===================== From: Elsyd1@xxxxxxx Date: 2007/02/03 Sat AM 12:56:03 CST To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] The problem with our club The problem with our club, as I see it, is that it is NOT elitist, is NOT snobby, and is NOT exclusive. If you have a German shepherd (maybe even if you don't (?) ), you are welcome. If you are a "pillar" of the breed, you are welcome. If you are an ordinary person with just one "pet quality" spayed old girl, you are welcome. If you have never shown, you are welcome. If you know nothing about the breed, you are welcome. If you want to be on this list, you are (usually) welcome. If you have no idea of the difference between German and American bloodlines, you are welcome. You will learn. You will get help and advice, if you really want to learn, (and you will probably get advice whether you want to learn or not). When listers write in about the incredible requirements in other breed clubs, (before they (the other clubs) will even talk to you), I get really pissed. The German shepherd people love the greatest breed in the world, the premiere working dog in the world, the dog that has set the standard for working in any venue for the rest of the world since its inception. The German Shepherd Dog Club of AMERICA is a democracy. It has all type of people as members, some wonderful humans, and some not so wonderful. German shepherds are wonderful, no matter what they have or have not accomplished. When I hear about other clubs' stringent rules, and the contempt they seeming hold us in now, I realize (again) just how wonderful we are. Mr. Hunte is not a particularly welcome new member, but.....remember..it takes all kinds, and I am proud that we have always been for the dogs, and for the members, even the "little" guys. The novices, the experienced exhibitors, the working contingent, the couch potato owners, almost anyone can become a member, because our club stands for something..It breaks down the image "showdogs" have, it proves that showdogs are just dogs, and the folks that love them are just people, not exclusionary, elitist, discriminatory snobs. Mr Hunte could join, because we are what we are. I love the way we are, we are the "people's" club. If we start excluding, we will become like the other clubs, and (as an example) I and many others would never have been allowed into the clubs that require x amount of years, and xx amount of champions, etc. We are all looking for a place we can be comfortable and feel welcome....the German shepherd club is just like the dog it is named for. Noble, accepting, and special. Shalom, Syd (a proud member of the greatest dog club of them all). SYD MAILBERG 23910 SE 276TH ST MAPLE VALLEY, WA 98038 Syd, You just said it all! Kris Kudel Kamelot Shepherds UPDATED http://mysite.verizon.net/krisbob1/ GSDCA member ============================================================================ 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 ============================================================================