In a message dated 12/4/2002 3:30:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Okay, Sherri -- as a fairly new member to BMDCA (1 year?) and Berners in > general (4 years) -- what can I do? Maybe I'm not "signed on" to the right > list, or missing something, but I don't feel like I have much opportunity to > give input into BMDCA. There are two primary ways in which the BMDCA Board communicates with the membership, The Alpenhorn and The Bulletin. The Alpenhorn is mailed every other month...if you haven't already done so, pay the extra and request first class mail. This will put it in your hands in a more timely way. The Bulletin is available 3 ways; online at the BMDCA Members site (on Yahoo), via first class mail, and a new option...emailed directly to you (see Karen's post). Mailing is expensive for the club, but I like to read the Bulletin in bits and pieces, highlight any that raises a question or things to be addressed, so...I want it in hard copy. I have a crappy printer, so I get it by mail. The third method of comunication about BMDCA matters is the online Members list on Yahoo groups. This is a terrific vehicle for discussion of pending issues the BMDCA is dealing with AND to float new ideas for consideration. Although the primary function of the list is NOT for direct communication to & from the Board, it is a vehicle for timely communication from the Board when that's necessary. On the list, you'll read diverse opinions and rationales about topics ranging from a Breeder Referral Program to Awards to the functioning of various committees. It's a wonderful way to learn 'both sides of the coin' so you can then make your own decision a well informed one. It also serves as a reminder to send the Board input when it's requested and to send in your ballot, etc. ***MANY thanks to Sandie Hawkins for setting up the BMDCA Members list and keeping it on topic. She saw a need and filled it...before the Board seated at the time recognized the value of such a list. > I agree completely what what you've said, and I may > be part of the problem as I'm not responding to, commenting on, approving > of, or criticizing anything the BMDCA is doing. How do "rank and file" > members like me become more involved, and become part of the solution? Two ways... Be informed. Learn from the various lists, participate with your dogs in a variety of activities, gain the trust of people knowledgeable in specific areas so they'll discuss the ins and outs of their 'specialty' with you. An interdisciplinary approach will help you to understand the *why* to various opinions and to form your own views and ideas with more breadth than otherwise. Participate. Everyone one of us has a unique set of abilities and experiential knowledge. The club utilizes skills ranging from convention planning to graphic design to writing to legal advice to dimplomacy to warm & fuzzy chatter to scientific analysis...and applies them to everything from public education to specialty planning to assessing research grant proposals. There are a host of committees working on a wide variety of projects, contact a Chair and offer to help. There are several committees in need of Chairs, they've been published in the Bulletin & Alpenhorn and recently summarized on the Members list, check the archives. If you have an interest in one of these areas and feel it's a good mesh for your skills, contact the retiring Chair FMI and then the Board if you're interested. Simply offering your perspectives, ideas, and questions on the Members list is making a contribution....you may offer insights others haven't thought about. Think not because you're a relative rookie? Think again...YOU have the experience of trying to learn and show etc in a "vast wilderness" <g>, compared to me who could show every weekend of the year without driving more than 300 miles, belongs to a regional club with over 400 members, and could visit several dozen breeders within a few hours drive. That means your perspective on everything from awards to educational programs, breeder referral, etc is different than mine. The only way that I can consider your needs in my thinking (and voting) is if you share those needs with me. > While we're on it, I'd like to ask a question that's been bugging me for a > while. I think it's the national German Shepard Dog club that does this, > but there is some kind of "club certification" for GSDs who meet special > criteria, which we all seem to agree is important to breeding programs. > If the BMDCA recognized this kind of dedication by "awarding" these dogs > this kind of "honor" or certification, I think that would not only be > helpful to PPOs, but to all Berner lovers, breeders, and owners. There is a new committee being formed to review our entire Award structure. Perhaps what you have in mind would fit there? Or, in a Breeder Referral Program...it could go there as well. Or, as a stand alone evaluation....similar to the Briard folk's bi-annual Resemblement. Or as a temperament component added to specialty conformation judging as required by the GSD club. Go for it! ~Sherri Venditti
