Should I send Overnight or Regular mail and different types of entry methods?
REVISED
11/20/2011
Because there are more
trials being offered in a five state area - trials are not filling
as fast. I want people to save their money and only use
overnight deliveries it when it is necessary. (exceptions noted
below*)
1. The 3 ring trials
are not filling that fast and therefore you do not need to send your entries
via overnight mail. (exceptions noted below*)
2. Many outdoor trials are not filling that fast that you need
to send overnights either (exceptions noted below*)
3. With rules
"No hand
delivery" in the first 24 hours* of the opening and not more
than 10 DOGS entries in an envelope - it makes sense only to
use overnight delivery when it is really critical..
*Exception trials are
listed below (provided they
stay at the proposed run limits)
I
expect each of these trials will fill very fast: While
overnight deliveries may not be necessary timing your regular mail to arrive on
opening day or the day after would be advised. Also UPS and Fedex are
usually delivered first.
Get together with a few others and pool your resources and overnight together -
just remember not more that 10 DOGS entries per envelope
For the Spring 2012-
SOJAC February (indoor)???
BAYSHORE February (indoor) -
DCKC February (indoor) ???
DCKC March (indoor)???
TBAC March (indoor)???
SOJAC March (indoor)???
KEYSTONE April (indoor)
Summer 2012-
Lower Camden July (indoor)
SOJAC July (indoor)
BERKS AUGUST (indoor)
For
the FALL 2012-
TBAC September? (indoor at Dream Park)
SKYLINE if limited to 660 with FAST
GSNEC (indoor at Dream Park)
JAG (indoor at Dream Park)
KEYSTONE (indoor at Dream Park)
Lower Camden / DCKC (indoor at Dream Park)
Different Types of Entry Methods.
1. FIRST RECEIVED (AKC or NADAC). This is the most common method used in our area for AKC trials. Entries cannot be received at the trial secretary's house prior to the opening date and time. So if the Opening date is a Tuesday at 8 AM, any entries that get delivered BEFORE Tuesday of that specific trial's opening date and time will be refused. You can mail them before that date, but the envelope with the entry cannot arrive at the door or in the mailbox before the actual opening date and time.
2. RANDOM DRAW - (AKC): Briefly...there is a specific "Opening Period" during which entries are accepted. At the close of the "opening period" there is then a random draw of entries at a specified time and place. A certain number of dogs can be given automatic entry (based on the number of rings) if the handler is volunteering to work (the choice of who these will be is up to the club). All exhibitors should be notified within a maximum of 2 weeks (one week or less is recommended) after the drawing - letting them know if they have been accepted or not. There is no advantage to sending entries via an over night service during the "opening period". Please read more details in the AKC Regulations for Agility Trials
3. POSTMARK DATE (NADAC ONLY - NOT AKC): This is variation of the random draw. Entries are based of the Postmark date. No entry can be postmarked BEFORE the opening date or it is not a valid entry and will not be accepted. All entries are sorted by POSTMARK DATE - not the actual delivery date. The time of the day when it is stamped on the opening postmark date does not matter. After allowing approximately one week for all the entries postmarked on the opening date to arrive, entries are accepted in a random order from the group postmarked with the first day or postmark opening date. Preference is given to a limited number of volunteer workers. If the trial does not fill with entries postmarked on the first day (the postmark opening date), then entries are randomly chosen from all entries postmarked the following day and so on until the trial fills. So please be patient and allow time for these Postmark Date NADAC trials. Also - it is best to get the entry envelope hand stamped at the post office so that the postmark date is legible. There is no advantage to sending entries via an over night service for a Postmark Date Opening method trial. There is no guarantee that entries in the same envelope will be handled together.
* No hand delivery in the first 24 hours of a trial for AKC first received trials. If a trial opens at 8 AM on Tuesday then you cannot hand deliver until after Wednesday at 8 AM. If you are hand delivering to my house then put in the "Horse Mailbox" by my front door. DO NOT put in the black USPS mailbox at the road (not legal to do that) Once the first 24 hour period is over you can hand deliver at any time - even at a trial.