March 2008 - Across The Board AKC Chairman's Report

INSIDER SUBSCRIPTION

Unaligned News For The Dog Show Fancy

March 2008 - AKC has long recognized excellence in the sport of purebred dogs through various awards dedicated to members of the fancy. Parent clubs have special awards that represent the pinnacle of achievement in their breeds. Dog writers too have their day in the sun, to receive recognition for the hard work they put into crafting articles and penning works of prose that keep the fancy at the top of the learning curve and up-to-date on the most important news.

I am pleased to share with you the recent news that for the second consecutive year, AKC Family Dog received top honors winning the "Best All-Breed Magazine" award from the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) at their awards banquet last month. Not to be outdone by her younger sister publication, the AKC Gazette also won six awards, the most given to any nominee in the All-Breed magazine category. With two more awards won at the Alliance of Purebred Dog Writers (APDW) awards luncheon, AKC Publications took home a total of eight awards from the DWAA banquet and two awards from the APDW award luncheon.

I am proud of the continuing excellence demonstrated by our AKC Publications staff. It wouldn't have been possible without the support and influence of the great August Belmont, Jr., who as AKC president in 1889, established the AKC Gazette and even underwrote the costs for the magazine in its first uncertain years. Today, the AKC Gazette is the oldest continually published purebred dog magazine in the United States.

The staff of AKC Family Dog has taken pride in our AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) with a special section called the "ACE Files", authored by our own Bud Boccone. His dedication to the "ACE Files" and affection for the AKC ACE winners did not go unnoticed and DWAA selected his column for the "Best Column/Series" category.

While no single award can entirely encapsulate the significance of the canine-human bond, the AKC ACE comes close to the task. This award is reserved for the true heroes of the canine world, honoring dogs in five categories: Law Enforcement, Service, Therapy, Search and Rescue, and Companion. It is an honor for the dog that is deemed worthy of an AKC ACE nomination and great achievement for the dog that is given the medallion in each category. Each year we add the names of the five honorees to the AKC ACE plaque on our "Wall of Fame" in the AKC library at the New York office. The winners receive an engraved sterling silver collar medallion and an all expenses paid trip to our show, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December. Honorable Mentions and bronze collar medallions are awarded to select standout entries in each category.

It is truly an honor for our dogs to receive recognition for all the love and devotion that they share with us. Please take the time to nominate that special dog in your or someone else's life for one of our most heartfelt awards.

Sincerely,

Ron Menaker

Chairman