I've suggested "Regional Nationals" a number of times. I think it would increase entries across the board and get dogs out that will show locally and within driving distance but whose owners can't or won't fly and take a week to 10 days off (including travel time) to do the whole national as it is structured now. Friday-Saturday-Sunday MAXIMUM! Maybe the Futurity/Maturity on the Friday w/ a puppy match that PM. Bitches on Saturday w/ Veterans/Honor parade. Dogs on Sunday then BOB. Out of there and on the way home by 4PM. I'd arrange for Herding/Tracking where available on Friday, Rally/OB and Agility Saturday & Sunday (only) if the local regional specialty club could support it. See...easy. And.... I wouldn't stop people from entering as many F/Ms as they wanted either. Like Helen suggested, if an owner wanted to go to all...they could. Dog's could accumulate points towards some sort of "dog/bitch of the year"...the race horse people do it...they do it for the academy awards...you can't tell me we can't figure this out as a group. And for goodness sakes, can we do some outside in lovely parks with GRASS????? I don't need to be indoors, I don't need a white wall to see a bad back and if I never eat another banquet style dinner that's just fine by me! Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) In a message dated 10/8/2010 7:25:56 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, VPREZHMF@xxxxxxx writes: In a message dated 10/7/2010 2:31:02 P.M. Central Daylight Time, Lindenhillgsd@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: Those are some thoughts, I don't envy the Board, they truly have monumental tasks ahead of them, I hope there are enough that are willing to think "outside" of the box to make some progress in these areas of concern Over these past ten years,like Mike ,I have suggested a "two -time" set of Nationals. One in the spring and one in the fall. I used to judge many of the Siberian Husky Nationals ,which were held in 4 different regions every year,with the local Specialty clubs hosting them. They did this because they had added extras to conformation,like racing and sled pulls,in addition to obedience. So the club that was hosting it could have their own local Specialty, plus their Parent club sponsored show--- with all the extras . I remember being confused about 4 different Nationals, but it worked for them They did their conformation part both inside,and outside,but the other activities outside. So I judged one National in Denver inside and another time one National outdoors in Georgia. That I remember vividly,since I had a white pant suit on and it rained and even though I was under a tent,the Georgia red mud was all over the pants <G> And they were doing that long before the economy became bad. But I really like the idea of a Performance National one time and a Conformation National another time . Each National could be shortened to a 3-4 day event,that would be less expensive ,easier for people to take off from work or schooling. And if someone had the time and money to go to both.it would be their choice. The Germans do it with the Seiger show at a different time than the World trials. On is conformation,and one is for the Working ability. Just some thoughts. Helen Miller Fisher ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2010. 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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2010. 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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================