History of the Tupelo Kennel club, inc
In January of 1991, while attending the Greater Columbus Kennel Club show in Jackson, MS, the club president, Janet McBride mentioned to two club members from the Tupelo area (Kathy Aycock and Patty Block) that we should have enough interest in the Tupelo area to form a local kennel club. In talking with other club members from the Tupelo area, it was learned that an attempt to start a kennel club was made several years previously. A core group of active exhibitors/breeders were informally polled as to interest in trying to revive a kennel club in the Tupelo area. The response was an enthusiastic, "YES". This core group consisted of Kathy Aycock, Trish Bates, Patty Block, Kathy Eaton, Joyce Enlow, Stephanie Johnson, Bob and Sally Mosier, Jerry and Sheila Nance and Larry and Pat Vickers.
In February, a subset of this group and some of their dogs met with Carolyn McCullough of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal to discuss the idea of forming a kennel club and to announce an organizational meeting for the general public. A wonderful article, complete with pictures appeared in the area newspaper on February 19, 1991. The organizational meeting was scheduled for March 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lee County Library. Notices of the meeting were mailed to nearly 100 dog owners and were placed at local veterinarian's offices.
Fifty-four people attended the first meeting. An overview of a kennel club's purposes and activities was given by Kathy Aycock.
[A dog club is a group of people with common interests. The basis of those common interests is the dog. The basic purpose of a club's existence is to responsibly promote the welfare of pure-bred dogs, to improve the knowledge of its members and to be of service to the sport and the community in general. The American Kennel Club wants all clubs to be actively engaged in promoting and protecting the sport. A club's efforts can be beneficial to the sport, to individual dog fanciers and to the community at large. A club must be a harmonious group of dog fanciers capable of working together to serve the best interest of the sport. A kennel club in our area would enable members to be aware of dog activities in our area, to pool and share knowledge, to learn ways to participate in various dog-related activities, to sponsor dog training and dog shows, to refer people to responsible, reputable breeders, to help dispel ignorance that leads to animal neglect or abuse, to serve as an information source to dog owners, to advise people on pet choices, to help dog owners with problems, to have a good time and enjoy the fellowship of people with similar interests.]
Next, individuals gave prepared statements from different perspectives about why each was interested in a local kennel club: Stephanie Johnson (Trainer), Kathy Eaton (Breeder), Patty Block (Breeder, Humane Society), Bob Mosier (Dog Show Exhibitor), Joyce Enlow (Information on Abuse/Neglect), Jerry Nance (Dog Owner) and Dr. Harry Klauser (Veterinarian).
All attendees completed information sheets and introduced themselves. Refreshments were served.
It was decided that temporary officers would be elected at the next meeting, that meetings would be held on the first Thursday of each month, that the club's temporary name would be Northeast Mississippi Kennel Club and that a notice would be sent out to all names on the original mailing list plus additional names collected that night from attendees and their suggestions of additional interested persons. Quite an exciting start!
Over the next several months, much was accomplished. Officers were elected, dues were established and members were recruited and put to work. A club logo was designed by Gary Blagg and adopted in June, 1991. Club t-shirts and caps with the logo were purchased and sold to club members. In July, the constitution and by-laws committee under the able guidance of Bob Mosier began drafting a proposed constitution and by-laws. These were adopted in October, 1991 and the club's name was subsequently shortened to the Tupelo Kennel Club. Monthly meetings were held in various places until the club voted to pay a nominal fee to schedule the Boy Scout Building for one year and we no longer were the "roving kennel club". Programs were varied and interesting, including videos on dog activities, obedience demonstrations, search and rescue demonstrations, drug dog training and demonstrations, legal aspects of dog ownership, etc. At Christmas, the club has a Christmas party with a "doggy gift exchange" and a collection of donations for the Tupelo/Lee County Animal Shelter. InJuly, 1992, the club had a family and dog picnic with an obedience class graduation at Praise Acres Farm. Tupelo Kennel Club informational brochures were prepared and distributed to area veterinarian's offices. A club newsletter was published monthly and mailed to all club members and to local veterinarian's offices for posting.
The club sponsored puppy kindergarten classes, beginning obedience classes, advanced obedience classes, conformation classes, a conformation workshop, and an obedience seminar. The club rented a building at the Tupelo Fairgrounds in which club activities were held. The club purchased training and ring equipment and a trailer for transport and storage. The club held fun matches, sanctioned matches and Canine Good Citizen Tests. The club also participated in the Christmas Parade in downtown Tupelo. The club has supported the Animal Shelter activities including a fun run, the Fun In The Park (breed and obedience demonstrations and working at booths), the Candlelight Vigil for all of the animals euthanized during the year preceding, and the Golf Tournament fund raiser. Members have always been generous with their donations for shelter needs and have served on their Board of Directors. Members have also conducted programs for the Lee County 4-H Youth organization. The club, with the assistance of its legal advisor, Mark Nickels, prepared a letter which was mailed to Congressman Benjamin Cardin, one of the co-sponsors of H. R. 3718, the "Puppy Protection Act" to express our concerns about some of the provisions of the proposed legislation. Club members rallied to donate money and many needed supplies to aid the Hurricane Andrew animal relief effort. Club members were active in pet therapy at local nursing homes and served as speakers to schools and community organizations. In 1994, the club sponsored an information and fund raising booth at the Sportsman's Bonanza, a gigantic sporting enthusiast exhibiton held in Tupelo...
In February, a subset of this group and some of their dogs met with Carolyn McCullough of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal to discuss the idea of forming a kennel club and to announce an organizational meeting for the general public. A wonderful article, complete with pictures appeared in the area newspaper on February 19, 1991. The organizational meeting was scheduled for March 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lee County Library. Notices of the meeting were mailed to nearly 100 dog owners and were placed at local veterinarian's offices.
Fifty-four people attended the first meeting. An overview of a kennel club's purposes and activities was given by Kathy Aycock.
[A dog club is a group of people with common interests. The basis of those common interests is the dog. The basic purpose of a club's existence is to responsibly promote the welfare of pure-bred dogs, to improve the knowledge of its members and to be of service to the sport and the community in general. The American Kennel Club wants all clubs to be actively engaged in promoting and protecting the sport. A club's efforts can be beneficial to the sport, to individual dog fanciers and to the community at large. A club must be a harmonious group of dog fanciers capable of working together to serve the best interest of the sport. A kennel club in our area would enable members to be aware of dog activities in our area, to pool and share knowledge, to learn ways to participate in various dog-related activities, to sponsor dog training and dog shows, to refer people to responsible, reputable breeders, to help dispel ignorance that leads to animal neglect or abuse, to serve as an information source to dog owners, to advise people on pet choices, to help dog owners with problems, to have a good time and enjoy the fellowship of people with similar interests.]
Next, individuals gave prepared statements from different perspectives about why each was interested in a local kennel club: Stephanie Johnson (Trainer), Kathy Eaton (Breeder), Patty Block (Breeder, Humane Society), Bob Mosier (Dog Show Exhibitor), Joyce Enlow (Information on Abuse/Neglect), Jerry Nance (Dog Owner) and Dr. Harry Klauser (Veterinarian).
All attendees completed information sheets and introduced themselves. Refreshments were served.
It was decided that temporary officers would be elected at the next meeting, that meetings would be held on the first Thursday of each month, that the club's temporary name would be Northeast Mississippi Kennel Club and that a notice would be sent out to all names on the original mailing list plus additional names collected that night from attendees and their suggestions of additional interested persons. Quite an exciting start!
Over the next several months, much was accomplished. Officers were elected, dues were established and members were recruited and put to work. A club logo was designed by Gary Blagg and adopted in June, 1991. Club t-shirts and caps with the logo were purchased and sold to club members. In July, the constitution and by-laws committee under the able guidance of Bob Mosier began drafting a proposed constitution and by-laws. These were adopted in October, 1991 and the club's name was subsequently shortened to the Tupelo Kennel Club. Monthly meetings were held in various places until the club voted to pay a nominal fee to schedule the Boy Scout Building for one year and we no longer were the "roving kennel club". Programs were varied and interesting, including videos on dog activities, obedience demonstrations, search and rescue demonstrations, drug dog training and demonstrations, legal aspects of dog ownership, etc. At Christmas, the club has a Christmas party with a "doggy gift exchange" and a collection of donations for the Tupelo/Lee County Animal Shelter. InJuly, 1992, the club had a family and dog picnic with an obedience class graduation at Praise Acres Farm. Tupelo Kennel Club informational brochures were prepared and distributed to area veterinarian's offices. A club newsletter was published monthly and mailed to all club members and to local veterinarian's offices for posting.
The club sponsored puppy kindergarten classes, beginning obedience classes, advanced obedience classes, conformation classes, a conformation workshop, and an obedience seminar. The club rented a building at the Tupelo Fairgrounds in which club activities were held. The club purchased training and ring equipment and a trailer for transport and storage. The club held fun matches, sanctioned matches and Canine Good Citizen Tests. The club also participated in the Christmas Parade in downtown Tupelo. The club has supported the Animal Shelter activities including a fun run, the Fun In The Park (breed and obedience demonstrations and working at booths), the Candlelight Vigil for all of the animals euthanized during the year preceding, and the Golf Tournament fund raiser. Members have always been generous with their donations for shelter needs and have served on their Board of Directors. Members have also conducted programs for the Lee County 4-H Youth organization. The club, with the assistance of its legal advisor, Mark Nickels, prepared a letter which was mailed to Congressman Benjamin Cardin, one of the co-sponsors of H. R. 3718, the "Puppy Protection Act" to express our concerns about some of the provisions of the proposed legislation. Club members rallied to donate money and many needed supplies to aid the Hurricane Andrew animal relief effort. Club members were active in pet therapy at local nursing homes and served as speakers to schools and community organizations. In 1994, the club sponsored an information and fund raising booth at the Sportsman's Bonanza, a gigantic sporting enthusiast exhibiton held in Tupelo...
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