I have known Rae for many years and so have been involved very much on the sidelines with Large Munsterlander Rescue for some years and have been impressed as dogs have come in, been assessed and matched up with new homes. Not once though have I really given a serious thought to the fund raising side of things.
What Would We Do Without Them? - From Friend of Rescue, Linda Marshall
We are all aware of items sold in aid of LMR, including the F.O.R.U.M. In the F.O.R.U.M., amongst the Committee Members, there is the name of a lady called Pat Esson who is the Fund Raising Secretary. This weekend I was invited to attend and judge one of the dog shows that Pat organises in the Dover area for L.M.R. along with Rae Massey and Jean Stone.
We arrived on the Saturday night and visited Pat at her home where amongst her canine family we also found her husband Brian. All around her house are trophies, entry forms, rosettes and other prizes all connected to the shows which she runs on a very regular basis for our Rescue and other organisations. After introductions, catching up, coffee and gossip, we felt very happy and asked what time we started on the Sunday morning. Well, the answer for Pat and Brian was 6.a.m.! Didn't know there was such a time on a Sunday morning, and oh dear what a shame the hotel didn't start serving breakfast until 7.15a.m, so we agreed to join them as soon as we could the next morning.
We arrived at the venue of the show at about quarter past eight. The day was going to be warm, but the show didn't start till 10 a.m. so plenty of time to drink a cup of coffee and sit chatting NOT! From the moment of our arrival we were put to work by Pat, who instructed us like (and I am sure she won't mind the comparison) a Queen Bee and we buzzed around like dutiful drones. How difficult can setting up be? No problem! And there were no problems because Brian, sporting his "GOPHER" rosette and Pat presiding over all, had everything down to a fine art. People began arriving, shades went up for dogs, bowls of water everywhere, entry forms collated, gazebo for the PA system, tables for the judges, items for selling set out, only a few of the things we tried to help with and that was all before it had even started!
Most impressive were the rosettes and trophies. No wonder people return show after show and the whole atmosphere is that of a large extended family having a day out together! We three drones completed our setting up and completed our judging. Because of the drive home we left at around 3p.m. with a full afternoon of classes still to go and Pat and Brian were still there going strong and still taking entries!
So what if we did have a long drive. It could never start to compare with the amount of time, effort and energy given by Pat and Brian to these dog shows. They alone raise more money for L.M.R. than everything else put together. Without them, LMR would suffer financially and they do it for no thanks and no reward. Personally, I think they should get a medal, rosette and trophy for that one show, let along all the others throughout the year. A HUGE thank you from everyone, people and dogs to this very special couple who work so hard for all connected with L.M.R., I honestly don't think it would manage without youl
Our journey home was long and slow thanks to all the caravans on the road and I must confess to a moan or two about it, especially as I was driving. But bump back to the real world when we arrived, when at I think about 9p.m we got a call from Pat who had just got home. Fifteen hours later and she still had to unload the van and put everything away for next time.
This article appeared in the Autumn 2004 edition of F.O.R.U.M.
