Member Handbook

Welcome to CATS! We created this handbook to help members make use of member benefits and contribute to a good experience for all members and their dogs.

Section 1: Staying Informed

Club Meetings

Meetings are held primarily on Zoom every other month on the second Wednesday at 7 pm. The schedule is on the website homepage, and we encourage you to add the next few meetings to your calendar now. These meetings are important for club planning and decision-making, and we urge club members to participate. We expect club members to attend at least two meetings per year and hope you will choose to participate beyond the minimum level.

Email Communication

CATS communicates with club members via email in two ways:

  • Google Group – The club posts announcements about events, seminars, practices, and other information via a private Google Group. This is an essential tool to keep club members informed, and we urge you to sign up to receive these club emails. You will receive an invitation to join once your membership application is processed, and you do not need a Google email address to join the group. Replies to group messages go only to the person who posted the message to whom you’re replying. If you want a reply to go to the entire group, add the CATS Google Group to the address line of your reply. If you have not yet received instructions for signing up, please contact your sponsor.
  • Email – Occasionally, the club emails members directly for important club announcements.

Club Membership List

From time to time, we circulate a membership list with each member’s name, email address, and town/state of residence. Please keep this list and the information on it private. If you want a member’s phone number or mailing address, ask the member directly or contact a Membership Committee or Board member to request that information. If you do not wish your email address or town to be included in the Membership List, please notify the Membership Committee.

Bylaws and Policies

The club is run according to our Bylaws and policies agreed upon by club members. Find more information about these under the Governance tab.

Mentoring

The club pairs new members with an experienced member for their first year in order to help the new members get oriented to the club. We encourage mentors to:

  • Help the new member feel welcome and included by initiating friendly occasional contact.
  • Early on, confirm that the new member is seeing the Google group messages and club emails.
  • Ensure the new member is aware of how to use the indoor and outdoor ring calendars and understands the guidance for using each practice space that is on the CATS web page.
  • Check that they are included in the Equipment Safety and Use Orientation that is offered each summer and required to use the outdoor ring on their own.
  • Encourage them to attend and help out at some club trials and activities.
  • Encourage attendance at club meetings.
  • Help them get involved with a committee that interests them.
  • Be available for questions and moral support.
  • Consider inviting them to practice with you occasionally.

Section 2: Club Involvement

Membership Types

CATS has two types of membership: Working and Supporting. Working members pay a lower dues amount and commit to working two days at our agility trials or equipment migrations, and serve on a committee. Supporting members pay higher dues and are not obligated to work or serve on a committee. Supporting members are welcome to help out as much as they want to, and many play integral roles in and contribute much to the club.

Agility Trials and Seminars

The club’s agility trials and seminars are important fundraisers for the club and help keep our membership dues low. We rely heavily on club member participation in these events. If you are new to agility, helping during a trial weekend is a great way to see what goes on behind the scenes and learn about participating in trials. All hands on deck are needed setting up the afternoon before a trial, and tearing down the afternoon of the last day, and this can count towards the annual work commitment. Many hands make light work, and it is a much-appreciated show of support to the Trial Committee when members show up to help.

Committee Work

Much of CATS work is done at the committee level. Serving on a committee is a great way to give back to the club and connect with other members. Active committee participation is required for all working members and is encouraged but not required for supporting members. Committee descriptions can be found here and on the membership application.

Each committee brings ideas and proposals to the club for approval at the membership meetings and has these reporting responsibilities:

  1. If applicable, provide an estimate of income and expenses to the Treasurer to aid in forming the budget each spring
  2. Report on committee activity and bring decisions to the club for approval at board and membership meetings.
  3. Provide a summary of activities for the year for the Club President’s Annual Report.

Serving on the Board of Directors

Board terms are three years, and there is a limit of two consecutive terms. Officers are selected each year from the pool of board members. To be nominated, contact a member of the BOD or Nominating Committee. Board meetings take place by Zoom on the fourth Wednesday of the month, seven times per year. A list of current board members is available here.

Section 3: Agility Ring and Training Room Use

Sign-up Calendar

We use online calendars (indoor, outdoor) to sign up for ring time. As a courtesy, if you remove your name less than 24 hours before your time slot, please notify everyone via the Google Group so that someone else can take advantage of it. Ring time is shared, so others may wish to join you during the same time slot. Tip: Use the Google Sheets app on your phone and “Star” the calendars to make them easy to find.

Public Perception

Be aware that the public, the shelter staff, and MHS training clients will all likely see us working with our dogs. Please use training methods that contribute to a positive image of our club and drive with caution on shelter roads. We also try to be friendly and helpful to whoever we meet at MHS.

Trash Disposal

You may dispose of poop bags and small incidental items in the MHS trash cans, but please do not put bulky items or large quantities of trash or recycling in the trash cans or dumpsters without express permission from MHS staff.

Alcohol is not allowed on the MHS premises without express permission from MHS.

Guidelines for Using the Outdoor Ring

CATS has the use of the outdoor ring from May to November.

  • Advanced Handler Status and our equipment safety orientation are required before using the outdoor ring on your own. To arrange for the training, please contact the Training Committee.
  • Dogs may not be off leash outside the ring. MHS volunteers and training center clients often walk inexperienced dogs nearby; those dogs must also be on leash.
  • Clean up after your dog, both inside and outside the ring. If your dog has an accident in the ring, clean it up and spray the area. There are usually spray bottles along the fence.
  • Please be diligent about not dropping treats in the ring because dropped treats create problems for other dogs and handlers. If you give your dog a treat, be sure it is fully consumed. Use a treat container that won’t spill treats when you bend over or bounce out when you run.
  • Unless a notice has been posted, you may move the equipment around when you practice as long as you’ve completed the required equipment safety training.
  • Please do not park immediately behind the shelter; those spaces are designated for MHS training class instructors and students.

Guidelines for Using the Indoor Training Center

CATS has the use of the MHS Training Center Indoor ring for limited hours indoors November to May.

  • Because of the limited hours, members are encouraged to share slots.
  • You may sign up for a maximum of 2 slots in advance, with no more than one per week. If there is space available within 72 hours of the time, members may sign up for a second slot in a given week.
  • Please do not sign up for the same time slot in advance for two weeks in a row so that other members have the opportunity to make use of a variety of timeslots.
  • Clean up and be out the door by the end of your usage time so that others have full use of their training time. MHS also requires us to be fully cleaned up and out by the end of CATS-designated usage times. Suggestion: Start cleaning up 10 minutes before the end of your time slot, set an alarm, put the big stuff away early, and finish up with just jumps and hoops.
  • Please don’t enter the training room before the start of CATS’ designated times, even if you don’t believe anyone else is using it.
  • Return equipment to the same spot it was in when you arrived and adjust contacts back to original heights. This is very important for the MHS instructors, who have to move equipment by themselves.
  • Notify the CATS Equipment Committee or Board of Directors about any damaged equipment asap.
  • As with the outdoor ring, please be diligent about not leaving training treats on the floor.
  • Do not drag tunnels or tunnel bags because it wears down the material. There is a small wheeled cart for moving heavy items like tunnel bags. To prevent damage to the cart, please do not leave tunnel bags on the cart when you’re done.
  • Leave the space neat and clean, and trash disposed of.
  • Lights in the shelter will go off automatically.
  • There is no use of the RESTROOM after 9 pm.
  • Do NOT open the door into the hallway/shelter after 9 pm, or the alarm will go off!

Section 4: Training Opportunities

Classes

CATS usually offers agility classes for members when we are outdoors. From time to time, CATS also offers free sessions taught by members interested in sharing their dog or agility knowledge. If you would like to teach a class or free session, contact the Training Committee.

Seminars

The Seminar Committee organizes several public seminars each year. Club Members receive discounts for these seminars and the opportunity to sign up before registration opens to the public.

MHS Agility Class Discount

CATS members are eligible for a discount on MHS agility classes. Pick the “CATS member” option in the dropdown menu when registering.

Guest Use of the Facilities

You may have non-member guests. There is a fee, a waiver for them to sign, and a Guest Use Policy and Waiver. Typically a guest will already have had an introduction to agility. If not, use extreme care to introduce obstacles in a safe and positive way. If you are unsure, ask a more experienced member.