HRC Judges/Handlers seminar

[Meeka]

Does anyone care that the HMFIC's (slang for powers that be - no derogatory inference intended for these fine people, seriously) have decided, as I understand it, that we will only have one seminar a year in each district? Also as I understand it, it does not matter whether the field rep is willing to do additional seminars or whether a club will sponsor the seminars (pay rep mileage).

HRC paid a whopping $5K for seminars last year. They haven't said what percentage of the budget this expense for training judges, which some people may think is one of the more important functions HRC has, this comprises.

[Doc & Nash]

Doesn't sound like good business to me, expecially with the low number of judges. If the local club is willing to pay for it, and the local field rep is willing to do it, what reason would they have for not supporting it????? Plus district 5A had two this year. One at the National and one in Jackson 2-3 weeks later.

Got to be more to it???? I know Tommy had to have the computer with the slide show shipped to him. Maybe that is the only computer and if they allow it to be done at a request then some regions would not have the ability to have a seminar???? If that is the case that seems like an easy fix.. Computers are 699.00 and Circut city, and the projector can be bought for a grand all day long that is if you want it in HD if not they are around 500.00.

But I dunno??? Still seems that if the local club was willing to cover the expenses then shipping the computer would not be that big of a deal??? Fed Ex overnight would not be anymore than $75.00

Maybe they don't have enought manuals??? Tommy said something about them getting ready to publish a new one????

[goosebruce]

The entire way seminars are conducted is odd. My own recent experience with seminars and the rules surrounding them is even stupider than anything yet posted, and there was no reason for it (money or otherwise) that made sense other than no its not done that way. But I digress.

It is fairly expensive to ship the materials & the slide show stuff for seminars. The hand out books alone cost quite a bit of money to produce and ship. My understanding is there are 2 of those notebook computer/ power point deals. I could be wrong. I do know there has always been a push to schedaul seminar way far in advance, and to not have overlapping seminars as it tends to drop attendence if there are too many, too close to each other.

I'm assuming when you said district, you meant region, but I do not know where that information came from (only one per as some kind of rule). I am going to say it's probably not 100% accurate, as currently we have one region that encompasses Alaska, Washington, Orgeon, Arizona, , Idahoe, Nevada, British Colombia and now Califorina. Gonna be hard to pursue a new club and judges if they have to go 3500 miles for a seminar.

The seminar at the national meeting in Memphis is not a region 5a anything. Ed is listed as the national seminar presenter, which is a title that bestows him the abilty to present a seminar while not currently being a field rep, the only person who has the abilty to do that. travis

[msbigdawg1234]

They are saying that they want to go to 1 per region because of the expense fuel,hotel room and meeting room. Seems that alot of clubs (they said 65% ) are having to pay for meeting rooms that are costing $150-$200 and the turn outs are slim. Having a seminar for 5-10 people was not worth it. MPO a club can find a room that does not cost $ just have to do some leg work to locate one.(Bass Pro, Gander Mtn. larger sporting good stores,Chamber of commerce etc......they are out ther you just have to find one)
The reasoning behind this is if they have 1 per region it can be scheduled way in advane and people can plan for it better and not say "Oh i will wait for another to come around in a bit" .The seminars are good for 3 yrs UNLESS you are wanting to use it for a credit to move up to another level of judging.If not you just have to have judge another test.
I am sure that if a region wanted to have an extra seminar and wanted to pick up the expense and the rep was willing to do it ,HRC would say go ahead. Now that was what i was told a few min ago........

[Meeka]

Yeah, I meant region. Ours has Mississippi and Alabama. I know I don't want to go all the way across Miss and into Ala for a seminar anymore than someone in Auburn wants to go to Jackson. And we have a small region. As Travis pointed out, Alaska clubs and the Dusky Club in that state that is below washington are in the same district. Heck, fwiw, that district goes all the way to Mexico! Region 13 has 5 midwest states in it. It looks like Indiana and wisconsin are in the same district.

Thanks for the info on the projector and books, Travis.

I say all that to say this. It's got to be cheaper and a whole less man hours for a rep to go somewhere the judges and handlers are that to ship all the volunteer judges and handlers, at their own expense, to a designated location to meet the field rep and projector and books. I mean really, how much thought has gone into this? Maybe I am looking at it wrong, heck, maybe I'm the only one looking at all, but shouldn't they be bending over backwards to get to the judges?

BTW, Rick, didn't you get a somewhat different response a couple months back?

[goosebruce]

still, where did 1 per region come from? Where ya'll told that as a 'rule', or where they simply trying to reduce the time a club decides to have a seminar for their simple convience?

Its a once every 3 year thingy... I don't think anyone in this part of the country really has that hard a time getting to a seminar. Mine wasnt up, but I was off this year on friday of the national so I hit that one, just so i wouldnt have to go off somewhere. Lots of regions (like 13, in colorado) are 500 miles between clubs, and have a lot harder time with seminars than we can comprehend. travis

[Meeka]

It is a special problem for Judges moving up. I've had several seminars in recent memory, but it isn't enough. I'm over it, but the situation remains less than optimal. The requirement of having a new seminar or to apprentice an extra time (when the rule does not say that) is not what bothers me about this, its just what makes me sensitive about it.

But what got this back on my radar was the new issue of our HRC Mag.

[msbigdawg1234]

This is what i heard from Cade and Claudine said the same thing. That they are trying /wanting to go to 1 seminar per region taht would be planned far enuff in advance that people can PLAN on going. The reasoning behind this is the expense of the seminar."They are saying that they want to go to 1 per region because of the expense fuel,hotel room and meeting room. Seems that alot of clubs (they said 65% ) are having to pay for meeting rooms that are costing $150-$200 and the turn outs are slim. Having a seminar for 5-10 people was not worth it"

I still say that if a club wants to foot the bill and the rep will agree to come do it HRC will let ya have one......

[goosebruce]

I bet if you where paying the costs nobody would care, I agree. But it seems to me the majority of clubs think they are 'owed' something from national when it comes to stuff like that. Year before last we found out how much the EC spent traveling to clubs judging, and it was astounding. Every new club, every anniversary hunt, they wanted ec there, and expected national to pay for it. Struggling club, do it. Small club do it. But not big solvent clubs that can pay for it themselves. Help is supposed to be for those that need it, not as a way to slick something. I'm guessing the guideline of one per region was for exactly what was stated, to stop spending the cheese for 5 or 10 folks to get a seminar. If someone was willing to foot the bill, I can't see why anyone would care. Then again, the whole seminar thing can get bizarre at times. travis

[Doc & Nash]

Seems to me that it would make sense that if they really wanted to save money then they would have a member or two from each region that would be qualified to put on a judges seminar. With that being said. These individuals would only put on seminars that clubs sponsor. Not to take anything away from the judges seminar/program. But the seminar that SFHRC put on with Glenn, Johnny & Steve taught me more about judging than I have learned from 2 seminars and apprenticing combined. It is not every day you get to sit and listen to 2 Grand Judges and a Handler who has run more dogs in the Grand that I care to even attempt to count break down the requirements of a particular level of testing and go thru each part and discuss the pro's and con's of how to properly set it up.

You take the Mississippi Clubs, I bet you could come up with at least a 1/2 dozen truely qualified individuals to do this.

[goosebruce]

welp, you just hit on the head my beef with it. I was told point blank NO when i asked about putting on a seminar for the alaska club (at their request). I even offered to attend the field rep seminar in memphis in june, so I would get the same seminar the reps do. Not to take anything away or be insulting to the rep out their (david cousino whom I like very much), but their seminar is done the weekend of their event, in a 2 hour abbreivated course, and nobody including him have much hrc experience. No matter how much of a dog man you are, if you are teaching hrc then you need to have hrc experience. If your not a field rep, you can NOT put on a seminar, period. Except at the national meeting... werid huh? travis

[Doc & Nash]

Sounds like we are opperating in 2008 with 1988 rules????? Don't we have someone in our club on the running rules commitee?

[goosebruce]

Thats not a running rule. Thats a policy. travis

[Doc & Nash]

The more I learn about the HRC the more I realize they did a great job of setting it up but they missed the boat when it comes to planning on future expansion. I guess in the early 80's they just did not realize how big it was going to get. I bet if you ask the founders after the first hunt test if they ever thought that there would be a club in Alaska the response would be "If we are lucky, but I doubt it" Seems there ought to be a way to re evaluate all the policies and make adjustments in the effort of better servicing the needs of the ever growing membership. I would bet they most likely did but no one in the National EC is willing to take the ball and run with it. I know they did what they did to keep the HRC from going the way of the field trials and AKC hunt test but they really stumped their toe when it comes to meeting the needs of future generations......

Either way I am greatful for the organization, and like most members, just want it to get better. Nothing is perfect and the minute it is believed to be perfect then that is the instant it starts dieing.

[Meeka]

Am I correct in saying that "policy" is not set by the clubs or members of HRC and is never voted on by them and never even published? If so, there is obviously room for improvement.

And no offense to the field rep in alaska, or anywere else for that matter, but there are a lot of judges, Travis especially included, who are way more qualified, IMO, to teach judges and handlers.