To All Fellow Members of the CKC

If you are a Member of the CKC you probably know of the notice sent to Members that the Official Section will no longer be a publication that is mailed out to CKC members, but will only be available online, due to costs that have arisen because of changes in Canada Post mailing guidlines. This change in pulication has given the CKC, Apex Publishing, and the Members of the CKC the opportunity to rethink how this pulication is handled.

The other CKC publication, Dogs in Canada, has evolved in recent years, and now it is focused on educating the general public about Purebred Dogs, Dog Sports and the CKC in general. As Breeder and Exhibitors many Members wish that we had a CKC publication that served us, the Breeder Members.

With the changes to the Official Section as a print publication, now appears to be the best time to take these sentiments to the next level.

If Breeder Members were allowed to advertise in the Official Section, then print publication, mailing, and additional breeder-related articles could be very viable, if covered by the advertising fees. There are many other publications on the market with similar circulation that are majority or wholly supported by advertiser dollars. Recently, I have had some insight into the direction that Apex Publishing will be taking to decide the future of the Official Section.

The good news is that it sounds like neither Apex nor the CKC is going to let the Official Section fade away. I've spoken with Ann McDonagh, Publisher at Apex, and Dwain McLean, our Chair of the CKC Board of Directors, and understand that in the next few weeks Apex will be sending out a survey to members to get feedback on what direction to take for 2010. I am currently trying to find out how much input we can have into the content of that survey.

The Official Section is up for discussion for the Septemeber meeting of the Board of Directors, and a decision needs to be made for the 2010 budget for December.

What I think needs to happen is that Members who would like to see a publication with Breeder Member supporting content need to make their voices heard as a group. Also, it is very important that our message stay united and clear.

*******
My points to Ms McDonagh and Mr McLean were:

Breeder Members would like to see the Official Section expanded to include

1) articles specifically focused on our needs
2) breeder advertising
3) show/event results

And most importantly many of us are willing to pay for advertising, and even a bit more for the publication itself to see our goals met.

And we would like the opportunity to see these options appear in the upcoming survey.

********
So, please if this of interest to you please back me up and email to Dwaine McLean (mcleande@nbnet. nb.ca) and Ann McDonagh (amcdonagh@dogsincan ada.com) with CC to Joe Mauro (jmauro@ckc.ca) (President of Apex)

Thanks everyone

Emilie Flynn
HiLeigh Chihuahuas

New Puppies

Phoebe delivered 3 baby girls yesterday morning. All are white/cream like momma, and were 5.5, 4.5, and 5.2 oz at birth.

Today everyone is well, and the girls are very robust!

New Champion

Neddie (now Can CH HiLeigh Ready'RNot Here I Come) finished is Championship this weekend taking Best of Breed Friday and Saturday to finish his Championship. Yay!

Neddie is my first bred-by Champion and the first show dog I trained myself :) He is his mother Butter's 3rd Champion.

I also took Neddie and Jeep to the eye clinic. The CERF tests went well. They both cleared Normal. The are also both OFA certified Normal for patellas now too.