September 2011 Delegates’ Meeting Newark, NJ
Group Realignment is still on the table for discussion. There is now talk of 11 Groups. The latest splitting the Sporting Group into 3 groups (Pointing, Retrievers, & Flushers). Group realignment continues to be one of the top issues of discussion.
Of great concern to the Delegate Body, is the recent cut of the AKC staff attendance at the Delegates’ Meetings. The purpose help ease the budget by saving the expenses of travel and loss of productive office time. The Delegates feel that the AKC Support staff is an integral part of the Delegates meeting and that having direct access to these people for questions, discussions and direction is critically important for the Delegates to do accomplish their job and fulfill their position as Delegate to their clubs. A formal letter was submitted to Mr. Menaker asking for a reconsideration and reinstatement of attendance of core AKC Staff Liaisons at the Quarterly Delegates Meeting.
This November 19th and 20th, AKC Meet the Breeds will return to New York City for the third year at the Javits Convention Center. Over 39,000 people attended last year and this year the convention area will be increased to 160,000 sq. Feet. The International Cat Association (TICA), the world's largest genetic registry of purebred cats will be joining the venue too.
Activities include demonstrations of agility, obedience and rally, Frisbee Disc Dogs, and flyball.
The United States Customs and Border Protection will show off their canine skills at detecting
Narcotics in suitcases and the United States Police Canine Association officers and their canine partners will apprehend suspects in a demonstration of the dogs' masterful obedience and agility skills.
The AKC Canine Health Foundation Board met early in September to consider the recommendation for a budget for grant research for the following year. Every grant that was recommended to the Grants Committee was granted financial support this year. Last year, 1.3 million dollars was earmarked for research and this year the amount has been increase by $200,000 to support over 22 research grants at veterinary schools around the US.
Unfortunately, the Veterinary Outreach Program continues to be unfunded. This tremendously successful program was instrumental in supporting veterinary students and the potential development of outstanding veterinary care for our canine friends. During the Canine Health Committee meeting, I suggested that regional support for specific vet schools in same area might find better support because donors would feel more of a direct connect to students attending that school. The school and student could reach out to its community/region and build a long lasting relationship which could result in continuous monetary support.
I am working with Peter See on the Canine Health Committee to have an article written on canine frozen embryos and their future. Drs. Robert Hutchison and Dana Bleifert will co-author the article. This should be published in the AKC Perspectives Magazine March 2012 issue.
FINANCIAL REPORTING BY JIM STEVENS-
-The AKC licensing agent is currently in bankruptcy proceedings and may cease
operations
-$500,000 in guaranteed royalty revenues due to us from the AKC licensing activities
have been lost over the past 2 ½ years due to the licensees going out of business
-Revenues from our affinity credit card are 50% less than what they were three
years ago
-Revenues from sponsorships are anticipated to decline by one third from last
Year due to the fact that a number of AKC corporate sponsors (with their own budget
Constraints) have either reduced or eliminated their commitments to the AKC
-Volume of AKC registrations continued to be headed downhill
Number of AKC breeders has declined 10% in 2011 for a total decline of 34% over the past 3 yrs.
Number of Commercial breeders has dropped 36% from last year
Number of puppies sold at retail stores is down 20%
Total revenues during the first eight months of 2011 were $2.1 million (5.4% lower
than 2010). 77% of this decrease can be attributed to registrations. Total registration revenues were $1.6 million less than 2010. Due to the shrinking population of breeders, the number of registered litters continues to decline, 11% below 2010.
VOTES BY THE DELEGATE BODY:
- Proposed amendment to Article VI, Section 5 of the Charter and
Bylaws of the American Kennel Club which would apply identical restrictions to someone
who misappropriates funds from AKC or an AKC subsidiary or affiliate organization, as it is now done for someone who misappropriates funds from a AKC sanctioned, licensed or
member club. Approved by the AKC BODs. PASSED BY 2/3rds AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE DELEGATE BODY
- Proposed amendment to Article VI, Section 7 of the Charter and
Bylaws of the American Kennel Club, which would allow that when the Board has
determined that a seated Delegate is ineligible to serve under Section 5, the Delegate's
club may appeal to the Delegate Body. Approved by the AKC BODs.
Discussion on this proposed amendment included inserting the words "by a
Delegate of the club's choosing." Line 10. A majority vote to include this is required.
AMENDMENT PASSED BY A Majority VOTE BY THE DELEGATE BODY
- Proposed amendment to Chapter 3, Section 17, of the Rules
Applying to Dog Shows - Dog Show Classifications; Chapter 4, Section 1 of the Rules
Applying to Dog Shows - Approval of Judges' Panels and Premium Lists; Chapter 5,
Section 1 and 7 of Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Ribbons, Prize and Trophies; and
Chapter 6, Section 2A of Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Premium Lists and Closing of
Entries; and Chapter 7, Section 13 and 19, Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Judges; all of
which would establish a reserve Best in Show. The amendments were submitted by the Delegates Dog Show Rules Committee and approved by AKC BODs. AMENDMENT PASSED BY A 2/3rds VOTE BY THE DELEGATE BODY
- Proposed amendment to Chapter 1, Section 5 of the Rules
Applying to Dog Shows - Dog Shows Defined; Chapter 1 and a new Section 8 of the
Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Dog Shows Defined; and Chapter 2, Sections 11 through
15 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Making Application to Hold a Dog Show;
Chapter 3, Sections 12 through 23 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Dog Show
Classifications; and Chapter 6, Section 8, of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows -
Premium Lists and Closing of Entries, which are all housekeeping changes. The amendment
was submitted by the Delegates Dog Show Rules Committee and approved by AKC's
Board of Directors. AMENDMENT PASSED BY A 2/3rds VOTE BY THE DELEGATE BODY
The Executive Secretary read the proposed amendment to Chapter
7, Section 1 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows - Judges. This amendment is to Chapter 7, Section 1 of the Rules Applying to DogShows - Judges. It eliminates the prohibition of a person connected with dog food, dog remedy or kennel supply companies in the capacity of solicitor or salesman from becoming an AKC judge. This amendment was brought forward by the Colorado Springs Kennel Club, and was disapproved by the AKC Board of Directors. The Colorado Springs Kennel Club has demanded that it be noticed per Article XX, Section 36 of the Charter and Bylaws of the American Kennel Club. This will be published in two issues of the on-line AKC Gazette, and will be voted on by the Delegate Body at the December, 2011 meeting.
Delegates who self-nominated, and will serve three-year terms on Herding,
Earthdog and Coursing Events Committee are: Gerard Baudet, John Fitzpatrick, DVM,
and Robert LaBerge.
At the August meeting, the Board of Directors selected the following
Delegates to the Nominating Committee to select candidates for the Class of 2016.
Harold Miller, Chair, American Foxhound Club; Erik Bergishagen, Detroit Kennel Club;
James S. Corbett, Tualatin Kennel Club; Dr. Patricia Haines, Cincinnati Kennel Club;
Ruth Winston, Ladies Kennel Association of America.
Alternates: Gretchen Bernardi, Mississippi Valley Kennel Club and James Efron,
Nashville Kennel Club.
The following are the new Delegates seated since the last meeting:
Maria Arechaederra, to represent Kuvasz Club of America
Dominic Carota, to represent Pharaoh Hound Club of America
Esther Cassatt, to represent Kennel Club of Niagara Falls
Joseph Franklin, to represent Pekingese Club of America
Yale Goldman, represent Jacksonville Dog Fanciers Association
Linda LaFrance, to represent Greater Ocala Dog Club
Sally McNamara, to represent Jaxon Kennel Club
Carole Plesur, to represent Italian Greyhound Club of America
Sharon Sakson, to represent Upper Snake River Valley Dog Training Club
Karen Sen, to represent Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America
Kevin Shupenia, to represent Harrier Club of America
Robert Urban, to represent American Black & Tan Coonhound
Club of America
Suzanne Warfield, to represent Japanese Chin Club of America
The Elmira Kennel Club was voted in by (4/5 affirmative by the Delegate body) as a member of the American Kennel Club.
As the Delegate for the Dayton Kennel Club, I welcome your comments, concerns, questions, & views on any AKC business. Please feel free to email me at whim.beagles@gmail.com. I would love to hear from any of you and know what your thoughts and opinions are so that I, as your representative, can appropriately vote on the AKC matters at hand
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Groeschel
