I will give the GSDCA credit for wanting to discuss the problem of lack of
participation in clubs. But as long as it is being held only in St Louis it
does nothing to help the majority of regional clubs who are too far away to
attend.
The same is true of other educational programs. At least one year the GSDCA
provided regional clubs with a dvd of a program on the standard. We used it
as an educational program several times. The PC could host the very best
educational programs and if they are held where we can't get to them, it
really does most of the GSD owning public absolutely no good.
For as long as I have belonged to GSD clubs (started with Golden State back
in the mid-70s) I have firmly believed that if we do not educate John Q
Public we will die off sooner or later. We have to provide the information
to create:
1) good dog owners
2) good GSD owners
3) knowledgeable owners who know what makes a good GSD and why that dog
would be their best choice for whatever their interest may be.
But that is not the GSDCA's view. They would like things to go back to
times when the National was a large conformation show with some obedience
tacked on.
In truth - unless the education in activities that general GSD owners can
participate in is promoted there will be fewer and fewer GSDCA members and
exhibitors. People want to work with their dogs. Those of us who were
around when specialty shows had entries of 200+ and we got hooked on the
competition might still hang on but, in truth, right now with 10 dogs being
a major it is not fun any longer. And even with those low numbers there are
no handlers available. Nothing that a newbie finds worth the time or $$.
Ruth
On Thu, Aug 25, 2016 at 5:12 PM, <edwinx@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ruth I just don't know what to say about your response to the letter you
received ! Don't know how many of you know who RUTH is! I'm stunned! But we
both know your backbone is so strong the whole club could stand on it! Of
course to have a strong backbone you must first HAVE a backbone! I could
have used another analogy with another body part, but Stormy is watching
very carefully! I kid Stormy a lot and we don't always agree but she knows
I have nothing but admiration and respect for her! Her backbone is as
Strong as Ruth's ... Thanks Ruth! Ed
Sent from Xfinity Connect Mobile App
------ Original Message ------
*From: *Ruth Scheubler
*To: *freelist
*Sent: *August 25, 2016 at 4:57 PM
*Subject: *[ SHOWGSD-L ] Meeting for regional clubs at National
Our club got the following letter today:
To All GSDCA Member Clubs:
The German Shepherd Dog Club of America is holding a special meeting for
all Regional and SV Programs Clubs at the 2016 National Specialty, held
at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo. The meeting is to be held at 9am in
the Great Hall on Wednesday, Oct.12, 2016. We are asking all Regional and
SV Programs Clubs to send at least one representative to this meeting.
