New Sporting Dog Wing in Planning – BDF to Grow Again
Fundraising to
create more floor space within the BDF for the various sporting dog breeds has
been quietly taking place for more than three years. A general outline of a
floor plan was drafted and circulated some time ago, with general nods of
approval from affected groups and breed associations. But getting the overall
fundraising effort underway has been stymied for various reasons. That all
changed in summer 2009, when BDF President, Dale Bush, announced that Hayley
Killam of Laredo, Texas had agreed to take on the task of spearheading the
overall fundraising effort. Ms. Killam, along with her husband, David, are both
devoted German Shorthair field trialers on the major circuit.
The current plan calls for approximately 4,860 sq. ft. of space to be added to
the southeastern corner of the existing building. The new construction will be
connected by doors and hallways in order to fully integrate with current space.
This will allow more space to effectively showcase the various sporting breeds.
To the extent possible, contributing groups will be granted dedicated space,
including storage and a Field Trial Hall of Fame venue. This project will
relieve some crowding that is already taking place within the existing Field
Trial Hall of Fame, and help keep it the dignified setting that it is.
A total fundraising goal of approximately $600,000 has been set. Included
therein is the current estimate on building cost at $317,000. But as the
preceding numbers indicate, significant fundraising above and beyond the
building cost would also be needed to bolster the Endowment Fund. The added
funds, plus investment earnings therefrom, would underwrite the building’s
maintenance and operational costs for at least 20 years into the future. To date
(6-1-10), approximately $185,000 has been raised from all sources towards this
overall goal. The BDF board has given foundation president, Dale Bush, the green
light to start construction when $250,000 has been raised. A target construction
start is set for summer/fall 2010.
The following
breeds are represented via financial contributions to date:
