Page 8 - 2024 02 Summer

President’s

Message by Cathy Clapp

As you read this it means that summer is here, the 2024 National Specialty
is behind us, and that this is the Awards Issue of Chow Life.
First, I'd like to thank our 2024 National Show Committee for the wonder-
ful job they did in Knoxville. They worked hard to make certain that everyone's needs were
met, and all had a good time. We hope that everyone who came enjoyed their stay, got to
visit with old friends and made new friends too. Anyone who has been to a National Spe-
cialty can tell you it is much more than "just another dog show." But it's one of those things
you must experience to understand.
Congratulations to everyone who received recognition at the Awards Banquet. For those
of you that missed it, this was the last year that certificates will be given for titles earned
the previous year. Instead, I'm proud to announce that the Board of Directors approved the
overhaul of our Awards system at the Spring Board Meeting in Knoxville. The CCCI from
this year forward will offer the Chow Chow Versatility Awards Program (CCVP) and the
Chow Chow Hall of Fame. These two new Awards Programs do not affect any of the Top
Tens (Breed, All-Breed, Obedience, Rally, etc), the Top Five Bitches, Health Awards, the
Register of Merit (ROM) or Circle of Honor (COH) programs. Instead, they replace those
duplicate certificates given out that have increased in number every year due to AKC con-
tinuously adding new titles that can be earned. In its place, the Versatility Awards will rec-
ognize those dogs that have found success across a multitude of categories and the Hall of
Fame will recognize those Chows that have shown outstanding success. For more informa-
tion and to download the applications for both new programs please go to www.chowclub.
org (login)DBreed Information DAwards DAwards Forms and Instructions. There you
will find everything you need to know about the Chow Chow Versatility Program (5 lev-
els – CCVP, CCVP Bronze, CCVP Silver, CCVP Gold and CCVP Platinum) and the Chow
Chow Hall of Fame (Application by Automatic Qualifying Event or Application by Points).
There are separate applications for the CCHOF and CCVP. You even have your choice of
applications: an Excel spreadsheet application that keeps your running totals of points for
you, a PDF Fillable Form, and a PDF to download and fill out by hand. They all ask for the
same information so choose the one that works best for you.
You will also find the basic information regarding these awards in this issue of Chow Life.
And like the ROM and COH Awards, as CCVP and HOF awards are given, they will be
published in Chow Life and published to the website each quarter. They will be maintained
as part of our permanent records just as the ROM and COH awards are.
So, please, check out the new awards. Do you have a dog (or dogs) that you believe should
qualify? Start with your AKC Awards Record that you can order digitally at the AKC store.
It will contain all the information and the links to corresponding shows if you need to
check things such as the overall entry. Make sure to save your Awards Record so that you
can submit it with the application when you are ready. If you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at flamingstarchows@gmail.com or (270) 307-9228. I'll be happy to
answer and help in any way I can.
Best of luck in the ring and remember – win or lose, you always go home with the best dog.

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