I am here early again, and have some thoughts. I am talking to Doug Crane, and that is the good part of the National. We are talking about Kathy Steen, and some of the old timers.
I went to the board meeting. I was struck by the fact that there are so few people there and Lew Bunch and Helen Gleason read all the winners of the club challenges and the PAM awards. Since no one was there, they should just post it. Nothing interesting came up, and there were only 40 or 50 people there. Carmen didn't ask for any input from the members and the only interesting thing was a bench show committee, and Carmen was pushed to answer what they did, and declined to answer.
I do have some thoughts about this show and location. Flowerboy said he didn't like MO. I have to say this is a great place for a dog show. The people are decent to us, they are cheerful, and the place is clean and climate controlled. The grounds are great, The footing in the ring is different,but it is different for everyone. The food "works" and the general location, 45 minutes from the airport is OK.
Now, the way the show was done stinks. Having the Futurity/Maturity start at 5:00 pm is just plain stupid. Being at the show at 11:00 is lousy. Yes, a lot of people can't get dogs here, but there are enough for a dog show,and 120 entries for Specials is fine, just missing a lot of good dogs.
There is no reason to have a host hotel. Nothing is done there, the Host Hotel stinks, both literally and figuratively. It is musty, the kitchen burned down so there is no food, the rooms are normal, but they aren't cleaned well. There is nothing that makes it a special place and unless it means something, we should just not have a host hotel.
The judging has been great, the quality good, and the general attitude fine. I would like to see some rotation so others can enjoy a National, but there is nothing wrong with MO. There are a few things, such as trying to return a rental car on Sunday, but those things aren't terrible.
So long as I am not trying to show a dog, or in my case have two bitches to be bred, this is a fine place for a dog show. The only draw back is the inability for the two coasts to get dogs here, but maybe the cost thing is a trade off.
The place is coming alive, so I am going to send this and get ready for another dog show. Bob Slay came by to discuss the club and I agree with him.
Tony is here too and it is getting to look like a dog show.
I sure do miss Tom and Vivian Brown, and the Ghalaris. I know, I get to see them all the time,but they were always part of the National. I still haven't found Ed Hill, but he must be here somewhere.
Below is the Link to the Blog. Read it at your own risk.
