How it started

Thought you might be interested how the 2009 National came to be sponsored by The Berkshire Belgian Tervuren Club so here goes!

In the Fall of 2005 our BBTC president (Janina Laurin) just “casually” mentioned during a club meeting (boy, was she sneaky!! LOL) that the 2009 National Specialty was due to be on the East coast in 2009 and “was there any interest from club members in sponsoring it?”. Some discussion ensued but I don’t remember that there was much interest at that point.

However, I was thinking about it. I had just chaired my second Regional Specialty for the Berkshire Club and was enjoying bringing people together to have a good time with their dogs. There was much discussion that winter. I talked to many of the members in our club to get their feeling about the show. One comment in particular stuck in my mind - “absolutely, yes! Let’s do it!” From Kim Vent. Can you guess why she’s the Co-Chair?

I made a presentation to the Berkshire Club’s Board of Directors in 2006. The Board unanimously agreed to sponsor the National with me as the show chair and Kim as the co chair. Well, we were halfway in the soup now!

Next thing was to write a letter of application to the ABTC Board extolling our qualifications and plans. This was done in the summer of 2006. We were told that a decision would be made on or after August 31^st of that Year. August 31^st came and went, September came and went, our Regional Specialty in early October came and went – whew!!!!!!! To say we had a bunch of people on pins and needles is an understatement. Then in mid October we received the acceptance of the application. Much excitement ensued. Now, I thought, we’re really in the soup!!!

The real story begins at this point. The story of the people that make up any worthwhile enterprise. I started asking people, in the club and out, what they would like to do. The responses were good and honest. Over the next year and a half I continued to beat the bushes picking up a great crew along the way. I found that there was a tremendous pool of talented and imaginative people willing to take on the various tasks. I also continue to rely on people in the breed that have been around for a lot longer than me – they have me offered good advice.

If I had any doubts about putting on the 2009 show I must say I was inspired by the 2008 chair, Lynne Wetherell, who did such a tremendous job with such short notice for the 2008 show. I figured if she and her crew could do it – so could we.

My trip to the 2008 National allowed me to meet some of the people I had only spoken to or emailed with. I met some people that I had never met before that were sponsoring fundraising events for our show. Wow! Think about it! What a great bunch! During my meeting with the ABTC Board in Chattanooga I found them to be very supportive and appreciative. I even filled a chair position during the meeting! Again, some very talented and hardworking people were out there and were just waiting to be asked. I was fortunate to be able to fill the last few open positions on our committee while I was in Chattanooga. What a great time I had there!

The ending of this story will be written by you, our exhibitors - our customers. Our mission is to have a great show where every exhibitor feels it was worth their while to come, show and/or trial their dogs, renew old friendships, make new friends and to go home saying “Hey that was a great time, I’m glad I went”.

Let me know, please!

John Amsden
Show Chair