Change

We just got the January issue of Reader's Digest & the page of Quotes is all about
change".
Two of my favorites are: "If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less." by Gen. Eric Shinseki and "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." by John F. Kennedy.
DWAA is facing a decision time - to change and move forward or to stagnate where it is. This does NOT mean that the entire organization should be changed, all traditions dropped, etc. That would be a waste of much work that has been done before us. It does mean that we need to start thinking of new and creative ways to make DWAA even better, to serve members more effectively and to open up new areas for dog writers.
By now most of the voting is in. We can only wait to see if DWAA moves forward or remains where it is. I hope that any of you reading this who are DWAA members will work to better the organization, no matter what the outcome of the election.
Deb E who was cheered yesterday by a small "Christmas miracle". The ducks were quacking wildly away when I went down to the barn early yesterday morning. I went right to their stall to see if the cat was in there or what had them all agog. It was a Christmas egg!!! The ducks do lay much of the year but stopped about October as the days got colder and darker. They don't usually lay again until mid to late January. Their quacks were obviously excitement at their very own Christmas miracle :)). The dogs were thrilled as they were hoping it meant scrambled duck egg for breakfast!
PS For those not familiar with ducks, at least mine all quack and rejoice wildly when a new egg appears.

Eukanuba or Bust

Last year when I drove out to California we soaped "Eukanuba or Bust" on my mini van's back window. Once we hit southern Ohio I had cars beeping, holding up signs & waving to indicate that they too were headed for Long Beach. I hope the trip this year goes as smoothly. Moving the show date back two weeks was not a good idea with winter storms starting up in many areas.

This year Kate & I are driving out with a friend in her van & 6 dogs. We have 2 Labs (Connie & Pearl), Flash, Kate's Corgi as Kate's backup for jrs if Queezle comes into heat, Queezle, Kate's Terv for breed & hopefully jrs, Whiskey a Brittany who is agility bound & Nia a Sibe who is agility bound. We decided we could affectionately refer to the van as "The Bitch Bus"!

I am not sure when I will get a chance to stop by in the next 2 weeks, so please vote & then enjoy getting ready for the holidays!
Deb

Getting ready to roll

The next couple of days will be whirlwind of packing & planning. On Saturday we head for Long Beach, California for the Eukanuba competition. My daughter Kate & her Belgian Tervuren Queezle have qualified in both breed & jr showmanship. Kate is aging out so we decided to drive out with a friend & bring some other dogs as well. It is hard for Kate to miss that much school, but her teachers have been wonderful. Now if we can just get everything packed & everything organized at home for Tom & Chuck to handle the animals & things here!
I made the cross country drive last year & it is so inspiring & impressive to see our wonderful nation. So cross your fingers for good weather & smooth driving!
Deb E

Now's your chance

If you haven't received your DWAA ballot, you will shortly. And when you do, you'll have your chance to speak up and say what direction you want your organization to proceed in.

What's most important, of course, is that you vote -- but of course (hey, who am I kidding?) I hope you vote for Deb for president, Liz for secretary and me for VP. I am so very proud to be running for office with these two accomplished dog writers. Deb is a compassionate and honored veterinarian, a skilled communicator and a passionate advocate of mentoring new members. Liz is a trainer par excellence, a prolific and honored writer, a second-to-none contest chair and a nationally recognized dog expert (as in, she's hosting a Washington Post webchat tomorrow on pet food. Yes, the Washington Post!) Both have served in dog clubs and have competed with their dogs. We are so very fortunate to have them in our ranks, and that they are willing to serve us even more than they already have.

So, where do I fit in here? I've been a dog writer since 1996, and a DWAA member since 1998. I've written about all sorts of dog-related topics in that time, and I've had the very good fortune of being honored for my work on occasion (not as much as Deb and Liz, though. I'll get there!). I've been a working wordsmith for 35 years. And I'm expanding my toolbox: starting next month, I'll also be working as an apprentice to Pat Miller, one of the best dog trainers in the U.S. I'll still be writing, though, and I'm still committed to serving this organization. It's been good to me, and I want to give something back -- by working with Deb and Liz to help DWAA be the best organization it can be for all those who share a passion for both dogs and for the written word.

If you have questions regarding the vote, ask us. If you have comments, feel free to comment on this blog. But most important of all, no matter whom you support, let your voice be heard. Vote!

Susan
susan.mccullough1@verizon.net

Democracy & dogs

Bet I got your attention there! Alas, in our household, we do not have a democracy with the dogs. We are benign, firm but fair, dictators. The dogs seem quite happy with this though occasionally they hold out for an extra treat :).

Our nation has shown what a true democracy is this year by our national election. By & large things proceeded peacefully. We had oversight to ensure fair voting & a choice of candidates.

This year, perhaps for the first time ever, DWAA will hold a true democratic election. We have a choice of candidates, ballots have been mailed & presumably there are safe guards in place to guarantee a fair election. So this is your big chance if you are a Professional DWAA member to exercise the chance to vote in TWO national elections in one year!

Of course, I hope that you choose to vote for me for President, Susan McCullough for Vice President & Liz Palika for Secretary. We feel that DWAA has been well served by many of its officers in the past but that some change is needed to face the new century. It is important that our organization stands for a free press & represents all of our members.
We feel that we can do the best possible job of representing all of you. We have a wide range of journalistic experience from award winning books to shelter writings to widespread magazines - both in dogs & outside our fancy. We have extensive experience within the dog fancy, including work with rescues & shelters, competing in top level purebred dog competitions & doing therapy work.
Together we represent a team that can work together & work for YOU!
If you have thoughts on the future of DWAA as you would like to see it, please feel free to post here.
Deb E

Past and Future Elections

I was talking with a neighbor today who by his admission had voted for other than Barack Obama. This neighbor knows that our politics don't agree, and that his candidate didn't win, but he still has a much more positive outlook today than he did six months ago. When asked why, he said that he was happy he voted, happy that so many other people participated in the election process and voted, and that President elect Obama appears to be gathering together a seasoned, talented, and yet new group of cabinet members. My neighbor feels that the change that our country seems to need has indeed begun.

Now granted, the upcoming DWAA election is a much smaller thing than our national elections, but if this organization is important to you - or has the potential to be important to you - I hope you take the time to read about the candidates and vote. As we have all heard during this past national election, every vote counts. That applies to our much smaller election, too.

When that envelope from DWAA appears in your mailbox, please don't toss it away. Take your time, read about the candidates, make some phone calls or emails to clarify issues or points, and then vote!

Thanks!

Liz

Liz Palika lizpalika@gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think I can safely speak for Liz and Deb (as well as for myself!) in offering our best wishes to each and every DWAA member for a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

And while this has been a difficult and challenging year on so many levels, there's still a lot to be grateful for, including:

-- our human families and friends;

-- our canine companions;

-- the privilege of being able to write about those canine companions -- and, in the process, help others to live as happily with our dogs as we do with ours;

-- a community of writers who share our passion for our dogs and for the power of the written word.

Here's to a happy and productive year ahead!

Atlanta Conference

I just returned from the conference in Atlanta last night. This is the Cat Writers Association conference with co-sponsorship by the Dog Writers. Most talks are "bi -petual", strictly about writing topics. Wonderful time with a great sense of camaraderie and major efforts made to include newcomers. I met some wonderful new friends & got to touch base with many old friends. The book signing was a success with many dog books selling well at the cat show too!
The awards dinner went until 10 pm with a buffet & no compliants despite some short speeches. The evening went with people getting their dinners, then the special awards, a 10 min break for bathroom & dessert followed by the MUSE Medallion awards. I was fortunate to win a Muse Medallion for the Cat Owners' Home Veterinary Handbook AND the Hartz Vitamin Award for Senior Cats!!
A fabulous time!
Deb E

The Power of a Photo (Or Perhaps a Word)

There is a news story on the web today with a photo of two young girls in the Congo, crying as they search for family. Reading the story makes you ache. The beauty though, is that by waving the photo, the photographer was able to help find their family & eventually reunite the girls with the mother of one of them.
Our words can achieve equally great results - not always so dramatically but sometimes quietly, like water dripping on a stone. Think of times that your words have inspired someone on to greater things or shored up someone in need.
The communicators of the world have a great power and an equally great responsibility to use that power for good.
Deb E

Leaving Behind a Legacy

One of my favorite authors passed away this past week. Michael Crichton was well known for many of his works, including "Jurassic Park", "Airframe", and a host of other best sellers. I never met Mr Crichton nor did I ever correspond with him but I certainly felt like I knew something of him through his work. He passed away much too young and I will miss the things he had yet to say and the stories he had yet to tell.

His passing brought to mind another author who was lost to us this year, Janet Kagan. She wrote science fiction short stories, an anthology of those stories, and two novels. She wasn't at all prolific - and in fact I emailed her about that one time, saying I was on pins and needles waiting for her next work. She was gracious enough to respond, had a wonderful sense of humor, and sent me a signed book plate to put in the cover of her book. Janet Kagan was a wonderful talent and every once in a while I dig out her books, "Mirabile" and "Hellspark" and re-read them.

Another of my favorite authors, Anne McCaffrey, is still with us - knock on wood - but she's in her mid to late 80s. Anne is very prolific and I think I have all 60 or so of her books - I haven't counted lately! Her son is now writing with her the worlds she has created and although he's talented, he's still learning and is yet to achieve the level of his mom. Anne has the ability to make the reader believe the science fiction worlds and characters she creates are real; she is wonderfully talented.

In thinking about these varied but talented people, I realized that writers are in a unique position. Although magazines come and go, and issues end up in the recycling bin; and books sell, stop selling, and go out of print; as writers the work we do will live on. I saw a copy of my very first book for sale on eBay for a whole lot of money - over $300 - and couldn't believe it. And someone bought it and it wasn't my parents!

Now granted, when I write I'm certainly not thinking about my legacy; I'm thinking about my audience: who will read this book and how can I best suit their needs.

But it is interesting to think that we - as writers - are in a unique position.

Food for thought.

Liz

Liz Palika

"lost" members

One thing that has come to my attention since we started working on running by petition for DWAA office is the number of top members - excellent writers, mentors, respected in both the dog & writing communities - who either have left DWAA or are thinking seriously about it. These members feel that the organization is being run almost as a private fiefdom with little input from or concern about most members. If THEY feel that way, I can only imagine how estranged the average member feels.
It is our goal to involve our members, try to provide direct & useful benefits & have an open governing style.
If that is what YOU would like from DWAA, think of joining us by voting for Eldredge, McCullough & Palika when you get your ballot.
Deb E
PS While we would like to run a platform on free duck eggs for all, the season is past!

A snapshot of Archer

I know we all think our dogs are the cutest and most special, but I have to share a verbal snapshot of Archer.

My husband, Paul, and I have three dogs. We tend to stay at three - an older dog, a middle aged dog, and then a young one. I can keep three trained, groomed, exercised, etc. When we lost our oldest dog, Dax, last January, we were going to wait a while for a puppy as my husband had a real hard time losing Dax.

Well, in April we got a call from the breeder we usually go to and she offered us a five month old puppy. She wanted a special home for this guy; he had been her pick as owner of the stud dog, but he had a retained testicle and wouldn't be show/breeding material. But personality wise, she felt he was very special with lots of potential. We fell for that hook, line, and sinker once we saw the puppy.

Archer is named for the character played by Scott Bakula on the last Star Trek show; he is charismatic, good looking, and oh what a charmer. Uh huh. He has charmed his way into our hearts, that's for sure.

But anyway, long story short. Last night I was on the sofa, reading, when one of our cats, Squash, jumped up and snuggled in next to me. Archer jumped up on the other side of her. He placed his favorite Orbee ball (his very favorite!) next to her and nudged it so it bumped her. Obviously a play invitation. She ignored him. He bumped it closer to her. Again, ignored. He reached over and very very gently, began grooming her with his front teeth. She was indignant but tolerated it. However, when he began licking her ears, she decided she'd had enough and with no claws, bopped him on the head. In his rush to be submissive, when he rolled over on his back, he rolled off the sofa. Squash said, "My job is done!" and snuggled back up next to me. Meanwhile, I'm laughing so hard I'm trying not to fall off the sofa!

Ahhh.....this is why we have pets. Laughter is good for us.

Archer was fine, by the way.

Liz

The Power of Our Vote

The outcome of today's election says it all: our votes do count. And when people desire change, it can happen.

Whether you are happy with the results of today's election or not, it is the democratic process and one that we must cherish. So few people in the world today can vote as we do.

When you receive your DWAA ballot in the mail, I hope you take the time to vote again. And yes, granted, DWAA is a very small entity when we take into consideration the national election, but DWAA is also important to us and deserves our votes.

Liz Palika

Vote!!!

Today's a historic day for our country. The stakes of today's presidential election are higher than in any other election in several generations. Taking the time to vote today -- no matter how long the lines are, no matter how confusing the instructions might be -- is a privilege too many of us may have taken for granted until now. But it's our time now: time for us to be responsible citizens, and do our part to set our country on what we each believes to be the right course for the years ahead.

And in a month or so will start a historic time for DWAA: the beginning of the first contested election for officers in many years. The stakes of that election are high for the future of our organization. By taking the time to vote then, you'll be adding your voice to those who want to have a say in DWAA's future. No matter how you vote: take the time to add your voice. It's a privilege and a responsibility that none of us should take for granted.

On the Write (Right) Track

Having spent many days this year out in the tracking fields with our dogs & seeing Kate & her 11 yr old Corgi Flash earn their TDX yesterday got me thinking about tracking & its parallels to DWAA.
When a dog is "on the track" they tend to work with purpose. They move straight ahead, ignoring distractions like woodchuck holes or deer poop. They simply concentrate on doing the "right" thing & following the correct scent.
I think that right now, DWAA is a bit "off track". As an organization we have lost our orientation to provide camaraderie with fellow dog writers/artists/photographers. The people that make up any group are the heart and soul of that group - or in this case, the scent we should be following. The more members who feel welcome, who are involved and active, the stronger that scent we need to follow will be.
So, while I am NOT recommending that everyone forgo bathing to increase their scent, I am recommending that we all get involved and leave an easier track for future members to follow.
Deb E

Open Communication for an Open Organization

My goal for DWAA is open communication from the board to all members and vice versa. I believe that increased and improved communication will benefit the organization as a whole. One of our current issues, it seems to me, is that members disagree with decisions made by the Board without any understanding of the factors that went into making the decisions. If the reasons were shared, more people might agree with decisions, and if not, at least have a better understanding of why those decisions were made.

I suggest that all the minutes and votes of any board meeting be made available publicly to members just after the meeting ends, both in Ruff Drafts and in the Forum. I would like to see all board members active on the DWAA Pro list; the members on that list are the heart and soul of DWAA, and our most active communications occur there. One positive aspect about using the list is that anyone who wants to has access, and there’s a filed record of posts, which you don’t have with telephone calls.

What I believe most strongly, not surprisingly, is that both sides of any issue facing our membership should be made clear in Ruff Drafts. We gain nothing by suppressing information, and gain everything by engaging in active communication. We are an organization of writers and journalists, and it behooves us look at both sides of an issue before making an individual decision on that issue. What we have now, along the lines of Cool Hand Luke, is a failure to communicate. Given that our profession is all about communicating, I hope that we can eliminate the failure to do so.

Join me in voting for Deb, Liz, and Susan in the election. I am voting for them because I believe they can bring about the open communication in what should be an engaging, interactive organization.

Members are the Organization and the Organization is the Membership

Many of us have been discussing some of the problems facing DWAA for more than a year; some for even longer. One thing that keeps popping up over and over again is that many members feel they have no place in DWAA. They feel that they don't matter; that DWAA doesn't need them; and even worse, that DWAA can't help them. Or won't help them.

That's really sad.

An organization such as DWAA survives with the success of its members. This is not an organization made up only of a few officers and board members; this is an organization with several hundred members. Each of whom should feel important and vital and necessary to the organization and each of whom should feel that DWAA has something to offer.

Making changes is hard. It will be difficult to incorporate changes into DWAA. Hopefully these coming elections will be the first step.

Establishing openness into the workings of DWAA will need to be the second step so that members can see what is being discussed, what the discussions consisted of, and how decisions are being made.

Involving additional members in the business of DWAA will probably be the third step. Many people have asked to involved and were told that their help was not needed. I know, myself, that many people are willing to help. This year was the first time that I had more people volunteer to serve as judges for our contest than I needed. Although many had served as judges previously, there were quite a few first time volunteers, too, and they did a wonderful job.

If DWAA is to continue to survive - and I hope it will - it must involve the membership and the membership must feel that DWAA cares about members.

As I said, the first step in the process is the upcoming election.

Liz

Liz Palika

Thoughts about Writers, Quilters, and Pumpkin Carvers

A friend of mine is an artist. He is very talented; so much so that when he carved a 100 pound pumpkin Saturday, it was a work of art.

That got me thinking (and yes, I know that's a dangerous place to go!) how each of us finds a way to express our thoughts, emotions, and experiences in different ways. Dan can find beauty in a piece of metal or even a pumpkin. My mother creates the most beautiful quilts and uses the various patterns for the quilt, as well as the patterns and colors of the fabric to make warm, comforting works of art.

Since I was in grammar school, I have been able to sort through my thoughts best by putting them down on paper or by seeing them on the computer screen. Something in the writing process helps me organize my thoughts, my emotions, or even my experiences. One day my husband and I were doing some house maintenance - I don't even remember what we were doing - but as I was holding the ladder for him, my mind started organizing that mundane experience into how it could be written. How could I make it interesting for the reader? What would the lede be? And the conclusion? Should I add more color to the story? I never wrote that particular story, but it was the first time that I realized that I truly was a writer; that writing is my creative endeavor and how I express the things I see around me.

Since that moment, I've talked to many other writers who do the same thing.

My first published work was a short memorial piece about the loss of my first dog, a GSD named Watachie. He was a rescue but an awesome dog; a SAR dog who also had a UD with OTCH points, a carting dog, and a Frisbee champion. I lost him at the age of seven - far too young - and I expressed my overwhelming grief by writing about Watachie. The article was published in the GSD national club magazine. After it was published, I got letters from people telling me how much my work touched them. My first fan mail. It was at that time that I realized my work - my words - could touch people.

Liz

Liz Palika www.lizpalika.com

Ducks are unhappy

I know, I know - this is a dog writers blog. But the ducks felt that they went out on a wing endorsing us & still no comments! So I promised to post a photo (see I keep campaign promises!) & here it is. Mako is the handsome fellow to the far left as you look at the photo with the dark eye patch. Snow White is the pure white duck. Then we have Splash, Smoke & the Gentleman. I am not sure whose feathered rear is at the edge.
The really upright stance is typical of Indian Runner ducks - Snow White is the best example.
Photo by Tom Eldredge
Deb E

Update on this year's contest

As most of you probably know, I am this year's DWAA contest chair. At this point in the process, more than 800 entries were recieved, sorted, packaged and sent out to more than 150 judges. (3 judges per category; i judge per special award)

But now the exciting part happens! The score sheets are coming back from the judges. I tabulate all the socres when I have all three score sheets from each category and the nominees and winners magically appear!

I now know the nominees and winners of more than half of the special awards and about a third of the regular categories, and more score sheets are arriving daily! Woo hoo!

When I have all of the nominees and winners determined, I will send out a letter to each nominee letting them know which work was nominated. The list will then appear in the December DWAA newsletter. I will also post it here and on the forums.

So knock on wood and cross your fingers!

Smiling Liz who is having way too much fun!

Liz Palika

Compromising positions

I second Deb's call for ideas from you guys as to what you'd like to see happen to make DWAA an even better, more effective, member-friendly organization.

Here's something I'd like to help make happen: amend the DWAA Bylaws to eliminate conflicts of interest, particularly with respect to elections.

Currently, the Bylaws place incumbents in contested elections in an untenable position: they are required to officiate in elections in which they are candidates. For example, Article V, Section 5e, requires that "All ballots received by the Secretary before December 31 will be delivered unopened to the Annual Meeting where three (3) tellers appointed by the President will count them."

Look at it this way: would we want Barack Obama's Virginia campaign chairman to be responsible for delivering absentee ballots to the state Board of Elections? Of course not. John McCain's supporters would understandably cry foul, and Obama's supporters would cringe (or at least should) at the thought of the election being possibly compromised in such a fashion.

And yet, the DWAA Bylaws require both the incumbent President and the incumbent Secretary to officiate in a contested election just such a fashion. The Secretary is in charge of handling the ballots. The President appoints the tellers. They don't even have the option of recusing themselves so as to ensure that the election proceedings are above reproach. This is unfair to them, to the other candidates and to the members.

I know that Carmen Battaglia, current DWAA president, has appointed a committee to study the Bylaws, but as far as I know (Deb, can you update us?) that committee has not held a meeting. I know, too, that Carmen and the current DWAA secretary, Pat Santi, have promised that the ballots will be kept in a lock box until it's time to open them at the Annual Meeting. That's a great start, and I appreciate their efforts to reassure the members that this election will be a fair and honest one. But those efforts, unfortunately, are just a start. And while it's possible that the Board of Governors could agree on minor changes in procedure for this election -- for example, to have the ballots delivered to a post office box and to have two people bring the ballots from the post office box to the meeting -- what we really need is, at some point, to change the Bylaws so that this situation does not occur again.

Please understand: I am not, repeat not, questioning anyone's integrity here. What I am questioning is whether we can amend the Bylaws so that, in the future, people of integrity won't be forced to assume, ahem, compromising positions.

What do you all think?

What do YOU want from DWAA?

I am hoping that any DWAA members reading this blog will feel free to post to us what YOU would like from DWAA. You can even post as anonymous :))

Are there more committees you would like to see instituted? And if so, what ones?

How do you feel about Associate members getting the vote after, say, 5 years of continuous membership?

What about a DWAA Announce list? One of my national breed clubs has that - the only emails come from the parent club & it is to announce important business, etc. No responses on the list. That might be a way to get Board business out every month so members know what is going on.

Please feel free to let us know. We are hoping to make DWAA an even better organization for all of us.

Second endorsement!

I, Windy Run's Allie McChappell, have decided -- albeit with a little reluctance -- to endorse the candidacies of Debra Eldredge, Susan McCullough and Liz Palika for DWAA officerships in the coming election.

My reluctance to endorse this slate has nothing to do with Deb or Liz. Being a Golden Retriever, I'm prepared to think the best of everyone, and I'm sure that Deb and Liz are almost as fabulous as I am. No, my reluctance has to do with Susan, my person. I have put a lot of time and effort into training her to be a better owner. Now I think I should reap some reward from my effort. Let me explain.

I am not just any Golden Retriever. I am the most fabulous Golden diva to grace the planet. It's not for nothing that one of the greatest of all Golden Retrievers, the magnificent Amberac Asterling Aruba, appears on both sides of my pedigree. But for all my great looks, I don't just lie around gracing the family hearth. I am a force of nature. I am someone to be reckoned with. I am a teacher: Susan's teacher.

When Susan takes me for my daily romp and fetch session on a nearby sunlit field, I don't always just tear after the ball and bring it back to her. Sometimes, I decide to play keep-away with her: I'll run off with the ball, let her get just close enough to grab my leash, and then saunter off before she can do so. Sometimes, I'll sneak up behind her, press the ball into her hand, and then dance away before she can react. When we're out for a stroll, sometimes I decide to take a break from loose-leash, polite walking monotony and play a little tug-of-war with Susan and the leash. And during the day, I'm good at finding all kinds of mischief, whether it's shredding toilet paper, routing through the trash, or summoning her to my side by scratching the side of the sofa.

But I don't just do this for my own amusement. I do it to teach Susan how to be a better owner. I've instilled in her important qualities: creativity, a sense of humor, persistence and patience, to name a few. I'm proud to say that after nearly six years of continuous, dedicated effort on my part, Susan is displaying these qualities with reasonable consistency. Naturally, after all my hard work, I'd like to have Susan all to myself. It's only fair, don't you think?

Well -- maybe not.

I have reluctantly concluded that it would be selfish of me to refuse to share the qualities that I have instilled in Susan. I am a big girl. I am mature. I can deal with having her play Ms. Flying Fingers at the computer keyboard not only when she writes articles but also when serving DWAA.

So, please consider this my endorsement for Susan, Debra and Liz. And if they are elected, please don't hesitate to send me a note of thanks. Any treats that accompany those notes -- particularly if they are venison jerky -- will be most welcome.

Best wishes,

Allie

An endorsement!

Unprecedented Endorsement!!!!
The Duck Egg Laying Union #309 in upstate NY has come out 100% behind the slate of Deb Eldredge, DVM, Liz Palika and Susan McCullough for the upcoming DWAA elections. Union Chief Mako had this to say, "Well, we know where our food comes from. Plus who fills our kiddie wading pools outside in nice weather - twice a day, sometimes even three times a day! Add in clean shavings, fresh hay and a dry stall in a nice barn at night and in cold weather - just can't beat the perks!" His secretary, the lovely Snow White chimed in, "Let's face it, I would have been in a pot years ago if it wasn't for Deb! And while that hairy guy Hokey isn't much to look at and is a bit bossy, he has never hurt one of my girls."
This represents the first time ever that this union has taken political sides. History in the making!
There you have it - unedited and from a live interview with this reporter

(For those wondering about Hokey - he is a wonderful Belgian Tervuren who has multiple sheep and duck herding titles. He is the primary Eldredge farm dog. )

Cold & wet & roster ?s

Boy, a cold, wet day here - hard rain with snow predicted for tonight. Actually a bit early for our area but not unusual. The dogs love it, the donkeys hate it. I would love it if it was a quiet day where I could curl up on the love seat in the corner with the dogs all around me, a good book & a mug of tea :))

On the DWAA scene, I have a few concerns about the roster. Doing the roster has to be a real pain & keeping it current very difficult; especially nowadays when people change internet servers at the drop of a hat. However, with the election approaching, ballots will only go out to Professional members. That is how our bylaws read.
With that in mind, I see that a Board nominee & our new newsletter editor are both listed in the roster as Associates. Both of these people are actually Professional members ( no question about that!) Their error in the roster listing was caught because they are somewhat high profile. So how many other members out there are incorrectly listed? Normally this wouldn't matter that much, but with an election that is actually contested, this is a serious problem. Any thoughts on how to deal with this? And in the short time we have before ballots are printed & mailed?
Deb E

I Guess I'm an Old Timer ...snicker

I became a member of DWAA in 1985 as a professional member. I guss that makes me an old timer although I certainly don't feel like one! snicker.... By the way, You'll find out those snickers are one of my trade marks; I have a tendency to laugh and snicker at lots of things - sometimes appropriately and sometimes not! More than one person has tried to cure me of this sometimes bad habit but I'd rather snicker and laugh than cry - so I snicker.

I have always wanted to write and even in school as a kid, I liked to write stories. However in college a creative writing teacher told me I couldn't write and to stop trying. Now looking back and reading some of my work I have to admit I wasn't very good. However, he could have tried to teach me rather than condemning my efforts.

I stopped writing for ten years but then couldn't restrain myself; I just have to write. So I began corresponding with other dog owners, dog trainers, and people who participated in some of the same dog sports that I was working in at the time. My first work was published in FRONT & FINISH, then a now defunct magazine called BREED & SHOW, then now DWAA member Kim Thornton took a risk on me and I wrote a column for DOG FANCY called "Living With Dogs". That column ran for fifteen years - a long time for a monthly column - and it garnered many awards, including quite a few from DWAA.

Now, 20 some years later, I stopped counting published magazine work after 1000 had been published - magazine essays, columns, and features - I've been published in all of the major pet publications as well as SATURDAY EVENING POST, NEWSWEEK, and more. I am working on my 61st book, to be published in April 2009.

I still love to write and do so just about every day. I also enjoy dogs. I share my life with three Australian Shepherds: Riker, 9 years young; Bashir, 4 years old; and Archer, our 11 month old puppy. I enjoy this breed because they keep my active physically and mentally, and they challenge me every day. They are funny, way too smart, and gorgeous.

I hope these blogs will be a place where people can share information about themselves, about DWAA, and their goals for both DWAA and their writing about dogs. As someone we all know says, "It's all good!"

Liz Palika

Liz Palika LLC
www.lizpalika.com
www.kindredspiritsk9.com
Tags: dog writing, dwaa, liz palika

What DWAA means to me, Part 2

Susan here. I've been a DWAA member for 10 years.

I'm not sure if Janine Adams is still a DWAA member, but she's the person who urged me to join. I was *so* intimidated at the prospect, and even more so when I joined. Heck, the first time I saw Mordecai Siegel, I didn't even have the nerve to go up and introduce myself. Since then, I've lost some of my shyness and not only introduced myself to Morty but have also confided in him about my earlier timidity. When I did that, he was very kind and did not laugh at me any more than I laughed at myself.

All kidding aside, though, being a DWAA member has meant the world to me. Writing is a pretty solitary profession, so having fellow dog writers to hob-nob with -- even if that hobnobbing occurs mostly online -- creates a nice break in that solitude. I've met so many wonderful people through DWAA: people like Deb, Liz, Phyllis, and Elaine. Then there's my 'big brother' Steve Dale (hey Bro!); Kim Thornton (best person in the world to watch a Harry Potter movie with); Eve (you still haven't told me where you get your boots); Chris (I look up to you in more ways than one); Su (a great person to sweat out getting an airport shuttle with) and a whole bunch of other people to whom I apologize now for not having mentioned them by name.

People in this organization are so generous. When I've needed to incorporate their expertise into books and articles I write, they've been there. When I've needed market advice, they've given it. When I needed help negotiating my first book contract, they stepped up. For that matter, I wouldn't have even gotten my first book contract if I hadn't been a DWAA member. I've tried to follow their example, and share any knowledge and/or wisdom that I've accummulated with those who've asked for my help.

But in the 10 years I've been a member, there's never been a real election -- at least not that I can remember. That's fine when things are just humming along. But this year, as we all know, things have not been merely humming along. There's been controversy. There's been anger. There's been disappointment. At times, things have gotten pretty ugly.

I want to help change that. I want to help DWAA become an open, transparent organization that appreciates, accommodates and utilizes that talents of all its members. That includes not only the writers who focus on conformation (and I am proud to write for the AKC Gazette, among other outlets) but also those who concentrate on performance, on training and behavior, on health and on the joys of simply living with dogs. I want DWAA to mean as much to others as it has meant to me. If you all want me to, I'm ready to do my part to make that happen -- starting with offering you a choice in this election.

Susan

What DWAA means to me

I was excited to join DWAA – joining the ranks of well known and respected dog writers like Carol Lea Benjamin – one of my dog training/writing heroines. I saw membership as a chance to bask in the reflected glory of outstanding writers, hopefully improve my own writing and get to meet and network with some of these writers.

Through DWAA I have gained resources on virtually every area of dogdom, made wonderful friends, gained co-authors and even gotten interviewed on various radio programs. I have been exposed to beautiful artwork, know some outstanding photographers and have heard many funny stories. DWAA can open doors and help you succeed in your writing goals.

I still consider it an honor to belong to DWAA but I think the organization needs to move forward into the new century. DWAA can no longer be an organization run by a few and kept somewhat insular. It needs some new ideas, some new enthusiasm and better use of the member talents. At the same time, DWAA needs to offer members very clear benefits.

As an organization of writers, as well as dog lovers, we need to offer open leadership, open debate on issues and access to Board members and Board actions. Members need and deserve to know about the decisions that the Board makes every month on their behalf.

At this time in my life I am quite comfortable with who I am and where I am. I don’t “need” to be president of DWAA. However, I think that right now, DWAA needs me and others like me who wish to open the organization up to the potential it has and truly make it a professional organization for ALL dog writers.

On a lighter note, I laugh when people talk about the quiet of the countryside. At 7 am today the cacophony from the thousands of Canadian geese in our neighbor's cornfield was almost deafening. Then came a low, thrumming, long note - the male donkey down the street calling to our girls. Wonderful, full of life noises - but definitely not quiet!

Deb E

Blogging & welcome

OK, this is Deb Eldredge, DVM. I feel like Robert Redfern in Doonesbury as I make my attempt at blogging. This could be fun!

Today (as of noon) I have driven 150 miles, cleaned 3 stalls, fed 40 animals and managed to hit our local tracking test, soccer practice & marching band practice. Never a dull moment! If this works, I will be back later to blog about DWAA, what it means to mean & thoughts of the future. It is a stunning fall day here in upstate NY - about 50 degrees, incredibly bright blue sky with gorgeous fall colors & I am off to the senior recognition ceremony at the football game!

Deb E

Hello and welcome

Dear DWAA members:

Welcome to "The Write Voices", the new blog of Debra Eldredge, Susan McCullough and Liz Palika, and supporters of Deb's, Susan's and Liz's campaigns to run for DWAA officer slots by petition. As you all know, Deb is running for president, Susan for VP, Liz for secretary, and Eve for Board member, Class of 2012.

On this blog, we'll share with you our visions for DWAA -- what we'd like the organization to become and new directions we'd like to take it. This blog is, frankly, the first such direction. We realize that DWAA members have a right to an organization with transparency. This blog will give you a chance to see what we're about and what we stand for, and for you to share your concerns with us. And if we're elected, we'll continue the blog, so that you can continue to know what we're doing and to keep us informed about what matters to you and how you'd like us to represent you.

And please do participate in this blog. We want to hear your voices, too! But please understand that we expect all comments to be courteous and respectful. We reserve the right to delete comments that don't meet that standard.

Thanks for taking the time to visit us. We'll be posting more very soon.

Cheers, Deb, Susan and Liz