Updates since this original posting at that board.

Ron presented the info for this new club at the Association of Michigan Field Trial Clubs annual summer meeting on July 20. The club was heartily accepted into the fold. US Complete has also accepted us. The Michigan Association will now add a yearly Walking Shooting Dog, Walking Derby & Walking Puppy of the Year award. The Kalamazoo Field Trial Club, The Southwest Michigan Field Trial Club and the Grand Valley Field Trial Club all run walking events at Ionia, Highland & Allegan. (If I left off a club that runs walking events I apologize.) With this new club we now have enough walking events (less Coverdog which has a yearly awards) to have Dog of the Year awards. As stated we are still working out the details for the club, By Laws, dates, etc. As of this writing we are targeting a mid March spring trial and a mid September Fall trial (prior to the bird opener.) We will not overlap the Gladwin Cover trials and we will attempt to not overlap with other similar trial formats. We are shooting to have our first trial next March, 2009. We plan to hold Open events for certain and Amateur events if time and entries allow. More to follow as this Club evolves. All are welcome to come on board and work to get this club up and running. We need seed money to get started and as stated in the above we are putting together membership levels to do this. All input and help will be accepted with open arms and open minds.Thanks

Starting Out

At a nightspot well known to field trialers ….the Red Dog Saloon in Milford, Michigan a new walking field trial club was formed July 10, by a panel of six well seasoned field trial devotees. The name chosen for the new venture was the Highland Field Trial Club, and the aim is to hold top notch walking field trials at the Highland Recreation Area near Milford, Michigan. Named president was Ron Sposita, vice president Mark Beniak, Secretary/Treasurer Dave Fletcher and Directors Greg Tereck, Paul Tutro and Bob Wheelock. Much discussion took place including dates for spring and fall events that would not conflict with other field trial clubs, affiliation with the Association of Michigan Field Trial Clubs, insurance for events, liason with the American Field and Field Dog Stud Book and AFTCA, options such as affiliation with US Complete Shooting Dog Association, establishing the club as a 501-C-3 non profit entity with the IRS, getting a tax ID number and opening a bank account, coming up with enough seed money to fund the early expenses of our first trial before income becomes available. At future meetings we will discuss other forms of membership besides our original six voting members. Memberships such as lifetime, Founding Membership, etc will be discussed to help the new club financially and get us rolling, and this information will be put on the web.