The Building of Lifetime Achievement – It starts with a commitment to the cause of the Chesapeake Bay Dog and the ACC for 45 years. It continues with participation as RD in New Jersey, then RD Chair for the East. Then Mrs. Humer was on multiple National Specialty Show Committees. She was the Show Chairman, Trophy Chair, Obedience and Rally Chair, and Catalog Ads Chair for National Specialty Shows. She was later Chairman of the Show Committee. She was on the Board of Directors as Vice President. She was AKC Delegate from 1997-2006 and then was JBEC Chair for the ACC. She presently is Judge’s education Coordinator to the AKC and liaison to the JBEC. She has been a major contributor to one book on Chesapeakes and co-author of another, and author of numerous individual articles on Chesapeakes. Betsy has been a member and officer of 3 different all breed clubs. She has bred and raised and titled dogs in conformation, obedience, rally, agility, tracking and hunt tests. Betsy is a distinguished judge in Conformation, doing the Herding and Sporting Groups, as well as Obedience, Rally, Junior Showmanship, and Best in Show. Her judging consistently rewards form that retains its original purpose and function of the breed. She carried the banner of Chesapeake knowledge and evaluation all over the United State and parts of South America and Europe. This infusion of knowledge, informed criticism and support enhanced our breed wherever she went.
The best summation of Lifetime Achievement is shown by the 25 years where Betsy chaired the Supported Entry at the prestigious, and benched, Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show. On Saturday between 15 and 20 Breed Clubs declare their supported or specialty competition. Forty to fifty Chesapeakes compete each year. Of course, these dogs have their handlers with them. In spite of declarations by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia limiting or prohibiting large tables in the aisleways, the ACC has a magnificent luncheon sprawling down the aisles with great food and drink for the Chesapeake exhibitors. Very few of the other clubs have this access but somehow Betsy secures it for the ACC. The result is the best group interaction of Chesapeake people during their 7 hours of bench confinement that we have during the entire year. As the “Achievement” goes on, Betsy annually creates interaction and fellowship that is good for us all. This may be the greatest step on the way to earning the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Submitted by James Stewart VMD (MD)
