A group of concerned Bulldog breeders,
owners and exhibitors established a club in November 1962, and published a
constitution and bylaws for the Capitol Bulldog Club.
The recorded directors of the club
were: Aaron J. Barnett, Washington DC.; Richard J. Neylon, Falls Church,
Virginia; and Arthur F. Trammelle Jr., Washington DC.
In 1964 the club was licensed as a
Bulldog specialty club by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and as a member club
of the Bulldog Club of America (BCA, Division VII.
The club’s first Specialty Show was
held on October 10, 1964 in conjunction with the all-breed Catonsville Kennel
Club, Inc.,
at
the Howard County Fairgrounds, Maryland.
In 1968 the club was incorporated as a
non-profit organization in the District of Columbia known as the Capitol
Bulldog Club.
The official name of the club was
changed in June 1999 to: “The Capitol Bulldog Club, Inc.”
The club’s most senior member is John
Spencer who joined the club in 1967, and has been a faithful member since then.
He
has
held several offices along the way and has also served as a Ring Steward at
many specialty shows. He is the only active member
to
hold the distinction of honorary Life Member in The Capitol Bulldog Club.
The club’s membership territory
includes Metropolitan Washington DC. including the counties comprising northern
Virginia, south to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the counties of Maryland
surrounding the District of Columbia, east to the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
including Southern Maryland.
The club holds annual dog show events, including independent
AKC-licensed conformation, sweepstakes, matches and
events.
The club has also teamed with the Parent Club's BCA Division VII, to host
combined specialty events. The club supports
the
bulldog entry at all-breed shows in the area from time to time.
The club’s regular and special member
meetings are held to conduct its official business, and to hold educational
programs
that
contribute to the knowledge of the members in various aspects of the Bulldog
breed, and in the showing of Bulldogs in
competition
to earn AKC championship titles.
The club holds fund raising events to
support the BCA Bulldog Rescue Fund.
Social gatherings are held throughout the year
for
picnics and parties to celebrate good fun and camaraderie with fellow
bulldoggers.
The club's Board of Governors consists
of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and three
members-at-large who administer and manage the club’s activities in accordance
with its AKC-approved Constitution and Bylaws.
The
club publishes a bi-monthly newsletter named "The Capitol
Bulldogger," which is distributed to active members.
Submitted by Bill Smith, CBC member since
1977