Monthly Update - January 2024

I hope that this message finds you well, and that if you are in an area of the country (most of it) that is affected this past week by really cold weather, that you are staying safe and warm! Despite the weather, club members are busy planning events and taking care of club business.


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Celeste Gonzalez and Sue Smyth are working up a bid to offer the 2026 Nationals in the southeast and involving a number of newer members to that effort. Currently, we have no bids for years beyond 2026. It may seem like 2027 is quite a way in the future, but in reality, when planning a National Specialty, everything is a lot easier the further out you can plan – access to sites, to event secretaries/superintendents, and to hotels. The Nationals Advisory Committee Chair is Beverly Barringer-Ruggeri, and she can advise you on getting started on planning and putting together a bid.


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In mid-October, the Health Committee hosted a meeting with Dr. Matthew Gentry and Dr. Berge Minassian, who are conducting research on Lafora, to update us on progress that is being made in research on treatment approaches for Lafora. The video of this session is now available on the Health Committee’s YouTube channel, and can be found through a link on the Health & Research page at: https://basset-bhca.org/about-bassets/health-research/ . Scroll down to Lafora for the video links.


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The 2024 National Specialty website is up at https://bhcanationals.net . You can find our schedule of events, and information about hotel accommodations. The website will continue to be built out over the next month or so more information and links for reservations and merchandise purchasing. Watch Facebook for updates on additions to the site as they are added.


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The deadline for the March-April Tally Ho is on February 1st.

  • Do you have news to report from your club?


  • Have you a new champion to show off?


The New Title gallery offers ¼ page ads, full color, for just $25. Reach out to Terri Ralenkotter for more information at [email protected].


She’s also looking for spring-themed pictures of BHCA members’ Bassets for the issue! Put your hound in print!



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That’s about it for early January. The pace of club business is picking up after the holiday lull, so more news to come next month.



Basset Hound Club of America, Inc.