The Kentuckiana Bulldog Club was founded in 1948, with its
first meeting on Tuesday, April 6, 1948.
There
were 18 Charter members who organized the club. Members listed on the roll call
for these meetings during 1948 and 1949 are:
Ed and
Katherine Berry, Richard and Catherine Borie, Mr. and Mrs. Cilbrish,
Mr. Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Crowe, Mr. and Mrs. Croniams,
Mrs. DeRalph, Mrs. Drickman,
Mr. Koop, Mrs. Phelps, Fred and Elizabeth Winterkorn,
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Mulligan, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Cootes and Dr. Collings.
The club
was organized by Bulldog owners from southern Indiana
and northern Kentucky who lived in the area of
Louisville, Kentucky.
Charter
member, Catherine Borie, suggested the Club be called
the Kentuckiana Bulldog Club and this name was
adopted.
The
club's Constitution states that “the Club is established with the view to
promote the breeding of pure-bred English Bulldogs; to define precisely a
definition of true type, and to urge the adoption of such by breeders, judges,
dog show committees, as the only recognized and unvarying standard by which
Bulldogs ought to be judged, which may in the future be uniformly accepted as a
sole standard of excellence in breeding and awarding prizes of merit; and by
giving prizes, supporting shows, and taking steps to do all in its power to
protect and advance the interests of the breed.”
Charter
members and others were very active in breeding and showing the Bulldog and in
establishing the specialty show and puppy match during the 1950s-1960s and
1970s.
The
membership became less active during the 1980s and early 1990s, and activities
of the club declined. At one time in the1980s, only five members were active
enough to conduct a very successful Specialty show.
In the
mid-1990s, the membership began to grow again, and the club boasts one of the
largest and most active memberships in its history.
Billy and
Barbara Glenn and Phyllis Huff have been members of the club for 30 years.
Officers
of the club include president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The
officers serve two-year terms and can succeed themselves. The president and
treasurer are elected in even-numbered years. The vice-president and secretary
are elected in odd-numbered years.
The club
is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of the immediate past president
and the current officers. The past president serves as Chairman of the Board. A
quorum of three members of the Board of Directors is needed to conduct official
business.
Membership
dues are $15 the first year and $10 each subsequent year. Trophy donations of
$5 are expected from members.
The Kentuckiana Bulldog Club is known for its tradition of
great hospitality, friendliness of its members and dignified manner in which
activities are conducted. The charter members believed in and respected the
independent thoughts of the individual members and kept their major emphasis on
the benefit of the Bulldog.
The
tradition of meeting in members’ homes began with the first official
meeting of the club in 1948, and has continued whenever possible. These
meetings are balanced with public facility meetings which are handicapped
accessible.
The Club
began donating engraved mint julep cups for the top seven winners at specialty
shows. This tradition was repeated at the KBC's 50th
Anniversary Specialty in 1998. Engraved mint julep cups also are given each
year as gifts to the Puppy match, Sweepstakes, and Specialty show judges.
An
engraved traveling trophy was created by John and Helen Bushemeyer
to recognize members of the KBC who finished champions. The trophy is presented
to the member and the details of the championship are engraved on a plate at
the base of the trophy. The trophy is kept and maintained by the member until
another member finishes a champion.
The Bushemeyers also established a
legal fund of $500 to be used by any member needing legal assistance.
The KBC
conducts a Puppy match, a Sweepstakes, and a Specialty show in March of each
year. For many years the club has one of the largest of entries in the area and
normally draws a 4-point or 5-point major. A banquet and an auction is conducted following the specialty show as an annual
fund-raising project.
