In Praise of Show Chairmen

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188 – April, 2022

By Sandy Weaver

Being a Show Chairman is a big job, and in many ways is reminiscent of trying to herd cats in order to put on a dog show. Heading up a group of volunteers is tough enough–getting them to all work together to produce a large event with contracts, venue, parking, motorhomes, vendors, stewards, judges, superintendents, AKC, and of course exhibitors all needing various levels of attention at various stages of the months-long process is a huge undertaking. Add to that a hard deadline and a mountain of paperwork, plus long days of non-stop work during the actual show weekend… phew!

They do all of this so members of the fancy can come, show their dogs, and go home. Show Chairmen can feel a bit underappreciated at times, so this article is intended to shine a light on the “above and beyond” actions for which they’ve been responsible. Here are just a few people singing the praises of “their” Show Chairman:

Cheyenne Myer, serial volunteer with the Coulee Kennel Club (serving Western Wisconsin and Southeastern Minnesota) is in a club that rotates their Show Chairman–so everyone has a chance to learn, and no one gets burned out. She says, “Our committee as a whole is great, but I think the part that works for the best is that we allow our chairs (vendor/hospitality/etc.) to manage their respective areas while the Show Chair checks in and supports them. It takes a village to put on a show and all the extra events that our club does, so I think the biggest responsibility of a Show Chair–that makes life easier for the club members, exhibitors, and the facility–is that it’s their job to handle the good and bad while making sure that everyone gets the support they need in their role, and (to always remember) that a thank you goes a long way.”

(author’s note: I love it when people respond to calls for information for these articles. I especially love it when, unbeknownst to each other, they end up praising each other!)

Click here to read the complete article
188 – April, 2022

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