Review of 2007

At the end of every year, we like to look back at our accomplishment and review our goals.

One of the main purposes of the Association has been to act as a unifying source to the Obedience Clubs of Northern California. Our Association dates back to 1950.…and is composed of licensed or member AKC Obedience clubs in Northern California.

Members in our group met quarterly, in or around the Bay Area, during the months of January, April, July, and October. We used these meetings to share information pertinent to the Fancy, to familiarize ourselves with the various activities the clubs offer, to have an opportunity to get to know each other and to become friends.

The Association is a non profit organization that works to further the work of the 18 AKC dog training clubs whose members make up the Association. We do this in a variety of ways.

Each year the Association sponsors two obedience events which are hosted by the members. The annual All Breed Obedience Workshop in February is our major fund raiser for the year and is open to all interested exhibitors.

The Interclub Obedience Competition is held in June. Recently Interclub has been expanded to include Rally Competition, CGC test, pre-novice class ,Wild Card Classes and a practice ring. We encourage Assn trainees to participate in Interclub so they can start off in Obedience with the support of their friends. Winners of the club competitions are awarded perpetual plaques and the individuals making up the teams are awarded Rosettes. We have included a participants’ Pot Luck at the end of the event in order to further camaraderie.

We support the work of the individual clubs in other ways as well. Clubs were acknowledged for their long term contributions to the Fancy with certificates for special trial anniversaries or founding years. We have award Appreciation Awards to individuals who have worked long and hard for the Association. Recipients have been Don and Jane Norton, Gerry Glanz, Ron and Lynn Cole, Melba and Earl Sheid. Yearly we hold a Presidents’ Appreciation luncheon inviting all the presidents of our clubs to be our special guests in order to honor them for the leadership they offer.

The Association has offered $500 scholarships for an Obedience Junior exhibitor in conjunction with scholarships offered at the SunMaidKC. The scholarships were offered in the memory of judges Charles Cobb, Jim TenEyck, Keith Coyne and Beverly Cobb.. A High Combined Challenge Trophy is offered by AOCNC in memory of Judge Julius Hidassy at the Puli Specialties. Contributions have also been made in memory of long time Delegated-Members of the Assn who have passed away: Earl Sheid, to Vallejo DTC; Sally Cerrado to Border Terrier Club of the Redwoods, NCKeshondClub Rescue in memory of Jane Norton. We have supported groups working on legislation and for Disaster Rescue.

To further promote our Association clubs, you will find our full page ad in the Golden Gate KC catalogue. All clubs are listed along with a contact number. At our Education Table during the two days of GGKC, educational materials are offered to the public. Included in the materials we pass out is an AOCNC information sheet which the public may use as a reference in locating any one of our clubs. For the past several years, all of our clubs have been invited to provide ˝ page fliers which are made available to the public giving information about a specific club.

Courtesy of Mt. Diablo DTC, you will find our ad in the Mt. Diablo DTC Dog Show/Trial Calendar. One more way to help the reader locate our clubs.

The Assn has provided courtesy seminars to the club members. We have featured speakers on Aggressive Dogs, Emergency First Aid and CPR for dogs, and Noah’s Ark Disaster Rescue. Plans are in the works for one in 2008.

One of our latest effort to promote the work of the Association members is the inauguration of this AOCNC web site (AOCNC.org) which connects all interested parties to our clubs’ mailing addresses and websites as well as to the Association and its events.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has determined that AB 1634 does not have a fiscal impact. Senate Rule 28.8 allows bills that do not have a cost to the state to be submitted directly to the floor. This determination was partly based on amendments offered by the author which remove Section 5 from the bill. This clause would have prohibited the State Controller from reimbursing local governments for the costs of impounding stray animals unless they complied with state reporting requirements.

In the AKC’s view this section of the bill was a positive one as accurate reporting allows government officials to obtain a clearer picture of the issues in animal control. We believe that the removal of this section only serves to make a bad bill worse by removing local government accountability.

The committee accepted these amendments and they will be put in print August 5th after the Senate returns from their summer recess. AB 1634 will then be eligible to be taken up for a vote by the full Senate.

The AKC’s concerns with the bill still have not been addressed and we are therefore asking fanciers and concerned dog owners to contact their State Senators and ask them to oppose AB 1634. Please personalize the attached letter and mail or fax it to your State Senator.

We are also attaching a letter for clubs to personalize and send to the Senators who represent areas where their clubs are headquartered and/or have held events, as well to the leaders of each caucus; Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata and Republican Leader Dave Cogdill. If you are a club officer, please encourage your club to author a letter. All letters can be mailed to the State Capitol at:

Senator __________
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Additionally, as the Senators are in recess they will be in their district offices. We highly recommend gathering a group of club members and concerned dog owners to meet with these legislators during this time. You can find contact information for your State Senator here; http://192.234.213.69/lmapsearch/framepage.asp.