Postponement - 'GSD Partnership - KC meeting - THE FACTS - Page 1

Postponement of the 'GSD Partnership' meeting of 13th February with the Kennel Club. THE FACTS.
On Wednesday 11th February p.m. I received a telephone call from John Cullen advising me that he had a family funeral to attend on Friday 13th February, and that he had checked with the Breed Council Vice Chairman, Davy Hall, to see if he would be available too attend the 'GSD Partners' meeting with the Kennel Club on Friday 13th February in his place. Davy Hall advised him that he was not well enough to attend. John asked if it would therefore be possible to postpone this meeting to an alternative date when he, the Breed Council Chairman would be able to attend. During this conversation I told John that I had not been feeling well and that my wife was planning to accompany me to London because of this reason.

In view of John's wish, I then immediately telephoned them to discuss the possibility of reconvening the meeting on an alternative date, they felt that a family funeral had to be a priority and that a further meeting would be arranged at an early date post Crufts - which I have in hand.

Clearly, the facts above establish the scheduled meeting was cancelled on the 11th February, for reasons connected with John Cullen, not Graham Stephens.

On Thursday morning 12th February, in view of my feeling unwell, I visited my doctor who immediately took a blood sample and said he would phone me later in the day with the results. This call from the doctor at 6.30pm on Thursday 12th advised me that I should immediately be admitted into hospital for a blood transfusion for acute anaemia.

To summarise; Wednesday 11th February pm. - John Cullen advised that he had a funeral to go to on 13th February and that his Vice Chairman being unwell could not replace him, and therefore requested a postponement. In view of this I telephoned the Kennel Club and arranged to reconvene this meeting at an early date post Crufts.
It was my intention to attend the meeting on the 13th February and could have done so until my doctor's phone call at 6.30pm on Thursday 12th February - whereupon I was taken into hospital as an emergency.

I strongly object to both the GSD League and myself being misrepresented in this fashion, and manipulation of the facts is inexcusable.    Graham Stephens, Chairman GSD League.

 The above post was placed by me at the personal request of Graham Stephens. 

Considering the contempt for this FORUM that Sheila Rankin regularly espouses in her Talk Turkey section of the National Magazine, and her OUR DOG Breed notes. I was very surprised when she came on here and informed us all in a NEW THREAD about the cancellation of an important meeting between the Kennel Club and the GSD Partnership. Not content with informing us about the cancellation, Sheila went on to give the WRONG reasons as to why it was cancelled. Perhaps Sheila felt inclined to lay blame, if I may call it that, at the feet of Graham Stephens, and so by inference to the GSD League, because John Cullen (BC Chairman) did NOT ask Sheila (BC secretary) to deputise for him at the meeting.

By casting the 'blame' onto Graham and the League, it diverted attention away from the Breed Council, her own bastion of power and influence, and any disapointment she personally felt. As far as I can ascertain the meeting arranged with the Kennel Club of the 13th February, involved the Chairmen of the following three GSD organisations, The Breed Council, The BAGSD, and the GSD League. If this was the case, why on earth did Sheila Rankin take it on herself to write on this FORUM, in some detail (which was wrong) about the cancellation of this meeting. Sheila openly dislikes this FORUM, and Sheila is NOT the secretary for ALL of these three organisations. The Chaimen of the 'GSD Partnership' are quite capable of organising any necessary communication regarding THEIR meetings with the Kennel Club. 

I hope the 'GSD Partnership' Chairmen take immediate and appropriate action on this serious matter. Ensuring that it never happens again.

GSD Partnership meetings with the Kennel Club are of crucial importance to our breed, and as such require exemplary conduct from all concerned.
 

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I find it extremely distasteful that this post has been placed here especially when it concerns a family bereavement. 

It is completely unecessary, accomplishes nothing except disharmony.

There are some things that are more important than the nomenclature of the GSD for heaven's sake.

the death of a close family member is surely one of them.

I fail to see the point of this thread and find the tactlessness of it completely incomprehensible.

Can you not restrict your infighting to the appropriate forum which is certainly not here!

Does anyone know whether any progress is being made towards a meeting with the KC?  The silence from the GSD Partnership is deafening on every front.   The reason for the postponement is perfectly acceptable, however, there is a serious lack of information coming from them.   The members of the Clubs and, indeed, a wider audience need to know.

Mackenzie