HISTORY

The New England Chow Chow Club is though to be the oldest regional chow chow club. The club has been in existence for over 80 years. On October 23, 1937 George Ratecliffe, President, E. Pearl Berg, Treasurer, E. Robert Wegner, Ralph E. Packard, Edma M. Clark and A. E. Chandler filed with the Massachussetts Department of Corporations and Taxation and formed The New England Chow Chow Club Inc. as a Section 180 non-profit corporation. A copy of that original 1937 document can be viewed by clicking this link => Original 1937 Incorporation Filing.

During the 1930's, 40's and 50's and into the early 60's, the New England Chow Chow Club was extremely active. Its membership was small, but almost all members exhibited their dogs. The club held its annual specialties and matches and was known to have "get-togethers". In the mid 60's the club became quite inactive. Due to the unwavering dedication of Mr. Charles O'Hara, Treasurer, the club never did lose its charter. Each year Mr. O'Hara paid the charter filing fee to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In 1969, Mildred Fugman, a member of the Southern Chow Chow Club, moved to Rhode Island to be with her husband who was in the Navy. She had chows with her when she moved north, and she would take in local dog shows. She would immediately tell any interested person she met about the New England Club. Mrs. Fugman also ran "Chow for Sale" ads (even though she had none to sell) in order to "sell" callers on the club, and it worked! It was through Mrs. Fugman's enthusiasm and love of the breed that the club became "alive" again.

Our club membership surpassed 50 in the late 70's and 80's and once again became very active. We have held an annual Specialty Show since 1976, and in 1982 we hosted the National Specialty. Mother Nature did not cooperate with good weather for that event, but it was a big success and generated numerous compliments.

With the start of the new millennium our membership has grown. We've had some "fits and starts", but the club has refocused on its original mission - to bring chow chow breeders, exhibitors and owners together to improve the quality of chow chows through competition in conformation and performance events. The club acquired an internet site and is exploring ways that technology can contribute to the efficient running of the club so that members can focus on more important things, namely their chows!