GLATA HISTORY

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GLTA
(the organization preceding GLATA)

The Great Lakes Terrier Association was formed in the minds of Virginia Bensman, the President of the Airedale Terrier Club of Illinois, and Annemarie Moore, President of the Fox Terrier Club of Chicago. The idea took formation in October 1966, while both were on their way home from the Montgomery County Terrier show in Pennsylvania. It was their dream to start another Montgomery County for the Midwest. The AKC agreed to approve a terrier association limited to ten clubs each with a delegate to the GLTA, and so the task of selling this idea to the six AKC approved terrier clubs in the Chicago area began.

Several matches were held. The Airedales and Fox Terriers set the ground work with the first match and were later joined by the Irish, Welsh, Bull Terriers, Kerry Blues, and Scotties. The Bulls and Welsh were still non-recognized clubs by the AKC, but their participation helped them gain eventual recognition.

By 1969, the AKC had approved the Great Lakes Terrier Association and specialty shows were to be held on the day preceding the Chain O'Lakes Kennel Club show in June. But for that year only, an October show was held with the Airedale Terrier Club of Illinois, the newly recognized Fort Dearborn Bull Terrier Club, and the Fox, Irish, Kerry Blue, and Scottish Terrier Clubs of Chicago participating.

Although the Kerry Blues and the Scotties resigned from the GLTA soon after, the organization continued to grow. The Welsh Terrier Club of Northern Illinois was approved in 1971 and became the fifth club in the association. By June 1974, the Australian Terrier Club of the Greater Chicago Area had received AKC approval and joined the GLTA as well. The Chicago Miniature Schnauzer Club also joined the terrier association at this time.

The AKC changed its requirements from a ten member limit to a twenty and by 1981, the association membership had swelled to thirteen members. In 1976 the West Highland White Terrier Club of Northern Illinois joined the GLTA, having been approved by the AKC in 1973. The Kerry Blues decided to rejoin then also. In the following years, the Bedlington Terrier Club of Greater Chicago, and the Chicago/Suburban Cairn Terrier Club were recognized by the AKC and joined the GLTA. The Scotties rejoined, and in 1981, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Chicagoland was recognized and joined the GLTA. In late 1987, the Greater Chicagoland Staffordshire Terrier Club joined. In 1991, the Norwich and Norfolk Terrier Club of Greater Chicago joined and boosted the GLTA membership to 15.

Entries and prestige continued to grow for the GLTA. The October 1969 show had 214 dogs and 221 entries, while the June 1992 show boasted an entry of 871 dogs and 1187 entries. Unfortunately, Virginia Bensman is no longer alive to appreciate the results of her efforts, and while Annemarie Moore has moved to Texas, she continues to be active in the GLTA as President Emeritus.

In 1989, the Constitution and Bylaws of the GLTA was amended to provide for the honorary office of President Emeritus. The Board of Delegates to the Association voted unanimously to bestow this title on Annemarie Moore.

In 1993, the GLTA celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a festive Hoedown Party.

In 1999, the Great Lakes Terrier Association was dissolved and replaced by the newly organized Great Lake All Terrier Association, Inc. (GLATA) with individual members and permission from the AKC to hold a group show each June.