaniels conducting English Springer Spaniel field trials in the state of Minnesota. 

(NOTE: Other clubs currently conducting ESS field trials in Minnesota include the Minnesota ESSC, the Northern Minnesota ESSC, and the St. Croix Valley Spaniel Club.)

5)     Change Article IV, Section 2 to match current practices. 

The annual meeting shall be held in the month of January or February at which Officers and committee Chairs for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from among those nominated.

6)     Article V, Section 1.  Clarify the quorum criteria. 

The quorum for Club meetings shall be 20% (twenty percent) of the paid members memberships in good standing.

7)     Article V, Section 2.  Add “Approval of Agenda” as second in the order of business after Call to Order (this is in keeping with Robert’s Rules or Order)

8)     Change wording of Article V, Section 5.  All meeting conduct will be in Accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.  to: The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all meetings of the Minnesota Heartland English Springer Spaniel Club in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that the MHESSC may adopt.

9)     Article VI, Section 2.  Increase fee for filing misconduct charges within the club.

Written charges with specifications must be filed in duplicate with the Secretary together with a deposit of $10 (ten dollars) $50 (fifty dollars) which shall be forfeited if such charges are not sustained by the Executive Committee following a hearing.

10)   Post club polices as appendices to the constitution.  These polices are intended to serve as a record of policy items that have been passed by the club, but are not part of the constitution itself.

(Example Policies: FC and AFC plaque policy, Bird source policy, No High Window Shot policy, Website policy)