[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Why join the GSDCA/Long
- From: DaniaKarloff@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 16:59:53 EDT
In a message dated 5/12/2005 12:27:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mary@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
You are right on Kathy. I hear a lot from board members about regional
club members not "belonging" to the parent club. How many of our parent
club members no longer participate in or belong to a regional club? The
regional club challenge is proving to be a shot in the arm for the
recognition of the parent club..............
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Mary,
You are absolutely right that we need to have new members that are active
and participate in club events. I know that Lew has introduced a number of
programs in the Regional Clubs Committee to promote members' participation and
I
hope that we reap some benefits from these efforts. He has a number of good
people involved in his committee.
Personally, I spend a significant amount of time talking to potential
members, promoting the breed and talking up the benefits of club
participation.
But I don't know that we will ever be able to promise people that in each
situation they will receive benefits which will equal their investment of time
and
effort. And, perhaps, we should not be thinking of the trade-off, but really
thinking more of what we can do for the breed and the club than what we are
receiving from it. For me, it is a matter of giving back some of the joy
that the dogs and the sport have given me over the years.
It is, as Amy so aptly described, very disheartening to be blamed for,
cursed at and despised for being a member of a governing body (GSDCA or
regional
clubs). And while we do deserve blame for some things, we also seem to be the
scapegoat for every dysfunctional issue occurring within this organization
and within the sport of dogs.
I am a member of the GSDCA board and I am responsible for Membership - as
such my duties include and are limited to encouraging people to join/rejoin;
prepare packets for new members; create a roster/handbook; and resolve
administrative issues regarding membership. These duties take approximately
four to
six hours a week. It is really a great job and, for the most part, the
people I talk to are gracious and understanding.
I am also a member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Eastern Virginia where
I serve at the present time as VP and also as permanent show secretary (the
one that prepares premium lists, catalogs and generally runs the shows). I
also belong to the GSDC of Northern Virginia and also serve as their show
secretary on alternate shows.
My local club has shrunk significantly over the years - the few members that
are still active do not seem to have the "fire in the belly" we used to have
when we were young. I fear what will happen to the club when we no longer
can do the "work" because of age or infirmity.
Everyone has a theory of why are membership participation and entries are
weaning - I don't claim to have the "magic solution" but I do believe that
attitudes do have to change and we have to be a little more "gentle and kind"
to
all - new and old alike. We can sure start on this List where I,
periodically, see a good idea that goes sideways and ends up in people bashing
before
anyone is even able to respond. And a bit more understanding and tolerance
of
othersâ?? interest and preferences would also go a long way. I loved watching
the debate between Paul and Evan regarding the limits of selects - they were
definitely at the opposite ends of the argument but it never became ugly,
the reasons presented were valid and there was a lot of respect for each other
and for the differences of opinion.
Ohâ?¦ why â?¦ oh whyâ?¦. Canâ??t we all reach this plateau?
Dania
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