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by Sally Futh, Starberry Collies
MENTOR:
n. someone who teaches or gives help
or advice to a less experienced person
v. to teach or give advice or guidance
to someone less experienced
With national entries closed, our thoughts turn to what we will take home from the show. A few, now eight, exhibitors, will take home points. And a few more the big rosettes for top wins. The rest of us can take home some great memories, new friendships and, we hope, more knowledge about our wonderful breed.
DON’T miss the opportunity to go home from this year’s show with something valuable, new ideas in your head.
DO sign up for the Breed Ed Seminar and mentoring sessions. Well, Patt’s deadline for that was March 1 so I goofed. But ask her (pcaldwel@gmail.com) if you can join the group at ringside for mentoring by a group of friendly volunteers.
Or better yet, pick a name from your own personal list of people you would like to be mentored by. Write him or her a note and ask if they would be available for you to pick their brain at ringside or in the grooming area, at their convenience during the show.
I know of several people who usually show dogs that are among those I always want to see, who are coming dogless this year, so they would have the time and probably be willing. I can also think of a number of longtime breeders and judges in this area who will probably drop by the show to watch. They too could be collared for an hour or two to share their years of experience and lore.
Mentoring and being mentored is a very important part of one’s growth in the breed. The mentor needs to know what is important, and how to phrase his thoughts about the hard-to-get qualities and their relationship to the written Standard. The person being mentored needs to know what questions to ask (and that there are no foolish ones!) and be ready to absorb knowledge. An answer should be followed up by another question, further to the subject, related to it, or leading to another related train of thought. And so it goes, far into the night when we get together with knowledgeable friends who care as much as we do about the Collie. |
