Mission Statement

The primary objective of the Club, as stated in our Constitution and By-Laws, is to encourage and promote educated involvement with pure-bred Golden Retrievers and to do everything possible to bring their natural abilities and qualities to perfection.

Objectives: To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which the Golden Retriever shall be judged;

To do all in its power to protect and advance the interest of the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, field trials, and obedience trials;

To conduct, under the rules of the AKC, sanctioned matches, field trials, obedience trials, and specialty shows;

To engage in any lawful act or activity related to, or in conjunction with, any of the aforementioned purposes.

Membership Application Procedures Complete the application form and mail along with a check for the appropriate fees (see below) to the Membership Coordinator. Checks should be made payable to GRCWNY, Inc.

One-time application fee $ 10.00

Single Membership Yearly Dues $ 30.00 Family Membership Yearly Dues $ 35.00

Activity Outline

1. Regular meetings are held once a month, except in July, August, and December. After the general meeting, programs are offered, as available, on topics of interest to owners, exhibitors, and/or breeders. Often the Club invites outside speakers with expertise in the areas of health, training, rescue, or other areas pertinent to the Golden Retriever. Members may bring their dogs to meetings, but only temperamentally sound ones! It's a good socializing experience for the young pups too.

2. We showcase our Club's AKC Licensed Specialty Club status by hosting an annual Specialty Show and Obedience Trial, this year on Labor Day weekend. It is an all-day activity, drawing Golden exhibitors from far and near. We have built a sound reputation for “pulling majors,” and we are known for our hospitality and exhibitor-friendly atmosphere. We are proud that usually 100% of the specialty trophies we offer are generously donated by our members. We owe our success to the volunteer spirit of our members who contribute their time and effort to the many large and small tasks that go into planning and hosting this event.

3. The Club supports (by offering prizes) the Golden entries at certain all-breed club shows in our area throughout the year, a time-honored tradition based on our connection/proximity to other local all-breed clubs. We are also proud to support the work of Golden Retriever Rescue Operated With Love Statewide (GRROWLS), an independent full-service rescue and adoption program serving our area.

4. As a licensed AKC Specialty Club we offer either a Match or a Canine Good Citizen Test each year. Matches are less formal than regular shows and allow exhibitors to practice with their younger puppies in a relaxed setting. In lieu of a Match, we offer a Canine Good Citizen Test, an AKC sanctioned program. The CGC Program is designed to teach responsible dog ownership to owners and certify dogs that have the training and behaviors needed to be reliable, well-behaved members of their families and communities. The Club relies on member volunteers to plan and organize each event.

5. Since there is no formal meeting in August, the Club holds a fun day/picnic for its members and dogs. With pot-luck dishes to pass and games for the dogs, the idea is to relax, visit with friends, and have a good time.

6. In November the Club holds its annual dinner banquet. At this meeting new officers are installed and perpetual trophies and yearly achievement awards are presented. The Club has acquired many beautiful trophies through member sponsors throughout the years and it is a proud moment for members to be recognized for their varied accomplishments with their dogs.

7. In December the Club hosts the annual holiday party, usually at the home of a member. Activities, besides enjoying the good food and good cheer, include an auction to raise money for the club treasury of items donated by participants. There is also the usually uproarious gift exchange.

8. Special Events: The Club has hosted or sponsored several seminars, the most recent being two seminars by Dr. Robert Hutchison, a prominent canine reproduction specialist, and another, an interactive seminar for Golden Retriever breeders and fanciers, presented by breeder-judge Kathy Lorentzen. Periodically the Club hosts a WC/WCX as well as demonstrations by field training experts. The Club will continue to seek other high-caliber seminars for the education of our members and other dog enthusiasts. Please see the Events page for more details on that seminar and other events of interest

9. Puppy Referral: As a service to the general public looking for a well-bred Golden we maintain a puppy referral system, coordinated by one of our members. Only litters whose dam and sire have the current health clearances and other criteria required by our policy are permitted to be listed with this service. See our Puppy Referral guidelines for more details.

10. The newsletter and website: The Club publishes a newsletter, The Golden Times, bi-monthly, which is the source of current information on the Club's activities. Our website, www.grcwny.org contains facts about our club, updates on current events, and links to even more information regarding Golden Retrievers.