HOW IS YOUR CLUB DOING DURING THE AGE OF COVID-19?
I have served as President for the past twelve years. One thing that I think has contributed to our stability has been that we operate as a true democ- racy. Each of our members has a voice. We do not rule only from the board. We gather information from our board, and our members make recommen- dations and make all major decisions as a club. We also make sure that our board is diversified with both conformation and performance individuals, so that all members’ interests have representation. We also try very hard to get every member involved. When we assign members to major jobs, we try to never give them more than one of those positions. We do this so that they can focus on their job and keep them from being spread too thin. We offer them guidance and support, but we try very hard not to micro-manage them. We allow them to grow and tackle the task at hand. We find it is also important that our members understand our mission and expectations. Like many clubs, we get visitors at most meetings and we always welcome them with open arms. We also encourage them to continue to attend, but we ask them “NOT TO JOIN” unless they plan to become involved on a regular and ongoing basis. We explain that all members count toward having a quorum and that we don’t need names on a roster. We need people who are committed to our mission and purpose. We also have a club that has embraced diversity. Having people involved in as many different aspects of the dog world is a great asset and fertile ground for learning and sharing with each other. Our cur- rent roster lists a total membership of 70, of which 10 are life members. Included in the remaining 60 individuals are 49 who have joined since 2009, with 13 of those joining since 2019, and we currently have 9 people going through our process to join. Unfor- tunately, we have lost 5 people to death in the past 5 years but, age-wise, our group covers a very broad base. A total of 34 members are primarily involved in conformation while 16 prefer the performance arena. We also have 14 who are equally involved in both conformation and performance, and 6 members who are just general dog lovers. Just like our country, clubs can be a melting pot of people with different ideas and skills. Allowing your members to use the unique talents and backgrounds that each one brings will help to build a strong group. One of the main things that keeps our members involved may be the fact that we have some type of program at every meeting. In my opinion, the pro- grams are an essential factor in the overall health and interest of the club. Our programs cover a wide range of canine-related topics; always given by well- respected individuals and veterinarians. We also, on occasion, try to have some type of fun, educational, dog-related game. We have played Doggy Jeopardy and Family Feud, and others games that get every- one involved. Since there are times when the best of plans fail, we will play BINGO with an assortment of doggy prizes when our planned speaker cancels at the last minute. And we do periodic surveys with
Clubs are having to adjust to the new rules and regulations within their communities. These adjustments are coming in the change of venues, limits on the number of entries and, in many cases, the postponement of all events until some version of normalcy returns.
Since the start of cancellations in March of 2020, I have no idea as to the total number of events that have been canceled across our country and throughout the world. As mentioned, the loss of venues, meeting places, and training facili- ties are hurting many of our local clubs. Clubs are having to adjust to the new rules and regulations within their communities. These adjustments are coming in the change of venues, limits on the number of entries and, in many cases, the postponement of all events until some version of normalcy returns. Also, as we have seen, those clubs that have found a way to host a show must adapt to local rules, find judges willing to travel and judge, and obtain stewards and volunteers to work the show. This pandemic has created additional burdens to deal with for show chairs, club members, superintendents, and many others. Most clubs are run by a limited number of members and volunteers who work and plan all year for their events. These are unpaid individuals who themselves may be dealing with the loss of jobs or lowered income due to the pandemic. In some cases, these individuals are having a difficult time caring for their basic needs, so it is understandable that the club, the shows, and the like are no longer a large part of their life, and some will, unfortunately, leave the club and the sport—and may never be involved again. These people are the collateral damage to the suffering within our clubs and our sport. Likewise, as we have seen, many club members as well as judges are senior citizens and individuals who may have underlying health conditions. Many of these people will not be taking the risk of exposure that attending shows and meetings provides. With all that has gone on during the past year, I was in a discussion with a member from another kennel club who was sharing how difficult it was to hold together their already struggling club. During our conversation, I shared with him that although it has been difficult for our club, The Tennessee Val- ley Kennel Club, we are not only holding together—we are still experiencing some growth. Of course, the reply was, “What do you feel the reason is for your continuity?” Knowing that there are many highly successful clubs throughout the coun- try, each has developed its formula for growth and continuity. It is safe to say that not all clubs have the same mission or operate in the same manner. With this in mind, I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of the things that have helped my club, the TVKC, continue to have some success.
52 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2021
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