Webinar Anyone?

Dave Rinke judging our 2018 AM Specialty Show

Our 2019 specially shows are five months away. We are already in show mode. This year's shows -- our first under new leadership -- went well enough. RK and I are hoping that next year's will be easier. Fortunately, we know some of the steps to take (remember I documented them last year) so we're hoping for a less stressful event in 2019.

• We're using the same site as last year. There's been friction with the Greater Orange Park Dog Club for the past couple years. We were invited to cluster with another all-breed who would treat us more favorably. They offered to handle advertising, ring set-up and coordinate (read: potentially split costs of) judges with us. They also wouldn't require the taxing volunteers hours that OP demands. But the timing (January) and location (Ocala -- 2+ hours away) was too much for the membership to handle. So the decision was made to stay with OP and try to make nice-nice.


• We've got the committee in place. RK is in the show chairman position again. I have stepped down as show secretary because I plan on showing Trooper. (AKC says show secretary cannot have a dog in the show.) However, I'm helping the new secretary up until the entries start coming in.


• The judges have been secured, though it was a much bigger ordeal this time around. Last year our first two choices were available and willing. (The morning judge, Dave Rinke, was absolutely incredible! Hear him talk about judging on YouTube here. Wowza!) This year RK was told "no" over a dozen times before she got her first "yes." She went through another half-dozen names before securing the second judge. On a happier note, she found two phenomenal judges willing to do our 2020 shows.

Kent Boyles at our 2017 shows

We'll kick into high gear -- Premium, Awards, Catalog, etc. -- after the holidays. Until then we're just planning and trying (unsuccessfully) not to stress over it.

 

A few weeks ago RK discovered something surprisingly helpful. The AKC has stepped into the 21st century! They are now offering free online webinars on various subjects. The latest is Show Secretary Responsibilities. How cool is that?! Less than 18 months ago several of us drove 6 hours to South Carolina for a 4-hour seminar on AKC Show Committees -- and despite the travel, we still had to pay $35!

 

The Show Secretary Responsibilities webinar was scheduled for 3 PM on a Wednesday (because holding it when people can actually watch it is silly). Fortunately, I happened to have the day off, so I signed up. Even though I'm not doing the position, I thought it would be valuable knowledge. Besides, the secretary has a real job (imagine that) and couldn't get time off to participate. Here are some of the things I learned:

 

• One must be "in good standing" with the AKC to hold position of show secretary. I'm not entirely sure what that means.
• While the show chair and show secretary can technically be the same person, it is not recommended.
• A person can be a show/event secretary eight times annually for conformation and/or obedience. After that there is a fee and you must be a licensed show superintendent. (Rally is unlimited.)
• The show secretary must be on-site for the event. Since our sites ate always on a Friday, this can pose a problem.
• Only the show secretary is to have access to the catalog before the show.
• A copy of the breed standard must be on-site during the show.
• The new AKC site allows premiums to be uploaded to advertise events. Hopefully this will help increase entries.

So I learned a few new things without leaving my house. Yea! I still feel woefully incompetent. Do you think this will this ever get any easier? -- K