WITH THE BASENJI CLUB OF AMERICA, BASSET HOUND CLUB OF AMERICA, AMERICAN BOUVIER DES FLANDRES CLUB, AMERICAN BULLMASTIFF ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN CESKY TERRIER FANCIERS ASSOCIATION, GOLDEN RETRIEVER CLUB OF AMERICA,
NATIONAL GREYHOUND ASSOCIATION, PUG DOG CLUB OF AMERICA, HUNGARIAN PUMI CLUB OF AMERICA & SAMOYED CLUB OF AMERICA
Pug: The national is dedicated to the memory of members that are gone but not forgotten. There are usually three- five members included in the dedication. 7. What is the biggest challenge facing you as you plan a National Specialty? Basenji: Our biggest challenge is scheduling all of our events within a seven day period. We try not to overlap events as so many exhibitors are trying to participate in every- thing. In addition to our indoor events, we also host eight field events (AKC FCATs (two), NOTRA, LGRA, AKC Lure Trial and Tests (two), and ASFA Lure Coursing Trial) that take place nearby over two days! Basset Hound: The biggest challenge I faced as coordinator was finding a venue to hold the event. Once a venue is determined, negotiating the best deal for the club and members is of the utmost importance. Everything from room rates to food costs to room rental costs are impor- tant. Also having a good committee working with you is essential. Bouvier Des Flandres: The biggest challenge is finding volunteers. Bullmastiff: The biggest challenge is collecting trophy sponsors. Cesky Terrier: We are faced with not having enough volun- teers and entries. Our breed is still relatively rare and that makes for smaller number of entries. Golden Retriever: Grounds and facilities large enough, and within reasonable proximity, club member participation to handle all the events. Greyhound: Finding a location to hold Lure Coursing. Pug: The biggest challenge is attention to details. Pumi: We move year to year from East to Central to West. The biggest challenge is finding a facility where we can
host Agility, Conformation, Obedience, and Rally, and another facility nearby where we can hold a Herding Trial and Instinct Test. And still be able to afford them. Samoyed: From the perspective of the SCA Board and Officers, in general, our biggest challenge is securing an experienced, committed, well manage committee who can navigate the complexities of a five day specialty with multiple special events. Our second challenge is locating adequate venues. Our current Show Chair, Erica Flauhaut may have additional comments on this question. 8. What can be done to make this change? Basenji: We wonder if folks would participate in Round the Clock events in the future? Midnight Madness Agility any one? This yuear our Agility enthusiasts will have to com- pete at a nearby Agility Trial in lieu of holding our own. Basset Hound: Unless your club’s nationals is held at the same venue every year, this will continue to be the biggest challenge to that year’s coordinator. BHCA has established a Nationals Advisory Committee made up of members who have the most experience putting on a successful show. Bouvier Des Flandres: The solution is to train the younger members to handle the different events with support and guidance from the “old hands”. Cesky Terrier: We continue to promote the breed and breed- ers to have more Ceskys and more members. Greyhound: We are working together with several other sighthound breed clubs to secure a location. Pumi: Not sure we can do much to fix that. It’s a challenge every year. We may return to previous successful venues if others don’t work out.
S how S ight M agazine , S eptember 2018 • 327
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