You live in the are that has the highest point schedule for next year. That means you guys have had more majors than the rest of the country. It is fine to suggest that the clubs provide lots and lots of conveniences but the entries do not pay the bills. Just like we provided obedience trials for years when they did not pay the bills, we are now providing 2 conformation shows a year and clustering them so that exhibitors have a chance for 4 sets of points on one weekend, although they do not pay their bills. "Good Judges" are defined differently by different exhibitors. So a club can only do the best they can. Clubs doing the best to maintain shows rather than just declaring the breed classes at an all-breed "their" show are doing more than is required. Exhibitors also have a duty if they want to maintain events. They have to enter. Some exhibitors travel a distance but only enter part of the shows that weekend. Your expenses are the same but the club does not get that additional entry fee. You might not like the specific judge and might not show, but if you are truly supporting the club that provides the large grassy rings, then enter all shows on that weekend. You want the clubs to support you - you also need to support the club. Not showing at specialties like Sacramento will change things - but maybe it will actually bring back a few owner handlers and dogs that can handle small as well as large rings. The breeds that do well are those where the owner can enjoy handling his own dog rather than just writing checks. It is different - but I am not convinced that it is necessarily worse. Good dogs - truly good dogs - can be shown in many venues and will win on quality. It is only the ones that need to race to cover faults that can't handle an indoor ring. We have fewer handlers - fewer exhibitors. Maybe going back to a more realistic style of showing will bring in more owner handlers. Maybe fewer GSD exhibitors would be leaving to show other breeds that they can handle. And that exodus has nothing to do with lack of grassy rings and everything to do with the state of dog shows. You know how I loved the specialties we used to have. But I am willing to adapt to make shows continue. Ruth ________________________________ From: Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: fairway97045@xxxxxxxxx; LeBrowngsd@xxxxxxx; destinogs1@xxxxxxx; pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 3:29 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: new point schedules have been posted... Well we just spent the weekend at some specialty shows.......and the total dog quality is EXCELLENT at the Specialties and the entry was fine. . I do not understand why some of you keep saying this Breed MUST go to All Breed shows to survive?? If there are less dogs at a Specialty.....there are even LESS dogs at an All Breed. I don't understand the reasoning?? There may be less dogs than there used to be.........but the Specialty Shows will always be what is important to any Breed. There just simply is less Exhibitors and Breeders now. Granted airline fees and traveling expenses are out of sight.....and that should cause Specialty Clubs to consider more shows in less days with the numbers down. Airline fees will affect who Clubs can get for judges more than anything, and in the end that could affect our Specialty shows. People will drive a good distance with their dogs for a combination of great judges....great sites. with good sized rings....convenient to Motels, Restaurants, good show grounds, water, power, shade...etc. We must cater to the Exhibitors and their dogs with convenience...as traveling will only become more difficult and expensive.....and our aging exhibitors and lack of handlers. The camaraderie at a Specialty far outweighs an All Breed show. Sitting around visiting, eating, watching puppies and young dogs while visiting and talking dogs is irreplaceable. When we give up Specialties .......our Breed will suffer. Carolyn marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.Marhaven.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Terry Cochran To: LeBrowngsd@xxxxxxx ; destinogs1@xxxxxxx ; pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx ; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 11:24 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: new point schedules have been posted... We are seeing the Last days of the Specialty shows that is for sure. 18 total dog entry will mean that if the clubs are to survive they will go to the all breeds If the all breed clubs are willing to pay the expenses for the judges they will be doing the picking. If I were a GSD judge I would be trying to get at least a total group under my belt. It looks like we better start making a list of our favorite all breed judges. Free stacking is about to make a come back. So lets start a list. Your favorite All breed judges are?? Specialty judges that can judge a group are? Terry ________________________________ From: "LeBrowngsd@xxxxxxx" <LeBrowngsd@xxxxxxx> To: destinogs1@xxxxxxx; pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 9:00 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: new point schedules have been posted... Our division is 8 and 8. There will be a lot of poor quality champions. Not to mention that a major entry will not come close to paying the expenses to put on a show. Airfares alone to get a judge in is out of sight. I have been checking airfares for a trip to Southern California and so far the cheapest I am finding is close to 700.00 bucks. Yikes. Lee Brown destinogs1@xxxxxxx writes: I just checked Div. 4 and majors and championships just aren't what they were. 9 dogs/bitches for a 3pt. major? What a shame. Mary -----Original Message----- From: Peggy <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] new point schedules have been posted... effective May 16, 2012 ttp://www.showdays.info/pointcnt.php?code=Index&yr12&brnr6 Peggy ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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 ; SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ÿÿ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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 SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================