January 2011
Dear Members and Friends:
Welcome to 2011, a year of
change and opportunities for the San Francisco Bay
West Highland White Terrier Club (SFBWHWTC).
Our annual meeting was held on January 15 and
your new officers and board members as agreed upon at
the December meeting were elected.
They are:
President: Lisa Blutman
Vice-President:
Sherry Byrd
Secretary and IPP:
Rick Sklarin
Treasurer:
Jim Gilcrest
Board Members:
Sandy Gilmer, Dianne Pritchard, Kim Smith, and
Toni Snow.
I would like to welcome
all, and give you a little history on the SFBWHWTC.
When this club was first founded, it was made
up of individuals who owned Westies that were
interested in associating with others who owned them
and wanted to learn more. Educational meetings were
held and there was one “fun” event (Tartan Games) per
year. These members showed their dogs in conformation
and some in performance events such as earth dog,
agility, tracking and obedience.
Now we are at a cross roads.
Few of our members participate in these events
and more of our members own what is commonly referred
to as “Pets”. (Of course
all my dogs are pets once they finish their
championship and begin living the lazy life at my
home such as sleeping on beds etc.)
What I have been seeing the
last few years are fewer and fewer active members who
are willing to chair events and attend meetings.
There are more & more members who like to show up to
Tartan Games and the Spring Fling only.
As an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized
club, this cannot continue. We
are required to hold specialties, matches and
educational events. That
means all of our members need to participate in these
fun and exciting events one way or another, even if
it is just to attend the specialty and come to the
dinner following. When we
have the judge’s critique we all learn more about
what a westie should be and how we, as breeders and
owners can improve upon this challenging breed of
dog.
What does this mean for
you? Each of you needs to
look at your calendars and mark down how you want to
participate in these fun events.
We need a chair for the Spring Fling.
Without a chair, this enjoyable event will be
cancelled. That would be such a shame for us and our
Westies. We do have
people who will handle the lunch at the event and
chair the new committee on the lure course.
We need a new editor for the Tartan?
To date, we have had no volunteers. This is
our Club lifeline and full of informational items for
all.
A club is only as good as
its’ membership. We need
an active membership willing to step up to the plate.
Members to take on some of the events, to enable
others to take a step back occasionally.
The same group of ten to twelve people cannot
continue to run this club.
At the last Board Meeting,
we voted in concept to host a Roving Specialty in
conjunction with our 45th anniversary. To
do this requires participation by everybody. It is a fun and energizing weekend of
events for all of us and our Westies.
Can we do this? It
is up to you. Can this
organization survive as an AKC recognized club? This
too is up to you. We all
love this breed so much and have such fun. Let's come
together to make our Club great again.
In Westie Love,
Lisa
