ASTC
National Report
Day 3
We awoke after a rejuvenating
night's sleep looking forward to a very busy day
of activities. For National participants there would
be so many things to do, one would feel you were
viewing a cruise ship itinerary. The most enjoyable
experience for us would be to watch our friend Pat
Martello judge the Sweepstakes. Other events of
the day to choose from would be the Obedience Trial,
Junior Showmanship, Annual General Meeting, Agility
Trial, Canine Good Citizen Test, Canine Reproductive
Seminar, Judges Breed Seminar and Richard's Handling
Clinic.
All of this while enjoying
the excellent hospitality room that was strategically
located across from the ballroom and adjoining the
vendor booth area. The wide variety of food and
beverage was the biggest draw, while the handy location
was well thought out. The hospitality was the most
attended in recent memory, primarily because of
the hard work of the organizers who had everything
from a delicious bagel and english muffin toasting
area, to fresh Krispy Kreme donuts along with piping
hot coffee each morning. At lunch we were treated
with fresh delectable sandwiches and all the condiments
and in the evening a full bar with all the munchies.
It was standing room only for most of the day and
thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Speaking of the vendor
area....it resembled a small strip mall and had
a wide selection befitting the 'power shopper' mentality
of most National participants who are treated to
such wares as grooming supplies, bows, elastics,
Shih Tzu gold and silver jewelry, figurines, hand
painted Shih Tzu items of all descriptions, from
sandals to purses, on site embroidery shop, portrait
studio and a booth with smart casual clothing.....most
of the time this area resembled a Christmas shopping
atmosphere. Many National participants save 'mad
money' all year to treat themselves to that special
item.
When exhibitors and
participants entered the show area and ballroom
the festive atmosphere continued with a complete
wall of raffle items waiting to be won later in
the day. The large numbers of items of all varieties
are donated by members and friends of the club,
with all the funds raised from this area going to
the charitable trust for education and canine research.
Tickets sales were brisk and the many donors deserve
a large thank you for their support each year. If
you have an item, product, artwork or service ....having
it on this table also serves as an excellent promotion
for your 'stuff' as the discriminating supporters
of the annual raffle examine each item closely while
deciding which items they want to win at the raffle.
The major items are set aside and are auctioned
at the Awards Banquet. There were so many excellent
items that many were placed in a 'Silent Auction"
section and people visited the area frequently trying
to out bid friends and fellow exhibitors for some
of these special items. The club owes a great deal
of appreciation to Janet Danner, Nancy Stern, Janice
Wilson, Jenny Balestra Currie, Robin Taylor, Loree
Levy for their hard work on the raffle tables.
There was also a draw
for a scooter and when ticket sales were going slow
on this special item, Richard volunteered to do
some promoting. During a break in the judging he
donned the helmet and rode the bike around the main
show ring....things were going well until he managed
to run into the grooming table. A good laugh was
had by all and ticket sales tripled in the next
few hours. Pat and Wagner Fernandez eventually won
the scooter. Over $7000. was raised from the generous
support of all the fund raising activities at the
National for the Charitable Trust.
There was also a table
run by the 'Ways & Means' committee for ongoing
fundraising with items like club pins, decals, note
paper, The Official Book Of The Shih Tzu and Historical
Record Books as well as the lovely Christmas Tree
Ornaments hand painted by Wendy Howard. These items
are available year round and can also be ordered
from the club. The "ornaments' for example
are $25 and can be special ordered and shipped to
you ......these items are on the web site at www.shihtzu.org
and are advertised in the "Bulletin".
First was the Obedience
trial with the competitors proving that Shih Tzu
were just not just 'pretty faces' but very intelligent
and competitive in performance events.
Pat Martello was next
with an entry of 54 puppies. Pat did an excellent
job judging the sweeps and looked unbelievable.....the
results and her photo appear in the winners area
and all will attest that she rolled back the clock
sporting her beautiful outfit and 'makeover' look....she
wowed them...
The afternoon schedule
included the the AGM and the Canine Reproductive
Seminar. The two Wendy's and Sandi Martin were off
to Mandy's to bath and groom dogs for the regular
classes and Richard attended the seminar by Dr.
Shelley Hempel, whose presentation and question
and answer period was most informative. Great information
was given about canine reproduction and any one
who has experienced a breeding problem from infertility
to having to spay a bitch would do well to attend
a Dr. Hempel seminar to learn how to prevent these
sometimes unnecessary occurrences.
In the evening the
two Wendy's brought dogs to the Judges Seminar including
a completely shaved down dog...the Judges seminar
at the National is always well attended and the
whole Parent Club Sponsored Judges Education Program
has been chaired by Bonnie Guggenheim. Richard will
be taking over from Bonnie for future years. At
next years National we may open up the Judges Seminar
to all breeders and exhibitors to attend in an 'Observer
Capacity' and enjoy the new ASTC Power Point presentation
of the breed and observe first hand what information
is given to judges in the club's mandate and commitment
to continuing education.
Richard had a ring
of enthusiastic students at another one of his entertaining
as well as informative handling classes. The approach
is definitely to make the evening session fun but
instructional. Participants had to learn to 'dance'
the 3 step while moving their dogs...the three steps
being 1) Where you are going. 2) Watching how your
dog is moving. 3) Watching what the judge is doing.
They were also told that training is not a just
a 'once a week training session at the local kennel
club', but breeders need to develop a training regime
that includes setting aside '5 minutes only...EVERY
day' in a fun filled session of play, stacking and
movement as well as surrounding puppies in an environment
of positive reinforcement to develop their confident
outgoing personalities.
Wendy P. and Pat Martello
when out for a late dinner while Richard and Wendy
Howard ordered room service and crashed in the room
after another exhausting but enjoyable day. When
Wendy and Pat returned from dinner and it was time
for another excuse to 'party' and several bottles
of wine were 'pinched' from the hospitality room
and enjoyed by the parade of well wishers who dropped
by the room to investigate the ruckus. Wendy H.
sneaked off to the hotel whirl pool and sauna to
treat her tired body and returned to a quiet room
of dogs, Wendy P. brushing and Richard fast asleep...typical.
