Msg: #1 in digest From: "Nancy Harper" <nancy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: failing clubs Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2006 00:33:06 -0400 When the Mentoring Committee was developed the purpose was to give Specialty Clubs ideas and then guidelines to execute those ideas. The guidelines were basic steps to retain current members &,importantly, how to bring in new members and KEEP THEM. To this end, 99 letters were sent to Regional Corresponding Secretaries, the letters were followed up by personal phone calls from committee members from all over the country. Included in the letter were proven methods for stimulating the membership and offering a 12 step introductory program that was very simple yet effective. There was also a well developed Survey that would give clubs vital information as to what members wanted from the Clubs, why they had joined, and how the clubs could meet their expectations and keep them "interested" .( I will be happy to send the instructions, letter and survey to anyone who would like to see them). Sadly, clubs did not even attempt to apply the techniques that were sent, but worse, many of the "mentors" were treated with rudeness when they made the follow up calls. As for the Futurity/Maturity System,there are changes coming down the pike, and these changes will be dramatic, some will not like them, but we think the breeders and exhibitors will. (Of course subject to Board Approval). I am wondering how we have failed,along the way, to mentor newcomers in such a way that they become truly dedicated to improving the breed - that they learn how to study pedigrees, genetics, structure, and that each and every breeding is carefully planned with deep consideration how any one breeding will effect future breedings and not a "let's see what big winner I can get by trying this or trying that" Somehow our education has fallen short. Unless we focus on education in a big way we will not satisfy our newcomers. Or are we in an era where instant gratification is rampart and the true sense of "husbandry" is outdated, and no one wants to learn and listen? What group will carry our breed forward as the breeders of 40 &50 years are no longer with us? Hopefully, the PC Board, with a new Strategic Planning Committee, concentrated education, a new Futurity System, Raleef Committee etc. there will be a"shot in the arm" for our breed. Send in your suggestions - they WILL be welcomed. Nancy Harper ------------------------------ Nancy and All: My opinion is unpopular but I'm going to say it AGAIN...anyway... The Original way the Futurities were set up worked for all of us for a loong time. Then came the idea to send the Winners to the National..ROM PTS. Awarded, etc. . and it all went downhill from there.. I have said this till I am blue in the face and no one listens and if they do, they dismiss it...BUT.. if and until you only allow dogs to be exhibited in the area in which they reside, you are never going to get it 'fixed'.... Too much emphasis was put on winning so the winners could go to the National. That ruined the entire thing when they allowed that and the Handlers to fly about the country exhibiting where they thought their dogs could win under Judges they knew favored whatever they brought to them... It destroyed the Pure and Beautiful Intent of the Futurities..I said it years ago, when they began fooling around with the changes, that is was going to result in the deterioration of the purpose and intent of the Futurities, which was intended to be a showcase for the breeders in the various parts of the country to see what their fellow breeders were producing... These progeny were not limited to LOCAL dogs, many progeny were sired by East Coast dogs combined with the West Coast bloodlines when I started.,.. I said it before and once again, we had entered all 12 of the Ch. Harry Vom Donaukai ROM ex Ch. Von Schrief's Portrait ROM litter... They were all shown... That is one example of what I am saying...We knew they were not all Top Winners...They were exhibited so breeders could see the faults as well as the virtues of what such a breeding produced. The uniformity or lack of it..Conformation Characteristics good and bad... My fellow breeders did the same.. We had a living picture to watch and observe on what a breeding produced OVER-ALL..NOT just ONE WINNER...That was the purpose. Then it was so twisted and distorted by those who wanted to GO to the NATIONAL with the Futruity/Maturity Winners, that they devised ways Around the Intent of the Futurity and destroyed it to satisfy the National Win Fever... When a West Coast Bred Shepherd was competing againest Shepherds from all other parts of the Country, everyone rooted for their Hometown Heroes and Heroines..There was a great competition , and then they allowed Shepherds to be flown about and exhibited all over, and the East Coast Bred Shepherds . flew out and won and not always fairly under some of the Judges,,, and then they Represented the Pacific Coast Futurities, etc.. we became involved in a big steam=roller of competition, and we all lost The Pride and Purpose of Our Hometown Kids winning.. Morale dropped and interest dropped and people dropped away from the one Educational Tool we had to offer the New and Old, Our Futurities!!! I say we start all over again with the original way they were run and devised, and see if that works... JMO Barb Williams ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. 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. 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