Potential Judge Change at 2009 USA SS - Page 3

Hello Mystere,

Of course there would be the same submission and verification process.  No one disputes that.  The point is, to date, there have never been  judging assignments for the UScA Sieger Show, of any kind, specified to the UScA membership and potential competitors.  We are now less than 3 months away from the event.

To put the argument in a perhaps more familiar context,  suppose that a previously assigned/approved working dog championship tracking judge were to be suddenly unavailable.  Duely informed, the potential competitors might initially be a bit flustered.   But they would know that an appropriately vetted new tracking judge would be selected.  What if, however, the competitors have never known who was to judge tracking, obedience or protection for this same national event, less than 3 months before the event?  A new judge might be selected.  But still, no one knows who will judge any one of the three phases.  Is this tolerable for these national level competitors?  Does the "working" only faction care about who judges their perfomances in each phase?  Maybe not.  But my personal assumption is that, "Of course they care!"--if for no other reason than they simply wanted to "know" what the heck is going on!  

Similarly, potential Sieger Show competitors care who will judge each and every class in Chicago.  The dog sport world, whatever one's personal emphasis might be, is complex .  There are many decisions to be made.  Decisions are best made in the bright light of information, not institutional secrecy. 

Actually, I do not believe that there has been a UScA "conspiracy" to purposefully secret Sieger Show information.  Rather, I think that the UScA leadership simply has other priorites.  Who has authority to assign classes to Sieger Show judges?  The UScA Breed Advisory Committee?  The UScA National Events Committee?  Please, just decide already!  Platitudes and patience we do not need.  The competitors simply want valid, timely information.

Gayle Kirkwood



 

Quote: flustered.   But they would know that an appropriately vetted new tracking judge would be selected.  What if, however, the competitors have never known who was to judge tracking, obedience or protection for this same national event, less than 3 months before the event?  A new judge might be selected.  But still, no one knows who will judge any one of the three phases.  Is this tolerable for these national level competitors?  Does the "working" only faction care about who judges their perfomances in each phase?  Maybe not.  But my personal assumption is that, "Of course they care!"--if for no other reason than they simply wanted to "know" what the heck is going on!   

    National level competitors would simply go with the flow in the event of a judge ochange--it's called SPORSMANSHIP!!    They do not engage in "judge-shopping," showing only under the judges that bred their dogs, sold their dogs, or likes only their dog's best feature.       As I stated, that is usually part of the submission for the slate's approval, anyway--who is judging what.  So,if the approved tracking judge became unavailable, the new judge would simply be judging tracking.  Simple, huh?  As I suggested above, maybe the show crowd should consider submitting its judging slate in the same manner. 


     Seriously, the working folks cannot train for the preferences of any specific judge.  There are simply too many trials, judged by too many different judges, to enter  between puppy and USA Nationals to do so.  Again, it is called SPORTSMANSHIP.    You know who the judges are for the event.   What are you saying, that you won't enter, if you're puppy is going to be judged by someone that didn't breed the VA sire?   Or, you want your  working class male to be judged only by a judge that gave him V1 before?  What, exactly, is the issue that makes it so critical that you know which of the judges is going to judge puppies, vs. senior puppies,vs. working class ?


     FYI--Per USA's bylaws, the proper abbreviation of the name is "USA."   NOT UScA, which would be improper, even if it were the abbreviation.  I do not understand why it is that the people who insist on using something other than the designation by the organization itself, routinely uncap the "C," if they really thought that was the correct abbreviation.  Maybe you can explain that?

Any non-profit institution in America, including the United Schutzhund Clubs of America, exists to serve its membership.  A legitimate member's request for information from the organization has nothing to do with either "judge shopping" or "sportsmanship".  It has everything to do with trying to make the organization responsive to its membership. 

Once again, would someone in authority please make some decisions and inform the membership?  

Attacking each other and the organization is not the best way to handle this.  As stated above, train and condition your dog for the event as best you can.  Trust that the judges will be fair and remember that it is a beauty contest for the working dogs after the protection test is passed. 

This year we should concentrate on those protection routines and show the working folks these dogs can really do something besides prance around the ring. 

I do not see the situation as sprotsmanship, I see it as looking for a judge that likes the dogs one produces.  To me sportsmanship is accepting the judges decsion, respecting that and acknowledging the owner of the winner.     Its not a competition without winners and lossers. 

I don't think this can be compared to a trial, in a trial the dog either performes the exercises well or not.  In the show ring things are more subjective, did the dog move correctly when observed in the coming and going, did the dog maintain stamina in the ring, did the dog grab the attention of the judge by expressing correct temperment or that "special something" a judge looks for. 

Remember, even in Miss USA, all of those girls are beautiful, only one wins.  They don't quit because the judge is married to someone that looks like Miss.  Illinois because they "can't win". 

Is USA here to serve its consitiants, yes and no in this case.  Preventing the shopping of judges helps the majority, not the minority that have legitmate concerns over who judges there dogs.  A majority the deserves the honest judging of there dog.  More importantly, USA serves the future of the GSD.

Ladies & Gentlemen

This is my third year as USA Sieger show secretary, in the 2 previous years NOT ONE person emailed or called asking who was judging which classes.

 Last year for example, checking the 2008 SS website updates we announced the judging assignments on March 17, NASS also announced their judging assignments after the close of entries.

 This year we have had a minor challenge a change in judges, second challenge both judges licensed same day month & year, we then had to see who was a Körmeister first.  With the time difference from the US to Germany, that takes time.

 Since I am not the NBW or a BAC member, I have to wait the same as all of you.  I’m not going to post anything without having & knowing the absolute facts. 

I'm back to paperwork, the dogs, & family.  See you all in Chicago