2007 Awards Polls Closed....

[Sassy Girl]

Hi everyone,

Due to the overwhelming response to the polls, we have decided to close them and put some criteria on who should be submitting votes towards the 2007 Splash Dogs People's Choice Awards. The Cyno Awards Committee will discuss our options and reopen the polls as soon as we possibly can.

Thanks all!

[snapple]

Just a idea for the Cyno Awards Committee to possibly ponder, as you discuss options for the 2007 Splash Dogs People's Choice Awards and it's "fair" casting of votes. - How about just having a "ballot-box" at the Splash Dogs site at Cyno Sports in Scottsdale, and after you register you will be handed a ballot, with all votes to be cast in plenty of time (say by 1PM on that Saturday) so that a commitee member will have plenty of time to tally them before the Awards Dinner that night ??? This should prevent the "stuffing-of-the-ballot-box", as we seemed to have with the online voting. If you and your fur friend were nominated for an award, and can't make it to Scottsdale, you can e-mail your selections to the Committee by a certain date. This way there will be suspense at the dinner too. I guess that would mean only nominated contestants would be eligable to vote though.
Anyway, just my 2 cents worth.

P.S. Snapple would like to thank the 21 "voters" for their votes in this forum though

[GoodLabs]

Very interesting. I've already voted but only for dogs and/or teams that I know and have seen. Some categories I just couldn't vote in because I did not have enough info.

I'm here in the South and have attended one Splashdog event and one SRS event put on by Splashdogs (Tony & Randy). We just worked hard to make sure we kept the other one in our area. We are not on the board much, thats how our group is on any board, but help support Splashdogs as it comes to the South. Please remember to include us!!

Suggestion -- remove the ability to see the results of the poll after you vote. Eliminates suspense and other issues.

[ssejrnv]

I posted this on another thread but wanted to put it here too.
Perhaps only those people who have competed at a splashdog event should get to vote. This would eliminate the outside extra votes while still allowing people from all over the country to vote.
I also think if we do a poll the results should stay hidden that way it is a surprise to everyone at the dinner.
Also perhaps winners must be present to accept award or next highest vote getter wins.
Just my opinion
JJ and crew

[ROCK]

JJ, I would like to think that Ultimate Air Dogs and Splash Dogs have formed a quite nice relationship. I know that Tony is expanding all over the US, including, the East Coast. If fact, I even have an event for him this year on Long Island. Excluding UAD members who support Splash Dogs doesn't seem in SD's best interest, in my opinion. Or, any other organization's members for that matter. My two cents.

Snapple, since you and I both have a stake in the Veteran Category. Why not let the Dogs "duke it out" at Cynosports for the honors of Top Ranked Veteran, that is of course, if all the nominees are attending. I will be there with Rock, who is 9 years old. Rock will be playing in both Big Air and Super Vertical.

Looking forward to meeting many of you at Cynosports.

Barb and Rock

[ssejrnv]

Hey Barb,
Thanks for pointing out my mistake in my post. I clearly don't want to exclude those other organizations that work in conjunction with Splashdogs. I actual say in my post to include people from all over the country as this makes it more fun and gives more people an opportunity. When I stated "splashdog competitior" what I meant was that we should limit the voting to people who have been a competitor at least one event. I consider UA, SRS, and any other group that works in conjunction with Splashdogs as "splashdog competitors" sorry if I wasn't clear about that.
Also, after being somewhat dissappointed that my very deserving veteran boy, Spud (who was 12 in July and has made the finals at every event he's been to this year) was at the very bottom of the poll I realized that truthfully the awards are for the people and he doesn't care one bit about an award all he cares about, is that his mom is willing to drive 15 hours so he can play in some nice weather with all his other doggie friends and have a good time.
Here's to all the veteran dogs out there still playing and having a good time and my special boy Spud who continues to teach me the true meaning of life.
It's all about having fun!
JJ, Spud and the rest of the my crew

[ssejrnv]

Barb,
In responce to what you wrote to snapple and perhaps I am misreading your intentions "by duke it out" but I would hope with the veterans category it wouldn't just be about who is the biggest jumper. Since there is a huge age difference between some of the dogs nominated don't think that is fair to judge a winner only by distance jumped. Perhaps since you are not on the west coast, you don't know that Snapple (who is also 12 years old) came back to jumping after fighting Lung Cancer and going through months of Chemo treatments and although he may not be the biggest jumper out there he certainly has the heart.
Sorry in advance if that is not what you meant by "duke it out" as it is always hard to tell a person intent while reading it in an email.
JJ

[ROCK]

JJ,

I think it is awesome that Snapple is back on the dock. In my opinion, there is nothing better for your dog's health and well being than participating in the sport of dock diving.

My boy Rock has been fighting arthritis and part of his treatment plan is participating in the sport to keep his muscles strong and joints flexible, along with other medical treatments, of course. You are right this sport has to be more than just a competition. They're all winners in my eyes. I am sorry if I offended anyone with the duke it out statement. I was just having some fun.

Barb and Rock

[snapple]

Hello Everyone,

It seems like some great ideas are being posted, to be considered by the 2007 Splash Dogs People's Choice Awards Committee, to go over, as they strive to keep the voting on the "up-and-up".

Thank you to member "ssejrnv" for bringing a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat in defending Snapple in your post. It is a feel good story that he is just back on the dock (which he loves SO much). It really does keep him healthy - the training and the competing - and much like Snapple's new found fellow Junior (and Veteran) competitor and fur friend (ROCK), Snapple's daily swims in Lake Tahoe (though that could be ending soon with the lake's temps dropping, as the colder weather approaches), aids in his "ol' man" arthritis and a.c.l. knee problem.

I knew Barb and Rock were just having some fun with the challenge of "duking it out" though. I was going to ask you for a four inch "spot" though (one inch for every year younger that Rock is younger than Snapple - he'll be just about 13 at Cyno Sports), but....now that you know about Snapple's past and present health issues, thanks to my friend "ssejrnv"...we want a 6 inch spot. LOL (-:

I am looking forward to meeting you and seeing everyone else at Scottsdale. It's going to be so much fun for all of us, especially our K9's!

Don and Snapple

[Sassy Girl]

Wow, I'm speechless at how this whole thing played out. I will apologize to you all for bringing this side of you out. Unfortunately the polling system on this board does not allow us to hide the tallying. But we still figured it would be fine we are dealing primarily with adults. From another perspective, look at how much you love this sport.

Anyway, just want to let you all know we are still reviewing ideas on what we should do for this and will get it figured out in the next day or so. Announcements will be here.

[Sassy Girl]

Oh...one more thing, the things you all said about your dogs is truly touching. I have Sassy a 14 1/2 yr old dog whom I retired last year on her 14th birthday, which was also her first dock diving event and her last. One of the best feelings was seeing her jump off that dock, you all know that feeling very well. In my eyes, each of these dogs deserve an award....but thats my .02

[Labpaw]

I think it is only fair to have members vote too. Otherwise, if others were voting that are not participants in the sport, it just becomes a popularity contest. The teams I voted for were based on true merit and sportmanship. I only wish I knew more of you, as so far everyone I have encountered has been a honor to meet! :D How is someone outside of the members going to know that?:(

I don't envy you, Awards Committee. So many deserving teams and such a hard problem to tackle. Good luck! ;)

[deedclemdogg]

What great ideas being thrown out--and I'm truly glad too Urs that things are being looked at. The most DESERVING people should win the awards and it's sad when others have to revert to other means just to tip the scales. DockDogs seems to think that isn't an issue for their board, so I'm glad that SplashDogs--especially now that it's going NATIONWIDE--is taking those kind of things into consideration and has the backbone to stop in the middle of vote casting and truly look at a way to solve the issue. SUPER KUDOS to the SplashDogs team taking care of that!!!!

My only critique would be to not make it mandatory for handlers to be at the National event in order to get an award. Maybe some people won't be able to make it--and if they get voted for an award--I think they still deserve to receive it. Maybe they could be notified ahead of time so they can prepare a "thank you speech" to be read for them??? Just a thought....

[Sassy Girl]

Amanda - I agree being present to win should not be a stipulation at all and I love the idea around the speech. We will come up with the best way to do this and get it posted.

[Team Chloe]

Maybe I am mistaken, but after reviewing the current results in the polls, I don't think I would disagree with any of the candidates that are leading. There is a one team that I did not know....but assuming that one is correct, I think the voting looks fair.

Just a thought!

I agree also with the winners don't need to be present. If someone gets voted in for their accomplishments over the year, that should not be taken away due to the fact they have a conflict and cannot attend the event!

Dave

[Little Gunner]

Dave,

I would agree with you for the most part, but i must admit that i really enjoyed watching Jim & Mickey D on the dock. I never really had a chance to see Rock on the dock. Maybe the question we should ask...who padded the vote count? or why would anyone feel the need to sign up as a new user just to give themself and others un-ethical votes?
That in itself should dis-qualify that person(s) from these awards!!!!!!!!!

[Team Chloe]

On...believe me....I am very partial to Jim and Mickey D! They were one of the first teams that I had the opportunity to see when we started!

I am in hopes that no one stuffed the ballot box. Good sportsmanship and cheering for the other teams accomplishments is one of the reason that has me so excited about this sport. Yes we are all competitive....but I see so many people and families pulling for all the teams. It is really terrific!

If someone is stuffing the ballot box...I would be very disappointed, because that is not what this sport is about. It is not about winning, but about having fun with our pups, having fun with our friends and also giving back to the sport and our pups by raising funds for the "Chase Away K9 Cancer Fund".

Bart! I know that is where you are at! I know what you have meant to the "Chase" this year!! Thanks!!!!!

Dave

[snapple]

I was thinking (which I do every Sunday), perhaps the Committee Members should be the ones doing the Awards Selections, as they are probably the only ones who truely know all the nominees. I must admit that when it came time to casting my vote(s) I only knew of about 10% of the deserving candidates, and I know ALL 100% of the cadidates deserve an award based on merit and sportmanship, as I have yet to meet a dog and their handler who wasn't, at a Splash Dog event. This way, having the Commitee Members making the final decisions would keep it from becoming a popularity contest also...with the added suspense at the Awards Dinner to boot...and no time to prepare for that acceptance speech either. LOL )-

[Little Gunner]

That's a great idea Snapple. I would love to know who is on the Cynosport committee. Someone please share who the committee members are. I'm sure they are ALL on the up & up :-).

[renegade]

We've had a group of volunteers who have been helping organize the Cynosports event. This committee has had a few people who have been actively working on getting the awards together. Things like coming up with what awards we should do, finding plaques, etc for the awards, planning the awards dinner, and a bunch of other stuff. Not that I think it is relevant to the people's choice awards, but I do think these people deserve recognition for the work they have been doing to put this together - they include: Sara Chisnell-Voigt, Barb Radtke, Brian Sardo, Ursula Kinley, Lisa Heitmiller, Tony Reed, myself, Melissa Ness, Craig Haverstick, and Tang Nguyen (I apologize if I left anyone out - I am still in vacation mode :D ).

There will be several awards based on data/statistics, but we really felt it important to do several "people's choice" awards based on what the splash dogs competitors voted on. I personally would feel really uncomfortable deciding who deserved these awards because I feel my votes would be biased to my geographical area and the people I have become close friends with - I think these awards need to represent ALL of splash dogs - both coasts, all groups of friends, etc.

I know there has been some things flying around about what happened with the polls. Bottom line is that while we had lots of "valid" people creating ids to vote, we had a lot of invalid emails used to create new ids. It really raised some questions about the validity of the voting. We've decided that we want this to be a vote that has integrity and don't want to cast any doubt on the validity of the winners. Emails with ballots will be emailed out tomorrow to all 2007 splash dogs competitors that I have emails on file for (and instructions of what to do if I don't have your email on file). We want to encourage all splash dog competitors from all over the nation to vote!

I encourage anyone with any concerns or questions to email or call myself, or Tony directly - we'd love your input and want to make sure that we do this in the best way possible.

Next year, I hope to have a login system on our website for all competitors to view and update their dog's information and view their dog's results. I hope to use this login system to do awards voting.

[Little Gunner]

Dave quote
"Bart! I know that is where you are at! I know what you have meant to the "Chase" this year!! Thanks!!!!!"

Dave,

Coming from you...that really means a lot to me. Cera has been our guiding light in the "chase" and I'm just trying to do what i can to help.

Wendy,

Sounds like you got it figured out. I look forward to the final tally.

[ssejrnv]

Thanks Wendy and everybody else on the comittee for figuring out a fair solution for all.
I would also like to say thanks in advance to everyone who is working so hard to make Cynosport a special event for us all. Can't even imagine how much work must go into an event like this.
Here's to all the splashdog competitors country wide, hope to meet some great new people at this event as well as hang with the great people I already know.
To Dave, Bart and anybody else that has worked to help with the "chase", you guys are the best so thanks for your help in looking after our best buddies.
JJ and crew
PS-I think having an little speech read in acknowledgement of winning an award if you can't attend sound like a great plan!
A final thought of the day- Go have fun with your dog!

[renegade]

Hey all, check out the post at: http://www.splashdogs.com/messageboard/phpBB2/showthread.php?t=619

for information on the new and improved voting process...