Board Briefs

The fourth regular GSDCA Board of Directors Meeting was held on October 20, 2002 at the Holiday Inn, the host hotel for the GSDCA National in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. It was preceded by The National Specialty, the Annual Membership meeting and the Victory Dinner.

Highlights of the Annual Membership Meeting
The Annual Membership Meeting of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America was held on Thursday, October 17, 2002.

Ken Downing reviewed the comments made at the Opening Ceremonies thanking Purina for their support of our National Specialty Show. Ken outlined the Purina Parent Club Partnership program and encouraged members to participate. Ken thanked  Purina for their contribution which will be applied to Education and the Health needs of the German Shepherd Dog.

The Robert Hamilton Award was presented to Junior Handler, Ashley Miller.

The Performance Award of Merit winners are:
The GSDCA's  first Champion PAM
CH PAM Jecoda Reds Booran HX, CDX, OA, OAJ, owner: Bill Duffy
The other PAM recipients are:
DeBrut's Rambo of Burl Oaks, UDX, TD, AX, AXJ, VCD11 HIC, CGC  owner Mike Los
Dellhaven's All Black Velvet  UD,TD,AX, AXJ,   Owner Jennifer Riess
Morena von Bad-Boll SchIII, CD, TD owner: E. Carol Pfitzmeir
CT Bittersweet Here I am UDX, HT owner: Janice Page July
MACH Ladaleigh's Villiany UDX, TD, VCD 2, owner: Dan Weiss
Rohan of Taize AX,AXJ, CD, HT, owner: Karen Larson
Hot and Spicy Pfefferkorn CDX, AX, AXJ, HSCs, HGH, owner: Kritin Siarkowicz

The 2002 Training Achievement winners are:
#1 Sire: Ch. Rivendell's George Michael HT TC, owner: Jennifer & Paul Root
#1 Cumulative Sire: Ingo Degen vom Fernheim SchH3 FH2 IPO1 CDX TD, owner: Dottie Seuter
#1 Dam: Xolotl Vom Grunenfeld CD HS B AD, owner: Dorothy DeLisle
#1 Cumulative Dam: OTCh. Lujon's Dulcimer of Ashmead UDX, owner: Amy Vose

Blanche Beisswenger Memorial Hero Dog Awards have been mailed to the recipients and were announced by Ken Downing.
Pet Hero Dog - Kiwi owned by Jamie L. Montelango. A man came after Jamie with a broom stick, telling her that he was going to kill her. Kiwi barked, lunged and bit him again and again. Jamie was  able to get over the fence to call the police who arrived and took the abuser away, torn and bleeding.
Service Hero Dog – Appollo Officer Peter Davis's canine partner Appollo ,of the N.Y. Police Dept Emergency K-9 Unit. Appollo was the NYPD'S lead search and rescue dog at GROUND ZERO. The dog conducted searches over hot girders ,and jagged concrete ,nearly losing his life several times during these searches. Hurt, with wet and burnt fur, he remained the pro that he was, and continued his work, for many days.

The Lloyd Brackett award was presented to Barbara Amidon.

The Connie Beckhardt Award was presented to Charlotte Gilbert.

Don Cliff Memorial Award for Good Sportsmanship was presented to Valerie Manning.
Newsletter Awards were announced by the Newsletter Chairperson, Ann Mesdag, as follows:
Newsletter Awards for Category I- Monthly Newsletters.
Best Newsletter: Southern New Jersey GSDC "Speak" Editor: Liz Lenard
First Runner-up:.GSDC of the Pacific NW "Pacific Northwest Shepherd Pages" Betsy Reinier
Second Runner-up: GSDC of Atlanta "The German Shepherd Guardian" Editor: Dixie Whitman.
Third Runner-up:.GSDC of Greater Kansas City " Schaferhunde News" Editor: Betty Johnson.
Fourth Runner-up: GSDC Washington State "Northwest Shepherd News"  Editor: Kerry Southern
Newsletter Awards for Category 2-Quarterly Newsletters.
Best Newsletter:  Lincolnwood Training Club for GSD "Tales of Lincolnwood"  Editor: Judy Braginsky
First Runner-up: GSDC of Southern Arizona "Shepherd Strides" Editor: Liane Fossland
Second Runner-up: GSDC Western Pennsylvania "Jotter"  Editor: Jack Mild and Nicki Hood.
Third Runner-up: GSDC Charleston "Lowcountry Shepherd News" Editor: Caroline Hunt
Fourth Runner-up:  GSDC of San Antonio "Shepherd Views" Editor: Shannon Stockton.
Honorable Mention: GSDC of Houston "Shepherd Space News"  Editor: Vicki Lewis

Temperament Test: The temperament test was held on Tuesday of this week. Seventy-two dogs were entered, Sixty-nine dogs were tested and Fifty-eight dogs (84%) passed.   

2002 Dual Awards:
Ch. Bayou Bay's Network News HT, PT
Ch Survival's Kool Running HT
Ch. Windyhill's Zydeco CDX NA NAJ, OA
Ch Daystar Fairlady Francesca CD
Ch Covy-Tucker Hill's Grayson CD
Ch Tindrock-Kaleef About Thyme PT
Ch. Welove DuChien's Robert CD
Ch. Cathlin Dante PT
Ch. Clayfield Brimstone CD
Ch. Jim Vom Fiemereck SchHIII
Ch. Merkel's Cut Up of Timee CDX NA, NAJ, UD
Ch. Clayfield Zahara V Castlehill HT
Ch Joelle's Alvin v Norberge CD
Ch Herr Sergeant of Glenwood III CD, CDX
Ch Nike Clayfield Yanni HT
Ch Nike Clayfield First Love HT
Ch Nike Clayfield Casanova HT
Ch Kasten's Britten HT, PT
Ch Survival's Tuff Decision HT
Ch Covy-Tucker Hill v Royal T's Edsel NA CD
Ch Breauhausen's Code Red HT, PT
Ch Weicho's Flash Dance CD
Ch Samuri's Dealer's Choice CD
Ch Dream CT-Rivendell Fandango HT
Ch Kaleef's Plaudit of Jaepaul PT
Ch Debrut's Moonshadow CDX , UD, NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ

Register of Merit Sire and Dam Awards Presentation was made to the owners of  Dogs and Bitches featured in the July and August 2002 German Shepherd Dog Review and listed in the National Catalog.

Highlights from the Victory Dinner held on October 19, 2002.

Roll of Honor: Bob Penny was named to the Roll of Honor. Those in attendance rose with a standing ovation to honor Bob, even though he was not able to be in attendance at this year's National.

Ashley Miller was recognized as the Best Junior Handler, winning from the Open Junior Class.

Award of Excellence plaques were awarded to:
US & Can. GV Ch. Survival's Tuff Decision, HT, TC, OFA H/E, Owners: Gail Hardcastle, Mary Stoll, & Andrew Tesiorowski,
US & Can Sel Ch. Survival's Kool Running, HT, TC, OFA H/E Owners: Gail Hardcastle, Jene and Isabelle Dupzyk, & Andrew Tesiorowski,
US and Can Sel Ch. Joelle's Alvin V Norgerge, TC, CD, OFA H/E, Owners: Tiffany Bartley, Joann Corbin, Carol Michael, & Ricarda Bartley. 
Results of the election of judges for the 2003 National Specialty:
Obedience:
Sharon Smith
Kathy Grinder
Jean Porter Lynch

Herding:
Jerry Stewart
Nancy Obermark
Ellen Adomelis

Agility:
LaVanda Herring

Conformation:
David Rinke
Cappy Pottle
Helen Gleason

Highlights of the Board Meeting, Sunday October 20, 2002.

President, Ken Downing expressed appreciation to the entire Board for their work during this past year and welcomed incoming Corresponding Secretary, Sharon Allbright and Board Member, Tony Szczuka. He noted that LaMar Frederick who has completed the term of Blanche Beisswenger as Corresponding Secretary has been elected to the Board of Directors. He offered thanks to the Board members Rita Sandell and Didier Ardoin for their years of service.

In his report Ken Downing informed the members that the GSDCA, Inc.-WDA team finished 6th in the World Championships. There were 31 teams entered from all around the world.  This is the highest we have ever finished and congratulations go to all of our team members for their dedication and efforts.

The web site continues to add more items for the members, we now get show results and even pictures of the winners at the regional specialty shows almost as quickly as the show ends. 

Board Meeting The January Board Meeting will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida on January 25-26, 2003. The Budget and Finance Committee meeting will precede the regular Board meeting. General Membership is welcome to attend the Board meeting.

Ginny Altman