BoardWaddle © TEN!!!
Our TENTH Anniversary!!
This April 25/26 will be the 10th Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue BoardWaddle©. Ohmidawg, how did that happen? Where did the BoardWaddle © start? It occurs to me that folks might not all know.
Back in 1998, Rich and Dawn and feyfey went to the big Michigan Basset Rescue Waddle. It was huge, it was fun, it raised moolah for the poor hounds of Michigan. Gramma Jo Smith, who created the waddle suggested Tri-State have one. They thought she was crazy.
The next year they were talked into fostering a little deaf basset. Whenever the slaves spoke to "Indie" or stomped their feet, he said, "WOO." They took that as being told his correct name. The slaves hugely, flamingly flunked foster. To make up for having been so bad they asked Tri-State's founder and president, Barbara Wicklund, if they could try and organize a waddle. Barbara took a little convincing, but the coffers were in really bad shape and there was a lot owed on kennel and veterinary bills.
The City of Ocean City was amazing and allowed the houndies to participate in the Doo Dah Pawrade and use their fields. The slaves charged the expenses to their credit cards and hoped there would be enough money to pay them and set a goal of raising $5,000 for the hounds.
April 17, 1999, brought 240 happy hounds waddling in the Ocean City
Doo Dah parade to help their homeless friends! There was a dinner at the
Homestead the night before, games and prizes for the top three! It is
the first time that the slaves recall meeting Sandy Gera and Bob Arnold
who won the pledge contest with over $700! Pat Dill and Carol Sharp were
second, Karen Dimsey was third and my breeder slaves Hank and Sharon Scully
were fourth! Caruso made a grand appearance and got his picture in the
New York times with wannabe basset Happy!
Gramma Jo Smith blessed the
event by coming from Michigan.
(If she laughed at Dawn and Rich, she
was too pawlite to say so.) BoardWaddle © 1999 netted $15,000!
Since then there have been 8 successful BoardWaddles!© Thousands and
thousands of bassets have waddled from near and far! Humans or houndies
have come from 35 states, Canada and Europe. Each has contributed something
to benefit the houndies! A unique and special shirt has become an annual
tradition. BoardWaddle © shirts have been sent all over the world! The
weekend has grown to include the ever competitive Olympics and the fabulous
pawction dinner! Attendance has more than doubled. There has been national
and network television coverage and the slaves have been the recipients
of the 2006 Ocean City Golden Hot Dog Award!
In 2007 Gramma Jo returned
and was surprised with a plaque! Most importantly, tens of thousands
of dollars have been raised to help the hounds.
None of this would have happened without our volunteers! We are incredibly grateful
for all those who have volunteered. The weekend could not happen without
the help of dedicated folks who commit their time. Individuals come from
far and wide to work their paws to the bone. Please let the humans know if
you would like to join the Tri-State Basset Rescue BoardWaddle© team!
Got a great pawction item? Tell them that, too!
boardwaddle@tristatebassets.org Volunteer
during the year? Love to have you.
Our surprising first year pledge winners have become the President and
Vice- President of Tri-State! Write them at adopt@tristatebassets.org !
Each year has become a gathering of old and new friends. We thank everybody for
coming back year after year and look forward to welcoming first timewaddlers.
In celebration of our 10th Anniversary the slaves would appreciate waddlers
sending their favorite BoardWaddle © memory. Know that they plan to share
as many as possible of them publicly, so ya re giving them permission
to do that. 50 words or less, please send them to Cakie at Boardwaddle@tristatebassets.org
Have any of you houndies been to all NINE prior BoardWaddles© and looking
forward to number TEN? Please make sure to tell me your story!
The first Grand Marshall was selected as she was the then web site poster
hound. Since then it is our highest honor offered to those houndies who
have compelled their human to work very hard in gathering pledges and
serving the BoardWaddling hounds. Brie Sherwin is reigning Grand Marshall
2007.
This year's Grand Marshall is the youngest Grand Marshall ever! She brings not only her own too cute, hardworking paws, but an entire rescue family! Because the lovely young pupster who will serve as Grand Marshall 2008 was born as a Tri-State Basset! Please join me in recognizing Grand Marshall 2B Thelma Lou Dickson-Foth
The 2008 Grand Marshall will waddle in the pawprints of some very hard
working houndies! It has been a wonderful decade of hounds helping hounds
and having a darn good time doing it! PACKETS ARE SENT IN MARCH.
If you are not already on our mailing list, please send me, Cakie, your name and snail address.boardwaddle@tristatebassets.org