2024 NARC: 2024 NARC Annual Meeting

Friday, June 14th at 3:00 pm (ET) – Waterville, Maine

Meeting called to order at 3:13 pm by Mike Coutu.

Opening Ceremonies

Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance
Mike led us in a Moment of silence for people and dogs lost this year

Left to Right: Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson, Joel Harris, Mike Coutu, Jim Rickoff, Kyle Broussard and Mitch Brown.

Introduction of Club Officers by Mike Coutu
          President: Michael Coutu
          1^st Vice President: Jim Rickoff
          2^nd Vice President: Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson
          3^rd Vice President: Joel Harris
          4^th Vice President: Mitch Brown
          Secretary/Treasurer: Kyle Broussard

Kyle Broussard conducted the Roll Call
            A quorum was reached.

Report of Officers Nomination Committee for 2025 (Coutu)
          President: Jim Rickoff
          1^st Vice President: Sonya Harrigfeld-Jackson
          2^nd Vice President: Joel Harris
          3^rd Vice President: Mitch Brown
          4^th Vice President:
          Secretary/Treasurer: Kyle Broussard

Motion to accept, and seconded

Reading of 2023 Financial Statements (Broussard)
Motion to accept, and seconded

New Clubs Listed
East Feliciana Retriever Club
Swan Lake Retriever Club
First State Deleware
These clubs wish to put on tests this year
Membership was approved

General Announcements by Mike Coutu

Health Fund contribution was made. Thank you for your support!
Hall of Fame contribution was made. Thank you for your support!
Entry Express – up to $6.85 processing fee. These dollars are earmarked for programming to improve EE processes, platform and user experience.
Retriever News – Fiscal year ended in the black for the first time in many years
Two new subscription options

$80/year = Receive both printed and digital magazine
$60/year = Receive digital magazine

Thank you to all that have recently contributed content!

Events this Week
Cocktail Party – Elks Club, Friday the 14^th, 6:30pm
Worker Party – Elks Club Tuesday the 18^th 6:30 pm

Appreciation Gifts

Mike Coutu gave an appreciation gift to Field Trial Chairman, Mitch Brown.

This is a huge job, thank you Mitch!

Mitch Brown gave appreciation gifts to our 2024 Judges:

Paul Panichi
Larry Morgan
Kirk Naisbitt

Left to Right: Mitch Brown, Kirk Naisbitt, Larry Morgan and Paul Panichi

Gwen Jones brought our sponsors to the front to thank them!

Purina – Ray Voigt, Kelsi Toth and Pat Burns
Garmin – Missy Lemoi and Pat Burns
Avery – David Carrington

Recognition of 2023 National Amateur Retriever Club Champion

Left to Right: Leigh Windham, Ray Voigt and Bert Windham

Presented by Nestle Purina to Bert and Leigh Windham
Shipping error for the painting, it must be redone
Ray called owners to the front and acknowledged 2023 NAFC-FC Beaver Runs Raymond For Sheriff. Congratulations!

Acknowledgement of Landowners & Dedication of Trial
Mike Coutu gifted our generous landowners with beautiful property signs

NARC Trial acknowledgements by Mike Coutu
            AKC Representatives
            Retriever News persons / Blog – Kelsey Wehr, Sara Sommerfeld, Gwen Jones, Sue Reynolds, and Pat Burns.
                        Photographer – Mark Atwater
                        Announcer – Alex Washburn and Ken Neil
                        Official Veterinarian – Jeff Schuett
                        Official Artist - Jean Wu

Report of 2025 National Venue and Judge Panel

The 2025 NARC will be held in Mondovi, WI
Field Trial Chairman is Paul Hanson
Judges for 2025: Rich Pingatore (Pacific), Dave Morrison (Mountain), Rich Dresser (Eastern)

Remembering Dennis
A moment of silence was called for Dennis Bath. In 1980, the NARC was held in Maine. And Dennis won that National with Cadillac Mack!

2024 NARC Dedication
This year’s NARC is dedicated to Dave and Marion Mosher. Several stories were shared on how influential they were to the game, especially in Maine. Many credit their start in field trials to Dave and Marion.

Trial Procedures by Richard Dresser

The first series will be a double and a blind. All rooster pheasants.
Handlers on the mat for all sends
This week is going to be warm. We’ve done everything we can to create safe tests but it is the handler’s responsibility to ensure their dog is safe
Will try to expedite series as much as possible. Should we shut down due to hot weather, we can still finish on time.

The first series will be at Ryan and Peggy Knowles
1177 Hinkley Rd
Clinton, ME

Take exit 138, turn Left under the interstate and follow signs

Caravan
A Workers Caravan will leave the Walmart parking lot at 5:30 am
A Contestants Caravan will leave the Walmart parking at 5:45 am

Schedule

Test dogs will be run at 7:10 am
First 10 running dogs can view the line first. When they are dismissed, the next 15 handlers can view the line.

After that, remaining handlers can view the line at gun changes

After the first handlers view the line, the first 4 handlers to run will have ATVs available to take you back to your truck so you’re in the holding blind

First 4 running dogs in holding blinds at 7:50 am
National Anthem at 7:55 am
First Running dog on the mat at 8:00 am

There will be 5 gun changes

No bird policy

If the dog does not see the bird hit the ground, you’ll go back to the holding blind and come immediately back to the run
If the dog saw the bird hit the ground, you will wait 6 dogs, and be the 7^th dog to run

Bitch check
will be in the parking lot of the Elks, and you are to first go to your committee meeting, then the bitch check.

4 Scratches
51, 54, 91, 102

Rotation
55, 76, 97, 15, 36

Starting Dog
Bumper #55 was retrieved.
#55 FC-AFC Seaside's Issheit, "Zoey" with Handler Chad Worsell will start the 1st Series!