2010 BRAT Annual Convention Update

This note is just a reminder to everyone that the 2010 BRAT Annual Convention, being held in Alexandria, VA June 24-27, is just 10 weeks away.

Updates:
The new BRAT Convention Online Store will be live next week. You will be able to purchase advance tickets for all the events so that when you arrive at registration, we'll have everything you need waiting for you to pick up: Tickets, t-shirt, tote, local area information, etc. We'll send an announcement and add the link to the Convention Page on the BRAT website as soon as the store is open for business.

Everyone who books a room with the BRAT group and/or registers in advance for Convention will be receiving some additional bonus 'goodies' with your registration packet.

We've started lining up presenters for our two days of seminars on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26. Some of the seminar topics planned include:

Diet & Nutrition: Is there really a difference in the quality of all the various brands of dog food? Does feeding the same dog food every day -- even a high quality one -- pose any risk for your dog? How do I choose a "good" food for my dog?
Holistic Care & Feeding: Is there really an advantage to feeding a raw diet? Isn't an holistic approach very costly and require a lot of extra effort?
Ask the Behaviorist: How do I read my dog's body language? How do I prepare my Basenji for living with a new baby/child? Are there any particular techniques I can learn to help with training my Basenji?
Fostering Basenjis: Have you been thinking about fostering, but need to know more about what is involved? Are you unsure about the possible expense of fostering? Do you feel like you can't foster because you won't be able to let them go? Do you worry about how your own Basenji(s) will deal with a foster?
Basenji Health Issues: What do I need to prepare for as my Basenji gets older? What do I need to know about cancer, Fanconi or other illnesses my Basenji may develop? How do I know when it's time to think about euthanasia?

If You Know You Will Attend:
If you still need to make hotel reservations, keep in mind that our group rate expires in May, so please book your room before May 24. Additionally, if you're planning to attend but haven't completed the Convention Survey, please complete that ASAP so we have the most accurate counts possible for how many people to plan for the social events (Meet and Greet, Picnic, Banquet).

If You Are Thinking About Attending:
Keep in mind that our group rate expires in May, so please book your
room before May 24 to get the best deal. If you live in the area and won't need to reserve a hotel room, please make sure you have completed the Convention
Survey so we know which events you will attend and can get accurate counts for ordering food, etc. Also, please check back to the Convention Page on the BRAT website every few weeks for updates on all the great seminars we'll offer in addition to the fun social events.

If You Wonder Why You Should Attend:
Has you Basenji ever had a chance to run with a pack of dozens of other Basenjis? Have you had the opportunity to share the experiences and camaraderie of a large group of people who share your passion for this unique and challenging breed. Are there things you would like to know about sharing your life with a Basenji but just haven't had a forum to ask the questions? Could you benefit from educational seminars tailored for sharing your life with this breed? Those are just a few reasons why you should attend, and there are quite a few more you'll discover only by showing up for the experience.

We hope to see YOU AND YOUR BASENJIS at the BRAT Annual Convention!

J.R. Key
Basenji Rescue And Transport
www.basenjirescue.org
Adoption Coordinator
jrinlogan@gmail.com