 Read about the Lompoc, California, weather and weep! Weep particularly if you were not in Lompoc. It is veritably impossible to describe the cooling ocean breezes which sweep through Ryon Park at the height of the day, keeping the temperatures in the low 80s, without a drop of humidity whatsoever. The dogs love it, the people love it and why shouldn't everybody love this event is a good question to ask. The DeSotos and Dorothy Ingamells event has become a staple on the dog show circuit as others have come and gone on this weekend. One thing for sure, however, is that according to the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau, this show generates over $1 million dollars annually for the community itself. That's quite a figure for a show that years ago I referred to as a "pleasant county type of show!”
People start arriving in Lompoc for both the all-breeds and the Hound Specialties, and in total almost 3,000 visitors fill up the hotels and restaurants. Lompoc itself spends about $20,000 within the community during the course of the show, using as its base Lompoc-located firms for tables, chairs and food supplies, as well as hiring local teenagers for set-up chores. It is even a larger economic draw for Lompoc than its world famous Flower Festival. This is the industry, of course, which is so basic to Lompoc with which to begin. The economic impact of dog shows on various communities is an almost overlooked fact of dog show accomplishments. With the larger cities, this impact may be more difficult to substantiate, since it is frequently spread out over an area difficult to account for, but with the smaller cities such as Lompoc, our shows have a major direct favorable economic impact. This fact can be overlooked by show givers whilst negotiating for venues in the less-populated areas.
The first night, the Doberman Pinscher CH Foxfire's All That Jazz, shown and co-owned by Michael Santana with owners Catherine Torres and Jocelyn Mullins, was awarded Best by Mrs. William Kendrick, whilst on Sunday evening Steve Hubbell awarded to owner Nancy Resetar's Australian Shepherd, shown by Larry Fenner, the top award. He is Ch. Caitland Isle Tale A Chance.
Last week I failed to give a photo credit to Norm Kenney, who supplied the shots from Putnam County Kennel Club. This was added to the Web site, however, as was the fact that it was Patty Strand and not Paddy Spear I was referring to with regard to the speaking engagement in Florida relative to the PAWS legislation. It would be fascinating, I'm sure you would all agree, to have Paddy Spear on that panel, too. She would certainly set that crowd straight, that's for sure!
I thought Pam Guevara's recent Letter to the Editor to be most interesting. In the event you failed to read it, the subject was field reps and whether or not they are instructed to report violations they see at dog shows or to ignore them. Quoting the late Carol Hollands, Pam claimed that Carol said they were told to ignore many of these violations. The implication being that the instructions came from North Carolina, but the corporate level from which they were given is left to one's own interpretation of these alleged remarks. Quite candidly, Carol told me just what Pam claims Carol told her. Carol told this to me two nights before her untimely death. I never repeated this to anyone before for a number of reasons. One, I never knew whether these were confidential remarks and what purpose would that have served so soon after her death? But it was an editorial I wrote in which I described watching field reps ignore violations at a recent show which prompted Pam's letter. Based on one related and one unrelated statement is why I have decided to go public with what Carol told me, too. Whether in fact this is the case still remains to be seen. If indeed Carol's remarks were based upon her interpretations of the situation or was in fact the case is not known. But certainly there is enough smoke for a little looking into, I would think.
I can't help but really admire the selection of the latest two field reps. Sue Vroom, I hear from one and all, is doing a bang-up job in Texas, which is what one would have expected to happen. I happily predict Mary Dukes will do the same in Charlotte. These two ladies are outstanding selections and will do the sport and the field rep staff proud, that is for sure. Having said that, isn't it about time that people other than professional handlers both apply and be considered for these field rep jobs? I mean, can you really tell me that there are no judges or exhibitors of longtime standing who shouldn't be thought of as well? When this point is made to certain people at AKC, the answer is that the professional handlers are the base of who applies. And my answer is that is because they are the ones who are told about the openings. There should be an attempt to broaden the field rather than to narrow it as the present administration seems to be doing. •
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