FROM MY SOAPBOX
Having been dumped unceremoniously and unwillingly onto a soap box a short while ago, and having emerged from a coating of the brown stuff and finally got rid of the smell, I have begun to appreciate the power of the keyboard and electronic media.
This time I write with the full intention of reaching as many people as possible to highlight the problems facing GSD enthusiasts in KZN.
We have just been informed that the Pinetown breed show has been cancelled!
This is due to the reality that KZN GSDFSA membership has sunk to such a low that we now find ourselves in a situation whereby reaching the new minimum entry required is in all likelihood not possible, this despite the show committees best efforts (I have personally received about 10 emails regarding the show).
In the absence out of province entries it would appear we cannot hold a show anymore and to encourage these entries you need a German judge as bait, this will hopefully gain you sufficient entries to hold a show but will not cover the costs, thus club funds will decline and German judges will ultimately become a thing of the past and then …. there will be no shows and then... there will be no votes for clubs in KZN…. And then … there will be no clubs in KZN… and then there will be no GSDFSA members in KZN.
So given the current scenario we are looking at a possible one show a year in KZN (whilst the Clubs still have funds) if you cannot attend this show or travel out of province and need a breed grading – TOUGH, your only options are to register your pups with KUSA, don’t register your pups or don’t breed.
On the club front
Schutzhund is in its death throes occasionally it gives a small twitch but there is not enough life left to encourage new members to go that route.
Breed shows; are now once a year, we cannot train all year round for one show, hardly an encouragement for new members anymore, new club members trained very hard for the Pinetown show, they joined the club (paid their fees), joined the Fed (paid their fees), emailed/faxed their entries several times (they didn’t go through in many instances). And now the show has been cancelled!! I cannot blame them for being pissed off, which they are, sorry guys…. Maybe next year and don’t forget to pay your fees again you will get nothing for them this year! oh … and please come back to training – we can get ready for next year!.
Breed surveys? They are usually held in conjunction with a breed show – but we need to get new members into the ring first so that they can appreciate the value of a breed survey. For the new member with a 4 month old pup it is very much pie in the sky!
Social scene: here we can show them videos of what they are missing out on!
Puppy Shows: Excellent show practice and a great way of encouraging new members to the show scene – or should be!
KZN does not have any breed judges and often resorts to the unqualified who when they get it wrong can seriously deter new members with good dogs.
How are Clubs meant to increase membership in order that we have sufficient numbers to hold a show???
Breeders: If you want to breed good dogs you have to travel out of province, because Stud dogs worth their salt don’t come to KZN because our few bitches aren’t good enough! and is it worth it? We don’t have any shows anyway!!!
Traveling to shows: Seen the price of petrol lately??
We are dying here in KZN and nobody hears us…
I do not want this to happen, I have been involved in GSDs for 29 years, I am a founder member of the GSDFSA, we left KUSA with excellent intentions and now KUSA shows are becoming more attractive only because they have them!
Almost all the GSDFSA show goers in KZN are entering them because they want to show their dogs!!
Whilst writing this one of our members got “Best puppy on show” and “reserve Best of Breed” at a KUSA show, her pup behaved beautifully and why not, we spent a lot of time training the pup for the Pinetown show!.
KUSA is capitalizing and now offering GSDs specialist judges and separate rings… WAKE UP!!
No doubt I will get covered in the brown stuff again for saying what has to be said … I have a shovel at the ready and a bath of disinfectant standing by…. Go for it … because if I do not tell it like it is in order that something can be done we are all lost anyway!!
HELP IS NEEDED URGENTLY…. Is there anybody out there who cares?
Written as a private individual
Robinne Wiese
Amauri GSDs
Est. 1979
2 comments:
The NEW rule is that a show must have 35 dogs presented in the ring to make a show, they had 37 entries, 2 were from Jhb and doubtful starters - leaving 35, which meant that if one person or dog didn't arrive at the show, the show would have been downgraded to a puppy show and none of the gradings would have been awarded (and I doubt our entry fee would have been refunded) !!!!
Cannot really blame them for canceling, am trying to get them to at least put on a puppy show - they are looking to March next year for a proper show, fortunately they have the means to bring out a German judge and hopefully get the required entries, but with the exchange rate today it is going to cost them lots. Clubs are not going to be able to keep that up for long if they can afford to do so in the first instance!
It does not look good for us.
-------Original Message-------
From: adrienne.o
Date: 2008/09/21 08:44:16 PM
To: Smoke Signals
Subject: Re: From my soapbox
I endorse most of your sentiments.
Cancelling the show does NOT make sense and will just put off the newcomers. Is there anyway of salvaging it? Who made the decision anyway?
Adi
In all honesty I was not phased by the postponement of the show until it was pointed out to me how much our Fed Newbies had dedicated, learnt and enjoyed preparing for the show. The main concern therefore is not for those of us who have been in the game for eons but those who are new and keen!
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