Wenatchee Kennel Club Approaching 50 Years?
By Willard Fields, November 11, 2010
I believe the Wenatchee Kennel Club, Inc. (WKC) is approaching its 50 year anniversary in 2011. The earliest written information I have seen is the WKC held its first American Kennel Club (AKC) licensed show on September 15, 1963 at the Apple Bowl. Back then, AKC required holding 1 or 2 sanctioned matches before a club could hold a sanctioned show for points; therefore the club had to be in existence for one, two or more years before 1963. Also, the WKC has an embosser with the words "Wenatchee Kennel Club, Inc. Corporate Seal 1961 Washington", which indicates the WKC was initially incorporated in 1961.
The WKC held its first AKC sanctioned Tracking Test (TD) in 1991. Thanks to Suzanne Metcalf for organizing and getting the WKC started in holding tracking tests. There were 1 or 2 years of Tracking Tests (Badger Mtn.) before 1991 as required by AKC before the WKC could hold a test that dogs could earn a title. Then in 1993 AKC allowed the WKC to have both TD & TDX tracks at the test. Since 1991 all of the tracking tests have been held in the Palisades. The Test Chairman and/or Secretary have been LeAnn Traylor, Rita Keller, Shari Shepherd, Barb Steward, Robin Rosay, Eileen Pearl, and Maggy Susman. The average pass rate for TD has been 64% where the national average is around 55%. The pass rate for TDX has been 10% where the national average is around 17%.
WKC had its first AKC sanctioned Agility Trials in April 2003 at Moses Lake that was chaired by Marilyn Gearhart. There was previously an AKC sanctioned Plan "A" Event in October 2000 chaired by Eileen Pearl and the Show Secretary was Marilyn Gearhart. The WKC and EMLKC have shared weekends in Moses Lake in the spring and in Wenatchee (Confluence Park) in October through 2010. The trial chairmen have been Eileen Pearl, Marilyn Gearhart, and Mary Bean.
The earliest membership list I have is 1966 with Dr. Robert Brabrook, Peggy Capple, Dr. Harvey Cooper, Harold Davis, Ginny Ray Foster, Mrs. Harley Hallauer, Dr. & Mrs. Frank Herr, Mr. & Mrs. James Jaquish, Grace Lenz, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Mackey, Wanda Martin, Mrs. Bruce Mitchell, Thomas Morris Jr., Ann Oberg, Russell O'Keefe, Carol O'Keefe, W.J. O'Neil, Mr. & Mrs Paul Phillips, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Putnam, Mr. & Mrs. Harold Sehorn, Mrs. Owen Watson, Bette Wilder. I know that Gwyneth Mitchell had a strong presence in forming the WKC. Gwyneth & her husband also donated land and helped start up the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society also in the 1960's. The members that have been with the club the longest have been Pat & Ed Putman around 1966 and Pat & Ollie Click around 1968. Past presidents of the club have included Richard Peterson, Aage Anderson, Alyce Sehorn, Dick Woods, Ralph Mackey, Ollie Click, Jack Snyder, Pat Putman, Willard Fields, Eileen Pearl, Ann Jensen, Gerald Travis, Glen McKee, Sandy McKee, Walt Gearhart, and Chuck St John. Some interesting club meeting notes: 1967 - did obedience classes, AKC sanctioned match, & rummage sale; 1968 - Club troubles were not responsibility of this board, let incoming board inherit the problems; 1969 - explore becoming a AKC member, there was a scrapbook, club jackets purchased, 5 breed & 2 obedience rings, admission $1 adults, $.50 students; 1970 - Ed Putnam started "Woofs & Wags", started PO Box 805; 1971 - city stopped allowing parking on grass for dog show; 1975 – No reserved Show parking and supervised by police due to problems in past years; 1977 - no WKC member can show their dogs at WKC show, dog exhibition at Wenatchee Valley Mall; 1981 - Eileen Pearl started PawPrint; 1984 - WKC donated $1,500 to Grant County Fairgrounds for electrical hookups (EMLKC also donated); 1985 - purchased second equipment trailer; WKC raised $8,916 for Humane Society from Dog Show people due to the big Chelan County fire; 2003 - started dog training classes at 966 Valley Mall Parkway building.
I will have a more detailed document at the January 2011 Annual Dinner.