Page 67 - Chow LIfe - 2019 03 Fall_Neat

by Sue Klinckhardt-Gardner

Dog clubs are very beneficial to the sport of purebred to our breed and to our sport to give something back:
dogs. They provide fanciers with education, opportu- time, energy, ideas, and sometimes money. (A little
nities for sharing ideas, and camaraderie in a world more cash means really nice trophies at our special-
where everybody else thinks we're crazy! They host ites.)
events for fanciers and their dogs. In the case of breed
clubs, they guide the future of the breed by guarding
the standard, and they give members the opportunity
to help determine the breed's direction.
I believe that everyone in the doggy world should
belong to their respective parent club(s). Perhaps
there are club politics or problems you don't want
part of. If you don't belong to your club, however, you
can't help fix whatever you think is wrong with it. The
saying, "if you're not part of the solution, you're part
of the problem", certainly applies here. Too many dog
clubs are run by a very small number of overworked
people who are dedicated to a cause – a breed, a per-
formance event, a yearly show.
The President has to deal with a lot of crap,
sometimes its even in the ring.

One more thing: Complaining does not constitute
a contribution to your club. Suggestions are always
helpful, even if they can't be used immediately when
they're offered. Unfortunately, every club I have ever
been associated with has had a few members who do
nothing but try to tear down what the club is trying
to accomplish. The quick, anonymous communica-
tion allowed by the internet has helped these people.
People will write things online that they would never
say in person and people can whip up a big problem
out of nothing in record time online. Don't be one of
these people.

If you're not one already, become a useful, helpful
member of a club. All of those doing the work are
volunteers, giving up their precious time for the good
When asked to help, Shannon of our sport with very little recognition.
Brilz-Koller stepped in to
narrate the classes at the 2019 Why not help them?
National.
Reprinted from the Chinese Crested breed column of the December
As the president of a national club as well as a local 2009 AKC GAZETTE, with permission of the author. {originally
in Fall 2010 – Chow Life}
club, I know that finding volunteers can be a chal-
lenge. Lots of folks are eager -- until they are asked to
do a specific job. At that point, many people are "just
too busy'', or they "really don't know how". The truth
is that all of us are "too busy'', and none of us knew
how to do things at first. We all had to learn and we
continue to learn. I feel that we have a responsibility
65