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1995 SALUKI WORLD CONGRESS REPORT (Page 1)
The panel Marian Alexander George Bell Darrell Black Vickey Clarke Ute Lennantz Hope Waters Major Herb Wells Moderator Bo Bengston
IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. For over fifteen years I had wondered about a Saluki World Congress, ever since my friend from Sweden. Ingrid Ademan told me of the then upcoming World Congress for Borzoi in her country.
LATER I HAD CAUSE to talk about this project for Salukis with Dr Richard Meen [Kishniga Borzoi] and Sandra Frei [Stormhill Afghans]. Dick having attended the first four Borzoi Congresses and now leading plans for the breed's fifth such meeting. Sandy. having attended the first meeting for her breed in London in 1990 and was instrumental, with her husband Dave [general chair], for the second congress held recently in San Diego, California. (Note, to see Afghan 95 congress report click here)
BOTH DICK AND SANDY stressed that these congregations were for conversations among people and countries. Not particular clubs with private aims to control, Sometimes an agenda is set: sometimes not. Being a Committee of one at the onset, I asked a "DREAM TEAM" of persons with longtime experience in all aspects of the Saluki - meaning: breeding, showing, coursing and three in obedience. These persons, for whom I have the utmost respect for their incomparable integrity, intelligence, intensity, love and loyalty for the Saluki were: Marian Alexander [Shamsir]: George Bell [Bel S'mbran]: Darrell Black DVM [Sundown]: Vicky Clarke [Phenix]: Ute Lennartz [mata salamata's]: Hope Waters [Burydown]: and Major Herb Wells [Tallahamra]. The moderator to be invited was Bo Bengston [Bohem Whippets] the Publisher and Editor of Sighthound Review.
MIRACULOUSLY THEY ALL accepted on the one day I set out to make the calls! Next came the most difficult project: formulating questions to be asked of the panel, as they were told they had nothing to prepare. This would seem to be a very simple task when you hear/read them, but it took the most time and anguish because they were not given to the panel beforehand. So they could be neither too obscure, nor too elementary. This was the crux, to evoke spontaneity from each participant.
ONCE ESTABLISHED I FELT "home free" and people remarked that I seemed calm with such a big project ahead of me on that day. However. after tho)se questions had been sent to Bo. I had no doubt that it would be thought provoking and entertaining to hear the panel's replys. I looked forward to it with the greatest of glee, and I sat on the edge of my chair for the entire two hours as my friends opened their minds and conversed with each other in a most intimate manner.
THE CONGRESS WAS scheduled to be only one hour and it went on without loss of energy for two hours. With the skillful and knowledgeable guidance of the moderator, these well established and equally knowledgeable Saluki breeders gave their utmost. Sometimes in sombre reflection, sometimes with humour, sometimes in query, but always with an upbeat expression and gleam as they interchanged gut feelings and beliefs about the past, present and future of our breed.
AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENT - The First Saluki World Congress. July 31 1995, Santa Barbara. Hosted by the American Sa uki Association, a club dedicated to the fulfilment of the many faceted potentials of the Saluki. Thank you to the panelists who shared their expertise: to the moderator who provided input from his extended background in sighthounds here and abroad: to the ASA for the use of their tent: and to those that attended, giving a "WELL DONE" ' score to these folks.
CURRENTLY KAREN BLACK and I are composing a World Congress Study Group of interested Saluki fanciers "AROUND THE WORLD". This intent is to bring together a nucleus of ideas. suggestions, topics, suitable formats, etc that will ensure that the meaning of "congress" stays in the forefront of all endeavours.
THANKS TO KEN ALLAN. . Saluki International, for an edited
transcription of this Congress. Further transcriptions will be available
from me [courtesy of Ken]:and a video of the Santa Barbara meeting is
available from George Bell.
---- Sally Bell
Copyright(c) 1995 Saluki International