New England Pet Grooming Professionals

[8/26/2008] Dear NEPGP Community

Phew...after a great deal of work, the catalogs are finally printed. The show will be a stunner. We apologize for being a little later than we had hoped for; the result will be a spectacular show.

Our stellar panel of International and National Judges and Speakers will include: Loretta Marchese , Wendell Sammett (Alekai Poodles), Bea VanZanten(Netherlands), Marea Tully, Lisa Leady, Bob Harris, Sandy Harrick, Danelle German, Monique Van de Ven, Michael Fleck DVM, Todd Shelly, and Scott Wasserman. Our Best In Show Judge is Melissa Verplank. Of course our event is Groom Team Sanctioned. There will be a Friday Add On program with Melissa Verplank, author of Notes From The Grooming Table published by White Dog Enterprises, Inc. The other Friday add-on will be the Comprehensive Mobile Grooming Seminar with Dina Perry. As always, we will have Entry, Intermediate, and Open competitions to serve the full range of our participants.

This year our Grand Door Prize at the Fall Festival will be a 4 day trip with all expenses paid Interning with Melissa Verplank at the Paragon Pet Styling Salon in Michigan. (airfare, lodging, and food all included). This way we can help some lucky person take a step forward.

There's much more than can be said in this letter; Missi Salzberg MC'ing, the trade show with fabulous vendors and show specials, fantastic seminars, a Halloween Party co-sponsored by Grooming Business Magazine, and the Top Dog competition for members only with a prize from Kenchii. Mark your calendars: October 31-November 2, 2008.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Fall Festival.

[5/15/2008] Spring Fling Recap

In case you missed it, the Spring Fling was informative, educational and a heck of a lot of fun! Check out the pictures in our Flickr group

We had top lecturers and beautiful demo dogs. Thanks to all participants, Silver City Training Center, Linda and the Yorkie Rescue Caterers for providing lunch.

We would like to acknowledge the gratitude we feel to our instructors for their wonderful contributions. To the attendees who made the effort to invest themselves in self-improvement and the opportunity for our organization to serve---we thank you!

[3/15/2008] Mobile Grooming Add On Program-Fall 2008

We are fortunate to have Dina Perry at our Fall Fest. She is a highly successful businesswoman, among her credits, a fleet of Mobile Grooming Vans. She will be discussing the dynamics of Mobile Grooming with detailed information for the sole proprietor and the entrepreneur.

Her business, Wag'nTails Grooming Conversions www.wagntails.com is also our Poodle Sponsor. We are grateful for their support. Don't miss this opportunity!

[2/16/2008] Spring Fling 2008 Details

Our Spring Fling is intended to give you a better understanding of the business aspect of grooming dogs and offer you an opportunity to improve your skills and awareness of different styles. Missi will start the morning session with "Thinking outside the Crate" an informative session sure to inspire.

After lunch and our brief annual meeting, we will present Head studies - subtle differences and similarities with many of the following live dog models:

• Scotties and Schnauzers
• Westies and Cairns
• Mixed Breeds
• Bouvier (head, undercoat removal techniques tools, and matt demo)
• Bichon
• Poodle

Guests panelists:

• Vero DaSylva
• Sue Pratt
• Lynn Boucher,NCMG
• Anne Francis
• Linda Claflin

What a great way to set up for the busy season; refresh yourself on styles, techniques, insights, and go back to work excited! Click here to register online!

[2/2/2008]Early Planning for the 2008 Fall Festival

The New England Fall Holiday Festival dates are October 31st-November 2nd, 2008. New this year is Friday set up with show opening late Friday afternoon. We are going to have a heck of a Halloween Party Friday night with the fabulous Missi Salzberg hosting. We plan to have the generous support of our Exhibitors and Sponsors donating lots of "Freebies" to add to the fun. Plans are still formulating-perhaps a Creative styling costume competition?

We have some verbal commitments for the Fall Holiday Fest we want to share with you. Cross your fingers!

Judges

• Best in Show and Scissoring: Melissa Verplank
• Poodles: Loretta Marchese and Wendall Sammett, AleKai Kennels
• Sporting: Bea VanZanten, The Netherlands
• Terriers: Scott Wasserman, Texas

Speakers

• Todd Shelley from Barkleigh Productions, PA: Insurance issues
• Scott Wasserman: Handstripping Terriers
• Bea VanZanten: American Cocker demo
• Melissa Verplank: All Day Seminar Friday, October 31st.

We are planning to have Best in Show and Best All Around for Entry, Intermediate and Open Levels of Competition Sunday early afternoon. We have chosen to end the show earlier on sunday, so everyone can stay to watch Best in Show, have a chance to win the amazing grand door prize, and still get home comfortably.

The Grand Door Prize is an all Expense Paid trip to Paragon School of Pet Grooming in Michigan for 4 nights, three days, meals and a fabulous opportunity to improve your skills. Remember, Melissa wrote the book, "Notes From the Grooming Table" a text used by Certification programs. Think what you will learn, no matter what level you are at, you will be sure to improve. Now, the only thing is if you are afraid of flying...

[11/11/2007]First Fall Festival Photos

There are now new photos of the 2007 Fall Festival available on our Flickr group. Please feel free to add your own photos to the group!

[11/10/2007]A Big Thank You

Thank you to all that came to the 2007 Fall Festival. We had a bunch of fun, learned a lot, and hope that you did the same. Congratulations to all of our winners, and all of the entry level competitors, everyone knows how stressful it can be to be judged for the first time.

The New England Pet Grooming Professionals don't stop once the Fall Festival is over! We will be looking at how to improve for our next festival, and prepare for the "Spring Fling" workshop weekend. If you have any feedback about the Fall Fest or ideas for the next festival, please send an E-mail to us, your input really has an effect on the content and schedule of the festival!

[11/1/2007]Last Minute Before the Fall Festival!

WOW, the Fall Fest is already looking great! Setup is going well, there is amazing new competition lighting, a great schedule of events, and exciting prizes, prices, and pooches!

If you're still on the fence, or just heard about the show, there is still time to come and get a ticket at the door! You can even still compete, as long as you get to the show before Saturday at 9am for the singing of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Remember to take one last look at the schedule before heading out to Warwick RI, it is slightly more up to date than the catalog(but the catalog has complete info)

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