The first thing that happened when my project was approved by the GSDCA was that the various member clubs sent the proposal to their committees and/or members. Just a few days later I received an interstate call from a breeder who personally and very warmly expressed his support. I found this quite overwhelming and heartening.
As he works for a large company, he undertook to organise a collection from amongst his workmates as well as sending the proposal to his superior to send on to the appropriate person for consideration.
The second thing that happened was that the GSDCA established a sub-committee of two persons to manage the sponsorship drive. I was very grateful for this as it is very difficult to manage such a project entirely on one's own. Networking is so important as different people have different contacts and connections that one person simply cannot have. This sub-committee designed a course of action which included promotional activity through the various media outlets as well as approaching large companies.
The third thing that happened was that I was asked to keep a daily diary of Jochen's and my activities at work and at play.
I need to add that before I actually submitted my proposal, I first contacted our partner organisation REDOG whether they would actually allow me to participate in their operational test. It would have been pointless to go to all this effort if they were going to deny Jochen and me access. I need not have worried.
As you will have read on the website, the Australian Swiss Search Dog Association Inc (ASSDA) has been an associate organisation of REDOG since ASSDA inception in February 1995. So we have a very close relationship with them and have developed some great friendships.
The REDOG prerequisites to be eligible to partake in their Operational Test are quite strict but luckily the Australian Advanced Operational Test is an equivalent to their pre-test and so we certainly qualify. Super. The first hurdle has been overcome.
Elke