In a message dated 5/18/10 4:58:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time, VPREZHMF@xxxxxxx writes: In fact, the AKC anticipates the loss of 1,000 judges over this issue. If this is true, then the AKC must be trying to make their judges more elite, and maybe the idea is to make being an AKC judge a rare and difficult thing. If so, then the better way to do it is to train and eliminate bad judges. I don't mean people who don't put up your dog, but those who are rude, senile or just plain nasty to exhibitors. We all know a few of those. I don't mind paying for the honor of being a judge for the AKC, I just am not sure the reasons being used are valid. If it is just a money raising plan, then it is short sighted. If asked, I would pay a fee. If demanded, I may give up my license. If it is a matter of the AKC folding, I would donate, to avoid that. It does seem however, they should look at the internal costs and try to eliminate them. But, the AKC is a business and they have the right to run it any way they want. They even have the right to close down, and fail. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But, it sure would piss me off. I like dog shows, and I enjoy the AKC system and organization. When I need an answer they treat me with respect. When I need a form or a response, they have always provided it. They are still a class act, but it does appear that they need some reform to eliminate the financial losses. Evan Ginsburg Asgard German Shepherds http://www.asgardgsd.com/ Where Type Movement and Temperament come together ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2010. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================