Sussex Spaniel Club of America (SSCA)

2025 Committee Chair Reports (at a glance)

• The Archive Committee Chair Tara Darling-Lyon reports that a CD with the 2024 Minutes has been added to the Archives. The updated SSCA Standing Rules, updated SSCA forms, and anything pertinent to the history of the SSCA will be aded to the Archives by year end. Document will be added to the Archives from the 2025 National Specialty including the marked SSCA Catalog and Premium, a copy of the Spirit of Sussex Magazine, a copy of the SSCA Top 25 program. Archivist plans for the next year are to go through boxes of accumulated history to categorize and organize the contents.

• The Awards Committee Chair Georgia Perdue reports the awards committee consists of Georgia Perdue, Kim Kesselring, Barb Ohmann, Sally Sasser, and Brenda Griffin. The committee continues to refine the awards budget and processes with much success in ordering early and having time to prepare ahead of the National. Special thanks to Bobby Lewis for totaling points with regards to breeding and litters and help with calculating major awards.
  The committee updated information to the Standing Rules again and continue to tighten the budgeting process with the vendors for discounts. This year again, the frames for the Rosettes were donated by Georgia Perdue.
  New plans this year were to get a prepared form for awards to make it easier for members to make a nomination. Special thanks to Marcus Thomas for his assistance with this endeavor.
  The committee hopes to encourage the membership to nominate more of their peers for available awards and to continue to support the Board and Club.

• The Breeder Education Chair Brenda Griffin reports that she makes herself available to members who contact her with questions about breeding and liters. The club has plans to schedule a zoom conference with Dr. Lacey Rosenberg, a veterinary reproduction specialist, to talk about strategies to improve fertility. Brenda would also like to work with the Board to develop a forum for members who are Sussex breeders to exchange information and provide mentorship to one another so that we may all learn from each other.

• The Breeder Referral Committee Chair Jenni Toebben reports that 49 inquires about Sussex Spaniels and breeder referrals were answered from her last report. Jenni sends a list of breeders and if she knows of available puppies she passes that information on too.  In the past couple of years, Jenni has updated her information sheet as well as the Sussex Spaniel description on the AKC website.

• The Field/Hunt Committee Chair Patricia Petraglia has submitted an estimate covering expenses and safety considerations associated with a possible Hunt Test. While there are few Sussex to compete, other breeds eligible to run in an AKC Hunt Test would be needed to make the event successful.  Patricia has followed up several times but has not heard back regarding the possibility of this event and asks if there is interest in the membership to make one’s interest known.

• The Health Committee Chair Jeane Haverick reports that she would like to help all members participate in the health and welfare of our breed. We all realize that breeding is an important part of this committee. Making all Sussex as healthy and happy as they can be is the goal of this committee. Jeane is interested in gathering information from breeders on what we have done in 2024 and 2025. Jeane’s focus is in gathering information on conception rate and actual puppies born in those years. Jeane is putting together a survey to meet this goal. If anyone would like to participate on this committee please let her know.

• The Judges Education Committee Chair Brenda Griffin reports in 2024, the committee undertook the task of creating a new powerpoint presentation for Judge’s Education. Bobby Lewis and Brenda Griffin worked with SSCA officers Marcus Thomas and Barb Ohmann to develop this new educational tool, which is the culmination of literally hundreds of hours of combined efforts. The presentation was approved by the SSCA Board of Directors and presented by Bobby and Brenda during the 2024 SSCA National Specialty weekend in Doswell. The seminar was well attended with 12 judges in attendance including Mari-Beth O’Neill, Vice President of Sports Services and former Director of Judges Education. Feedback provided by Ms. O’Neill and others attendees was extremely positive. Bobby and Brenda used the feedback received to make minor refinements in the presentation, which they plan to present during the 2025 SSCA National Specialty weekend at Purina Farms. The presentation will also be presented at the annual American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel Show in Knoxville, TN in January. It will be presented again at the Peach Blossom Cluster in Perry, GA in April at their Sporting Dog Judges Education Event.

• The Judges Selection Committee Chair Patrica Petraglia reports the judges selection process has transitioned online from it’s former Mail format. The SSCA Board made the decision to initiate balloting in Round 1 by listing the full panel of fully-approved judges, as well as eligible breeders, for members in good standing to select their top 10 choices.  Based on returns from Round 1, another tabulation using weighted scores produced a short list for Round 2. Round 2 voting then determined judges in the running to judge the National Specialties for 2025 and 2026. The next opportunity to select judges will begin with SSCA 2027 National Specialty and beyond.

• The Membership Committee Chair Karen Silensky reports that the SSCA membership continues to see more growth and as of August 2025 we have reached a level of 152 members. These new members bring a wealth of enthusiasm, energy, skills, talents that will contribute to enrich the club. Most importantly they have a commitment to our Sussex Spaniel Breed including many who are potential breeders. Growth of the club and the continuation of breeding is paramount to our Club.

• The Performance Committee Chair Kim Kesselring reports the participation in Companion and Family Dog events has steadily increased this year. Sussex spaniels are reaching the topmost titles in Fast Cat,Barn Hunt, Scent Work, Rally and Agility. Fast Cat continues to be the most popular event for Sussex Spaniels. Discussions and plans are being made to have a Sussex Spaniel Fast Cat National. At the event we will have Rosettes for the Fastest, Rosettes for the Qualifiers, and a Turtle Rosette for the slowest (but still determined) Sussex. The location will be announced in 2026, once approved by the SSCA Board.

• The Public Education Committee Chair Beth Hendricks reports the AKC “Meet the Breeds” was well attended in NYC at the Javits Center on January 25 and 26, 2025. The members and their dogs talked to thousands of people over the two days. The wonderful Spaniel Breed Information Flyer was very popular at the event. Beth will be taking a health break s the chair of this committee, and we thank her for her for a great job.Marcia Deugan authored 2 AKC Gazette Breed Columns in 2025. These can be found in the January issue (https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18101843/January-2025-AKC-Gazette.pdf {pages 70 -72}), The April 2025 Issue (https://images.akc.org/pdf/gazette/april-2025.pdf {pages 69 – 70}) and in the July 2025 Issue (https:/images.akc.org/pdf/gazette/july-2025.pdf {pages 63 – 64}). Watch for Marcia’s column in the October 2025 AKC Gazette.

• The Purebred Preservation Bank (PPB) Committee Chair Georgia Perdue reports that the committee members are Georgia Perdue, Marcus Thomas and Tina Tarrant.  This year the committee worked together to develop a Criteria Letter and sent it to the AKC for approval. Input was obtained and approval given by the AKC in May 2025. Next steps are to discuss funding assistance options and recommendations with the Board of Directors and begin rollout of the documents with it’s recommendations. The goals are to safeguard our Sussex Spaniel genetic material, to ensure a plan is in place should the issue arise to ensure the continuation of the Sussex Spaniel Breed through time.

• The Outreach Committee Chair Margaret Small reports in the second year of the committee that the intent continues to recognize the need to stay in contact with membership by reaching out and conducting a general welfare check of selected Club Membership. Many members this year have been contacted and appreciate the approach as positive and much needed. We as a group of members brought together with a common thread of interest of our beloved Sussex Spaniels, are concerned and care for the welfare of fellow members.

• The Rescue Committee Chair Katie Tuttle reports that there was a rescue that resulting in a rehoming and another rehoming that was necessary this year. Thanks to the Sussex Spaniel Club of America’s dedicated members quick response and actions there were two successful and happy outcomes. This is a clear reminder that there are unfortunate occasions that arrive and the SSCA is ready to provide assistance for any Sussex in need.

• The Scentinel Committee Chair Janet Vining-Mitchell is pleased to announce the continuation of the Sussex Scentinel publication. The heartfelt President’s Message, New member announcements, National Specialty updates and information. Heart of HOSSC article, History of our Logo (who knew? And now we do!), Wagentales, so beautifully written, Health articles, SSCA 2025 Board Motion Log – each quarter (What is the Board doing), Snapshot of the Club’s finances (we are now growing our funds) and BRAGS (who is out there having fun). Thank you to all that contribute. We are happy to hear all the positive responses.

• The Store Committee Chair Eileen Tarrago reports that from August 2024 – August 2025 total profits were $873.00. All sales (except for 2025 calendars) occurred at the SSCA national Specialty in Doswell, Va. Specialty-specific items are excluded from Store profit calculations.  It appears that many participants enjoy purchasing a keepsake or memento to commemorate the event. Offering a broader selection of unique, breed-specific merchandise may increase engagement and overall sales, while also enhancing the experience for attendees.

• The Website Committee Chair Lee Silensky reports that the new 2025 President’s Newsletter and the 2024 VP Report of the Committee Chairs were posted on the website. The updated Constitution and Bylaws replaced the old version on the website. The Sussex Spaniel National Specialty is posted on the website with all the information anyone needs. Special thanks to Pat Shaw for facilitating this for the club.  The website has been a valuable resource for members in need of assistance in rehoming a Sussex. AKC judges have reached out to the website to get information on Judges Education Seminars. People looking for a breeder have used the website as a starting point to possibly bring home a Sussex.  The website will continue to be a valuable source of information for the Sussex Spaniel Breed.

Reports from our Regional Sussex Spaniel Club family:

The Heart of Ohio Sussex Spaniel Club report was submitted by Benda Griffin informs us that the HOSSC welcomed two new members, bringing the total to 64 including two junior members. Under the leadership of Judy Manley, the club is getting ready for the National/Regional weekend at Purina farms.
Judy Manley helped coordinate everything at the mid-July four day show in Madison, Ohio.It was a successful show and attendees enjoyed hanging out under the spectacular HOSSC tent.
The 2025 Regional Specialty will be held in Wauseon, Ohio the first weekend of October in conjunction with the Fulton County Kennel Club’s annual all breed shows. Rusty Morton and Gayle Pierce have steeped up to chair the event.
Plans for 2025-2026 are to continue work on Bylaws and Standing Rule revisions and their website and to expand their presence on Facebook with the help of Susan Wagenhals and Samantha Gibson.

The Pacific Northwest Sussex Spaniel Club report was submitted by Patricia Shaw. Patricia informs us that a successful 2025 Regional specialty was held at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds in Chehalis, Washington.

The AKC Delegate Report submitted by Bobby Lewis will be sent out separately and in it’s entirety.

Thank you to all the Committee Chairs and our Regional Sussex Spaniel Club Representatives for volunteering their services and their diligent work to improve and enhance the SSCA and the Sussex Spaniel Breed.
Should anyone wish to see specific Committee Reports, please reach out and request a copy.

This years National Specialty at the wonderful setting of Purina Farms, and once again we have large numbers reuniting the special people who are Sussex Spaniel people and bringing these amazing Golden Liver Dogs together for a magnificent event.

Respectfully submitted,

Lee Silensky
SSCA Vice President