The Gossip Column: June 30, 2023

The floodgates have finally been opened now that delegates can charge a fee for judging. The former rule was that delegate judges could only charge their expenses to a club for which they were judging. It was a great injustice, as some creative delegates just padded their expenses, while “professional judges” who charged a fee were kept from becoming delegates. Now that the rule has been voted down, hopefully the delegate body will be infused with new ideas from those previously barred from being delegates. Once they become delegates, it is a chance for some new names and voices to be elected to the board of directors. That being a given, it will give a greater voice to the sport. All around, it’s a win-win for us all. Just imagine if we could have had people like LANG SKARDA, ANNIE CLARK, MIKE BILLINGS, PAT TROTTER, EDD BIVIN, BOB & JANE FORSYTH or DEE HUTCHINSON, who pushed that rule so far as to have a club put her name forward for their delegate seat. Needless to say, the nomination was rejected because she was a “professional judge.” It will be interesting to see which clubs nominate these “professional judges,” as they were known, to represent their clubs. ...

Lots of phone calls to friends in the Cleveland area last week, as the contents of the late GEIR FLYCKT-PEDERSEN’S home were for sale. Friends bought personal items as remembrances of a dear friend lost to us. ...

Sending JACKIE STACY our best wishes for a speedy recovery from recent surgery. ...

All of us at DOG NEWS were saddened to hear that Kerry Blue Terrier breeder and judge of five variety groups ANNE KATONA has passed away. Respecting the request from the family for privacy, we did not report ANNE’S passing at that time. Taking a break from judging for a few years, ANNE became an American Kennel Club field representative. She resumed her judging career at the end of that career move. We send our deepest sympathies to her husband JACK and family. ...

Have a Happy Fourth of July holiday. As a good part of the country is suffering from extreme heat conditions, remember as you celebrate to have ample amounts of water, ice and shade to keep you and your dogs cool, and to check your motorhomes for those who rely on generators or power from the showgrounds. The AKC REGISTERED HANDLERS PROGRAM website is endorsing a fire-extinguishing ball from Elide Fire as something you might want to purchase for your motorhome, kennel or home. You can find it online at elidefire.com.