SoMN NAVHDA About Us

Chapter History
Gunnar Kruger

    The Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter was born in early spring of 1996 with a lunch meeting at John Hardy’s BBQ in Rochester, Minnesota. Mike Zimmer, then a breeder of Spinone Italiano’s, met with Kevin Watkins, then Store Manager of Burger Brothers outdoor supply store, and Gunnar Kruger, to develop a plan to start a NAVHDA chapter in Southern Minnesota. Kevin Watkins and Gunnar Kruger were brand new owners of a German Shorthair and a German Wirehair, respectively, and Mike Zimmer had a recent litter of Spinone pups, so all were devoted to starting a chapter. The initial meeting determined who would be the first chapter officers and who would submit the necessary paperwork to NAVHDA International to request club charter.
    It was determined that Mike Zimmer would be the chapter's first president, since he was a breeder and had leased the land we that hold some of the training on (now called Tammel Springs after a change in ownership of the land). Kevin Watkins would be treasurer due to his business acumen as an outdoors supply store manager. Gunnar Kruger would be secretary since he was the only one with a computer at the time; and therefore, he would draft a letter to NAVHDA.
    On May 14, 1996, a letter was drafted and sent to NAVHDA requesting formal chapter sanctioning and was to be called the Southern Minnesota Chapter. Eleven days later on May 25, 1996, our chapter was officially chartered as we received a congratulatory letter and chapter Charter Certificate from Richard St. Amant, then secretary of NAVHDA international, now NAVHDA President.
    Our first year saw us holding an informational seminar at Burger Brothers with Jeff Mochalski from the Tri-State chapter graciously driving over from La Crosse to conduct the seminar. We signed up 22 charter members that first year. Among out current members only Clyde and Mary Thurnau, Paul Fischenich, and Gunnar Kruger remain as active members. Although Kevin and Mike are no longer active, both were instrumental in starting our chapter and both remain interested in the success of the chapter.
    Chapter membership continues to grow year after year, thanks to the early vision and efforts of Mike, Kevin, and Gunnar. Dog breeds represented currently include the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, German Shorthair Pointer, German Wirehair Pointer, Deutsch Drahthaar, French Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, Italian Spinone, Bracco Italiano, English Setter, Vizsla, Pudelpointer, Cesky-Fousek, Small Munsterlander, and Large Munsterlander.


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2007 Chapter Officials	Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter Membership Information and Chapter History
President Matt Dodd 507-273-0324 Vice - President Chad Dahl Treasurer Mark Root Secretary Vaughn Snook 507-352-5232	Membership Information Membership in the Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter is only $20 annually for individuals and $25 for a family membership. If you have questions about joining our chapter, NAVHDA, or anything relating to the versatile breeds, please contact one of the chapter officials listed to the left. Joining is easy - just download, complete, and mail in the Membership Application below. (to download, right-click, and select Save Target As...) Membership Application All chapter members must also be members of our parent organization: NAVHDA North America Note: All downloadable files require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
	Chapter History Gunnar Kruger The Southern Minnesota NAVHDA Chapter was born in early spring of 1996 with a lunch meeting at John Hardy’s BBQ in Rochester, Minnesota. Mike Zimmer, then a breeder of Spinone Italiano’s, met with Kevin Watkins, then Store Manager of Burger Brothers outdoor supply store, and Gunnar Kruger, to develop a plan to start a NAVHDA chapter in Southern Minnesota. Kevin Watkins and Gunnar Kruger were brand new owners of a German Shorthair and a German Wirehair, respectively, and Mike Zimmer had a recent litter of Spinone pups, so all were devoted to starting a chapter. The initial meeting determined who would be the first chapter officers and who would submit the necessary paperwork to NAVHDA International to request club charter. It was determined that Mike Zimmer would be the chapter's first president, since he was a breeder and had leased the land we that hold some of the training on (now called Tammel Springs after a change in ownership of the land). Kevin Watkins would be treasurer due to his business acumen as an outdoors supply store manager. Gunnar Kruger would be secretary since he was the only one with a computer at the time; and therefore, he would draft a letter to NAVHDA. On May 14, 1996, a letter was drafted and sent to NAVHDA requesting formal chapter sanctioning and was to be called the Southern Minnesota Chapter. Eleven days later on May 25, 1996, our chapter was officially chartered as we received a congratulatory letter and chapter Charter Certificate from Richard St. Amant, then secretary of NAVHDA international, now NAVHDA President. Our first year saw us holding an informational seminar at Burger Brothers with Jeff Mochalski from the Tri-State chapter graciously driving over from La Crosse to conduct the seminar. We signed up 22 charter members that first year. Among out current members only Clyde and Mary Thurnau, Paul Fischenich, and Gunnar Kruger remain as active members. Although Kevin and Mike are no longer active, both were instrumental in starting our chapter and both remain interested in the success of the chapter. Chapter membership continues to grow year after year, thanks to the early vision and efforts of Mike, Kevin, and Gunnar. Dog breeds represented currently include the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, German Shorthair Pointer, German Wirehair Pointer, Deutsch Drahthaar, French Spaniel, Brittany Spaniel, Italian Spinone, Bracco Italiano, English Setter, Vizsla, Pudelpointer, Cesky-Fousek, Small Munsterlander, and Large Munsterlander.