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HVGRC
NEWS
A newsletter for members of the Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club
April - June 2015
President’s Letter
Spring has officially arrived on the calendar despite
Mother Nature’s insistence on Winter weather
remaining well into the beginning of April. It was a
brutal Winter for many of us in the Northeast and I
think the dogs were the only ones who truly enjoyed
the voluminous mounds of snow and freezing
temperatures. We also said good-bye to long-time
member and friend to all, Phyllis Ward, and will be
dedicating our June Specialty Show in her name. Her
quick wit and razor sharp intelligence will be missed.
On a happier note, Helen Sherman is up and running
in Agility once again! Paula Strazza has had a
difficult Winter but has just completed her physical
rehabilitation and is healing at her sister’s home. We
are wishing her the best and hope she is back on her
feet as soon as possible.
By the time you are reading this, our 2015 Agility
Trial will be history and another unqualified
success. At last count, Chairman Chris Miele had the
majority of runs booked for all three days. This is an
event of big numbers, lots of planning and numerous
volunteers and it succeeds because of Chris and her
team.
Our annual Specialty Show is June 4 & 5 in FDR
State Park. In conformation, we will have back to
back specialties on Friday with Judges Nancy Talbot
(am) and Suzanne Hemminger (pm). Thursday’s
supported entry will be judged by Stephen Hubbel and
sweeps by Bruce Russell. Thursday obedience will be
judged by Suzanne Hemminger and the Rally
judge is about to be announced. Lorraine
Cusimano is heading up the Raffle and is
determined to outdo last year’s nearly $1,000
tally. Lynn & Jonathan Halpern are soliciting for
the Trophy Fund and look to the membership for
support. Like the Agility Trial, a lot of work goes
into this show and the results are always worth the
tremendous effort of our members. Show Chair
Brian Visokay is working hard to replicate last
year's great success and welcomes all volunteers. It
really is a fun day. Please come out and support
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your club and its members.
Our Annual Meeting and Awards will be held on
Wednesday, June 24th at Chris Miele’s home. If
you have a dog who is eligible for an award, let
Phoebe Teramato know as soon as possible. In
addition, the offices of Vice President,
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and Board of
Directors Class of 2016 will be voted on. If you
wish to run for any of these positions, please let
Nominating Committee Chair, Ann Marie Cioffi
know. This is a good opportunity to have your
voice heard as a member of the Board.
cont’d on p.2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
President’s Letter .......................................... 1
Calendar of Events/News of Members .......... 2
Our Stars ...................................................... 3
Golden Sunsets............................................. 4
Upcoming Meeting Announcement............... 7
Deadlines for Next Newsletter....................... 7
Specialty Flyer .............................................. 8
Specialty Raffle & Trophy Fund Letters......... 9
Specialty Trophy Fund Pledge List ................ 10
HVGRC Officers .......................................... 11
Bits & Pieces ................................................ 12
cont’d from p. 1
There are several people who have applied for membership and we are looking forward to meeting them and
welcoming them to our club. I look forward to seeing many of you at our various events this year and hope it’s
a good year for our members and their dogs.
Lastly, although many of our members are not breeders, those of us who do are sometimes faced with taking a
dog back long after they’re grown. Whatever the reason, every now and again a dog cannot stay in its forever
home and many of us take the lifetime responsibility of our puppies very seriously. This happened to both
myself and Chris Miele in the past several months. In my case, the dog that came back was almost 15 years old
and I knew I would be the one to someday say good-bye. Losing our dogs affects all of us in profound
ways. Elsewhere in the newsletter, I have shared the journey of saying welcome back and good-bye to my
Safari.
Bob
HVGRC – CALENDAR OF COMING EVENTS - 2015
April 15
Deadline for application forms for titles and annual trophies
April 22
Potluck Dinner and Meeting, 7 pm
June Moskovitz’s house in White Plains
May 2
Free course building seminar for club members – 10 AM
Skyline Agility
Offered by Chris Miele
May 8
Deadline for Trophy Fund pledges to be listed in catalogue
May 9
Introduction to Agility Meeting and Lunch - 10 AM
Skyline Farms in Goshen (see p. 7 for more details)
June 4-5
HVGRC Specialty Show and Obedience Trial with Rally
FDR Park
Nov 6-8
All-Breed Agility Trial
Chair: Chris Miele
Victoria Farms, Middletown NY
Fondly Remembered
Phyllis Ward, former President of HVGRC and chairman for many
years of our January Health Clinic. Phyllis was also the breeder of
many fine Goldens, most recently her beloved Campbell , who was
competing successfully in conformation, agility and obedience even
while Phyllis was ill. Our June Specialty will be dedicated to her
memory.
Welcome back
Helen Sherman who is back to competing in Obedience and Agility.
Paula Strazza is regaining her strength after a tough winter health-wise.
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!! Our Stars !!
Mary Ellen Culbertson’s “Journey” achieved her CD and RN titles at the Celtic Classic in March,
with multiple placements. She is now Hillock’s We’re Not in Kansas Anymore CD RN CCA.
Karen Fennikoh is the proud breeder/owner of her new Champion: CH. Amberglo’s Brooklyn to
Broadway aka “Carson”. He finished at Tullahoma KC of TN with a 4-point Major on March 7,
2015. This makes Champion #43 for Karen! She handled Carson herself to his first major at our
Specialty last June.
Praesent vitae nisl.
Sue Handelman’s “Heather” made good use of the long, snowy winter by earning her Utility Dog
Obedience Title. She is now officially My Stardust Melody UD RN MH WCX ***
Feb. 13
Long Island GRC
1st place
March 6
Monticello KC
2nd place
March 7
Monticello KC
2nd place and Title
She’s a good little girl who loves to work, so lively and cheerful. We had a lot of fun along the way,
and finished her title just in time to go back to field work (if the snow ever melts).
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!! Our Stars
cont’d!!
In hac habitasse platea dictumst.
Lynn and Jonathan Halpern’s “William” earned his Rally Novice title in three shows, with scores
of 83, 91 and 93. He also placed third in Rally Novice from among the Goldens at the Everglades
Golden Retriever Specialty. William is now Overlook’s Sutton Downpour RN. He and Jonathan
are now preparing for Rally Advanced in April.
Golden Sunsets
From Denise Ryan:
On the evening of Feb 20th Beamer suddenly collapsed. He was able to get up and go out. He came in and went
past the cookie jar and laid down. I knew something was wrong. He was dazed. So we went to emergency.
Shortly after I was told he had blood in his tummy. I could have removed his spleen but at 11 1/2 I thought that
was too drastic for such a good dog to go through.
!
So he and I spent quite a bit of time alone together until I thought we were ready. He kissed the vet on the cheek
and made her cry. I held him so tightly while she made him sleepy first. I would not let him watch. I just kept
squeezing him tight and telling him I loved him. Finally she gave the last dose. There was no noises made and
he was gone. It was very peaceful. I laid with him a while longer until I was able to leave. It was the hardest
night I can remember.
So HR Aubridge Ntrnlightwave Ahead SH, WCX.CCA,NA,NJW is now resting in peace. He had Master
Hunter legs, Finished legs and Open Agility legs. He was a great therapy dog to me while I have been ill.
I will truly miss him. My heart aches.
Golden Sunsets cont’d
From Lisa Weinberg
Sierra - Windrush's High Velocity CDX, RE ,JH, WCX, CGC
December 24, 1999 - February 3, 2015
Your mother delivered you into our hands late in the day 15 years ago.
Today started poorly, infirmities of old age catching up with you. You rallied
and took a long walk around the barn visiting your four and two legged friends.
But as the sun set we knew it was time and held you as you passed from us back to
her.
Your mother "Athena", your father "Borax", your half brother "Monk",
your aunts" Sassy" and "Cappy" gathered to greet you as you crossed over the bridge.
Tell them of your long life, your many adventures, the birds you retrieved,
the places you visited, your brothers "Tank" and "Murphy" you left behind.
You would have been an excellent mother but it was not meant to be, instead you
were the doting aunt and grandmother to others litters always standing
at the door watching till they were old enough to play with you.
The special chair that you slept in, that your mother slept in, your little niece now sleeps in.
Say Hi to Garth and my mother who passed away not that long ago as you knew them well.
Run free for one day we will all be together.
Art & Lisa - Tank, Emma, Luke, Remi, Solo, Quigley & Rex
Sunlight streams through window pane
unto a spot on the floor....
then I remember,
it's where you used to lie,
but now you are no more.
Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,
and muted echoes sound....
then I remember,
It's where your paws would joyously abound.
A voice is heard along the road,
and up beyond the hill,
then I remember it can't be yours....
your golden voice is still.
But I'll take that vacant spot of floor
and empty muted hall
and lay them with the absent voice
and unused dish along the wall.
I'll wrap these treasured memorials
in a blanket of my love
and keep them for my best friend
until we meet above.
- Author Unknown
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Saying Good-bye to Safari
Bob Swanson
Safari, Overlooks Tea on the Savannah, came into this world nearly 15
years ago on May 20, 2000. She was one of three girls in a litter of five.
Her Mom was my Savannah (Rizer’s Savannah’s Dream) and her sire was
Judy Word’s magnificent Clipper (CH Bravos Old Spice). This was
Savannah’s second and last litter and Safari was the girl who captured my
heart (and my critical eye) during those first few weeks of life.
Safari was a quiet dog who didn’t enjoy the show ring, despite placing in
every puppy class she entered. She was really more “boy-like” in that she
was Velcro around humans and thought a perfect day consisted of being
anywhere near me and part of my world. How many times did I bring my
arm back to make an underhand shot with the tennis ball and smack her
in the head? Countless. She would still sit there wagging her tail and
closing her eyes as tight as she could in an expression of sheer joy. Safari loved to wrap herself in a ball and do
somersaults down the hill. I’d never seen that before and I’ve never seen it since in any of my dogs. She found
great joy in everything, no matter how small.
Of course, Safari was a wonderful Mom on her own. She adored
her puppies. Three of her puppies in her first litter were born
naturally, but Safari developed problems and required an
emergency c-section. When she awoke, she was covered by 12
writhing, nursing puppies. The expression on Safari’s face was
priceless and I will never forget it. She clearly had no idea what
had happened, but instinct kicked in and she went to work.
When Safari was eight, an older couple came to me looking for
“anything but a puppy”. I had often thought Safari would be
happier in a home where she could be spoiled and adored and not
sharing the world with 15 other Golden Retrievers. She really
wanted to be the sole object of somebody’s life. Hard as it was, I made the decision to let Safari live about 30
minutes away with Pam and Ed. It was the right decision as evidenced by photos of Safari sleeping in their bed
coupled with stories of how much she was loved.
Sadly, Ed died a few years ago and just recently Pam followed. Safari came back to me in October and walked
into the house as if she never left. She was a lot grayer in the face and a little stiff when she walked, but she was
14 ½ years old and still Safari. The tail constantly wagged, the eyes would squint shut when she would stare at
me and she could smell a treat at 500 yards.
On the day she arrived, I wondered how the others would feel about this ‘newcomer’ to the pack. Usually,
visiting dogs will be swarmed by the others with lots of sniffing, some posturing etc. With Safari, I think they all
sensed that she was elderly and they approached her with great respect, almost reverence. Even the three-month
old puppy (who we named Safari a few months earlier!) approached Safari without any jumping or typical puppy
exuberance. Dogs fascinate me at every turn.
Safari fit right in. I changed her diet, worked on her coat and in just a few weeks her stiffness was gone and she
was a youngster again. She looked good and her happiness was palpable. So was mine.
Safari and I had a wonderful four months together and I’m so fortunate to have had that time with her once
again. She died in her sleep Sunday morning, February 15, 2015. She’d had a series of seizures that began in
January and the last one was severe. The day before she died, she seemed to be 100% again. She was eating,
rolling in the snow and lounging in the sub-zero weather, her beautiful face turned up to the brilliant blue
sunshine.
Cont’d on p. 7
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The next morning, she didn’t want her breakfast and was in a very deep sleep the remainder of the day. It was
almost impossible to rouse her and her breathing was labored. Like I had so many nights after a seizure, I
would kiss her good-bye and tell her how much I loved her and what joy she had brought to my life. I never
knew what the next morning would bring.
Unlike those other nights, this one was different and I went to sleep knowing I had said my final good-bye.
The other dogs around her were very quiet that morning and didn’t approach me in their usual “good
morning” manner. I think they were as sad as I was.
All dogs are special to us in so many ways. It’s hard to capture Safari in just a few paragraphs. Anyone who
has loved and lost a dog will understand. I brought her into this world and was there when she left. Her
absence is a gap that cannot be filled by 15 other Golden Retrievers demanding my attention. How I loved
her. How I miss her.
Safari and her daughter, 11 year old Sahara.
Upcoming Meeting Announcement
Bob Swanson
May 9th Introduction to Agility meeting and lunch. Jean Owen will conduct a
hands on - all dogs welcome - introduction to Agility at our May meeting. We
will hold the meeting at Skyline Farms in Goshen starting at 10 am with our club
meeting and lunch at noon. Jean was very involved in our most recent agility trial
and I watched her run her dogs with awe! This promises to be a very fun meeting
for members and their dogs (especially the dogs!). More details to follow.
DEADLINES FOR NEXT ISSUE
July 1st – Deadline for News
July 15th– Mailing Date
HOW TO SUBMIT NEWS
All news must be submitted in legible, written form received by the editor before the deadline. (Earlier is better). Do
not call at the last minute to say “Will you please put in a notice about…” Write it yourself and send it to me.
E-mail is fine: shandel@optonline.net.
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Specialty R affle
Hi everyone,
The Specialty Show is now only 7 weeks away!! I’m not one to leave anything until the last minute so
it’s time to get serious about the raffle. If we want to make it as successful as last year – and of course we do –
then I need your help. I hope you have been gathering items and coming up with ideas for baskets that you can
ask your friends to help you with. Remember, I have the baskets. I just need the stuff to fill them.
Please refer to the January newsletter for some ideas of what you can get but really the possibilities are
endless and you probably have way more ideas than I do. Make it fun for you and your family and friends. Have
a pizza party, go out to lunch, meet at agility class or at your book club meeting, whatever, and ask each person
to bring just a small item of their choice or for a theme that you thought of – like books, or cooking, or sports, or
gardening, or music, or jewelry, or household items, or gift certificates, or anything for our precious pups, or
anything you love! Think of this as a fun thing to do, not a chore, because it doesn’t have to be and the rewards
for the HVGRC – your club - will be so appreciated.
You can bring your items to the agility trial on April 17th – 19th. I will be volunteering at some point
during the three days and can pick up your stuff. I will also be at the upcoming agility club meeting on April 26th
which promises to be lots of fun and I hope to see you there. This is another opportunity to bring whatever you
may have to the meeting so that I can get a jump start on putting together these wonderful baskets. I welcome
and appreciate any and all of your items and ideas. Whatever you can do – big or small – is a huge help in
putting this together and making it a success. This is a team effort – something we can all be a part of so please
make an effort to join in.
Thank you so much and looking forward to seeing you soon,
Lorraine Cusimano
Raffle Chairperson
Annual June Specialty Trophy Fund Drive
It's that time of year again! Our Annual Specialty is in June and we have started accepting pledges for
our Trophy Fund. As in the past, this Club newsletter includes a Trophy Fund Pledge Form indicating the
classes and amounts for sponsorship of classes, and the listing of who has pledged to date. Please note that the
cost of a regular class pledge is $25. In addition, as it was last year, each pledge to a class will entitle the
contributor to an entry into a raffle for a prize. As a reminder, we are again having the Best 4-6 month Puppy
special attraction.
Many thanks to our early bird contributors: Brian Visokay - Best Veteran; Helen Sherman - Utility A &
Novice A (Obedience); Lynn & Jonathan Halpern - Am-Bred Dog & Bitch.
When you select a category, please advise us whether you would like a dedication (in memoriam) to be
included in the catalog.
As a reminder, each time we receive a pledge, we update the pledge form and post it on the Yahoo
Group in the file section. Yahoo sends out a notice that the file has been uploaded. In that notice, there is a line
which reads: "You can access the file at the URL:"
The very next line is a link to the file. If you "click" on the link, you will get the Yahoo web page listing
the file. When you click on the file, your browser will ask if you want to save or open the file. Select open with
Microsoft Word, and the pledge form will display on your screen.
We hope that this year the Trophy Fund contributions will cover the full cost of the trophies as they did
last year. Please help to cover these costs. We welcome any contributions to our General Trophy Fund in any
amount.
Thanks in advance for your generosity.
Lynn & Jonathan Halpern
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HUDSON VALLEY GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB
2015 SPECIALTY SHOW TROPHY FUND PLEDGE LIST
Please make checks payable to: HVGRC. Send to: Lynn Halpern, 7012 Vivaldi Ln. Delray Beach, FL 33446
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Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club
OFFICERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Robert Swanson
PO Box 220, Sherman CT 06784
(H)860/354-9416 (C) 860/318-1132
overlookgoldens@gmail.com
CLASS OF 2016
Ann Marie Cioffi
Caseyberry@aol.com
Lynn Halpern
Lynn1@att.net
VICE PRESIDENT
Christine Miele
238 Sarah Wells Trail, Campbell Hall, NY 10916
(H) 845/615-1565 (C) 834/649-2819
XCREEK@aol.com
CLASS OF 2015
Helen Sherman
HshermanK9Gold@aol.com
TREASURER
OPEN POSITION
Brian Visokay
176 Pudding St., Putnam Valley, NY 10579
(H)845/528-0516 (C) 845/528-5127
Brian@brvisokay.com
NEWSLETTER
RECORDING SECRETARY
Carol Russo
9 Strawberry Hill Court, Montvale, NJ 07645
(H) 201/694-0058
signetm@optonline.net
EDITOR
Susan Handelman
40 Birch Drive, Katonah NY 10536
(H) 914/232-1714
shandel@optonline.net
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Bonnie Oddo
PO Box 544, Lincoln Park NJ 07035
(H) 973/583-1021
bonoddo@gmail.com
LAYOUT/E-NEWS EDITOR
Melissa Fairweather
parhelion@hvc.rr.com
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
MEMBERSHIP
Lisa Weinberg
WindrushGoldenRetrievers@gmail.com
AKC PUBLIC ED COORDINATOR
Sandy Spitzer
russan@frontiernet.net
PROGRAM
Position Open: Volunteer Needed
FIELD REP Position Open: Volunteer Needed
PUPPY REFERRAL
Binnie Weissleder
Dogzrus1@comcast.net
GRCA DELEGATE
Chris Miele
xcreek@aol.com
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Giselle Graham
Jgraham54@sbcglobal.net
GRCA NEWS
Robert Swanson
overlookgoldens@gmail.com
For more information go to our website:
hvgrc.org
HISTORIANS
Vincent Savarese & Karen Fennikoh
(H) 845/361-5944
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BITS AND PIECES
PUPPY REFERRALS
PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
Don’t forget to let her know when all the puppies have
been sold. Please also let Binnie know if you have any
older dogs available.
SPECIAL TROPHIES
When listing your puppies with Binnie Weissleder (802)
375-9527 or dogzrus1@comcast.net
please observe the following:
Call her within a week of the litter’s due date to confirm
that the litter actually has been whelped and to let her
know how many puppies are available.
In order to qualify for membership in HVGRC you must
first attend two club functions. For application form and
further details, contact our Membership Chairperson, Lisa
Weinberg, at (914) 248-8245 (H). Her personal e-mail is
WindrushGoldenRetrievers@gmail.com
or through the club membership@hvgrc.org.
Attention: potential donors! Anyone who wishes to
donate a Special Trophy for our Annual Specialty Show (in
addition to the regular club trophies) needs to plan ahead. It
is necessary to submit a descriptive letter to the Board of
Directors for their approval by April of the previous year.
For example, for our June 2016 Show, such a letter must
reach the Board by April 2015. Prizes may be offered “in
honor of”, “in memory of” etc. Be sure to include a full
description of the trophy itself. If something inspires you,
write to the Board.
PLEASE NOTE! HVGRC Puppy Referral Guidelines,
in effect since August 1, 1998, require that a signed
release form for each litter be completed and returned to
Binnie and Mike. If you need a copy of this form, call
Binnie.
Breeders Please Note:
HVGRC subscribes to the same Code of Ethics as
GRCA . Members are advised to keep informed of any
changes now being considered.
NEWSLETTER DISCLAIMER
Following GRCA guidelines, the HVGRC Board has
adopted the following policy for articles submitted by
individuals:
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISEMENTS
Litter Listings or Items for Sale
There is no charge for these kinds of advertisements.
The following requirements still apply:
In conformity with HVGRC Puppy Referral
Guidelines, ads for puppies must be accompanied by
copies of parents’ hip, elbow, eye and cardiac
clearances.
NOTICE re PUPPY ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Hudson Valley Golden Retriever Club makes no
warranties or guarantees as to quality, health or any other
matters with respect to either the dogs listed herein or the
puppies which have or may be produced as a result of the
breedings listed herein. The HVGRC recommends that a
fully executed, written purchase agreement setting forth all
the terms of purchase be obtained before possession of a
puppy is transferred to the purchaser(s).
HVGRC WEBSITE
“Signed or featured articles express the opinion of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the views of
HVGRC. The responsibility for factual accuracy and
documentation belongs solely to the author of the
article.”
From the Board of Directors:
Attention all chairmen: It is a club policy that all
published materials including but not limited to flyers,
premium lists, and GR News columns be submitted to
the Board of Directors for review prior to being
released.
N ew m em bers please note:
Please refer to the HVGRC web site for Guidelines
and Requirements for Annual Awards. This material
is no longer included in the new member packet.
Visit the HVGRC Website frequently for the latest
information: hvgrc.org. Please note: Anyone
wishing to post news or notice on the website,
should send it to our President, Bob Swanson, who
will then transmit it to our webmaster.
HVGRC E-MAIL
Use this address whenever you need to communicate
with the full membership:
hvgrc@yahoogroups.com
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