I totally agree and have been harping this at the Board meetings- that is why I am a big supporter of the mentoring program and have sought advertising for new members outside of our review-we need a transfusion of new members and fast-if anyone has good ideas where we can draw significant numbers let me know- I do not think it is the handling fees, show expenses, entry fees but the fact that dog shows compete with more hobbies than in years past and the fact that urban sprawl and legal challenges are making it difficult to keep large dogs- if you think it is the expense just look around your town at the five hundred thousand and up homes- trust me they can afford to show-I am not saying that someone with less money cannot show- when we started showing we were dog poor (still are if you ask me) - if we do not all seek new exhibitors now we won't be showing in specialties in five years-Kris----- Original Message ----- From: "billie" <arelee@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <Danannkennel@xxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 7:21 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: leaving > Sally has that right. I would like to add another factor, that would be > aging. > > Many who have spent the last 25, 30 or 40 years in the breed obviously are > no longer showing the number of dogs they once did. > > Leaving the breed completely is out of the question for me. I will always > have a GSD, even though I seriously doubt, I will ever breed another litter, > show another dog, etc. etc. > > I will continue to travel to local shows, be supportive of Regional Clubs, > and the GSDCA Futurities, National etc., as long as I am able. > > As Sally stated, "justifying the expense". > Income and outgo change with age also, at least for the average person. > > Beryl Eshom > Arelee GSD > Davis, Ca. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <Danannkennel@xxxxxxx> > To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 4:05 AM > Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] leaving > > > > I think the problem is not just no new people coming in the breed but you > > are going to be seeing a lot of the ol timers leaving it. More and more > of the > > people I talk to are just about on their way out of dogs. Not because > they > > want to be but because they can no longer justify the expense of showing. > > These are not people leaving for wda or switching to other breeds these > are > > people who no longer are willing to pay 2-4 hundred dollars for a > weekend plus > > their own expenses. These are people who are no longer willing to use > > handlers who have their own stud dogs and breeding programs . People who > do not > > want to pay to compete with their own handlers. As the economy gets > tighter > > dog shows will get smaller. > > > > Sally > > The House of Nasdaq ROM > > Ch's Seiko, Adam & Ex > > > > http://danann.netfirms.com > > http://www.freewebs.com/embroiderybysally > > > > > > > ============================================================================ > > POST is Copyrighted 2004. 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 - http://www.showgsd.org > > > ============================================================================ > > > > > ============================================================================ > POST is Copyrighted 2004. 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 - http://www.showgsd.org > ============================================================================ > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2004. 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 - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================