Mike I think years ago what you have said would apply but I think with the economy the way it is the world of showing dogs has changed a lot. Just look at the low entries at shows, look at the age of the participants-Everyone is cutting back whether they want to or not. It is not a matter of "if you really want to go" It is a matter of can you really spare the money A friend of mine checked out the price of a round trip ticket from O'Hare to Beaumont this week. It was over $700 and it was not even non stop now add in the cost of taking a dog with it is now up to over a thousand dollars by the time all is said and done the cost of the national plus handler can go close to $3000. So rotating the national is important even for those diehard devoted people Sally www.embroiderybysally.org new designs ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. 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 ============================================================================