From Where I Sit
by John S. Ward

Some of you may recall that I wrote a column last spring in which I proposed a rather radical reorganization of the AKC. As you might have guessed, I had no real expectation of seeing my reorganization implemented in the near future, but hopefully it stimulated my readers to consider alternatives to the present organizational set-up. In this column I am going to revisit the structure of the AKC but this time I have a serious proposal to make which I believe can be carried out quite readily.

We are approaching the annual election of three Directors to the Board of the AKC and all the hoopla that precedes the election. All of the dog publications will submit questionnaires to the candidates, the candidates themselves will write letters to all the Delegates asking for their vote, and they will wind up making three-minute speeches at the Delegates Meeting. In my opinion this process more closely resembles a popularity contest rather than a reasoned attempt to find the best-qualified individuals for the Board.

In many cases this process has produced a Board that does not have an adequate mix of managerial ability, expertise in the many activities of the AKC, and representation of geographic areas. I’d like to propose a revision of that process which I believe will retain the virtue of being democratic but which will at the same time afford a means of raising the level of competence of the Board.

Under present Rules only AKC Delegates are eligible to serve on the Board. This of course results in a pool of 500 individuals who are potential candidates. Many corporations, including not-for-profit and profit-making entities, have chosen to have a certain number of outside Directors on their Boards. These individuals have no formal affiliation with the corporation but are selected for their knowledge, wisdom, and unbiased viewpoints.

I would like to propose that the AKC Board consist of nine Directors elected from the Delegate body and four Directors who would be chosen by the Board itself and who would not be Delegates to the AKC. These outside Directors would serve four-year terms as do the other Directors. (You will note that 9 + 4 = 13, which also serves to eliminate the tie-vote problem.)

These outside Directors would of course be selected from members of the Dog Fancy but would be chosen without regard to their organizational affiliations. Nevertheless they would be subject to the same occupational eligibility criteria that apply to the Delegates. The mechanics of the process also would be quite simple. Election of the Delegate Directors would continue to be held in March but I would recommend that the term of the outside Directors would run from September to September. This would give each newly constituted Board a few months in which to identify and select individuals with the qualifications the Board needs at that particular time.

In my view this organizational change has many advantages. First and foremost it greatly enlarges the pool from which certain Directors may be selected. Additionally it gives the Board the opportunity to fill gaps in their collective knowledge of AKC activities. For example, it presents an opportunity for the Board to achieve expertise in the greatly expanded base of performance events. This in turn keeps the Board from becoming captives of the staff in areas in which the Board is weak.

One might argue that this procedure would weaken the power of the Delegate body, inasmuch as they would have no direct voice in the selection of outside Directors. May I point out however that the elected Directors will in turn select the outside Directors, and presumably they were elected on the basis of their integrity and good sense as well as their knowledge.

What to do about it? If you belong to an AKC Member Club, please give this idea some consideration and at least talk it over with your Delegate who will be part of any discussions held on the reorganization of the AKC.

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TIMMY
by Norm Larangé

About a year ago I bought a German Shorthaired Pointer. I wanted a hunting dog, but instead I ended up with a 55-pound lapdog.

His name is Timmy. He became part of the family real quick. When I’d go out of town for a dog show, before I’d leave, I’d tell Timmy, “You take care of Momma and the babies. Don’t you let anyone hurt them.” He’d do that, too. If a stranger, or someone Timmy felt he couldn’t trust, came around, he’d let Suzy, my wife, know.

The weekends that I was in town we’d spend Sundays at my Grandmother’s house. She lived about 20 miles away. I’d ask Timmy if he wanted to go to Grandma’s house and he’d get all excited and run to the van. He loved being out there where he could run and play.

Then, on the first of May, we moved to a better neighborhood. At the time we did not know that the garage and basement were infested with rats. But shortly after we moved in, whenever our four-year-old son, Stormy, would go out to play Timmy would do everything he could to keep Stormy away from the garage. He started sleeping at the end of Stormy’s bed each night. If my wife or kids would start to go to the basement Timmy would bark and stand in the way.

After a while I started seeing the rats upstairs. Suzy believes the only thing that kept these rats from attacking us was Timmy.

The landlord would do nothing about the rats. Suzy called the City Housing Inspector and he condemned the house that day. We had 10 days to move and could not find a house, so we had to put all our stuff in storage and moved in with my oldest stepson. He lives in an apartment where they don’t allow dogs so we had to take Timmy and my wife’s Maltese, Casper, to stay at my stepdaughter’s until we found a house.

The very next day I had to leave town for a dog show - that was October 13th. It seems that Timmy jumped from a window two stories high and he just disappeared. We put up posters, put ads in the paper, and went door-to-door. We checked with all the dog shelters. The people from whom we bought Timmy put an ad on the Internet. (And, we’d like to thank all the dog show people that helped look for Timmy, too.)

He was nowhere to be found. Suzy never gave up hope. Grandma would go outside every morning and every night to call for Timmy. They both prayed, along with the kids, for Timmy’s safe return. It had been about three weeks and I was ready to give up hope of ever finding Timmy.

Then, one day, Grandma called and said, “Norm, Timmy is here. He’s in my backyard!” I got the wife and kids into the van and we went the 20 miles to Grandma’s house. Sure enough, Timmy was there. I never got as many kisses as I did from Timmy that day.

We couldn’t find Timmy, but he found us! My Grandfather passed away last April. Grandma and Suzy swear that Grandpa showed Timmy the way home through Grandma’s prayers.

(Editor’s Note: Those of you who work with our Michigan office will recognize Norm as one of the MB-F set-up crew. You can find more information about Norm and other MB-F personnel in this issue in our Spotlight section.)

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AND IT WAS GOOD…
by Jean Witt

How long has it been since you attended a weekend of four shows and returned home feeling great? Of course, there were long hours, the usual questions and complaints, some good and some not-so-good food, and the lack of sleep, but I got home with a certain exhilaration about the weekend.

All the wonderful people who run the Virginia Beach shows (Langley KC on 11/4, Gloucester KC on 11/5, Virginia Beach KC on 11/6 and Tidewater KC of VA on 11/7/99) make it a good time for everyone, but this time there was something else for me.

First, there was a van with 11 dogs inside stolen from a motel. We were all up-in-arms, ready to hang the culprit if we did catch him and had no hope that we would ever see the dogs again. The next day a 16-year-old mentally impaired boy was seen at a local park exercising the dogs. He had watered and fed them and realized they needed to be exercised. All the dogs were returned in good shape and, except for a few scratches, the van was okay. We had expected with worst – but it turned out well.

Second, while the stolen van with dogs matter was being resolved, a young girl came to our desk in tears. She had lost her diamond tennis bracelet somewhere at the show. We took her name and address, knowing items like that usually are never seen again. The next morning a well-known handler came to us to report he had found a tennis bracelet in the public ex-pen. Another happy ending.

Third, a wallet containing more than $400 was lost. Guess what? Returned with money intact.

There were several more items misplaced but returned. Why are we always so quick to expect the worst? Frankly, because usually it ends that way. Not this weekend — it was good! Maybe it signals a new trend.

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AKC Cluster Policies

We just want to remind those clubs that hold cluster events have additional show event policies to comply with due to changes approved by the AKC Board of Directors earlier this year. Below is a synopsis of those changes.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

A cluster is defined as more than two events held by more than one club at one site on consecutive days. Clusters will consist of not more than four all-breed shows, except as provided below:

• Host club to be clearly identified, if applicable.

• Approval of more than four all-breed shows is contingent upon exceptional site capabilities and Executive Field Staff recommendation, and subsequent site approval by Event Plans. There is a checklist for site inspection.

• Continuation of cluster approval will be based on daily inspection, and subsequent monitoring of conditions to provide dogs and exhibitors with stable and safe venues.

EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999

A Cluster Committee consisting of a representative from each club must be established to coordinate dates, grounds, special attractions, etc. The function of the Cluster Committee is to coordinate overall plans for the cluster. Each club remains responsible for the management of its own events. The individual event committee must comply with existing AKC Rules, Regulations and Guidelines.

Guidelines for the Cluster Committee follow.

Guidelines for Cluster Committee

• Each club is responsible for the conduct of its own event.

• Each club will have one representative on the Cluster Committee.

• Work out event schedule at least one year in advance. Any date conflicts must be resolved by the clubs.

• Submit all event applications together in one package to Event Plans, if possible. This will prevent unnecessary delay in issuing all event approvals. This applies to applications for “regular” shows, not designated specialties.

• Judges selection, contracts, etc. are the responsibility of the individual show giving clubs and any disputes must be worked out by the clubs.

• Common Site Application form may be submitted in lieu of individual host club letters. Form must be signed by all club representatives.

• Club representatives will work with Executive Field Representatives, Grounds Chair/ Committee and Superintendent on daily site inspections for their respective events.

• Cluster Committee may remain the same from year to year.

Cluster committee would also be responsible for the following:

• Securing accessory services and equipment such as telephones, public address system, potable water, chairs and tables, all concessions.

Submitting a consolidated Emergency and Disaster Plan form to event plans. The form should identify all clubs in the cluster and their event dates. The form may be signed for the cluster committee by a designated individual.

• Dealing with outside personnel such as site management.

Each club is responsible to identify itself on its event application as part of a cluster.

• The Common Site Application must accompany the event application for all participating clubs.

Some of the 160 participants at the 1999 Bill Trainor Memorial Dinner and Auction.

The presentation of the First William J. Trainor Memoral Award to Grace M. Brewin. 

Competitors by day comrades by night.

Auctioneer and presenters during bidding.

...By Peggy Warnpold

South Windsor Kennel Club, Windham County Kennel Club, Springfield Kennel Club and Holyoke Kennel Club for many years have been recognized for putting on a notable four-day cluster known as the Thanksgiving Classic Cluster in November. It is the biggest cluster in the New England area. The highlight of the weekend was the Bill Trainor Memorial Dinner and Auction hosted by South Windsor, Springfield and Holyoke Kennel Clubs to honor the memory of William J. (Bill) Trainor who passed away January 4, 1998 and to raise money to give in his name to the Canine Health Foundation. Bill was a special friend to the Thanksgiving Classic Cluster. He encouraged us to make it bigger and better. He always said we had the potential, because of our location, facilities and caliber of club members to make it one of the best in the East.

One of Bill’s primary concerns and interests was always the health and well being of all the dogs at dog shows. He believed strongly in canine research in congenital disease. His wife of 40 years, Betty, a veterinarian by profession, is nationally known and recognized as an authority in canine reproduction. Bill was very proud of Betty and her accomplishments.

The dinner was held at the Colesseum Restaurant on Saturday, November 27, 1999 after Best in Show. As the 160 guests came into the restaurant Joe Rivers and Jane Kaba handed out the auction paddles. Upon getting their auction paddles the guests then went into the dining room to peruse the auction items donated by the fancy, have a drink and socialize prior to the buffet dinner. We tried to talk Ray Scott, into letting us auction off the Springfield Best in Show win the next day but he was only willing to give us a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. Needless to say there was plenty of laughter and teasing over cocktails.

After dinner, George Alston and Fred Ferris, the auctioneers for the evening, introduced Tom Davies (Springfield Kennel Club), Bob Merkel (Holyoke Kennel Club) and David Wampold, (South Windsor Kennel Club) representing their Clubs to make the announcement of the first annual William J. Trainor Memorial Award offered by the Thanksgiving Classic Cluster. Betty Trainor made the presentation of this award to Grace Brewin for “Meritorious Service to the Dog World Signifying the Ideals Manifested by William J. Tainor”.

Grace started breeding and showing Terriers in 1957 and has been a judge for 30 years. She is the AKC Delegate and Show Chairman for Holyoke Kennel Club. Grace is the founder and main force of the Central New England Judges Workshop. Grace Mc Grath Brewin is Irish, as was Bill Trainor, and like Bill always willing and eager to help and educate. She is a great dog person and a great lady. We were very pleased to surprise Grace with this award. All of you know that to surprise Grace Brewin is a feat in itself. Dennis Vendrillo helped get all of the auction items to the restaurant and Tina helped set the auction up for display and she kept track of the bidding so everyone knew what to anti up at the end of the evening. Marcia Adler collected money from the bidders and Catherine Bell and Sheldon Adler held the items up for everyone to see during the bidding.

Sheldon and his wife, Marcia, Catherine Bell and Iris Love came for the weekend to help promote the Canine Health Foundation and to work the auction. Dr. Adler, Catherine Bell and Iris Love are on the Board of Directors of the Canine Health Foundation. They also manned a table at the shows to give out information about the Foundation and sell tee shirts for its benefit.

There was an excellent representation of exhibitors, handlers, judges, and owners for this event. The William J. Trainor Memorial Award was the surprise of the evening as it had not been previously announced so as to keep it a surprise. The guest list read like the who’s who in dogs. This was also the judge’s dinner for the Springfield Kennel Club whose show was on Sunday.

We had hoped to raise $10,000 to give to the Canine Health Foundation and we raised that amount and more. It was a wonderful evening. The food was great, the laughter and good will was over abundant and the bidding got to be pretty fierce at times. Fierce competitors in the ring sat together laughing and having a good time in the evening.

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Spotlighting MB-F Employees (Part I)
(Click here to view this page)

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   The Shaggy Dog Stories

Bet You Can't Own Just One!

Why own a dog? There's a danger you know, You can't own just one, for the craving will grow. There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger. While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.

One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny. The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey. The fifth one delightful, the sixth one's a breeze, You find you can live with a houseful with ease.

So how 'bout another? Would you really dare? They're really quite easy but oh, Lord, the hair! With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed, And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother you've said. They're really no trouble, their manners are great. What's just one more dog and just one more crate?

The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty, The floor is all footprints, the furniture dusty. The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care? Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?

So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room, and a little more time for the dust cloth and broom. There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add, The thought of a cutback sure makes you sad.

Each one is so special, so useful, so funny. The vet, the food bill grows larger, you owe money. Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay, Except other dog folks, who all live the same way.

Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too, But your weekends are busy, you're off with your crew. There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots. And entries and travel and motels which cost lots. Is it worth it, you wonder? Are you caught in a trap? Then that favorite dog comes and climbs in your lap. His look says you're special and you know that you will Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.

Some just for showing and some just to breed. And some just for loving, they all fill a need. But winter's a hassle, the dogs hate it too. But they must have their walks though they're numb and you're blue. Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.

The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills, The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills. The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life. They're charming and funny and offset the strife. Your life-style has changed. Things won't be the same. Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game!!

-Author unknown

(Submitted by Trey Pickard)

Size Matters

A group of men were given the assignment to measure the height of a flagpole. So the men go out to the flagpole with ladders and tape measures. They’re falling off the ladders, dropping the tape measures - the whole thing is just a mess.

A woman comes along, sees what they’re trying to do, walks over, pulls the flagpole out of the ground, lays it flat, measures it from end to end, gives the measurement to one of the managers and walks away.

After the woman has gone, one man turns to another and laughs. “Isn’t that just like a woman! We’re looking for the height and she gives us the length!

(submitted by Angela Porpora via the Internet)

Humor is a good thing.

If you have a favorite doggy laff
-- particularly a true story --
please send it in and share a good laff with fellow dog enthusiasts.

Send to:

MB-F, Inc.
c/o The Shaggy Dog
P.O. Box 22107
Greensboro, NC 27420

e-mail: mbf@infodog.com

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