11/18/2024
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the theme for the AKC trial weekend was give thanks, be grateful. I am especially thankful that the trial is over with. It was three days spent with family, friends and furry companions sharing lots of laughs, watching some awesome runs and cheering everyone on.
I give thanks for having a great club with awesome members and a very nice climate control building. I give thanks for having some awesome workers who always stepped up whenever we need a job filled.
I am very grateful for my volunteers that fill in the key positions for the trial. They commit to doing this job and are at the trial from the moment the building is open until everything is done at the end of the day.
-Trial Secretary Gayle Pluta who not only ran her dogs but also kept on top of all things in getting scores out in record time.
-Jim Payne who came in and got all the electronics hooked up for the weekend and made sure all was working fine Friday morning before he left on vacation.
-Chief Course Builder - Rosie Hatcher-Pientok who always does this hard job of lifting and moving equipment.
-Ring Caption - Pat Casey who was ring captain for all three days which is a lot of tracking volunteers down.
-Outside Grounds - Sheila Doran who kept p**p bag supplies ready and the garbage emptied.
-Inside Grounds - Laura Hilger and her team of Nadia Adint and Tina Gradowski
-Food Coordinator - Heather Green which is one of the many jobs she does at the trial.
-Opening the building - Jim Payne (Friday), Loret Bartol (Saturday) and Lisa Hendler (Sunday) which made for happy exhibitors to get in set up their crates.
Then there is all the pretrial work that gets done in order to make sure the trial runs smoothly. This involves making up the MACH/PACH bars and stickers, ordering all the trial ribbons, ordering food to feed our volunteers, stocking beverages, getting the worker schedule done, making hotel reservations for the judge, cleaning the building, checking inventory, making sure the equipment is in good working order and doing the endless computer work inputting entries and sending confirmation emails just to name a few things. (Whew!)
People are always amazed how transformed the building is for a trial. I am very grateful for those volunteers who came in Thursday night to set up which involves clearing the mat ring, marking the crating area, setting up the first course, setting up the secretary area, moving gates around, getting the practice jump set up, getting the kitchen ready. I'm naming names but forgive me if I missed anyone: Scott Persky, Pat Casey, Joyce Partykevich, Judy Payne, Jim Payne Sue McFarlane, Nadia Adint, Tina Gradowski, Nancy Marrano, Heather Green and Rosie Hatcher-Pientok.
And now for the reverse on Sunday after the trial. All the above and then some and a lot of these volunteers were at the trial all day and stayed to help for take down. Tina Gradowski, Nadia Adint, Lisa Hendler, Teresa Rizzo, Sarah Pearlmutter, Mark Rusley, Rosie Hatcher-Pientok, Anne Hatcher-Pientok, Heather Green, Ginger Blossom, Laura Hilger, Greg Partykevich . Again, I'm hoping I am not missing anyone but if I am accept my apologies. I did hear from more than one person "thankfully we don't have to vacuum so thanks WAG board for making that happen."
I am so thankful for exhibitors who enter our trials which support WAG. It is noted and appreciated. For those who ran this weekend congrats on your runs no matter how you did. You spent time with your pups and that's all that matters. Huge congrats to those who earned a PACH or MACH this weekend:
Ellen Mack and Lola PACH
Marv Zuidema and Zoey MACH
Jim and Tammy Sieburg and Wrynn MACH 4
Lisa Hendler and Liam MACH 4
Mary Ann Christie and Zoey MACH
Huge thanks to our judge Anne Lindsley, coming off of knee surgery, who stood out there for hours. Course were challenging but fun and Anne was great to work with.
Lastly very special thanks to my co-chair Heather Green - thanks from the bottom of my heart, toes and anything else. Heather wears so many different hats at the trial and her energy is boundless. She keeps me on the straight and narrow path, and I couldn't do this job without her.
Again, thanks to everyone for doing what you do for the success of our trials. Your time, energy, dedication and hard work is truly appreciated.
Oh, and to the person who left the tiny Santas around - it was a cute and whimsical thing to do and put a smile on our faces.
Have a safe holiday season and see you all in 2025!
Mary VanderBloomen
Attached are our thankful/grateful board for Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, Sunday was erased before I was able to take a photo
