Chuck and Mel have been involved in AKC Licensed Field Trials for more than a decade. They have judged, marshalled, and served in every capacity at weekend trials including Field Trial Secretary. They own 3 titled dogs, one currently with Joe pro and Mel competes regularly in both the Open and the Amateur.
Chuck is employed in management by a well known National Corporation so during the past decade they have moved twice due to his promotions and hence were heavily involved with 2 different AKC Licensed Retriever Clubs in 2 different states.
Their most recent move was to a large metropolitan area where they had previously lived. They met some local retriever people and secured a rather large parcel of land very suitable for both training and holding field trials. The landowner is very gracious in allowing use of the property and Chuck and Mel have been very gracious in inviting others to train with them.
Their small training group formed a club and decided that they would like to host a field trial so they approached a regional retriever association about assisting them with securing a date for their first event. This was all done in due course and the event went off without a hitch specifically due the efforts of Mel and Chuck and their group and some volunteer assistance from the local area. Absent was significant assistance from the regional retriever association (except for assistance with the AKC).
Their Club decided that they really didn't need the regional retriever association but preferred Licensed Club status so that (among other things) they would have a club vote on proposed rule changes to the RAC.
They prepared a rather impressive application including the dog resumes of it's members and submitted the application to AKC. They were surprised when AKC rejected their application due to fact that their membership did not include 20 family units and that some members were also members of other area AKC Licensed Field Trial Clubs (not surprising since this is one of the larger metropolitan areas in the country).
Not to be deterred they recruited more members especially ones not affiliated with other clubs and resubmitted their application. They were again surprised when AKC said that they would grant them provisional club status but that they must hold at least one Sanctioned event before they could hold a licensed one or they could again apply through the regional retriever association. Perplexed and somewhat discouraged they appealed having decided that if AKC finds their club unfit to host an AKC Licensed Field Trial they will just abandon the entire project.
In your opinion does this group appear qualified, should they be granted AKC Licensed Club status, and should they be allowed to host a Licensed Field Trial without hosting one or more Sanctioned events?
Chuck is employed in management by a well known National Corporation so during the past decade they have moved twice due to his promotions and hence were heavily involved with 2 different AKC Licensed Retriever Clubs in 2 different states.
Their most recent move was to a large metropolitan area where they had previously lived. They met some local retriever people and secured a rather large parcel of land very suitable for both training and holding field trials. The landowner is very gracious in allowing use of the property and Chuck and Mel have been very gracious in inviting others to train with them.
Their small training group formed a club and decided that they would like to host a field trial so they approached a regional retriever association about assisting them with securing a date for their first event. This was all done in due course and the event went off without a hitch specifically due the efforts of Mel and Chuck and their group and some volunteer assistance from the local area. Absent was significant assistance from the regional retriever association (except for assistance with the AKC).
Their Club decided that they really didn't need the regional retriever association but preferred Licensed Club status so that (among other things) they would have a club vote on proposed rule changes to the RAC.
They prepared a rather impressive application including the dog resumes of it's members and submitted the application to AKC. They were surprised when AKC rejected their application due to fact that their membership did not include 20 family units and that some members were also members of other area AKC Licensed Field Trial Clubs (not surprising since this is one of the larger metropolitan areas in the country).
Not to be deterred they recruited more members especially ones not affiliated with other clubs and resubmitted their application. They were again surprised when AKC said that they would grant them provisional club status but that they must hold at least one Sanctioned event before they could hold a licensed one or they could again apply through the regional retriever association. Perplexed and somewhat discouraged they appealed having decided that if AKC finds their club unfit to host an AKC Licensed Field Trial they will just abandon the entire project.
In your opinion does this group appear qualified, should they be granted AKC Licensed Club status, and should they be allowed to host a Licensed Field Trial without hosting one or more Sanctioned events?
