Laura The key point is making GSD people feel included in your local club; that they have the greatest dog in the world, and that other GSD people feel that way too :-)....encourage, encourage, encourage !! Both dogs and owners benefit. Eventually it falls down the line to the local club. If you get even ONE person involved and interested in doing something whether it is CGC, rally, conformation, etc. you have accomplished something as a Regional Club. One thing the local clubs need though is the members to get back involved with all the little things that can be done to get more interest thus resulting in more entries in performance venues. You are right, it won't happen overnight but I have seen some wonderful changes in our club in the last 6 months. Club Member Vicki Burkey set up a Yahoo list for our club members to use. I wish we could get more members to sign up but that will come in time too. I have gotten to know and chat with a member through that Yahoo list that I have never met and look forward to meeting her in person!! Tammy Schaas is working hard on fund raising efforts for the coming year; Jodi Bobin is diligently working on membership....it will all come together. Pat Lukos Sarava German Shepherds ----- Original Message ----- From: <GrnRam415@xxxxxxx> To: <targa50@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <fairway97045@xxxxxxxxx>; <almanya@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <lollark@xxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 2:41 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Declining interest in showing > Pat, > That is the key. Give people a feeling of being included and go from > there. > I would bet a great percentage of people in the Breed started with a > Rescue, > pet or obedience dog. They got involved and addicted to showing after > they > had more knowledge. The answer is not how many people you signed up that > day or > how many people are interested in showing. It's about how many people had > fun with their dogs/pups and want to stay a part of any type of > competition and > have fun with their dogs. The dogs can only benefit from this and that is > the > real value. I wish more clubs would understand this. Our Breed is so > versitile and can compete anywhere. Support one venue and you will > benefit in the > long run. It won't happen overnight but instant gratification never lasts > long. And, we do want longevity, right? > > Laura Thomas > > In a message dated 12/20/2006 9:23:01 AM Pacific Standard Time, > targa50@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: > I think another key to this whole discussion is knowing that we can have > fun > with our GSDs as a group and club; not that we are exclusive as a Club; > that > we welcome everyone who is interested in their GSD (and may want to join > work > for the club down the road) *grin* > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. 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 - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================