ECSCA Meet the Breed Booth, December 1-2, 2007
2007 AKC Eukanuba Meet the Breed Booth Long Beach Convention Center December 1-2, 2007 By Nina Skorus-Neely Each year, the AKC Eukanuba National Championships feature booths representing all the AKC recognized breeds. The purpose of these Meet the Breed booths is to provide a breed education forum for the public attending the nationals.
This year’s theme for the English Cocker booth was an English “Cockerage” Garden. Sponsored by the ECSCA, the Southern California club designed and constructed an English cottage garden, complete with flowers, birdbath and picket fencing. Our “cottage” featured window pane photos of English Cockers in action, along with a slide show presentation “We are English Cocker Spaniels” showing the many diverse qualities of this breed. Thanks are due to the many ECSCA members and fanciers who shared their photos with me for this presentation. An illustration done by Eileen Weston last year comparing the size and outline of the English Springer, English Cocker and American Cocker was exceptionally useful in answering questions from the public (and the envy of the other Spaniel breed booths!).
We received many compliments on the overall design and the slide show presentation. We had dogs available in several colors throughout the weekend that were more than happy to greet the public, so we believe we met our objective to educate and promote the breed. To quote a few EC fanciers who were there:
“The display was very creative and really represented our breed well. I think it was one of the best displays at the show.”
Dave Kaubisch
“…We didn’t win any ribbons but we caught everyone’s eye.”
Deb Deane
“The booth was wonderful and during the time that I was up there many, many people were coming by and saying that they were disappointed that we did not get a ribbon.”
Nancy Murphy
Those who staffed the booth thoroughly enjoyed meeting current, former and potential owners and/or judges of the breed. We just couldn’t compete with booths that had live quail and replicas of stone balustrade gardens with children in authentic period costumes, so unfortunately, we did not bring home any group placements in booth judging.
I would like to express my personal thanks to the many volunteers who assisted with booth construction during a full day work party at the Neely’s in Canyon Country: Doug & Sally Rosenthal, Deb Deane, Kim Estlund, Celine Butler, Marilee and Alexa Skorus-Neely. Special thanks to Curt Neely for the scrap wood and carpentry work before and after our work party.
I would also like to thank these fanciers for taking time from their weekend to staff the booth: Dr. Bruce Barrett, Wendy Aldrich, Jan Fleming, Sharon Hartshorn, Anna Skomp, Nancy Murphy, Sally, Curt, Alexa, Deb O’Crowley. Thanks also, to Celine, for the beautiful display of live flower in the booth (which are, hopefully, gracing her garden this spring). Finally, special thanks go to Sally, Wendy, Celine, Bruce (and his friend Chris), Rachel Romano Kelly, Ania Kelly, Brian O’Crowley, Dave Kaubisch and his friend Mike, Curt and Alexa who spent so much time on booth setup and/or tear down.
Our English Cockerage Garden will remain in storage until next year’s exhibit in Long Beach. We’ll look forward to expanded involvement from the out-of-town exhibitors in 2008.
 Visitors greet Wizard in the English Cockerage Garden. |
 Dr. Bruce Barrett enjoys a garden respite from visitors, near the cookie bird bath. |
 Curt Neely & Dr. Bruce Barrett visit with Wizard |
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 Southern California Fanciers work hard to make the booth a reality (Left to Right: Kim Estlund, Alexa Skorus-Neely, Doug Rosenthal, Celine Butler) |
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