Learning all the Moving Parts BY ALLAN REZNIK The Superintendent
Although a few ken- nel clubs choose to be their own superinten- dent, for the most part clubs are happy and relieved to entrust this huge responsibility to professional superin- tendents. Chapter 9 of the AKC’s Rules Applying to Dog Shows, specifies, in
agent of the show-giving club and as the trustee of the club’s income from entry fees to protect large sums of money either by bond or other acceptable means. President of the Dog Show Superintendents Association is Bob Christiansen, who is also President of Moss Bow Foley Dog Shows. He started at MB-F in 1981 as a computer programmer, became a superintendent in 1983 and President in 1985. Asked what exhibitors’ most common misconcep- tions are about superintendents, Christiansen identifies six. 1. Since we accept all the entry fee money, many assume that superintendents are wealthy and keep the majority of the money. Some may also think we set the entry fee, which is solely determined by the club. A full 100% of the money is credited to the club on the show settlement and then our contract charges are deducted. Forty or 50 years ago, superintendent charges were typ- ically 50% of the gross entry fees. That percentage is now only about 25% with the difference claimed by ris- ing costs for show sites, parking attendants, judges, travel and AKC fees. Superintendents have been able to reduce their costs with more efficient use of technology, computers, the Internet, email and printing methods. 2. Some believe we determine the layout of the show- grounds. This is a club decision. We may be asked to visit a site initially and make suggestions but the club decides how it wants to lay out the event. 3. Some believe that superintendents can do anything they want. No. We have to follow the AKC rules just like everyone else. What exhibitors don’t realize when they ask us to “bend” or “break” those rules is that we are subject to fines, reprimands or, in some cases, suspen- sion of our licenses. We have $5 million invested in the property and equipment we use for producing the best product possible. This is our livelihood and that of our employees; we don’t want to jeopardize that. 4. Many today who believe superintending organiza- tions are “out for themselves” probably do not realize that superintendents are responsible for a lot of the things now taken for granted. For example, it was a superintendent who came up with the idea of producing an organized schedule and catalog (Foley). It was a club and a superintendent that made it possible to have the first cluster shows in response to the gas shortage in the 1970s (Raleigh KC and MB-F). It was a superintendent who first utilized a computer in producing dog shows and aided the AKC in their first foray into computers (Tom Crowe). It was a superintendent who made it pos- sible to take entries by phone and then online (MB-F). It was superintendents who lobbied to make it possible to accept an entry for a divided Puppy Class that did not
Section 1, that “The Superintendent of a dog show held under the rules of The American Kennel Club must hold a license from The American Kennel Club.” Later, in Section 12, it is stipulated that “Any reputable person or superintending organization in good standing with The American Kennel Club may apply to said Club for license to act as Superintendent of a dog show… When the application is received by The American Kennel Club, its Board of Directors shall determine whether the applicant is reasonably qualified from training and experience to act as Superintendent of a Dog Show and whether a license shall be issued to said applicant. The fee for being granted a yearly license to be a Superintendent and the fee for renewal of said license each year shall be determined by the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club. The fee for being granted a license to superintend one show and/or one field trial only shall be determined in like manner. No yearly license will be issued to any person or superintending organization until having superintended at least three dog shows.” And in italics appears the all-important caveat, “No annual superintendent shall be granted a license to be a judge.” Have you ever heard of the Dog Show Superintendents Association? According to the organiza- tion’s website, it was “formed in 2002 to represent pro- fessional AKC-licensed superintendents in all important matters impacting superintendents and the Dog Fancy.” The national association is a “fully organized group of professional superintendents that, in many cases, can call upon more than 100 years of experience in offering services to the AKC, show-giving clubs and dog show exhibitors.” The duties and responsibilities of AKC-licensed superintendents are many and varied, always promoting and defending the sport of showing purebred dogs as defined by the Constitution and Bylaws of the AKC. Superintendents will assist clubs in site inspection and layout when requested, and, in preparing and mailing premium lists per their contract agreement, act as the
58 • S how S ight M agazine , S eptember 2017
Powered by FlippingBook