September, 2010

Dear Region Presidents:
                                        
Another trial season is about to begin and we want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very successful  Fall 2010.

By now you have received the guidelines for the implementation of speed governors on ATVs. This is a measure that we took in order to allow for the widest participation amongst our membership. But it is also a measure that we took only after careful and deliberate consideration and thought.

As it stands now, in April 2011 a final vote on the use of these speed governors will be taken during  our Board of Directors meeting in Amo, Indiana. Prior to that time, it is extremely important and necessary that those members whom you represent are able to express their opinions, as well as provide input and feedback, to you so that your vote in fact reflects the opinion of the majority of the members of your region.

We ask that you conduct extensive discussion meetings with your members about the u se of these instruments, as well as whether they should be continued , and if so, how may their implementation be improved. We ask that you provide us with ongoing feedback  about how the use of governors is working out in your respective regions so all this information is available to us as we continue their evaluation.

If not carefully monitored, the use of these instruments can change the competitive  balance of our organization. Permanent approval and implementation of the use of speed governors should only occur once all members have had ample opportunity to express their opinions.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the national officer assigned to your region. We are eager to work with you and to hear from you as we move  NSTRA forward.

Sincerely yours,
Your National Officers

August 17, 2010

Dear Region President, Judge, Judging Instructor, ATV Variance Holder,

During the April 2010 meeting of the National Officers and the Board of Directors it was agreed to look at the possibility of using a speed governor or regulator to allow individuals with an ATV variance to handle their dogs without using a walker.

Marilyn Frank Cunningham, Joe Jackson and Frank Llano, representing the National Officers, attended a trial in Amo, Indiana held on August 7, 2010 to observe the use of said ATV speed governors/regulators.

The National Officers have made the recommendation to implement the following guidelines for the use of speed governor/regulators based on requests from a number of members who have been unable to find walkers for their braces. Our intention is to provide our handicapped members with the ability to continue participating in NSTRA without interfering with the competitive balance of our game.

We will be field testing the use of speed governor/regulators for a period commencing immediately and up until April 2011 when the guidelines and the use of said equipment will be evaluated and voted on by the Board of Directors during their meeting at the Trial of Champions. This will be under continuous review until then and these guidelines may be amended or rescinded at any time based on said review. We encourage our members to provide feedback to us on how this privilege is being used. Members found abusing it will have their privilege rescinded and will have to utilize a walker once again.

Currently there are not speed governor/regulators being manufactured for all brands of ATV’s. If you are unable to find one for your brand of ATV, please contact Ron Greene at 317-856-9542 or John Holder at 920-992-5543 for assistance.

Sincerely,
National Officers