CLUB BUSINESS
R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me President’s Message Hi Everyone, Aretha Franklin was talking about a love relationship. But in the big picture of life, respect plays a critical role in any personal or organizational relationship. Respect for your elders may be old-fashioned, but it was pounded into me, literally, at an early age. In the case of organizational relationships, respect for our elders means giving credit to those who work hard to make our breed and our club better. These are people who give time they don’t have, energy they could use elsewhere and patience that would make Job look weak. They give time and money to their club, without asking for anything in return, because it represents the dogs and breed they love. Respect does not mean you never disagree, it means, in famous terms, choosing to disagree without being disagreeable. Whether you disagree with a competitor, a mentor or a club representative, being respectful in your dissent goes a long way toward building a stronger bond – be it personally or at an organizational level. Involvement in a club like ours offers many different things to many different people. The opportunity to socialize with folks who enjoy the same breed; the opportunity to compete against the best – those who have dedicated their lives, hearts and souls to the breed; even the opportunity to give back to that group through volunteer service within the club. Respecting your club and your fellow members means donating that time and effort for no reason other than giving back. If you’d like to meet the type of member we should all aspire to be, I suggest you visit with Sue Mueller. Sue is retiring as Treasurer of the GWPCA effective at the end of her term this year. She has served in this position, in many ways the most challenging of the jobs one can do for this club, for 10 years. In that time she has never claimed so much as the cost of a stamp in reimbursement for herself. She has attended all but one National event in every part of the country you can name. She has donated her time and materials at no cost to the club to frame many, many trophies and fund-raising items over the years. She attends the National Specialty shows, even though she is at heart strictly a Field Trial enthusiast. Sometimes she even shows a dog. She attends the annual meeting. She supports the whole club, not just the parts she likes. Yes, she is fortunate to have the ability to make that choice in her work life. But, it is a choice that she has made every year. A handful of long-term members share Sue’s willingness to devote so much to this breed and this club. We are blessed with a small but vital core group. But she and those like her are an endangered species in today’s environment. There is no “spotted owl” ruling that will save our club and our breed - we have to do that ourselves. “It’s all about ME” isn’t just a familiar saying, it’s a common mindset by which neither society as a whole, nor this club specifically is well-served. I have rarely used this forum as a bully pulpit or soap box. But, if ever there was a time for a call out to the membership of this club it is today. Our breed is unique. Its qualities are unique. Our club is unique. The functional dog, the pretty dog, the “let ‘em roll” dog are all equally valuable – and sometimes they’re even the same dog. The dogs, their breeders and owners each deserve our respect. And, the devoted, dedicated people who work to help this club deserve our respect. R-E-S-P-E-C-T Take care…
Laura Reeves
GWPCA Club President 20
WIRE NEWS
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