Thu, 12/10/2020 - 7:36am

The Gossip Column, December 11, 2020

Four reps leave the field, a dues break and a garland of holiday birthdays

Well, congratulations to those of us who made it through this most horrible of years. As the show season, even as abbreviated as it was, comes to an end, we eagerly look forward to the new year, when vaccines will be available. ...

There will be changes to the way we attend dog shows, show venues, hotels, restaurants and people we see on a regular basis. When it comes to people who we take for granted will be seen weekly, that will change, especially when it comes to Field Reps. Four big changes are in store. As I wrote recently, long-time rep JIMMY MITCHELL has retired and resumed his judging career as of last weekend. JIMMY leaves a huge void in the Northeast part of the country, and after 19 years to the day he started, his lighthearted manner will be hard to match. Moving west, GINA WIESER has chosen to retire as well. Another popular, no-nonsense rep, she had a lot of practice with patience and understanding long before she even took the job. Poodles will do that to you. Moving further west, JANE MYERS moved from her Florida home to Reno to rep in the Northern California region. BRYAN MARTIN moved his Illinois home to Oregon to be the rep in the Pacific Northwest. If JANE & BRYAN want to become reps again, they will need to apply to the kennel club for the job, a nice way of saying thanks but no thanks. I’m told both will start their judging careers, as is custom with a group each. ...

While I’m well aware of the group-gift custom when one leaves the employment of the American Kennel Club, I think in this case a huge oversight is not giving NANCY MARTIN a group of her choosing. Anyone familiar with the MARTINS' handling careers knows full well that NANCY is more than deserving of that custom as a spouse who handled as many years as her husband. With all the bones (i.e. plus six permit breeds) that the American Kennel Club throws at judges, surely there must be one left over for NANCY. ...

After 48 years and a couple of name changes, PROFESSOR BARBARA (she is still LOUNDSBURY in my address book) ANDERSON has retired from her teaching job. So now she’ll be a full-time farmer tending to her animals. ...

Acknowledging the hardships of this past year, the SKYE TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA has told its members there will be no collection of dues for the year. You can, if you wish, still contribute to the club to support its other objectives. A thoughtful gesture that should be acknowledged. ...

Happy Anniversaries to SALLY & BOB FUTH and to CAROL JEAN & PAUL NELSON. ...

Celebrating Birthdays during this holiday season … RON MENAKER, TOM BRADLEY, ANDY LINTON, MARY DUKES, TERRY HUNDT, HANS KABEL, CHARLENE MASCUCH, HELEN INGHER, MIKE BOWSER, NANCY SELF, LINDA GEORGE, CARLOS PUIG, LEE HERR, HEIDI COLE, BOB FUTH, COLE GABEL, JOHN REEVE-NEWSON, BOBBY PAUST, DAVID HARPER, ADRIAN GHIONE, SHARON KROGH, RISKY MOLNAR and ROBERT CHAFFIN. ...

Well, here we are at the end of another year. The losses suffered by many plus my own personal loss make me hope never to relive a year like this. But we must be optimistic even as hard as it seems at the moment, and look forward to things improving and returning to a life we all miss. So with that in mind, please accept my thanks for your continued support even with our abbreviated publishing schedule and for best wishes for a Happy Holiday and for a healthy, happy and normal New Year. 

 

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