April ATCA "Happenings"

Information on the ATCA Floater can be found on the front page of the website and in the current edition of the American Airedale. Don't forget that the deadline for catalog advertising and hospitality event reservation is July 1, 2008. Check out the website for the forms or the American Airedale. For more information, contact Mareth Kipp at fkipp@centurytel.net

If you are planning on attending the ATCA hunt tests at the Great Lakes Floater on July 24th, there is a survey to help you determine where your dog fits into these tests. Please review this survey under the Floater information button the front page of the website or contact Karen Copley at airetail@aol.com if you have any questions.

A new DVD on puppy training is available on the website at www.shopping.airedale.org and our newest DVD is called: "A Practical Guide to Raising a Puppy." It features special items such as: grooming, conformation training, leash training, ear gluing and beginning tips to stripping.

The ATCA Hunting and Field section and Working Dog Sport section will soon be added to the website. This section has been under construction for several months until the committee was ready for its début.

Plans for the CATC specialty are now available: The specialty will be held in Sacramento, CA beginning on April 9, 2008. There will be 4 shows and 5 obedience/rally events. One of the obedience/rally events will be held by CATC. The judges for the Breed shows include: Jon Cole, Patricia Alsina, Rhonda Davis and Peter Green. The sweeps judge will be Doug Moore. For more information on the specialty shows contact Kayla Kurcuz at Kayla@techfocusmedia.com and for the Obedience/Rally shows contact Nancy Bougher at nancyb@mindsync.com.

You can purchase your Montgomery County 2007 Weekend DVD's now. These DVD's include all the events at the weekend including: Agility, Obedience/Rally, Hatboro Sweeps and Regular classes and MCKC classes and Best of Breed. Order the complete set or selected DVD's at www.shopping.airedale.org.

The Airedale Terrier Club of Metropolitan Washington, DC, Inc. will hold its Specialty Show on Friday April 18, 2008 in Timonium, Maryland. The regular class judge is: George Gordon and Sweepstakes is Elizabeth Mattison. The Group and Best Puppy judge is: Dr. Gerald Mager and the Obedience judge is Mrs. Marilou McCloskey. For more details contact Russ Hammond at RHamm59694@aol.com.

Don't forget to make your Montgomery hotel reservations. The host hotel is the Hyatt Summerfield Suites at East Norriton, PA. Call 1-610-313-9990 and say you want to make a reservation under ATCA. ATCA has also booked rooms at the Candlewood Suites Horsham (1-215-328-9119). Other hotels within the area include: Days Inn-Horsham PA (1-215-674-2500, Extended Stay America-Plymouth Meeting (1-856-246-8222), Doubletree Guest Suites Plymouth Meeting (1-610-834-8300) and the Inn at Chester Springs (1-888-253-6119). For more information contact Pamela Macomber at pmac470@verizon.net.

AKC has announced the top Agility Stats for 2007 and the top five Airedales are: MACH3 Connemara's Tuff Act To Follow CDX,RE, NJP,MXF owned by Deanna Lulik, CH MACH Stirling Blackstone Spitfire CD, RE owned by Susan Levasseur, Pax Waltzing With Bears CDX, RN, MX, MXJ owned by Gregory Kirmeier, CH MACH2 Westchester Traymar Hotstuff CD, OF owned by Kimberly Zaborniak and Strongbow Copper Star MX, MXJ, NF owned by Sue Lienau and Sandra Cooley. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement for Airedales and their owners.

Events for Montgomery 2008 are almost completed. A complete schedule for the weekend will be published in the next American Airedale and will be available on the website.

Agility at Montgomery 2008 will be held from September 30-October 3rd. The ATCA sponsored agility trial will be held on Wednesday, October 1 and will be FAST class. Judges are: Bonnie Drabek and Jack Cadalso. If you need more information, please contact Kim Zaborniak at kimzab9@insight.rr.com.

ATCA Obedience/Rally will be holding their annual event on Saturday October 4, 2008 at the same wonderful indoor site as last year, the Dog Training Center of Chester County. Jeffery Showman will be the judge for these events. For more information contact Linda Coates at whodunitky@bellsouth.net.

Conformation at Montgomery 2008 will provide several days of fun filled activities for Airedale enthusiasts. Starting with shows at Hatboro on October 2, 2008 and an ATCA supported entry on Friday, October 3. There will be shows at Devon in the AM on October 4 followed by activities at the ATCA Obedience/Rally site. Sunday October 5, 2008 will be a wonderful day of Airedale showing. Starting with sweepstakes at the MCKC site and ending with Best of Breed. Our sweepstakes judge will be Gary Vohs and our class judge will be Peggy Beisel McIlwaine. It is a great day to see our breed's best of the best. For more information on these shows contact Martha Graham at gtc@mchsi.com.

The 2008 ATCA National Hunt Tests have been moved to coincide with the Montgomery County Weekend. This will let us have a "Week of the Airedale" EVERY year!!! Hunt tests/Fur tests will be held October 6th and 7th. Stay tuned to the ATCA site for more information as it develops or contact Karen Copley at airetail@aol.com.

Sad news: Lou Swafford, a long time ATCA member passed away on March 18, 2008. Lou was one of the charter members of ATCMW and founder of the ATCMW Rescue Committee and served as Coordinator. He will be missed by all.

The Airedale Terrier Club of Metropolitan New York will hold their annual Specialty Show, Sweepstakes and Obedience and Rally Trials on Friday, May 2nd in West Windsor, NJ. Judges are: Regular classes: Mr. Wayne Bousek and Sweepstakes: Maripi Wooldridge. For more information contact: Dave Morgan at evadnagrom@aol.com.

The Mid-Jersey Airedale Terrier Club will hold its 18th Specialty Show on Sunday, May 4th at West Windsor, NJ. Breed judge is: Todd Clyde and Sweepstakes judge is: Bonnie Threlfall. A tailgate luncheon will be featured. Contact Mary Jane Carberry at maryjanec@att.net for more information.

There will be a scheduled ATCA Board Meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday July 24 at the ATCA floater in Wisconsin. ATCA Committee Reports and proposals for this Board Meeting are due by June lst and sent to the ATCA Secretary, Shirley VanOver at svairedale@aol.com.

The Airedale Terrier Club of Greater Philadelphia will be holding their Supported Airedale Entry and 22nd Annual Specialty Show and Sweepstakes on May 9th and 10th in Ludwigs Corner, PA. The judge for Friday, May 9th supported entry is Mrs. Michelle Billings. The Annual Specialty judge for the regular classes is Ms. Mary Jane Carberry and sweepstakes judge is Mrs. Shirley Patterson. They will have a club hosted tailgate party after judging and the Barbara Strebeigh Bowl will be awarded to Best of Breed. For additional information, contact Bill Kochler at 610-827-7889.
The ATCA Montgomery Fine Arts Raffle and that information will be posted on the website shortly. The items have been designed and created just for Montgomery 2008. Each artist contributor is creating a one of a kind for this fundraiser. Each month we will highlight one of the items to be raffled. This month we highlight a special piece made by Myrna Whatmough. She will be creating the item "Sterling Silver necklace with an Attitude". The sterling silver necklace is adorned with pearls and Swarovski crystal with sterling bead drop dangles on a curb chain. The necklace may be worn alone or with the enhancer that holds a custom molded sterling Airedale, a bone and a paw. The necklace itself is 18" and with the enhancer the size is 20". Get your raffle tickets early or purchase them through PayPal at jnoelsagacious@yahoo.com and the cost is: $10/ea or 3 for $26.00. If you use PayPal be sure to note "Fine Arts Raffle Tickets" in the subject line.

Mother's Day and May Day are fast approaching. Check out the Mother's Day jewelry box, tile and cards along with the wonderful May Day tile box that is on the website shopping at www.shopping.airedale.org. We have also added some new spring items such as mousepads, coasters and post it pads. Coming soon: A wonderful dog blanket. Don't forget to buy something special for your best Airedale friend plus check out our great toys too. If you have any questions, contact Shirley at svairedale@aol.com.

A copy of the ATCA 2007 Tax Return and letter from the CPA's has been added to the website under member documents. Check out this section for all member information including minutes, financial reports, ATCA documentation, etc. Club members can stay informed with all ATCA activity by checking out this site.

The ATCA Nominating Committee for 2008 has been formed and a list of the chair and members should arrive shortly in the mail to all ATCA members.

There are lots of great things going on with ATCA right now. If you see something that you think you might be interested in and need more information, contact our President, Virginia Latham Smith at lathamsmith@sbcglobal.net or me at svairedale@aol.com.

May those April showers bring us lots of May flowers to rush in spring.

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