"Dedicated to Breed Improvement""

Results of Futurity/Maturity poll: 

(Open from July 15 '08 to September 01 '08 posted on gsdcc website 
and membership informed via email to multiple lists, responses accepted via email 
(all responses needed to be signed)

Actual Poll:

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

There has been an alarming trend over the last years with our futurity litter nominations 
and then dogs shown/entered in all the regions decreasing. We want to hear from all 
our members about our futurity system.

Are the members still interested in the futurity/maturity system?

Is there something that we as a club can do to help with futurity nominations and entries?

Do the members have any suggestions that might make it more desirable?

Please email your answers to Wendy Haddrall (click on name)

"Responses will be accepted until September 01 2008, must be from a member of the GSDCC 
and must be signed to count"Your answers will be presented at the 2008 annual general meeting

Thank-you for your time
Wendy Haddrall, GSDCC futurity chair


Responses: 13(some had more then one comment or suggestion)

All responses were from members of the GSDCC and all were participants in the Fut/Mat shows.

	Not enough dogs actually show up to be shown, less competitive (1)
	Cost of entry, travel, handlers (5)	
	Too political   (5) 
	Lack of new breeders/show homes (2)
	Regions are too hard to get to especially for those breeders in Northern areas of Canada (1)
	Merit of win not justified wish more was required other than structure (1)

Comments/Suggestions:

	"I am still interested in preserving the system but I think there needs to be some changes. 
             I think you should have to LIVE in the area that the dog is entered in....or at least the dog 
             should live there.  I don't want to compete in Ontario with a dog that was flown in from 
             another province just so it could win.  The idea of the Futurity system was to showcase the 
            stud dogs  and breeders in a certain area and that isn't happening anymore.  I realise that in 
            our modern world it is much easier  to breed to a stud dog from half way around the world than 
            it was in the "old" days.  But it is still better to know what is in the "neighbourhood"."  (4)

	"Maybe open it to non-members?  And be more flexible with the closing date.  I had an entry 
            get lost in the mail and was unable to re-submit another entry after the closing.  Come on....
            it's a "fun match"!!!" (2)

	"Personally....I'd love to have it closer for the northern breeders!"  (1)

	"Show secretary taking the entries for all regions" (3)

	"More then one judge" (4)

	"The GSDCC offer a 'complaint/appeal committee' for those exhibitors who feel that an 'injustice' or a rule may be broken." (2)

	"Response from show secretaries sooner" (1)

	"The GSDCC could look at setting up an online nomination system through their web site, with 
              the ability to pay via credit card. Making the process easier and more streamlined. (ie: as in the litter 
              nomination system etc. with CKC, only adding an immediate payment option at the time of application)" (1)

	"Is to not allow Any breeder, or that breeders family or associates (handlers etc) to have any contact with the 
             F/M judge once that judge has accepted and been nominated and approved to judge the show. From this point 
             the judge should be contacted by the GSDCC F/M chair or the GSDCC secretary of their approval, supplying 
             the judge with the regional Futurity/Maturity secretary's contact information and instruct the judge to 
             correspond with the Futurity secretary only! As well, have the GSDCC secretary or F/M chair mail to the 
            F/M show secretaries of each region, the results of the f/m nomination judges results once they are approved, 
            informing them of the judges & alternates and their contact information; as well, send along a copy of the F/M 
            rules as set out by the GSDCC with a contract for that secretary to sign & return to the F/M chair of GSDCC 
            secretary stating they have read & understand and sill uphold the rules of the GSDCC f/m system." (1)

	"The GSDCC must insist that the Futurity secretaries and entrants stick STRICTLY with the closing date 
            of May 1st. Late entries or changes will No longer be accepted,..Period! Every show participant is able to 
            abide by this rule with CKC shows so it isn't a 'new idea'.
           The 'hosting clubs' should no longer have any say at all in how the entries or any aspect of the show 
            secretarial duties be handled. The secretaries may correspond with host club's executive on other matters, 
           but not anything deemed a possible 'Conflict of interest'. Some regional clubs are run, as well as, have the 
           executive and the majority of the votes held by their family members and clients, hence having total control 
           of the out come on issues brought to the club for tabling a vote. This Conflict of Interest issue in some areas 
          has left too many past, present & future exhibitors with the unwillingness to participate for fear of 'wasting 
          their money on a show that may or may not be compromised." (1)

	"Lets face it showing cost money, and with the CKC AKC method of showing only at tops four ok 5 owners 
          get to go home with something concrete......... wd wb bob bos bp......... every one else goes home with a thanks 
          for showing, ok a ribbon.. that is a lot of money for a strip of cloth ... think of the SV way of showing.. every 
         dog leaves with a judges rating.. so there were 15 pups in the class my puppy went VP15 I go home feeling fine, 
        I have bragging rights.. ya there were 14 puppies the judge liked better but mine was still very promising." (4) 
 
     "THE TOP PRODUCING FUT/MUT SIRE DAM TABULATIONS IS DONE ON A % SYSTEM (for example; 
         if a dog has 10 progeny shown and not one receives the ultimate honour of BIF, BOF, BIM etc why should it be 
        higher in top ten compilation then dog that has produced several progeny receiving top honours)." (1) 

I appreciate all the very well thought out responses from some of our consistent and loyal supporters of the futurity system. 
Even though the response was small in comparison to the membership numbers it was not that small compared to those 
breeders that consistently nominate litters. I do request/suggest that the membership take some time to think about and 
discuss these suggestions.
 
Respectfully                                          
Wendy Haddrall, GSDCC Fut. Chair