New ORFTA -- how, when, where do we start???

[ducksoup]

I agree with some of the posts to Jim Ling's thread about the changes in CKC FT rules -- especially the ones that mentioned ORFTA or something like it to become a voice for the Ontario FTs -- so where do we go from here??? -- maybe we can use this forum to begin a dialogue on what ORFTA should or could be?!?!? -- use this forum (or PMs if that's easier) to initiate process?!?!?

[Kevin Hannah]

Very good idea Mike, I am sure now one would have an issue with some using this platform to start the process. In reading this I think it would be great and give more of a concolidated voice for these types of rule changes.

Kevin

[Drew Good]

Yes, I have no problems letting you guys use this forum as a platform to get it off the ground and running. If I can help you in any way feel free to PM me.

Drew

[Lpgar]

?? Won't the Ontario Field Trial Association just become another level of bruocratic Mess??

It seems to Me that the Forces of "Regionalization" in our game are hugely deterimental.

Case in Point....the east west division of Dogs and Handlers at the National level. The National Retriever Club is supposed to be the strongest Voice the Field Trial Community has....and The National has become a Regional Event for sure.

Maybe just better communication and CKC representation would be better than forming Yet another group? Maybe Having a National Club representitive as a mandatory part of the any CKC rule change effecting our game?

Just thoughts off the top of My head.

Gar

[krakadawn]

Garth,
No doubt that we don't need just another level -buracratic mess as you said.
ORFTAO in the past was extremely effective and formed a very strong voice for Ontario trialers. Unfortunately our current CKC does not recognize any level of club involvement any more than an individual-National Club although well organized and represented is recognized as a single club only.
We definitely require better representation to support positive/supported change for our game. The past examples of decision making have not been in our best interests.
Jim

[Kevin Hannah]

I guess some of this seems a little strange to me. I have always been involve at the executive level in our HRC club and am currently the president of our club which makes me one of the Board of Directors for HRC inc. giving me the power to vote on changes the way OUR club wants to vote.

We have running rules representatives in each region in the USA and Canada, Any rule or policy changes are brought forward during the AGM in june. Each individual club votes with there members and decides if they wish to approve the changes or not and then all these votes ar taken to the AGM and the votes are then totaled and the decisions are then finalized after. In this process it is the clubs and ultimately the membership of HRC that decide on the direction of the organization.

The desions made for any given organization will effect everyone, some positively and some negatively, but should be decided by the members that make up the organization not by a group which has little involvement in field trials or hunt tests in this case. If an organized group can have a louder voice in make changes for the betterment of the sport then pursuing that can only lead to positive changes I think.

JMHO

Kevin

[captainjack]

Jim,

I ask this question again - are clubs not represented in the CKC? The retriever council is made up of individuals who are members of local clubs ie. Mike Cardinal is a member and director of South Western, Heather Stewart is a member of Niagara ( I think) and Bill Kennedy is a member of Ottawa and they are members of the retriever council.
The fact that there is no communication is partly our fault and partly council members fault. I believe that the general public is being mislead by alot of what is being said here.
The fact that the chair is not a retriever person does not bother me and there is some merit that they want an impartial chair as I would expect that they have very little voice in the final outcome of votes.
The CKC is trying to represent the whole country and therefore there are regional differences ie. the rule change regarding judging assignments ie. 3 per season vs 1 a month came from East Coast as they do not have access to alot of judges and can not afford expenses therefore they need local judges to do their circuit. Ontario does not have that problem.
Ontario at one time did not want pros to judge, West needs pros to judge and therefore that vote went in favour of the West.
Are these rules wrong because Ontario does not necessarily agree? Lets all relax, love our dogs and get on with training our fine animals.
If Ontario Retriever Association gets started again, I hope that it spends its efforts on trying to improve and assist local clubs to put on field trials and to help solve some local problems, like grounds, birds, membership, finances, etc. etc.

Peter

[ducksoup]

Just to add a further $0.02 worth from me -- in particular maybe ORFTA could certainly address the issue of trial grounds (or lack there of) -- in California the California Retriever Association has bought lands or leased them for training and FTs -- this seems particularly important in southern Ontario where trial grounds have become scarce or are in parks like Christie where other events or people may conflict with FTs -- just a thought

But I really do agree that we need to have a stronger voice than mere clubs or CKC representatives -- ORFTA or something like it would seem to be one such possibility -- but it has to have input from the entire province not just be run by a few -- it needs to be representative of the Ontario FT scene and address those situations that are unique to Ontario

[krakadawn]

Peter,
Clubs are not represented on the retriever Council. yes we have several CKC reps who belong to clubs but that is not the case across all clubs.For example,the Kingston Club may have a club memeber who is the CKC rep-maybe they are privi to information at the time but that is not in place for all clubs.My point is that it would be nice to receive this information in SOME FORMAL communication process-hell e-mail is free!!
If the ORA gets started again it will be due to the support and leadership of some our members-that and only that.
I don't understand your comment about the general public being mislead> Mislead about what?
Yours in Sport,
Jim

[captainjack]

Mislead about being represented ie. your club knows Bill Kennedy quite well and if he was contacted by your club or he contacted your club about what was being presented by the retriever council, I am sure he would represent your case. This in fact has taken place on many occasions.
Any individual can contact their representive or the CKC directly and this in fact has taken place on many occasions.
Lets open up communication by each club contacting the CKC and their representative to suggest a method that they can use to improve this situation. How many clubs or individuals do you think will do this?
This is one thing the ORA could do, but to have a greater voice in making rules - I agree with Gar, it just add another level of beurocracy.

Happy New year to all. All the best in 2008 and may all your ribbons be blue.

Peter

[ducksoup]

It isn't about adding more problems to the mix -- it should be about trying to make FTs in Ontario more representative for everybody involved -- not everybody has the same kind of access to CKC or CKC representatives -- it's not just about contacting CKC directly either especially when half the time nobody there has a clue about retriever FTs -- we need something like ORFTA to better represent the interests of FTs in Ontario -- just my opinion -- it worked before even if just in part -- why not try it again -- that way we can get FTs in Ontario to be even better -- and maybe even attract more new people to our game so we become even stronger

[krakadawn]

Peter,
I have contacted a Director on the CKC Board at this point.I like your suggestion for each club to contact their CKC rep-Bill and I have discussed this already.The Director I spoke with supported a view of inclusion of communication.My view of this is I should not have to contact our CKC rep and ask-'what's the upcoming agenda'. I am aware that informally we m ay hear things on the burner so to speak but I believe that since CKC is a service provider they should be taking the leadership ensuring that proposed changes are well grounded and reflective of our game and the direction it should be taking in the future. All I suggest is a process/vehicle for input that respects the notion that good communication supports a transparent process.We may find that regional differences become minor in nature and that people feel more included in the process of change.

Happy New Year Everyone>