Table Talk · March 18, 2020
Table Talk
March 18, 2020
Those who know me know that it is not often that I am at a loss for words. Whether you are in the camp that feels our society’s reaction to the Coronavirus is excessive, or whether you are frightened by the potential damage it can cause, the fact remains the same: Our normal has changed for the near-term. I sincerely hope you all join me in knowing that this, too, shall pass and we will be a stronger and smarter community as a result of our temporary “new normal”.
Some of us have cause for a bit more concern than others as we have people close to our hearts and our lives that are more vulnerable than others. I, for one, have people that I love more than life itself that are in the highly vulnerable category and it is for that reason that I am taking serious precautionary measures. As I pondered the reality of what is going on around me, it is those people that made me cognizant of trying to be safe for those special people in my life. As such, I ask those of you who may be in the younger, or “low-risk” category to consider the other side. Together, we all should try to be as safe, considerate and as smart as possible until this situation passes. When it passes, let us all be able to wonder if we were too reactive or cautious as opposed to thinking “if only we had….”.
We will all be together again soon enough, and hopefully it will then be safe to hug each other and celebrate our next chapter of dog shows.
Please be considerate of those who have difficult decisions to make in the coming days and weeks about cancellations, etc. To those exhibitors that have entered shows which have either cancelled or are pending, please consider not asking for refunds. Times like these make clubs fold. Let’s try to work together to prevent that from happening.
Several very experienced handlers are offering training for handling, trimming, conditioning, etc. Think about taking the opportunity to learn so you are ready to hit the ground running when this all passes.
I am hiding all negative posts on my Facebook page. I urge everyone to do the same. Use social media as an opportunity to be supportive, disseminate information, and communicate positively with our friends. Look for opportunities to learn. More importantly, look for opportunities to share your knowledge.
I had the pleasure of attending the first two days of the Kentuckiana Cluster while bringing you Table Talk Live! coverage. David Johnson, Cindy Smith, Melinda Lyon and all of the cluster volunteers worked very hard to once again bring a wonderful cluster to life. With the growing concern over COVID-19, their job was made even more difficult. David and company worked tirelessly to keep the cluster going, while keeping all exhibitors safe at the same time. With mounting pressure from the media, the mayor and the governor, it is difficult to imagine the stress and difficulty these folks endured while still trying to smile and keep their great dog show going. Needless to say, calling it off was NOT taken lightly, and the decision by the governor was made to ensure the safety of the volunteers, exhibitors, spectators, building workers, etc. Everyone involved in the cluster deserves a huge debt of gratitude for those who attended, and the fancy as a whole. THANK YOU TO ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
To those who purchased multi-day parking passes in Louisville, they will be reaching out to you about a partial refund. I believe this is above and beyond what is called for, and it shows what goodwill the cluster volunteers have fostered with the venue.
The Lowchen Club of America went into problem solving mode when the Saturday and Sunday shows of the Kentuckiana Cluster were cancelled as they wanted to continue to hold their National. They found space at the nearby Crowne Plaza and did all the necessary administrative work to see that the show went on! With banquet chairs for ring gates, judging went on! Way to persevere in the face of adversity!
Karen Livingston is using her time off constructively. As part of her daily activities with her children, Langdon and Demery, they are writing letters to people in other parts of the country. Others have suggested writing letters to those in nursing homes who currently cannot receive visitors. What a great way to teach writing and correspondence skills while fostering new relationships!
We have several fanciers celebrating birthdays this week. They are: Marion Thompson, Denise Beagle, Susan Allison, Tyler Crady-Roche, Dick Greaver, Doris Cozart, Jan Hepper, Fan Yu, Morgan Mattioli, Pilar Kuhn, Kay Belter, Mercedes Vila, Diana Fenick and Amanda Bauer. You guys will be talking about this particular birthday for many years to come!
Check our CanineChronicle.TV website for upcoming breed priority additions! We were able to get several great segments done while in Louisville including the Anatolian Shepherd, Boxer, Brittany, Bedlington Terrier, Great Pyrenees, and Cane Corso!! Thanks to Kellie Miller, Mary Remley, Elizabeth Salewsky, David Daugherty and Michael Shepherd for your help!
Be safe, my friends. Hug your canines and send a thank you to someone who deserves it! Until next time…
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