The third regular GSDCA Board of Directors Meeting was held on July 28 and 29, 2001 at the Holiday Inn Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was preceded by the National Specialty Show Committee meeting, the GSDCA-WDA meeting, the Futurity Committee meeting and the Video Committee meeting on Friday, April 27, 2001. Earlier on Friday the Board members visited the American Kennel Club Offices, escorted by GSDCA member and AKC Vice president Bob Slay.

We have been notified by the AKC that Ashmead's Crescendo VCD1, UD, TDX, AX owned by Dr. Diane Castle is the first German Shepherd Dog to earn the Versatile Companion Dog 1 title. The Board adopted a resolution congratulating Diane on this prestigious title.

Debbie Hokkanen reported that plans are going well for the 2001 National which is being held in Perry, Georgia on November 4-11. The GSDCA-WDA Invitational is planned for Monday and the excitement is building around this Schutzhund demonstration. There will be mentors available to answer the questions of the many spectators and special guests who will be in attendance. Plan also for the 2002 National which will be held on October 13 - 20 in St. Charles, Missouri. The Board will be visiting a possible site in California at the January Board meeting.

Lanalee Jorgensen, Educational chair reported that the 2002 Educational Seminar year will feature experts in the various performance fields: Wynn Strickland, Obedience; Russ Osburn, Schutzhund and other speakers for Search and Rescue, Agility, Tracking, and Herding. The Seminar will be videotaped and be available for purchase again this year.

The America German Shepherd Dog Rescue Association, Inc. is looking for volunteers for the following positions: Marketing Director, Education Director, Placement Program Director, and Directory Update Coordinator. If you can volunteer to help in any way contact Linda Kury by email LindaKury@aol.com , call her at 408 247 1272 or by mail to 369 Drake Court Santa Clara CA 95051.

Juniors who are competing for the Robert F. Hamilton Award must contact Ken Tank to give him their current point total. Please contact him by email at tanksr@aol.com or by phone (714) 777 1399 or Fax (714) 777 6925. There will be some exciting things going on for Juniors at the National. All of the Juniors competing at the National will be recognized in Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, November 10.

Regional Clubs are encouraged to submit fully marked catalogs for placement on the GSDCA website. They should email information to Lew James, assistant webmaster. Regional clubs are also encouraged to provide specialty show calendar information to John Ayotte, assistant webmaster.

The 2001 North American Sieger Show will be held in San Diego, CA on Nov. 16 - 18, 2001.

Members can receive a GSDCA Team jacket by offering a donation of $250 or more to the GSDCA team which will compete in the WUSV Championship on Oct. 3 - 7, in Maribor, Slovenia. Contact Martylou Plinski if you are able to contribute to supporting the team with any size donation.

The SV / WUSV liaison reported that the Sieger Show will be held Sept. 7 - 9 in Dusseldorf.