It was a snowy February (Frey Johnsson & helpers in snow removal)

Brunch Report

Rip Van Wrinkle Basenji Club

19th Annual Meeting and Beat the Winter Doldrums Brunch

Chez Apu - Woodstock, New York

We had to use our snow date of 5 February, as the week before looked like this:

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Meeting NOTES:

In attendance: Susan Marsicano, Lisa Osenni, Karen Sahulka, Michael Primeau, Sarah Colligan and Rocco, Debby Mayer, Mally Heinlein, Jan Wojcik, Moot. Basenjis present, visitors - Rip, Tutu, Rose, Ian, Bump and Cairo. Home kids - Guy Noir, Amelia, Fern, Scarlet, Fiddle, Liner & GILDA!

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Our treasurer was present and gave a report. The club has approximately $3500 at the time of the report. Because we have few financial obligations, we are able to donate funds to worthy causes, either basenji-specific or member-specific, or benefiting the dog world in general. In 2016, charitable donations included:

Medfly Basenji Rescue, a Southern California rescue that places their rescues with wonderful families, or keeps them the rest of their lives. They're in an area that is flood- and mudslide-prone

Take The Lead, a benefit organization for dog owners facing health or financial issues that limit their ability to care for their pets.

Stacy Pober, a long-time AKC lure coursing judge and upstate NY resident whose house burnt down in the middle of the night; she and her husband got one greyhound out of the house and her husband went back in for the other two - neither he nor the remaining greyhounds made it back out.

Rabies Challenge Fund, a community-funded, 7+-year study of the duration of immunity conferred by rabies vaccine in an effort to demonstrate immunization should not be required more often than every 5 or 7 years. 

Basenji Health Endowment managed through the BCOA, dedicated to basenji health issues such as Fanconi and PRA and focused on hereditary causes.

Bobbi and the Strays, dedicated to placing found pets in the Greater NYC area.

2017 proposed donations to Medfly, TTL, BHE and BatS; the Rabies Challenge study was completed in 2016; Hemopet greyhound rescue and canine blood bank could be considered as an alternative. Members are encouraged to support these or other worthy causes through the Amazon Smile program as well.

A donation was made to the Northwest SPCA in the shadow of Oroville (CA) Dam, to help defray the costs and honor the immense effort of them relocating over 150 animals in advance of the ordered evacuation in February 2017. "For the safety of all, we will remain evacuated until AT LEAST Tuesday 2/21/17. Getting animals out with only an hour notice is impossible, so we are waiting until the situation is further evaluated. Thank you for your patience, understanding and support."

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The President reported we have more online members (186 on Facebook) than in fact (70 families) but membership continues to grow; the Wrinkler is published online ONLY for a web host fee of $20. Older Wrinklers are archived on our home page.

We are reminded to purchase embroidered club gear from Suzy Zeh at 1.888.828.5445.

The 2017 Fun Match and Potluck will take place Sunday, May 7 in Ringoes, NJ, in conjunction with Lehigh Valley Coursing Club's oval track race meets (NOTRA). RVW will make a donation to LVCC for piggybacking our use of the field. Mally Heinlein will judge; Costume class, by acclamation, is International Costumes (the costumes of your favorite country, a la basenjis). 

2017 FUNDRAISER/RAFFLE - tickets to be sold by contacting Susan Marsicano or coming to the Fun Match: A hand-pieced quilt from Lisa Stewart; Years of the American Basenji from Susan; Donations of basenji-theme raffle items are welcomed.

Moot

Moot w/Tutu & Gilda.