FREE TIME AT THE NATIONAL?
I will be at the announcer's table all day every day. I will get there early to
clean up from the day before, put out candy to entice people to come by and say
hello. In any break time I will be blogging as others ask me to do it.
I will help set up if they need me, run errands for those who ask. If I get to
accept my AOE, I will do that, but someone said if the dog isn't there, you
don't get to go in and get the award. Kierk will be at home. The last AOE I
got, was mailed to us. I don't know that answer.
I try to be the first in the building every day, and Bobbie and I used to try
to beat each other. He won't be there this year, so the pressure is off.
I know Toni and I will be the only people on the microphones this year, and Bob
(The Voice of The National), can't come, so we will be working extra hard.
I want to watch the dogs I have heard so much about and that my friends tell me
are great. I want to see my breedings, (dogs with Asgard in their name), in
the ring. I want to see if Thom goes Grand Victor. What about Black Bart this
year? Will Yada Yada Yada do what she should have in the years past? I will
try to see some of that as well.
I also have to make sure all the Juniors get pins to wear all week and the
awards are given to Gail, or whoever wants them this year.
Other than that, I will take whatever EXTRA TIME I have to go watch some other
stuff.
Evan
-----Original Message-----
From: Jen Proud <proudk911@xxxxxxxxx>
To: The List <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Sep 14, 2015 4:14 pm
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Versatility in the GSD, and...
Our “big shows” each year last an entire week, highlighting the versatility of
our wonderful breed to which we all are so dedicated. This year, we have
almost every event available to GSDs at one location; though herding, tracking
& agility are on days before many of us arrive to the show grounds.
Understandable if many 'conformation people’ aren’t there to cheer those
individuals on in those particular venues. HOWEVER, as Paul said, why not pull
up a chair to watch some of those other events? On the days the conformation
shows are being held, there are obedience/rally trials, coursing ability tests,
and of course, the SV style conformation shows. Would it not be a true gesture
of goodwill from us as “conformation people” to go and spectate some of these
other events in our free time? I mean, let’s face it- other than a very small
portion of our day spent in our individual show class, we’ve got pretty much
nothing but time on our hands (except Thursday for the party then meeting of
course!) What would be the harm in going to watch any one of these other
events, even if just for a short while? I think it would be extremely
advantageous for THE CLUB & THE BREED, and ALL of the participants who cared
enough to come to our national shows for their chosen event to compete in.
Would it not be a way to help lessen the divide, even if only by supporting
others who do something different?
I certainly don’t expect for people to actually enter and show their
conformation dog in the coursing ability tests, the obedience/rally trials, AND
the conformation show… but who knows? There may even be people who do!
Again, I know doing “all of the above” is NOT expected, nor the norm, but
shouldn’t it become more “the norm” to be supportive of all aspects of what our
breed can do,especially given the easy chance to do just that thing? I guess
what I’m just trying to say that it wouldn’t it be so easy for some of us to
walk across the hallway to spectate and give some polite applause when they see
a dog compete in the obedience/rally trial finishing their routine? Or, to go
a few hundred yards to watch one of the 3 coursing tests being held and perhaps
even see our dogs moving OFF LEASH at their own pace…. that seems like a sight
to behold to me! Or, to the front of the grounds (you know, near the gate in
and out of the Farm) and watch a bit of the SV style show? That the
‘performance people’ often seem to think they’re the red-headed step-children
of the people who run things… I should think it very refreshing for 'them' to
see ‘us' giving them our support, to make their efforts in coming to a national
show worthwhile, to feel INCLUDED.
That so many people seem to feel excluded from being an active member of the
GSDCA due to that the GSD is a handler-driven breed in the conformation ring,
and that, overall, performance sports are growing while the conformation
numbers are dwindling, would it not be a positive way to attempt to cross the
barrier/bridge? It’s not as if ALL of us who will be attending the
conformation shows won’t already be RIGHT THERE and available to go have a peek
at the other events… Perhaps it will bolster confidence and support in the
club even! Wouldn’t that be a refreshment?
Maybe if you are watching, you just might see people who are doing more than
just conformation, or more than just obedience/rally, or more than just the
coursing tests, or more than just SV style showing!
It would only be a small investment of our free time at a place we are at
already… why not? I think the benefits of efforts made would be innumerous!
Jen P & her Pack planning to take in and do as much as possible in 4 days of
the big show, and support the entire breed as I can
