Table Talk · March 17, 2021
Wow! What a busy week! This past weekend felt as close to normal as it was exactly one year ago. California will join in the fun this coming weekend as they hold the state’s first shows of 2021 in Anderson, California. Welcome back, one and all! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
One of the challenges clubs and superintendents face is scheduling NOHS groups and “regular” groups so they do not conflict. To this already daunting task, add a shortage of volunteers (and to some degree a shortage of judges), and you have yourself a real challenge. I am not sure if added pandemic protocol are the cause, but there seems to have been a recent rise in schedule conflicts which has been the cause of some confusion. Some clubs currently schedule the NOHS group immediately following the regular group. While this is not what is documented in AKC’s Best Practices relating to NOHS, I think that it is the best way to guard against conflict. What is most important, however, is that an exhibitor should not be required to make a choice between NOHS and “regular” groups. It is my understanding that AKC does not encourage clubs to create a situation where an exhibitor would have to make such a choice. Perhaps rewriting the best practices to include the above-mentioned considerations would be helpful in the future. While NOHS exhibitors may have to wait longer for the NOHS Best in Show competition, they will not be faced with a conflict. I would love to hear thoughts from NOHS exhibitors on this topic. If you have something to say, send me an email at deb.cooper@caninechronicle.com.
The Blue Crab Cluster in Maryland closes today. Kudos to the club for not charging an entry fee for Junior Showmanship!
Debbie Melgreen and the hard-working volunteers of the Heart of Illinois Cluster, being held over the Memorial Day weekend, are looking for feedback from exhibitors regarding an opening date for entries. The shows will have a 1,000-dog limit and clubs are asking for your help to set a date as to when entries should open. The general consensus I am seeing is 3 to 4 weeks prior to closing dates, no earlier. Please reach out to Debbie Melgreen via Facebook Messenger with your thoughts.
Entries opened for the 2021 Westminster Kennel Club on March 11th. They close April 9th or when the 2,500-dog entry limit is reached. Many fanciers now wait with bated anticipation to see if their uninvited dogs got in! Best of luck to all! I cannot wait to see everyone in New York in June!
Michaelanne Johnson is receiving a brand-new hip this week!!!! Healing thoughts to you, my friend. You will be as good as new in no time.
I hear Professional Handler Michael Brantley will be taking a little break to get new knees! We look forward to having you back at shows soon, my friend. I understand Holly Leftwich is lending a hand during Michael’s absence.
I was thrilled to see that Lhasa fancier Adrian Agard is making great progress in his recovery from GBS. GBS is a very rare immune mediated disease that attacks the nerves. Congratulations on your determination, Adrian! We all look forward to having you back at shows soon.
AKC Field Representative Diana Wilson celebrated her birthday in style in Hawaii. Your vacation is well deserved, Diana! The photographs look amazing: I cannot wait to hear about your trip.
The American Kennel Club has announced the AKC Board of Directors Class of 2025:
• Chairman of the Board, Dr. Thomas Davies
• Vice Chairman of the Board, Dominic Palleschi Carota
• Rita Biddle, Esq.
• Thomas Powers
Celebrating anniversaries this week are: Dan and Connie Smith (the forces behind the Crawford County Kennel Club) and Ric and Lea Plaut.
Fanciers celebrating birthdays this week are: Kate Hanlon, Marion Thompson, Denise Beagle, Susan Allison, Tyler Crady-Roche, Dick Greaver, Doris Cozart, Kristyn Stout, Jan Hepper, and Taylor Johnson. I hope you all have the best of birthdays, while enjoying it with loved ones around you!
This week I leave you with 7 things to keep in mind: 1. Go after dreams, not people 2. Love yourself, and the rest will follow 3. Never lose your sense of wonder 4. You are capable of more than you know 5. No regrets in life, just lessons learned 6. Your only limit is you, and last but not least, 7. Life goes by in a blink of an eye, so live life to the fullest!
Be safe out there, my friends! Be sure to give a shout-out to all the hard-working club volunteers, and be kind to each other. I wish you all big ribbons and beautiful litters. Until next time….
Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=198729
Posted by Comments are closed
