President’s Meeting Notes – June 30, 2026
- Updates on Physical Attributes Procedures and Health Statement: Kim relayed Bridget’s announcement that changes to the physical attributes procedures will be finalized and shared soon, and introduced a new health statement for test sign-ups, with all chapters encouraged to prepare members accordingly.
- Physical Attributes Procedure Changes: Bridget communicated through Kim that updates to the physical attributes procedures will be finalized within the week and disseminated via social media and email. Chapters are encouraged to allocate time during training days to ensure members are prepared for these changes.
- Training with Strangers: Chapters are encouraged to have members train physical attributes with at least three strangers, as part of the new procedural emphasis. Only if both the handler and the person conducting the exam are comfortable doing so.
- New Health Statement for Tests: A new health statement will be required during test sign-ups, prompting participants to confirm their dog is not ill and reminding them of symptoms that would preclude participation.
- Membership Survey Results and Analysis: Jason presented a summary of the recent membership survey, highlighting high satisfaction and engagement rates, areas for improvement, and plans to share the full results with all participants.
- Survey Participation and Demographics: The survey received over 1,800 responses, representing a broad cross-section of NAVHDA members, with no significant demographic gaps identified.
- Engagement and Participation: 49% of members frequently attend local events, with an additional 25% attending occasionally; distance and scheduling conflicts are the main barriers to participation.
- Reasons for Membership: Members primarily join for dog training (81%) and testing/evaluation (63%), with mentorship, community, and friendship also cited as important factors.
- Areas for Improvement: Access to education and training resources and communication from NAVHDA International were identified as areas needing improvement, with member satisfaction scores below 4.0 in these categories.
- Survey Data Sharing and Anonymity: Jason clarified that chapter-level data cannot be provided due to anonymity, but offered to help chapters create their own surveys using provided templates.
- Volunteer Recruitment and Mentor Program Expansion: Jason and Kim discussed ongoing efforts to recruit volunteers, expand the mentor program through the member portal, and fill specific skill gaps such as accounting and marketing, with Rick highlighting the need for a not-for-profit CPA.
- Volunteer Sign-Up Initiative: A volunteer sign-up sheet was distributed via email to identify members’ skills and interests, with chapters encouraged to promote participation and spread the word.
- Mentor Program Portal Development: The member portal is being updated to allow mentors to specify their areas of expertise and filter by location and skill set, facilitating better matching between mentors and chapters.
- Skill Gaps and Recruitment Needs: Rick requested volunteers with accounting experience for not-for-profits, specifically those familiar with 990s, and Jason noted ongoing needs in marketing and IT.
- Volunteer Assignment and Communication: Not all volunteers may be immediately assigned roles, but their information will be kept on file for future opportunities, and communication will be maintained regarding their status.
- Digitization and Cataloging of VHD Training Articles: David raised the question of digitizing and cataloging VHD training articles, with Jason and Kim explaining that while no progress has been made due to resource constraints, volunteer and university partnerships are being explored.
- Digitization Project Status: David inquired about progress on digitizing VHD training articles; Jason confirmed it is not yet underway due to prioritization of other tasks, but the idea is noted for future action.
- Volunteer and University Partnerships: Kim shared that outreach to local universities and colleges for volunteer support has occurred and will be pursued again to help with the cataloging effort.
- NAVHDA Forum and Communication Tools: Jason introduced the NAVHDA forum as a resource for sharing information and problem-solving, with plans to provide how-to guides and encourage broader use among members.
- Forum Introduction and Purpose: The NAVHDA forum was developed to facilitate sharing of resources and answers among members, with the goal of building a searchable library accessible to all.
- Accessibility and Training: How-to videos and guides will be created to help members use the forum, addressing the needs of those not on social media platforms like Facebook.
- Monthly Newsletter Implementation and Accessibility: Jason and Kim discussed the rollout of the monthly newsletter as a communication tool, confirming two editions have been sent and plans to make them available on the website for easier access.
- Newsletter Distribution: Two newsletters have been sent out, with the first in May, and feedback is welcome from members regarding their content and usefulness.
- Website Publication Plans: Plans are in place to publish newsletters on the website and portal to ensure members can access them even if emails are lost or deleted.
- Insurance Guidance and Gunner Policies: Jason and Kim addressed questions about insurance coverage and gunner policies, noting that best practices will be shared with chapters and that an updated insurance FAQ is being prioritized.
- Gunner Policy Guidance: Chapters will be provided with optional gunner policies and best practices, prompted by recent incidents and common insurance questions.
- Insurance FAQ Update: An updated insurance FAQ will clarify coverage details, emphasizing that the policy primarily covers NAVHDA International, landowners, and the public, not individual members or judges.
- Annual Meeting Format Changes and Event Planning: Jake and Kim announced upcoming changes to the annual meeting format, aiming for greater interactivity, expanded workshops, and increased participation, with Finger Lakes chapter preparing the agenda.
- Business Meeting Adjustments: A larger portion of the business meeting will be conducted ahead of time, with the main event focusing on interactive sessions and workshops.
- Judges Workshop and Speakers: An expanded judges workshop and additional speakers are planned, with chapters encouraged to suggest topics and promote attendance.
- Event Promotion and Family Involvement: The event aims to become more of a NAVHDA summit or rendezvous, encouraging family participation and broader engagement.
- Regional Reps, Communication Flow, and Meeting Structure: Jason, Joe, Daniel, and Brandt discussed the evolving role of regional reps, the structure of meetings, and strategies for improving two-way communication and collaboration among chapters and the EC.
- Role of Regional Representatives: Regional reps are being redefined to act as conduits for information between chapters and the EC, with plans for more regular meetings and clearer responsibilities.
- Meeting Structure and Information Flow: Suggestions were made to structure meetings so that chapters meet before regional rep meetings, which then feed into international meetings, allowing for better discussion, voting, and collaboration.
- Encouraging Two-Way Communication: Jason emphasized the need for more two-way communication, proposing regional town halls and encouraging feedback and questions both before and after meetings.
- Delegation and Meeting Attendance: Chapters are encouraged to delegate meeting attendance to communications officers or other suitable members if the president is unavailable, with flexibility in who represents the chapter.
- Aims and Rules Clinic Scheduling and Chapter Collaboration: Daniel raised concerns about overlapping aims and rules clinics, with Jason suggesting that regional rep meetings could facilitate better coordination and co-hosting among chapters.
- Clinic Scheduling Challenges: Chapters face difficulties organizing aims and rules clinics due to overlapping schedules and limited attendance, especially for smaller chapters.
- Regional Collaboration Solutions: Jason recommended using regional rep meetings to coordinate clinic schedules, promote co-hosting, and share responsibilities to maximize participation and financial viability.
Follow-up Tasks
- Meeting Recap Distribution: Prepare a summary follow-up/recap of the meeting for review and distribution to attendees. (Kim, Jason)
- Physical Attributes Procedure Announcement: Share finalized changes to the physical attributes procedure via social media and email, and encourage chapters to allocate training time for members to practice with at least three strangers. (Bridget)
- Remembering NAVHDA Members Communication: Distribute the new remembering@navhda.org email address to chapter secretaries with the meeting notes for tracking deceased members for the end-of-year ceremony. (Kim)
- Health Statement Publication: Ensure the new health statement for test sign-ups is active and accessible, and communicate its availability to relevant members. (Kim)
- VHD Article Digitization Initiative: Reach out again to universities or colleges to seek volunteers for digitizing and cataloging VHD training articles, and discuss the initiative with Erin. (Kim)
- Sample Survey Tool for Chapters: If desired, develop and offer a sample survey tool (e.g., Google Form) for chapters interested in conducting their own internal surveys, and gauge interest before proceeding. (Jason)
- Mentor Program Portal Enhancement: Develop portal functionality to allow mentors to specify their skill sets and enable filtering by state and skill set for chapter use. (Jason)
- Volunteer Sign-Up Communication: Publish the volunteer sign-up form on the NAVHDA website and ensure it remains accessible for ongoing submissions and monitoring. (Jason)
- Newsletter Web Publication: Publish past and future monthly newsletters on the NAVHDA website or portal for member access. (Kim, Jason)
- Share the Newsletter with your membership and encourage them to look for it in their spam if they did not see it. (Presidents)
- Communicate the need for Mentors and encourage their members who have great skill sets related to managing NAVHDA-related business to sign up. (Presidents)
