Meeting/Election Announcement:

Jagdgebrauchshund Verein USA (JGV-USA) Inc.

Agenda 2008 Annual Meeting Tilden, Texas  For Meeting Notes Click Here

JGV-USA Annual Meeting 2008

JGV-USA held our annual meeting on 19.20. 04. 2008 in Tilden, Texas. If you missed this meeting we will be glad to tell you about our wonderful weekend of hunting in south Texas and the upcoming events for 2008-09. The gracious hosts for our  meeting were Peter and Fran Swenson making the Swenson Ranch in south Texas the perfect atmosphere for our German affiliated hunting group. Pete is the Vice-President of  JGV-USA, but Fran is probably the BOSS……The Swenson ranch is located southeast of San Antonio in Mc Mullen county. Mc Mullen county consists of  3500 hundred miles of rough south Texas hill country and sports a population of approximately 600 (600 is correct) Texans. Wildlife of every description can be found in the area including: Cougar/Mountain lion, wild feral pigs, and the little javelina pigs. If you are not familiar with the this little fellow with big tusks they travel in groups and are not accustom to being intimidated. Periodically you will find wildlife photographers from around the globe setting up camp on the ranch. They come to film the unique wildlife in south Texas in their natural undisturbed habitat.

I am not sure what type of meetings you are accustom to but JGV-USA is geared to hunters and German hunting dogs. Our meetings are a little different than your typical club meeting. Everyone is very familiar with the typical routine for meetings in most organizations. It is usually located at a hotel with some sort of meeting room with an agenda, restaurant, individual rooms and a bar for social hour.
The JGV-USA board and membership began to drift in on Friday and assembled in an old ranch house located in remote Texas hill country. Prior to arrival I am quite sure many attendees were puzzled about where their lodging and club activities would take place. I noticed a big smile when each person was  provided a room and a place to store his/her gear in the rustic old ranch house. As usual, Pete “the chef that he is” had a ranch house meal prepared. Lunch was quickly eaten, and everyone continued to smile and giggle because we were in the process of leaving for an evening of pig and predator hunting. We climbed into the back of  pickup trucks and Pete drove us across the ranch and dropped each hunter off at one of the many hunting blinds located on the ranch. Pete has cleared small areas of land and set up two 1,000 pound wild game feeders and a tower hunting blind in each area. This part of Texas is known for abundant deer and pig populations and one must never forget the ever present RATTLESNAKE. It is important to look where you walk and understand this is “rattlesnake country”.  He won’t bother you if you learn his ways and give him his due respect. Some of our “Macho” members solved the rattlesnake problem by refusing to leave the safety of  the vehicle and stepped from the vehicle to the ladder on the blind without ever touching the ground!!!!!!!!! Once in the safety of  the blind they were smiling again and ready to hunt. I guess no one ever told them rattlesnakes can climb!!!!!!!!

The hunting was superb for the entire weekend, and a great time was shared by all in attendance. If you missed this membership meeting and a weekend of hunting in south Texas along with ranch style homemade cooking, you missed “Christmas in April.” As Chairman of JGV-USA and on behalf of the entire membership I would like to express our warmest regards and appreciation to Pete and Fran Swenson for hosting our annual meeting. It was an environment where we could take care of the important business of JGV and work in the quiet solitude of the remote outdoors. It is nature’s most indescribable places where the spirit beckons us to come; it has been created for man to enjoy and develops a life long bond between nature, men, and their dogs. A Cheyenne Dog Soldier once gave this bit of advice when the Cheyenne people seemed to have little hope for the future. 

“Be silent and you will feel; be quiet and you will hear; be alone and you will see the earth as she really is. If we are quiet and obedient to the voice of the great spirit, sometimes we may understand these great mysteries” Robert Young Bull, Cheyenne 1876.

 The Swenson’s served an early breakfast and the JGV-USA meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning on April 19th 2008. It was time to review our first year in office and set goals for the future. One of our major points of discussion was the correct procedure for communication with the JGHV board in Germany; and any other formal communication with other clubs and activities. This communication must be made through the proper channels. If this procedure is violated and not followed correctly by the membership at large and the JGV-USA board, it can and will cause major misunderstandings and complications we can certainly do without. We should expect an official statement from the German JGHV concerning future testing procedures in the USA and proper communication with Germany.

It is also appropriate protocol, if you are a JGV member and represent our club in any activities, to please inform us as to what, where and when. Let us know the outcome of your activity as this information may be used for our data collection, and we may be able to support you.

According to the by-laws, we had vacancies on the Testing Committee and appointed Pete Swenson and David Stanley to occupy the two vacant positions. Along with Leonard Baker, these three members will serve as the Directorate of Testing. You may contact any one of the three on this committee for information regarding scheduling/coordinating tests or any issue concerning JGHV testing issues.
 
JGV End OF YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

It has been a very busy year indeed for JGV-USA. We have made several major accomplishments that provide a stable organizational foundation allowing the club to progress in an orderly and efficient manner.

          1.       Conducted an audit of financial and material assets
          2.       Established a process for financial accountability
          3.       Established a current membership roster
          4.       Created a membership package for new members
          5.       Established a current and informative website
          6.       Judged in Colorado, Texas, Washington and Oklahoma
          7.       Networked with new breed clubs Deutsch Longhairs and Pudelpointers
          8.       Hosted VJP, HZP, VGP tests in different regions
          9.       Held the annual meeting in Tilden, Texas
          10.     Worked on better communication with the JGHV in Germany
          11.     Set organizational objectives for 2008-09

Our testing year was very successful and our judges, test directors, test coordinators and everyone associated with making our tests successful deserves a round of applause. It is not an easy task to organize a test with proper terrain, wild game, judges, handlers, dogs, meeting places, lodging, publication and pleading  with “Mother Nature” to please cooperate with us on test days. Some times she does and sometimes she doesn’t. At our VJP in March she didn’t and along with other factors led us to reschedule the test. This time everything went according to schedule. Andy Barham, “bless his heart” is our new apprentice judge, and we look forward to Andy finishing his apprenticeship and becoming a certified judge. We need judges! I urge you to strongly consider taking your dog through the testing program and join the judging ranks.

In closing, I wish to sincerely thank our friends in Germany who support our club when we need them. The JGHV in Germany has assisted us from the very beginning and throughout our trials and tribulations of getting and staying organized. It is time for JGV-USA to stand up and become more self- sufficient in our own country. We have our Fall HZP & VGP tests coming soon, and we will host judges, test coordinator, and handler seminars prior to the tests. We need your help and commitment to insure success.
This will happen only when the board and membership join together and make the commitment.
“Your German hunting dog did” “Now he is waiting to see what you are made of ???”

Waidmannsheil
Shelby L. Kervin
Chairman JGV-USA
580-492-5338
shelby@kervinshof.com

October 1st, 2007

As I wind up my first fiscal quarter as the new treasurer of our group I felt it was my duty to let the membership know where we stood financially as well as to interject a few personal opinions and random thoughts.

We need to minimize expenses where possible.  Most of our current expenses directly relate to the tests that we conduct, and a bit of planning could save this organization some money that could be spent on our judge development program.  A quick review of one test showed 3 judges in the same hotel but in separate rooms.  Sharing of rooms, or those in the local area hosting a judge in their home could reduce this expense.  Additionally, there was a 12% difference in the rates paid to stay in the same hotel…don’t be afraid to compare bills with other judges and question any discrepancies.  Test hosts should provide judges directions/maps to the test site to eliminate judges from needing to add GPS service to their rental cars (an additional $11 per day claimed).

We had to pay a late fee of $221 to Germany because the results of a VJP test held this spring were not submitted to Germany on time; test coordinators insure that you get your test paperwork completed and submitted to Len Baker as soon as possible to avoid this happening again.

Remember we are a not for profit organization [501(c)(3)]. Donations can be solicited to help reduce expenses and I can provide receipts for donor’s tax files.

Chuck Davis should be mailing out next years membership renewal notices in the near future, please pay early and avoid a late fee.  Additionally we will incur an expense for ordering new judges books and test publications from Germany in the near future.

Any member who wishes to have a more detailed accounting of the above listed revenue can request one by emailing me at duckshooter@hotmail.com, I will email you a complete excel workbook of our current financial activities. Also feel free to ask any questions about our clubs financial status: My goal is to conduct club business with openness and transparency.

GORDON W. AMBROSEK, Treasurer, JGV-USA

Chairman's Message:

2007 Chairman - Shelby L. Kervin

Professor of Criminal Justice at Cameron University and owner of one of the oldest breeding and training kennels for the imported Deutsch Drahthaar in North America. I am certified by the Jagdgebrauchshundverbands as a judge for versatile hunting dogs and have judged in North America and Germany. I have conducted numerous seminars and training clinics for most of the sporting breeds. Our residence and kennels are located in Elgin, Oklahoma in the heart of the old Kiowa, Comanche and Apache reservation. My wife Madeline is a career educator and member of the Kiowa War Mother's Society.

Our daughter Michele, is also an educator, sporting dog trainer and kennel owner.Our son, Shelby E. Kervin, is a veteran of the Afganistan/Iraq war, and is an avid hunter working as a financial planner in Dallas, Texas.

The JGV-USA executive board is committed to testing versatile hunting dogs in accordance with the current test regulations and providing service with integrity to the membership. We encourage you to join JGV-USA I think you will be glad that you did. We look forward to meeting you and please check the website and calendar for upcoming events. The coffee is hot, stories are somewhat truthful and the dogs are great.

Waidmannsheil

2007 Vice Chairman - Pete Swenson

58 years old , married with 2 children. I am a retired physician, currently managing my family's ranching business in South Texas. Prior to becoming a physician I served 6 years in the U S Navy,3 in Vietnam. I have owned and trained hunting dogs most of my life. Last year I became a jghv judge. I currently own 3 DD's, at least partially ,as my daughter claims one of them. My other interests include collecting antique firearms ,fly fishing ,and traditional bowhunting.  My belief is the jghv offers the best method of insuring the production of high quality hunting dogs that are also great family dogs and companions. I will try to be worthy of the dogs.

2007 Secretary - Charles B. Davis. " Chuck"

I am Married with three adult children. Attorney in Private practice in Norman Oklahoma, with an emphasis in oil & gas, land & title disputes. Major , United States Marine Corps ( Retired), 25 years including active duty and reserves with 1 combat tour in F-4 " Phantoms " in Viet Nam.

I became a JGHV Judge in 1991 and have been active as a judge and test coordinator since that time. I was one of the original founders and members of JGV-USA, and did the legal work to incorporate JGV-USA as a legal entity and obtain 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status for the organization when it was formed.

It has always been my belief that this organization provides a viable , effective , alternative for the testing, development and understanding of versatile hunting dogs, in general and Drahthaars in particular.

I currently belong to two DD's and I will do my best to not embarrass them.

2007 Treasurer - Gordon Ambrosek

Apache, Oklahoma

My wife Holly and I live just south of Apache Oklahoma. I retired from the Untied States Army as a First Sergeant 2 years ago after 25 years of active duty. Currently I am finishing up my Bachelors of Accounting degree at Cameron University (one semester remaining) were I have a 3.9 GPA. Upon graduation I intend to seek a government accounting position and continue to work towards fulfilling the requirements to become a CPA.

I have been fortunate enough to have hunted with German versatile dogs for almost thirty years and have owned Drahthaars continuously since 1985.

During my military career I lived (over 10 years) and hunted in Germany and was able to test my dogs under several of the German breed clubs. I continue to maintain strong ties to friends in the German hunting and versatile dog community and will be spending time in Germany this June.

To all JGHV member clubs: