| AKCommunicates! December 2012 |
| In this issue: |
News from AKC President, Dennis Sprung
Club PR Tips & Tools |
| Pitching Club's Response to a Natural Disaster |
| AKC Programs & Exhibitor News |
2012 National Owner-Handler Series Top Dog Rankings Now Available on AKC Website
New Championship Event and Two Titles Enhance AKC Pointing Breed Field Trial Program |
Social Media Corner
AKC Syndicate |
Quick Tip
Breed of the Month
AKC News |
Public Education
Kudos To...
Website / Social Media Spotlight |
| News from AKC President, Dennis Sprung |
Thank you to the fanciers and AKC clubs that reached out to us last month with good wishes and offers of help after Hurricane Sandy. I'm pleased to report that the AKC, AKC CAR and the AKC Humane Fund have been able to help many pet owners affected by the super storm.
The AKC Humane Fund created the "Sandy Fund" with $20,000 in seed money from the Westminster Kennel Club and the Humane Fund.
Read more here. |
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| Club PR Tips & Tools |
| Pitching Club’s Response to a Natural Disaster |
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we're reminded that it's always important to be prepared with an emergency plan for your dog.
As a local resource for all things canine, your club can help alert the community about the importance of preparing for disaster and the need to help any canine victims by pitching the media.
What You Can Do:
- Write a pitch letter about the importance of including the family pet in disaster planning and why an evacuation kit just for your pet is important.
- Offer a club spokesperson and press kits to the media. Press kits should include: fact sheets about AKC, your club's history, AKC CAR, event press releases, disaster planning check list and your spokesperson's biography.
- Templates for press releases, media alerts, letters and evacuation checklists are available for club use here.
For more about pitching the media, read through Spreading the Word: PR Tips & Tools. |
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| AKC Programs & Exhibitor News |
| 2012 National Owner-Handler Series Top Dog Rankings Now Available on AKC Website |
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) has released the 2012 top dog rankings for the inaugural year of the AKC National Owner-Handler Series (NOHS). Owner-handlers can search for their dog's ranking on the AKC website. Rankings are compiled based on the AKC National Owner-Handler Series Point Schedule for Best of Breed, Group and Best in Show placements.
Read more. |
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| New Championship Event and Two Titles Enhance AKC Pointing Breed Field Trial Program |
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is expanding its Pointing Breed Field Trial program with several new offerings: the AKC Walking Gun Dog Championship and two new titles, Grand Field Champion and Grand Amateur Field Champion.
Read more. |
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| Social Media Corner |
Are you looking for new ways to promote your club's upcoming event? Why not try social media? The AKC uses Facebook, Twitter and blogging heavily to promote AKC Meet the Breeds® in New York City each October. See what we’ve done with “Tweet the Breeds,” “Meet Me,” the MTB Blog and more. Maybe these tactics could work for your club!
Click here for a social media example. |
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| AKC Syndicate |
The AKC Syndicate provides free editorial content about all things dog for editors everywhere. If you serve as your club's newsletter editor or webmaster, the Syndicate may be a useful resource for you.
You can access it online here. The username is akcnews and the password is editor. Here are this month's additions to the Syndicate: |
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| Quick Tip: |
Training for Tricks:
American Kennel Club Offers Tips on Teaching Your Dog to Shake Hands |
Training is a bonding experience for you and your dog, and what's more fun than bonding over tricks? Teaching your dog how to do various tricks is easier than you might think — it just takes patience, repetition, and treats. The American Kennel Club's (AKC®) Meet the Breeds® offers dog lovers the opportunity to learn about training from the experts, including the following tips on teaching your dog to shake hands.
Read more here. |
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| Breed of the Month |
| AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: English Toy Spaniel |
The English Toy Spaniel is a small, square-bodied dog with a coat that flows like a royal cloak and a merry and affectionate personality. This breed is divided into four varieties based on color: Blenheim (rich mahogany red and white); ruby (rich mahogany red); Prince Charles (white with black and tan markings); and King Charles (black and tan).
Read more here. |
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| AKC News |
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| Public Education |
| Becoming a Canine Ambassador |
Canine Ambassadors contribute to their clubs' public education efforts by making presentations usually to groups of children in classrooms or other venues. Often Ambassadors bring their AKC-registered, PAL/ILP or AKC Canine Partner dog to the presentation.
If you're interested in becoming a Canine Ambassador, you can download a sign-up form.
Fill it out, have a club officer sign it, then return it. Canine Ambassadors must be members in good standing of an AKC-affiliated club. As a Canine Ambassador, you represent your club; you are not a direct representative of the AKC. |
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| Kudos To... |
Kudos to the following clubs for promoting AKC events, activities and opportunities across the country. Recognizing and utilizing your members' particular expertise and capabilities to put your own “spin” on AKC's message points helps them go even further.
Kudos to...
Cape May County Dog Obedience Training Club (CMCDOTC) for presenting a check for $2955 to the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. The amount represents one-half of the proceeds of the 2012 Mutt Strut held on the Cape May Promenade in September.
The $2955 donation is earmarked toward the purchase of canine protective vests. None of the county’s K-9s are currently protected. With a cost per vest of approximately $2000, this is a start on an important project.
Read more here.
Has your club gone above and beyond in the community? Let us know at communications@akc.org and you could receive a Kudos! |
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| Website / Social Media Spotlight |
This month, we’re spotlighting the Newfoundland Club of America’s web and social media efforts.
Let’s hear directly from Marylou Zimmerman, Technical Resources/Web Design Team for the club:
“I work on web design and social media for the Newfoundland Club of America — Newf lovers everywhere have embraced technology as a great way to stay in touch and share breed information...”
Read more here.
We're featuring clubs that have outstanding social media pages. Does your club have a fabulous Facebook page? Do you tweet regularly? Can prospective club members check out your YouTube page? Send us a link at communications@akc.org and you could see your social media page here. |
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Thanks to all of the clubs that routinely generate positive media coverage. If your club has an idea or success story to share, please send it to: Stephanie Smith, Club Communications Manager, American Kennel Club, 4th Floor, 260 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or send us your brag in an e-mail to communications@akc.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
The AKC Communications Team |
