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SoCal Champions Meeting Changes -

Taking Our Act on the Road!

In an effort to reach more CCI volunteers, there are some changes happening to the upcoming Champions meetings.

The July meeting date and location

have been changed. In order to avoid conflict with the July Saturday Puppy Classes the meeting was moved to July 24th. Unfortunately the Great Room at the CCI campus is not available that day so the meeting place had to be moved also. The July meeting is now being held on July 24th at 10:00am at the

Oceanside Public Library. The Library is located at 3861 B Mission Ave. (next to the Police Station)

The meeting will include a presentation by Veterinarian Justin Altman of Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital. He will be talking about veterinary issues that come up during the summer: heat exhaustion, snake bites, bee stings, etc. and what first aid measures to apply on site as well as on the drive to the Vet. Be sure to come for this timely information.

In September the Southern Village will host the Champions meeting. The meeting will be held on September 25th in Santee at 10:00 at Mimi‘s

restaurant in Trolley Square Center

(Mission Gorge Rd & Cuyamuca St). The Southern Village is a busy group of volunteers that have organized a Parade Drill Team. Their first parade was the Coronado July 4th Parade. At the meeting we will learn all about the group and their plans for the future performances. There will also be a guest speaker, Jackie Butler. Jackie has been with CCI since 1992 and has held many positions, from Apprentice to Asst. Director of Canine Programs at the National office. Most recently she has been training the CCI trainers across the country. She is an exceptional dog handler and she will be teaching us about Canine Learning Theory. Whether you are a Puppy Raiser, Graduate, or a volunteer who owns a pet dog this information will be very enlightening. Jackie will also be shar ing valuable information regarding training concepts and terminology that will help to prepare the CCI puppies for turn-in and beyond. The wealth of knowledge that Jackie possesses is not to be missed. Please join us in September in Santee!

Volunteer Spotlight 2

CCI Cookbook 2

August Matriculation 3

LPCCI 3

Champions Communication List

4

May Graduate Dogs 4

CCI Breeders 5

Puppy Raiser Workshop 5

Puppy Play 6

Edwards AFB 6

Firehouses are HOT! 7

Drill Team Debut 7

Upcoming Events

JULY • 24th – Champions meeting

10:00 at Oceanside Public

Library

AUGUST • 14th – CCI Graduation

12:00 Mission San Luis Rey

SEPTEMBER • 25th – Champions meeting

10:00 at Mimi’s Café,

Santee

OCTOBER • 29th – Golf Tournament

12:30 Monarch Beach Golf

Links, Dana Point

NOVEMBER • 13th – CCI Graduation

12:00 Mission San Luis Rey

DECEMBER • 4th Champions Christmas

Party 10:30 at CCI • La Jolla Christmas Parade

CCI Drill Team performing

TBA

Contact CCI for more info

on these events

Canine Com

panions

For Indepen

dence

Inside this issue

SUMMER 2010

Cookbook Fundraiser Needs Submissions

Jon Hansen and Jay Matsler of Wildomar, CA began supporting CCI because of their affiliation with the Murrieta Lions Club. Lions Club International has a special connection to CCI through LPCCI (see article on page 3 for more LPCCI info). They joined the Lions Club over 15 years ago and initially began supporting CCI through fundraisers and puppy sitting. In the year 2000 they got their first CCI puppy and began the exciting odyssey of being a CCI puppy raiser. They have enjoyed puppy raising so much that they are currently raising their 8th CCI puppy, Sadie II.

Over the years Jon & Jay have supported CCI by fundraising, booth sitting, supplying lunch for Team Training, grooming the dogs in Professional Training and giving CCI presentations to clubs, schools and various organization in the Inland Empire. Every year they help organize the Murrieta Lions Club yard sale. The bulk of the yard sale proceeds go to CCI. When they get a break from teaching school, Jon & Jay can be found in their favorite place – vacationing anywhere a cruise ship sails! They have cruised from Alaska to the Mediterranean. Wherever they are traveling they always take time to share the CCI mission with the people they meet. To help spread the word and spark

conversation they decorate their stateroom door. They have met many people and gotten many donations to CCI all because of their “door of fame”. (see picture below)

However, one of the most creative things they do for CCI is the matriculation slide show. Under the name “Parsley Pharms Productions” (named for the first CCI puppy they raised), they have produced this fantastic slide show four times a year for the past 10 years. It is a wonderful tribute to the dedicated Puppy Raisers throughout the SW region and stands out as one of the highlights of a CCI graduation. A heartfelt thank you goes out to volunteers Jon Hansen and Jay Matsler for giving so generously of their time and talents all these years to the CCI mission.

Pictured from left to right – Jon Hansen, CCI Program

Manager Simi Balter, CCI puppy Ryana & Jay Matsler

Volunteer Spotlight:

Jon Hansen & Jay Matsler By Kim Jaurena

CCI volunteer Ann Deakers has combined her love of cooking and her devotion to CCI to come up with a fun way to raise money for CCI. She would like to create a CCI Cookbook. In order for this to appeal to a wide variety of people she needs a wide variety of recipes. If you have

some delicious recipes you can share with Ann please send them to her by August 7th.

E-mail your recipes to Ann at: ccicookbook@gmail.com

SUMMER 2010

CCI puppy America, photo by Chris Harrell

Page 2

LPCCI = Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence by Vicki Boynton

August 2010 Matriculating Puppies

conventions, and at other service clubs and organizations to increase public awareness of CCI’s program. Over the past 25 years, the countless hours spent by the volunteers has resulted in LPCCI donations to CCI in excess of $2.5 million and yearly donations continue at a rate over $100,000.00.

Not only are Lions Club members busy volunteering to raise money and awareness of CCI, but many Lions serve as CCI Puppy Raisers and Breeder-Caretakers. You may have seen them in the Rose Bowl parade with service dogs or puppies in program proudly marching alongside, or outside the supermarket during White Cane days. Having volunteered at the White Cane days, I can say that I’ve never met such an interesting group of people. They truly welcomed my participation, telling me

that donations increase when there is a puppy helping to raise funds.

So, the next time you hear about the Lions club remember the tremendous support that they provide to CCI. If you want more information about LPCCI, go to their website at http://www.lpcci.com

The following pups will be matriculating at the August 14th CCI Graduation:

America raised by Ann Deakers Andia II raised by Cath & Jim Phillips Bubba III raised by Bruce Ross Chance III raised by Susan Spicer Darleen raised by Sharla & Rob Purnell Fay raised by Peter & Brenda Rothermel Francie II raised by Vickie Stone Grey raised by Tracy Wiemeyer Gyla II raised by Suzanne & Gary Dominguez Ice II raised by Nancy Drake Island III raised by Sylvia & David Edgar

Jiffy II raised by Barbara Costley Joycie raised by Barbara Schlegel Kane II raised by Laurie Dunne Lovey raised by Janice & Dan Flynn Matilda II raised at Navcon Brig Miramar Navy raised by Kathy & Rachel Colbath Paza raised by Judy Buehler

Raina III raised by Trisha Heckendorn Reese II raised by Pattie, Michael & Karlie Buford Tatiana II raised by James Siegfried Zastrow III raised by William Wiemeyer

Thank You

Puppy Raisers

Many of you are aware of Lions Club International and the group’s work in combating blindness but they are also involved in many different community projects including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled. In furtherance of its work with the disabled, in 1983 the Lions Club established a separate non-profit organization called The Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence (LPCCI) which operates with the sole purpose of providing financial and volunteer support to CCI through the various Lions clubs across the country.

LPCCI started out with a simple concept: Help CCI in its mission to help people with disabilities. Since 1983, LPCCI has grown in membership and support from Lions Clubs in just two states to 32 states across the nation. Currently, LPCCI has more than 575 volunteer representatives around the country, is run by an all volunteer board of directors and has only one paid staff-person. Their goal is to have representation and support in all 50 states across the nation.

The volunteer representatives provide presentations at Lions Club meetings, district cabinet meetings,

SUMMER 2010 Page 3

The May 2010 Graduation had six Graduating dogs that were raised in Southern California.Congratulations to the following dogs and their raisers -

Berken II – raised by Stan & Karen Reaves, Lake Forest Dobson – raised by Marilyn & Brittany Fullen, San Diego Grady V – raised by Doreen Mayo, Huntington Beach Malibu II – raised by Linda & Shana Dreyfuss, San Diego Najee – raised by Aimee & Kimiko Yokota, Fountain Valley Sarah III – raised by Marilyn Cohen & Chris Malburg, Palos Verdes Estates

Summer 2010 Page 4

Local Dogs Do Good

removed. Please help us keep the list up to date with any changes that may occur.

To grant that permission, please reply with

whatever information you choose to share: Your name Address Home phone number Cell phone number E-mail address If you are a Puppy Raiser or Graduate, you may

add: Pup’s/Dog’s name Send your contact information to Chris Harrell at charrell@miracosta.edu When the list has been compiled, it will be distributed to CCI volunteers by email as an Excel document (xls) and as a pdf file. If you are unable to use either type of document, let me know and I’ll send you a hard copy.

Please Join the CCI Champions Communication List by Chris Harrell

A lot of fellowship and communication among CCI Champions takes place by email and cell phone. The terrible fires in recent years have made us all aware of how important it is to be able to get in touch with CCI friends when we need help or want to offer help.

The CCI Champions Communication List can be used to contact individuals or small groups for many reasons. A few examples are: arranging outings or get-togethers, finding a puppy sitter or letting CCI friends know if you need assistance in case of emergency. The CCI calendar should be considered prior to booking group outings.

This list is not to be sold, shared, or used for any commercial or non-CCI purposes. It is not to be used for mass mailings.

If you would like your personal contact information to be distributed to other CCI Champions, we need your permission. This is an “opt-in” list. You will not be put on the list without your permission. Once you are on the list, you will stay on the list until you ask to be

Don’t Forget! As the summer sun heats the air it also heats up the asphalt and cement that our dogs walk on. It is possible to burn their paws if exposed to hot surfaces - if it is too hot for your bare feet it

could be too hot for theirs. Consider where your dog will be walking before taking them out with you. And remember even the pavement in your

backyard can get hot too.

This list is not to be sold, shared, or used for any commercial or

non-CCI purposes. It is not to be used for mass mailings.

Puppy Raiser Workshop Fun

& Informative by Kim Jaurena

Saturday June 12th the CCI SWR campus was invaded by CCI puppies-in-program and their Puppy Raisers for a Workshop put on by the Puppy Program. Puppy Program Manager, Stu Wahrenbrock and other CCI staff informed Puppy Raisers about topics such as puppy health, appropriate play and releasing CCI dogs from the program. The information packed workshop lasted all day and the participants were treated to a delicious lunch as well. Overall a great day of learning for everyone.

Where Do All Those CCI Puppies

Come From??? By Celeste Kennedy

Photos by Tessa Rocker

CCI has a marvelous breeding program, which is run out of the National office in Santa Rosa, CA. Esther Molina is the CCI National Breeding Program Manager. She teams up with Dr. Ruth Daniels, CCI’s incredible staff veterinarian, as well as many other individuals, both volunteers and staff, to run a very well oiled machine, which produces puppies all year long. CCI produces purebred Labradors and Golden Retrievers, as well as a cross of the two breeds.

Many of the pups in program are raised intact, aka potential breeders, and evaluated after matriculation for the breeding program. Breeder dog selection takes place each quarter, with a select few chosen to join the CCI breeding colony. Several pups raised in the SWR have been chosen as breeder dogs over the years.

CCI places the breeder dogs in volunteer breeder-caretaker homes within a 90 mile radius of the National office in Santa Rosa. The dogs return there for breeding, and the female dogs have their litters of puppies at their breeder-caretaker’s home. The job of the female breeder-caretaker is quite a labor of love. They whelp the litters, and care for the puppies until

their 8th week of age. They are then taken to CCI to be given their vet exam, green tattoo number in the ear, and sent on their way to each of CCI’s 5 regional offices for placement with their puppy raiser.

The puppies travel by air cargo to each of the regions. At SWR the puppies arrive at the San Diego airport just about every Wednesday morning throughout the year. “Puppy Day” at CCI is always a happy one. After all, who can’t resist the joy of that familiar sweet and slightly skunky smell of puppy breath?

SUMMER 2010 Page 5

Puppy Play before Graduation by Chris Harrell

CCI dogs are invited to Puppy Playtime before graduation on August 14. Pups can play safely on the fenced softball field at MiraCosta College in Oceanside.

Please bring poop bags, water and a toy (if you like). Be sure to keep

a close eye on your pup and intervene if you observe play that is inappropriate.

Puppy Raisers who are turning in

pups on August 14th: Please come to play between 9:00-10:00am. This will give you plenty of time to get to the Mission for your 10:30 orientation meeting and follow the CCI rule about not socializing your turn-in pup with other pups at this time.

Puppy Raisers who are NOT

turning in a pup and CCI

Graduates with their dogs: Please

come between 10:00 – 11:00am.

MiraCosta College

1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056 (about 3 miles south of CCI)

Map: www.miracosta.edu/home/

charrell/SimpleCCItoMCC.jpg

Park in Lot 5A. Entrance to Lot 5A is opposite Bldg 4400 Allied Health. No parking permit required.

Please call me if you need to. Chris Harrell 760-518-1241

Edwards Air Force Base Diversity Day by Pattie Urie

Service dog Zendo and puppy-in-program Nira represented the diversity of disabled persons at the First Annual Cultural Diversity Day Celebration at Edwards AFB, CA. The theme of the event held on June 17th was “Edwards – Many Cultures; One Team.”

Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, the Commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, spoke about diversity in the workplace, saying he once thought it was appropriate to be tolerant of different cultures. He now emphasized emb r ac i n g d i f f e r en t cultures and recognizing that each person has a unique perspective to contribute to the success of the overall mission. Edwards AFB is home to some of the world’s most advanced aircraft and shuttle carrier aircraft, rocket engine testing, and a significant test site for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Puppy Raiser Pattie Urie (San Diego), CCI volunteer Judith Schechter (Los Angeles) and Darcy Painter, wife of graduate Lee Gardner (Team Zendo), sparked lots of interest at the event and possibly

some new puppy raisers. Darcy spoke to the attendees about how a service dog can help a disabled person in the workplace and she also had Zendo demonstrate some of his commands such as picking up dropped keys. She also mentioned that while some people have physical limitations they are able to use their other abilities and be a major contributor to the work force. Both Darcy and her husband, Lee work at Edwards AFB.

SUMMER 2010 Page 6

Photo by Chris Harrell

Pictured left to right: Judith Schechter, Nira,

Darcy Painter, Zendo & Pattie Urie

Maj. Gen Eichhorn stated “...embracing different cultures and recognizing that each person has a unique perspective to contribute to the success of the overall mission.”

SUMMER 2010 Page 7

Firehouses are HOT! by Laurie Dunne

Over 20 people and 18 dogs visited Oceanside Firehouse #7 as part of a recent Meet Up field trip, open to all. Ken Matsumoto, a Battalion Chief who also works with Search & Rescue, knew exactly how to plan the day’s

activities to introduce our dogs slowly to potentially startling experiences while keeping them calm relaxed and under

control. Among the many sights and sounds, visitors were exposed to loud locator signals, a chainsaw & the raspy, alien voice of a fire fighter talking through his breathing apparatus. Lights flashed, engines churned, hoses gushed and fire valves hissed. The dogs were allowed to see and hear at a distance and then approach and investigate at their own speeds. As a testament to each Puppy Raiser and Grad in attendance, every pup there behaved beautifully throughout. The event was great fun for all and no doubt the enjoyable laughter of the handlers went right down the leash to help put the dogs at ease.

If you would like to find out about more outings/events check the Meet Up calendar at: http://www.meetup.com/CCI-Puppy-Raisers-So-California/

and/or click to join.

Photos by Laurie Dunne

CCI Drill Team Debut By Kim Jaurena

The newly formed CCI Parade Drill Team made its debut on July 3rd at the Coronado July 4th Parade. Whether performing their drill team maneuvers or saying hello to the crowd the CCI volunteers were met with cheers and resounding applause from the parade audience. Following the parade the participants enjoyed a potluck/bbq & swim party at George Rice’s home in Coronado. The Drill Team will be performing at the La Jolla Christmas parade next and invite all interested volunteers to join them. Check the Meet Up site for more information.

All photos by Ken Sergi. To see more photos and videos from the

Parade go to www.kensergi.com and click on the CCI icon.