Page 98 - ShowSight - April 2020
P. 98

                FOR THE LOVE OF CHILDREN AND MAN’S BEST FRIEND
In 1957, Danny Thomas—who was a Lebanese American— founded ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities) the organization that would help him realize his dream. ALSAC became the fund-raising arm of the future hospital.
The City of Memphis, Tennessee was chosen as the location for the project at the suggestion of Roman Catholic Cardinal Samuel Stritch, a Tennessee native who had been a spiritual advisor to Mr. Thomas ever since presiding at Mr. Thomas’s confirmation in Dan- ny’s boyhood home of Toledo, Ohio.
It should also be noted that although it was named in honor of Mr. Thomas’s patron saint, the hospital is not a Catholic hos- pital. Rather, it is a secular institution not affiliated with any religious organization.
Five years after the founding of ALSAC, Danny Thomas’s dream was realized when St. Jude opened in 1962. Since that open- ing, many discoveries at St. Jude have made possible numerous changes in the way that Doctors treat childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leu- kemia (the most common of all childhood cancers) has grown from four percent in 1962 to 94% today. Since St. Jude opened, the sur- vival rate from all childhood cancers has risen from 20% to 80%.
It is not hard to see what a wonderful tribute grew from that humble promise of a struggling young father-to-be. But I guess I need to get back to my story.
WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO?
After personally witnessing the daily miracles at St. Jude, I asked myself what could I do to help make a difference? As I thought about it, I considered my experience with the sport of dogs and wondered if that could be a source for a fund-raising event. My thoughts at the time were that our dogs are known as Man’s best friend, and I saw St. Jude as the best friend of a child in need and thought it could be a combination that might work.
Having been involved in dog shows since the early 1970s, I was curious as to why shows only held conformation and obedi- ence together when there were so many other things that could be done with our dogs. I contemplated, “If there was an event that included the many diverse aspects of competition available to dog lovers, would the public come to learn, observe and participate in our wonderful world of dogs?”
With the support and encouragement of my wife and best friend Carol, I started putting together a plan of action and possibilities.
I had started my judging career in 1985 and had founded the Mid-South judges’ group. We were one of the earlier judges’ groups in the country at the time and met monthly to learn about the vari- ous breeds presented by knowledgeable breed mentors. Our mem- bers came from West Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and South- west Kentucky. At one of our monthly get-togethers, I mentioned my idea and asked for thoughts and feedback. Many thought it was a good idea, but thought it had a very small chance to succeed. One member, Sherry Webster, thought it was a great idea and agreed to team up with Carol and me to pursue the idea further.
THE SPRING OF 1994 THE PROJECT STARTS
By the spring of 1994, Carol, Sherry and I had given the idea a great deal of thought. We considered what types of events, demon- strations, educational, and entertainment events to include (what all might be involved), and was it truly a realistic concept? At the time the AKC was still basically a Conformation, Obedience, and Field Trial club and we had this vision of so many other opportunities outside of AKC events in which dog owners could do so much more
“SINCE THAT OPENING, MANY DISCOVERIES AT ST. JUDE HAVE MADE POSSIBLE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT DOCTORS TREAT CHILDHOOD CANCER AND OTHER CATASTROPHIC DISEASES.
THE SURVIVAL RATES FOR ACUTE
LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA, THE MOST COMMON OF ALL CHILDHOOD CANCERS HAS GROWN FROM 4% IN 1962 TO 94% TODAY.”
with their dogs. So, in May of 1994, we sent out a letter to a list of possible participants in our project to gauge interest in our concept. On June 15th of that year, thirteen individuals representing sev- eral of our concept groups attended that first planning meeting. In
that meeting our agenda addressed:
• The general concept of the event
• Outline needs for individual subcommittees
• Location for the event
• Selection of a date
• Possiblecorporatesponsorship
• Introduction of Walter Sommerfelt and Sherry Webster as
Chair and Assistant Chair for the event.
• Association with ALSAC and The Ladies of St. Jude auxiliary
as St. Jude partners in the event. • Finance
• Insurance
• Publicity
• Variousexhibitions
• Special events
• Competitive events
• Demonstrations
• Major organization participants • Breedparticipation
• Concessions
• Parking
• Equipment
• Gate/Admission,Etc.
This initial meeting was met with great enthusiasm and all agreed to move forward with the plan. Everyone also agreed it would take at least one year to 18 months to put it all together, but all in attendance were committed to the project.
It was understood from day one that we were all volunteers and that no one would be compensated for their time and talents.
YOU WIN WITH PEOPLE
One of my favorite books is my wife’s autographed copy of the late Woody Hayes book, You Win With People. Hayes, the former head coach of my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes, devoted the book to the team concept of how every single member of any successful organization plays an important part in the eventual outcome of any endeavor.
What I learned most through the process of putting this event on was that Woody had it right. I needed to develop a leadership style that was open-minded—not judgmental—and appreciative of every single volunteer for it to succeed. >
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