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AKC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS & REPORT

The American Kennel Club

 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT May 2009

-- Make Plans to Attend Meet the Breeds™ This October in New York City  --


 Building on the success of the annual Meet the Breeds event held at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship each December, the American Kennel Club will be holding its first stand-alone Meet the Breeds™ October 17-18, 2009 at the Javits Center in New York City. Co-hosted by the Cat Fanciers Association and sponsored by Pet Partners, Inc., it will be the largest showcase of its kind in the world, featuring more than 160 dog breeds and 41 cat breeds. When you add in fun and educational demonstrations – dog and cat grooming, dog and cat agility, AKC Canine Good CitizenŽ Testing and S.T.A.R. Puppy™ demos, K-9 Search and Rescue and First Aid for dogs and cats – as well as an art contest for kids, hundreds of unique vendors and a few surprises along the way, this will be an event that can’t be missed.

As in the past, the Parent Clubs for each breed have been invited to staff the booths and decorate them to showcase the prominent characteristics, country of origin, and historical purpose and function of their breeds. Group winners and a Best in Show Booth will be selected by the public. But most importantly, Parent Club volunteers -- the backbone of an event like this -- and their dogs will be on-hand all weekend to meet and greet visitors, hand out educational materials and teach the public about the characteristics of their breed. We are thankful for the outpouring of support that both Parent clubs and regional New York City-area clubs have shown thus far. Their willingness to participate will help make the event a great success.

And who says dogs and cats can’t get along? Our compatriots at the Cat Fanciers Association will be running their own educational area throughout the weekend that will feature grooming demonstrations, disaster preparedness tips and Judging 101, in which a judge will walk the public through the cat judging process. “Ask the Expert” sessions and a “Breed Showcase” will inform event-goers about cat ownership and the temperament and history of different cat breeds.

Public Education Coordinators and Canine Ambassadors in the tri-State area can also involve their schools and community groups in the festivities through the Meet the Breeds™ Art Contest. Students from ages 6-17 who are enrolled in grades 1-12 in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut are eligible to draw, paint or design with the aid of a computer a purebred dog or cat and compete for Best in Show and great prizes. The winning artwork will be displayed at the Javits Center and on www.meetthebreeds.com. All eligible entrants will also receive two free admission passes to the Javits Center the weekend of the event. Please encourage all young dog or cat lovers in your area to enter this contest. More information can be found at http://www.akc.org/meet_the_breeds/art_contest_flier.pdf

We recommend that you bookmark www.meetthebreeds.com and visit it regularly over the coming months as we continue to add information about new demonstrations and events, tickets and more. It’s shaping up into an exciting inaugural event, and we highly encourage everyone in the area to make plans to attend!

Sincerely,

 

Ron Menaker

Chairman
 

Highlights from the May 2009 Board Of Directors Meeting

  • The Russell Terrier will become eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous Class, effective January 1, 2010.
  • The kennel name "Sunnybank (Albert Payson Terhune) was retired for Collies, and the kennel name "Squier" (Richard H. and Doris Squier) was retired for Field Spaniels.
  • The revised standards for the Akita, the Black Russian Terrier, and the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, were approved as published in the AKC GAZETTE, effective July 1, 2009.
  • The Board approved the new suffix title, Certificate of Merit (CM) for dogs competing in the Miscellaneous Class, effective January 1, 2010. The details are in the May 2009 AKC Board minutes.
  • The Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges were amended to prohibit a judge from using the services of an agent for at least four months after that agent exhibited under the judge. Previously, the Guidelines only specified four months before.
  • The Board adopted a number of changes recommended by the Retriever Advisory Committee as follows:
    • Advice on amateurs judging a professional with whom they have a training relationship.
    • Changing "should" to "shall" in a number of the Standard Procedures.
    • An amendment to Chapter 8, Section 9, of the Retriever Field Trial Rules regarding dogs with contagious communicable diseases. This will be read at the June 2009 Delegate meeting, with a VOTE in September 2009.
  • Regulations for AKC Coonhound Bench Shows, Field Trials and Nite Hunts, and Water Races were amended to provide additional structure and clarification. The amendments are included in the May 2009 minutes.
  • The Match Regulations were amended to require clubs to notify AKC no later than 15 days prior to holding on "OC" match. This change is effective August 1, 2009.
  • The Rally Regulations were amended, effective immediately, to allow clubs to put the date of the trial and the name of the club on the face, back tab, or on a label attached to the ribbon.
  • The AKC Regulations for Agility Trials were amended, effective September 1, 2009, to allow clubs to hold a FAST class agility trial on the day preceding or following two consecutive days of agility trials.
  • The following Delegates were approved:
    • Ralph E. Hogancamp, Woodbury, MN, to represent Minneapolis Kennel Club
    • Marjorie B. McTernan, Punta Gorda, FL, to represent Norfolk Terrier Club
    • Barbara O’Neill, Seattle, WA, to represent Borzoi Club of America
    • Judith L. Priestly, Flint, MI, to represent Companion Dog Training Club of Flint
    • Mary Jo Rasmussen, Falls Church, VA, to represent Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America
    • Martha Ruskai, Winston-Salem, NC, to represent Winston-Salem Dog Training Club
    • Deborah J. Wilkins, Prior Lake, MN, to represent St. Croix Valley Kennel Club
    • Harvey M. Wooding, Redding, CT, to represent Westminster Kennel Club

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