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Multi-Venue Judge On AKC Judging "Conflict Policy"
It is indeed a very sad day when
the AKC dictates where its judges may contribute to the sport of
dogs. Unfortunately the 800 lb gorilla has muscled in and will
continue to micro manage everyone's affairs. They have very
carefully couched this edict to avoid any legal repercussions by
stating that should you decide to judge in other venues you will not
be allowed to judge for the AKC. No one has the right to tell me
where I choose to offer my services or where I am able to advance my
education or register my dogs.
This being the case, all dual venue judges will most definitely have
decisions to make. I will also interject my concern here that with
this policy already passed has AKC BOD approval, the policy is in
place and most likely will not rescind it, per AKC BOD history.
Given this policy's existence, the door is now open for AKC to
dictate your rights to cross register your dogs. Be assured that the
NON Cross Registration policy has already been upheld in Federal
District Court and AKC can indeed institute the same policy in their
registry.
Many of you as registrants of other venues, who may see this new
conflict of interest policy as having no affect on you, are sadly
mistaken. Many of you may not care or have any dog in the fight so
to speak, however you all need to voice your objections where ever
you can and also support the people who are directly affected by
this outrageous policy.
Many of the dual judges have one or 2 AKC Groups and are Best in
Show judges. These people have invested many thousands of dollars of
their own money and countless hours of time. The economics of their
personal situations may dictate giving up other venue judgeships.
This decision
has nothing to do with any feeling that AKC is better than any
other venue, but has more to do with sound business decisions.
Many up and coming AKC/dual judges, while having invested thousands
of dollars and countless hours of time, do have the same economic
considerations to weigh and do reside further down the food chain of
AKC judge seniority. I will relate my personal position as merely an
example. I am a fully vested UKC conformation judge as well as a UKC
earth working judge. I have only 2 regular AKC breeds and am well
into the process of obtaining 2 more provisional breeds.
The reality of my situation/decision is to me is a no" brainer", as
I shall illustrate. The AKC rule of thumb is that it takes
$20-30,000 and a good 10 years of time to hopefully be allowed to
judge an entire Group. I am 58 years old, if this is true by the
time I'm 68 and have a Group, I will still be virtually unemployable
as an AKC judge.
You see the long and short of AKC Kennel Club hiring of judges is
that most hold clusters not individual shows. In order for these
clubs to break even they must employ judges who can judge MULTIPLE
Groups, thus get the most bang for the money spent. In addition as I
move up the "ranks", I cannot solicit assignments either as a
provisional or as a regular judge. So I must wait until a club
invites me to judge. As a result of this system it may take anywhere
from 1-3 years or more for me to have the required 5 provisional
assignments and then I may not draw either an entry or enough of
an entry for my evaluation to count. I have made my decision to
reject my AKC judgeship if (and I do believe it will) the policy
stands. All the education in the world is useless unless a judge is
allowed to practice the art. I do not intend to reject the support
and kindness shown to me in other venues, by exhibitors as well as
hosting clubs.
I encourage all judges to unite in protest, even if you are not an
AKC judge. The repercussions of a policy such as this infringes on
all of your rights to pursue your personal aspirations. If AKC can
institute this policy then so can any other venue (mind you most
will not). Now is the time to protest not when it eventually may
affect you, as frankly it does now. You will loose a number of
quality judges.
All judges, regardless of the venue, should join the SCJC (Senior
Conformation Judges Assoc.) and send letters of protest to SCJA@cox.net
<mailto:SCJA@cox.net
Let this organization know your feelings and help them to fight this
horrid policy. The SCJA does care what all of you think, is
mounting a fight and does accept all venue judges into their
membership and allow them to attend/participate in all educational
seminars.
By all means send your protest to UKC, let them know you will
support them in this fight; send your protest to any and all other
organizations whose dogs are also already in the fight! Please do
not sit idly by and think only of how this may impact you. Think how
it is affecting the future of the sport of dogs and trust that this
AKC policy DOES affect you now.
Pam Simmons,
ppsimm@earthlink.net
AKC, UKC, ASCA, ARBA, Judge
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