Table Talk
As I sit in my nice, warm house, surrounded by my pooches while looking out the window at the snow that has been falling all day, I cannot help but think about my friends that have been freezing their butts off in Brooksville, Florida! I look at the photos on Facebook and I see everyone all bundled up and I cannot help but feel for how uncomfortable everyone looks. Hang in there everyone, better weather is on the horizon soon!
In years past, this was about the time we were working feverishly to put the finishing touches on the International Kennel Club of Chicago cluster, which was held at McCormick Place right after Westminster. Sadly, the IKC as we once knew it is no more. I developed many great friendships through my involvement with the IKC and hope that someday we can return the cluster to what it once was: an icon to the sport of purebred dogs. Speaking of those cherished friendships, I was thrilled to catch up with Colette Seror while I was attending the Kennel Club of Palm Springs last week. Colette relocated to California several years ago and, as we chatted, it was like we never lost contact.
It was great to hear that Charlie Zimmerman took a pass on dog shows last weekend to take his grandson to the Bull Riding competition. Little did I know that Charlie was a retired cowboy!!!!! Thanks for sharing your photos on Facebook, Charlie. The look of joy on both your face and your grandson’s face was truly priceless!
Continued thoughts and best wishes to Pilar Kuhn and her husband, Rod Ott, as she fights the good fight against cancer. Pilar is wrapping up her first round of low-dose chemotherapy and is doing well. Pilar continues with her positive attitude, which should be a lesson to us all.
I am so excited to see Michelle Steigmeyer return to some shows with her camera. Michelle moved from the Midwest to Hawaii a couple years back but has moved back to Indiana while maintaining her Hawaii home as a great place to visit. She just couldn’t stay away from us. Welcome back, Michelle!
Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine has interrupted her visit to the East Coast to see her first grandchild to return home to recuperate from the flu. Sadly, she also had to cancel her judging trip to Manila. A note to all my friends: This is the right thing to do when you are ill. Please! If you have the flu or a related illness, stay home until you are well. Do NOT go to dog shows. We have lost several fanciers to the flu already this year. This year’s outbreak is the worst in years. Do your part, please! If you are sick, STAY HOME!!!!!
Kathy Caton-Musto is home recovering from a severe ankle sprain she suffered. Take it easy, my friend. You will be back running circles in no time!
I encourage everyone to read Caroline Coile’s article in The Canine Chronicle (page 114) and on caninechronicle.com entitled “Death, Taxes and Revised AKC Judging Requirements.” Caroline does an excellent job of describing the new process in contrast to the prior process and the article gives great perspective to the reader. We all need to continue to be cognizant of the process and the changes it brings. This process is critical to the well-being of our sport.
As an active parent-club-approved mentor, I am often asked to do ringside mentoring, which I thoroughly enjoy, especially when my mentees come prepared. By prepared, I mean they have read the breed standard in great detail, have specific areas which they would like clarified, and are prepared to have intelligent discussion ringside. There are also those who just want their documents signed. Not only are they unprepared, they show up late, stick their document in my face for a signature and scurry off. I am not one to just sign someone’s papers. My breed is too important to me. I encourage the rest of you who are breed mentors to adopt the same frame of mind. Do not be shy! If an individual has not participated in a meaningful way, has come unprepared, or is otherwise unengaged, please, do NOT sign their forms! Once again, the future of our sport, and the quality of judging is at stake. Please do not take your responsibility to your breed lightly.
Celebrating birthdays this week are: Tina Dougan (who is embarking upon a new decade. Remember Tina, 70 is the new 50!!), Courtney Kniola-Vacha, Cheslie Pickett-Smithey, Nancy Liebes, Jeff Sossamon, Darryl Martin, Tammy Seidlitz and Mandy Carson.
Travel safely my friends. Win with grace, lose with grace and go out of your way to help a newbie.
Until next time…
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