Mabel Jorgensen, KDTC's current Class Registrar, is a charter member of our Club. When she and Charles VanHook, who was the true originator of KDTC, took the idea of a dog club up with their peers at the Upjohn Co. (now known as Pharmacia & Upjohn), they agreed to finance us by paying our rent at the Fairgrounds and advertising our classes in their publications. When Mabel began as a club member, our name was the Upjohn Training Club and most of the members were Upjohn personnel. In those early, formative years, Mabel, Joan Hines and Charles VanHook did every conceivable job -- building and painting jumps; cleaning and laying out mats; judging; teaching; advertising; etc. Mabel became the Club's first secretary-treasurer, serving in that capacity for many years.

When Mabel first came to Kalamazoo, a new high school graduate from Illinois, she was interested only in horses. Although she didn't own a horse of her own, she went riding at local stables every week and took all her vacations at dude ranches in western states.

At the outbreak of World War II, Mabel couldn't wait to join the Women's Army Corps. She was in one of the first divisions formed of a women's cadre. Mabel trained in the Motor Corps but, when the powers that be discovered she was a secretary, she was - of course - transferred. But, while in the Motor Corps, Mabel had fun driving Seeps (vehicles that went on land and water) at a lake near Ft. Custer and, in England, driving big shots around (on the "wrong" side of the road)! Mabel remembers that, being in the Women's Army Corps was tricky at first, but also exciting and interesting. She was in London on D-Day, sailing for France shortly thereafter; later she was headquartered in Brussels where she was Chief Clerk to General Aurand at ETO Headquarters. While serving General Aurand, Mabel set up a special set of files for which she was awarded the Bronze Star Award. Mabel commented, "I wasn't exactly at ease when the award was pinned on me. I was among 30 or more men who had earned the award in battle!" But, indeed, Mabel earned that award by serving her country in another, equally important, kind of battle.

When the war was over, Mabel debarked from LeHarve, France, and found herself on the same ship as her sister Margaret, who had served overseas in the Air Force. There were seven children in Mabel's family and six of them served in the various branches of the armed services.

Upon discharge from military service, Mabel started work at the Upjohn Company. She wound up being secretary to two presidents of the company. Her boss, then head of Upjohn's International Company, purchased Mabel's first Sheltie for her. He had been traveling to Australia and England, where he saw the Australian Shepherd and the Queen's Corgi's; he extolled both breeds.

When Mabel visited her first sheltie kennel to pick out her gift dog, it was love at first sight. Since that day, more than 40 years ago, she has owned, bred and raised shelties. Although she no longer breeds shelties, Mabel remains very active in AKC, UKC and CKC obedience and agility trials. She was very proud a few years ago to be the second person in our Club with a dog that had earned a Utility title in all three organizations. Only recently, Mabel received her first High-in-Trial award in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada; several years ago, also in Canada, she came close with a score of 199, but was beat out by another sheltie and handler who had 199-1/2! Mabel's "Crissie", a very sound-sensitive sheltie, earned her AKC, UKC and CKC CD titles within 5 weeks; Mabel hopes "Crissie" will do as well in the pursuit of her Open titles.

Mabel's current dogs include: U-ACH U-CDX Autumn's Amanda Joy, NA, CDX, Can. CDX (5/6/91); U-AG1 U-CD Autumn's Crystal Joy, CD, Can. CD (7/1/96); and Autumn's Patti Joy (12/23/96) a dog Mabel doesn't have time to work with!

Mabel is the oldest member of KDTC and, due to the troublesome ailments of aging (mainly arthritis), isn't optimistic about having a whole lot more years left in which she'll be able to work her dogs. At the same time, however, Mabel said, "If it weren't for the love of my dogs, I'm sure I wouldn't be active at all. I'm a real advocate of allowing senior citizens to have pets in retirement homes. Without them, we just might become vegetables."

When she first retired from the Upjohn Co., Mabel took her shelties for monthly obedience demonstrations at the Upjohn Nursing Home. They also gave regular demonstrations for children at the Oshtemo Public Library. Although she doesn't do that volunteer work anymore, she bowls weekly, plays bridge in several tournaments, belongs to a camera club, does her own house, lawn and garden work. In between all her activities, she reads a lot of mysteries.

In addition to serving as Class Registrar for KDTC, Mabel has served on the Executive Board and been the Club Secretary. She has been recognized for her efforts in KDTC as a recipient of the Gaines Good Sportsmanship Award and the Committee's Choice Award. In 1991, Mabel was presented a KDTC Lifetime Achievement Award for her consistent, long-standing contributions to the Club. Besides her membership in KDTC, Mabel belongs to the Western Michigan Shetland Sheepdog Club, having served as their treasurer for many years, and UKC's Trial & Error Club of Kalamazoo.

Mabel is very proud of the Kalamazoo Dog Training Club and its members. "Our goals are never static," she said, "and our officers work overtime to come up with innovative ideas for better training and management." What she failed to mention is that KDTC's members are extremely proud of Mabel and truly admire the enthusiasm, interest and effort she has demonstrated throughout the many years of her membership. Mabel's past contributions were instrumental in the founding and development of our Club; her continuing contributions keep us moving and improving.