About Us

TCVESSA is a Minnesota-based affiliate club of the English Springer Field Trial Association and the American Kennel Club. As a non-profit organization, we are dedicated to promoting the English Springer Spaniel and supporting those who share a passion for this versatile and beloved breed.

Our club offers members various opportunities to connect with fellow Springer enthusiasts, share knowledge, and learn more about responsible dog training, breeding, and ownership. TCVESSA also focuses on educating the public about the many wonderful qualities of the English Springer Spaniel while actively supporting both local and national Springer rescue organizations that tirelessly help dogs in need.

One of the strengths of our club is the wide range of activities our members enjoy with their dogs. English Springer Spaniels are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and eagerness to please. Our members celebrate these traits by participating in numerous canine sports and events, including obedience, conformation, agility, rally, hunt tests, tracking, dock diving, and Fast CAT. Additionally, many of our members and their dogs give back to the community through therapy dog work and community service.

Whether your interest lies in competition, field work, or simply enjoying life with a wonderful companion, TCVESSA welcomes anyone who appreciates the spirit and versatility of the English Springer Spaniel. Our club is built on friendship, shared learning, and a deep love for the breed.

TCVESSA Board of Directors

President: Sarah Willms; Vice President: Alice Musburger; Secretary: Jean Dockendorf; Treasurer: Gretta Thorson; Directors: Heather Rand, Diane Slais, Kathy Patregnani, Courtney Hansen, Tekla Viker. This dedicated team is passionate about promoting canine sports and enhancing dog training, especially for breeds like the English Springer Spaniel.

The Twin Cities Voyageur English Springer Spaniel Association (TCVESSA) was incorporated in 1977. What began as an idea shared by two longtime Springer colleagues quickly grew into an enthusiastic community of English Springer Spaniel lovers. Within just weeks of incorporation, the club held its first fun match, drawing strong support from Minnesota’s Springer community, which has a deep passion for canine sports. Around the same time, members held a contest to name the club newsletter, and “Vox Voyageur,” meaning “Voice of the Voyageur,” was selected.

As the club expanded, it maintained an active interest in all aspects of dog training and Springer activities. TCVESSA hosted annual Parent Club Working Dog certification tests along with a regular schedule of fun matches that included both conformation and obedience competitions.

From the beginning, the club aspired to obtain approval from the American Kennel Club (AKC) to hold specialty shows and obedience trials. During this process, the board discovered that the former field trial club, the Minnesota English Springer Spaniel Club, still held AKC approval for conformation events, despite having no plans to host specialty shows. With their cooperation and support, that approval was formally relinquished, allowing TCVESSA to move forward with its own application.

After meeting all AKC requirements, TCVESSA began hosting its specialty show and obedience trial each May during the 1980s, along with a Working Dog certification test each fall. When the American Kennel Club and the Parent Club later introduced hunting tests, TCVESSA became one of the first clubs in the nation to offer a hunting dog training program and hunting test. As additional spaniel hunting organizations developed throughout Minnesota, the club eventually concluded its hunting test program.

Club membership is open to all English Springer Spaniel enthusiasts in Minnesota and surrounding states. Today, TCVESSA hosts an annual specialty show, an all-breed obedience and rally trial, and multiple agility trials each year, promoting the advancement of canine sports. The club also provides educational programs and holds an annual awards banquet celebrating the titles and accomplishments of members and their Springers.

With membership typically ranging from 50 to 70 dedicated enthusiasts, and supported by active board members and volunteers, TCVESSA is especially well known for the hospitality of its specialty shows and the supportive camaraderie among its members.

The TCVESSA club bylaws are the guiding rules that define how the organization operates and governs itself within the realm of canine sports. They outline the structure of leadership, the roles and responsibilities of officers and members, meeting procedures, and decision-making processes related to dog training activities. Bylaws help ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency in all club activities, including those involving the English Springer Spaniel.