Showtime -- The Big Day

Manning my table

On April 6, 2018, nine months of hard work finally paid off. 25 beautiful dogs came to our German Shepherd Specialty shows. The weather was clear and warm. But as show secretary, I didn't have time to watch the show. I had work to do!

The Show Secretary's table was set up ringside. With me was a big box of stuff including:

• Entry forms. Per the AKC the club must have "All entry forms, arranged in catalog order so the Secretary can easily refer to these forms to answer any questions exhibitors may raise." (Trust me, they raise questions!)
• Armbands for all exhibitors. To make things easier for everybody, the Secretary should print the dog's name and class on the backside of the armband. (Not my invention. Just passing on what I've learned from others.)
• Catalogs. Have one for the table (mark "TABLE COPY, DO NOT REMOVE" on it -- 'cuz they will). Catalogs will also be needed for stewards, judges, AKC and to be purchased by anyone who wants one. However, the AKC mandates that the catalog cannot go on sale until one hour prior to regular judging.
• The latest versions of the AKC booklets: Rules Applying to Dog Shows Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges, Dog Show Stewards, Junior Showmanship, Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline, and Dealing with Misconduct. Fortunately, the AKC sends these ahead of time.
• CYA forms Event Committee Hearing Procedural Checklist forms, Club Incident Report forms, Dog Aggression -- Action by Event Committee forms and Dog Disqualified by Judge for Attacking forms. (Pray you don't have to use them!) The AKC sends these as well.
• A copy of the Premium. Remember, this is the contract the club made with the exhibitors. The club should abide by all the promises made in the premium. By the same token, the premium contained regulations and disclaimers that the exhibitors agreed to when they entered.
  

  

  Winners Bitch competition

• A list of pre-ordered catalogs.
• A list of anyone who may owe or be owed money for entries or catalogs. (It happens.)
• Any miscellaneous things you may need like pens, markers, rubber bands, badges, clipboards, tape and a stapler.

We're a small club, so everybody pulls double (and triple) duty. In addition to manning my table I arrived early to unload the trailer, helped set up the concessions tent, helped the afternoon steward (it was her first time and she was nervous), answered a bajillion questions and refrained from choking a regular busybody. When the show was over I helped break down and reload the trailer before going out to dinner to celebrate a job well done. It was a l-o-n-g day. All we have left is the aftermath, then we can call this show officially over. -- K