Page 55 - Chow Life - Spring 2018

Wisconsin Chow Chow Club
Vicki DeGruy, Secretary

Our news reports the last few years catching up on each other's news and Palm and her journey with the Chow
have been rather boring, I think, indulging in generous potlucks. breed began.
because I write about the same old After Harold Toudt passed away Since then, Shirley and Tom have
things every year - our specialties last year, our currently oldest member owned 8 Chows, including several
and our dog fair participation. So I is Mae Palm who has been written they bred themselves. She finished
thought I would change it up a little up in this magazine in the past. She an AKC champion and put a CD on
and tell you about some of our club no longer comes to meetings but we him as well, and achieved CDs on five
members. maintain her membership because we more Chows. One of those was High
Before I get to that, please mark love her. In Trial at a National Specialty, and
your calendars for our 2018 specialties Our next longest standing members another earned a CDX and became
which will be held September 8 & 9 are Shirley Skelton and Kim & Eric a registered Therapy Dog through
as designated classes at the Kenosha Johnsen. Shirley got her first Chow Therapy Dogs International.
KC's all breed shows. Judging panel in 1978, shortly after she married Shirley's three most recent Chows
and more information to be provided her husband Tom and moved to have all been rescues. The two
at a later date. We actually produced a a farmhouse in the country. Tom most recent have not been shown
major last year -- why not help us do it worked nights and Shirley was in obedience but have gone through
again? We'd love to have you! nervous about being alone while at least 3 levels of obedience classes.
Incorporated in 1936, our club is he worked so they began looking Shirley is a firm believer in obedience
one of the oldest still active in the into getting a dog. They went to the training for all dogs.
country, and is unique in that most Wisconsin KC show in Miwaukee, You might not know it but you may
of our current members are not dog then a benched show, and began be more familiar with Shirley than you
show exhibitors. Our membership talking to breeders. They were first realize. She worked as an artist and
is shrinking, sadly, like many dog interested in Boxers but all that was sculptor for many years for Bergamot
clubs today, but those of us still here forgotten when they walked down the Brass creating some beautiful
get together for meetings because aisle of Chow Chows. It was a love commercial pieces. She made many
we genuinely like each other. Our at first sight! After visiting that aisle beautiful Chow pieces and jewelry
meetings tend to be quite drama- several times, she finally worked up items that were sold by our club for
free and are mostly concerned with the nerve to introduce herself to Mae fundraisers and used for trophies. Do
you have one of the pewter napkin
rings that were given to those who
attended the CCCI awards banquet in
1989? Kip Kopatch created the design
but Shirley had them made. Shirley
also created our club logo, the Chow
Welfare logo, and the logo for the 1995
CCCI National, one of the several
National Specialties that were hosted
by our club.
Shirley has always been happy to
step up and help when the club needs
her. She's held several offices, hosted
many meetings, has stewarded, poop
scooped, whatever is asked. We're so
glad to have her!
Next issue, I'll tell you about Kim
and Eric Johnsen.

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