Editorial: March 3, 2023

On Sunday, February 26, the annual board meeting of the Morris & Essex Kennel Club was held. It was followed by the general membership meeting. Both these meetings were conducted on Zoom, led by that tireless man of perfection and distinction, Wayne Ferguson. As the wonderful memories from the last Morris & Essex Kennel Club dog show start to fade and the expectation of the next event on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, seems too far in the distance, we want to remind our readers what a unique experience that dog show is for all of us. One of the very few dog shows that brings members of our dog-show community from all parts of the country as well as foreign visitors. It truly does take a village to put on such a huge event, and none of it would be possible without your generosity of time before, during and after the show. There are the generous financial contributions that enable the club to offer free morning coffee and bagels and a complimentary box lunch to all the exhibitors while treating the judges to a sit-down three-course gourmet meal, as well as the overall festive atmosphere created by the beautiful flower arrangements and multiple stands. The memorabilia from the club’s historical past with old photos, trophies and catalogs added to the collection of the prominently displayed classic cars that are the backdrop for many a photograph taken by the gentleman and ladies who dress up for the occasion with those fascinators clinging to the sides of their heads, defying gravity. And those hats … who can forget the hats?
So while we treasure the show and all the wonderful memories it makes for us all, remember that it is all our combined efforts that bring this once-in-every-five-year event to life. Please see the ad for Morris & Essex in this issue of Dog News with contact information to help complete the donated trophy list and to include your breed specialty as part of the M & E experience. A wonderful keepsake is the book “The Golden Age of Dog Shows: Morris & Essex Kennel Club, 1927-1957.” More information can also be found at www.morrisandessexkennelclub.com.
All your combined generosity allows Morris & Essex to donate funds to dog- and human-related charities that rely on contributions to exist.