Club News and Information

3rd Annual Sportsmen & Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day

The 3rd Annual Sportsmen & Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day has been set for Tuesday, March 20, 2012 from 9:00am to 1:00pm in the "Well" of the State Legislative Office Building in Albany. The keynote address will be given by NRA-EVP Wayne LaPierre.

Here is a flyer: http://www.nysrpa.org/files/2012LegislativeAwarenessDay.pdf

More information will be posted on our website as it becomes available.

The following news was received from Laura Gurdus Dolid. We wish to express our sympathy to Laura and her family on the passing of her mom, Helen Gurdus.

I wanted to let you know that Helen Gurdus, a founding member of the Westchester Retriever Club, passed away at the age of 97 (ish) on (B. December 23. 1914) September 25th, 2011. Harry Gurdus (1910-2002) also a founding member predeceased her. She never lost interest in the sport and followed pedigrees and breeding very closely until shortly before her death. She mentored many young people starting out in the sport including John Cavanaugh. Their first dog, Woodcroft Nip ‘n’ Tuck was purchased in NY from Paul Svane of Woodcroft Retrievers in 1951. She and my father were responsible for the Nip ‘n’ Tuck Trophy that you present to this day. (if you could correct “Gurders” to “Gurdus’” on your website, it would be much appreciated.)

I have the collection of all of her breeding records going back to 1951, as well as all of her field trial catalogs that she and my father collected since that time including a hand typed “premium” from one of the Westchester Retriever Club’s first trials.

I realize that all of her training partners and most people that knew her are long gone, but I thought the club should know about her passing. I think she is one of the last of that era.

ANNUAL CLUB MEETING AND ELECTIONS

The annual club meeting was held at the home of Mary Ellen Abbott on Dec 3. The current officers and board were re-elected to a second term as follows:

  • Mary Beth Corsini, President
  • Dennis McConnell, Vice-president
  • Sharon Lyons, Treasurer
  • Valerie Bernhardt -Secretary
  • Ginnie Pastor- Board
  • Sari Manowiecki -Board
  • Gerry Bailey- Board

Important dates to Remember

  • March 17 -club meeting at Mary Ellen Abbott's house - possibly a fun field event on her property
  • Icebreaker- April 15 ( tentative date)
  • May field trial -May 11, 12,13
  • Hunt test- July 7, 8
  • August minor stake trial- August 19

More information on these events will be posted after Jan 1.

The club also voted to make the following devoted long time members life members:
Mary Ellen Abbott
Pat Sadler
Harvey Gardinier

Ginnie will again take on the training schedule. More information will be posted as it becomes available after January 1

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Reminder: Renewal dues should be sent to Sharon Lyons. Please check your newsletter. We have many members who did not renew for this year. We need your support - so please reconsider renewing.