If you know me and you are reading this, you know that I am a member of the American Lhasa Apso Club (ALAC) and have been a member for a long time. If you read my website and are reading this, you probably learned from the information on the website that I am an ALAC member. If you have no clue who I am and just stumbled upon this entry then I'm proud to tell you that I belong to ALAC!
At a recent show, I was winding my way through the crowd around the group ring trying to find a good vantage point to cheer a friend who was about to enter the group ring with her Shiba Inu special. I nodded to the handler who was preparing to take the Lhasa into the ring, wished her luck, and said hello to a man standing nearby who then stopped me to complain about ALAC.
It seemed he had allowed his membership to lapse and was irked that he could not just pay dues and automatically re-join the club. He wanted to know why he was expected to reapply (because the club By-laws say so!) and why he had to pay an application fee (it's part of the application process). I might add that the application fee costs less than one show entry!
He said he was upset because the club was "doing nothing." It "wasn't the club it used to be." He didn't like the club magazine; he thought the voting for the specialty judges was rigged, and he couldn't say that he ever got anything out of the club. Hmmm…so why did he want to be a member? I didn't ask that question because it was one of those situations when it's better to just stand and listen since nothing I could say would change his mind.
What I did say was that, as with any other activity in life, a member got out of a club as much as he/she was willing to put in. I'm pleased to say that I stopped short of paraphrasing Kennedy's famous, "Ask not.." line, but it certainly seemed appropriate.
Members who are lackadaisical and prefer to cause problems rather than to contribute to the club's welfare are not helping the club grow or fulfill its purpose. Evidently it is more satisfying to them to complain than to contribute time, talent, and energy to make the club a better one. The current Board members, Officers, and Committee Chairs are always looking people who are willing to help. Right now, a slating committee is seeking members who would be willing to serve as a Director or an Officer. If someone wants to see changes, the opportunities to become a change agent are here!
I joined ALAC in 1975. In 1984 I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors, then in 2003 to serve as Vice President. I'm also Chair of the Membership Committee (1986) and of the Breeder Education Committee (2004). I'm proud to have helped shape the club over the past 25 years. Is ALAC perfect? Not at all...and none of us in leadership positions will claim it is! Is there room for improvement? Always!
This October in Carlisle, PA, ALAC will celebrate 50 years of National Specialties. It's a good year to remind ourselves that the club exists to preserve and promote the breed, as well as to educate its members and the public about our wonderful breed.
Life is good when you have a Lhasa Apso to love you!
Joyce
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