Senior Conformation Judges Association, Inc.
 

Wallace H. Pedé Chief Executive Officer
7200 Tanager St., Springfield, VA 22150
(703) 451-5656 Fax (703) 451-5979

August 30th, 2006

To The AKC Board of Directors
The American Kennel Club
260 Madison Ave.  4^th Floor
New York, NY  10016

Subject: AKC’s Judges Restriction Policy Adopted May 2006 
 

Dear AKC Board Members: 

 We will take advantage of this mailing to cover briefly a second subject concerning AKC’s new policy imposed at AKC’s May 8th & 9th, 2006 Board Meeting. I want to stress the SCJA is addressing only the policy as it affects AKC judges judging for other organizations.

All of you have received SCJA’s open letter of June 9th, 2006 to all Delegates and others in the dog world. No need to dwell further on our position, except to state we believe the policy should be rescinded as other questionable enacted policies have in the past.

We would ask that you consider two points:

     1. Pat Laurans’ comments made at the February 15th, 1998 AKC Board meeting with all three national judges organizations (enclosed and highlighted) when she indicated it was a “terrible mistake”, albeit on a completely different subject that had already been put out by the Board. Nothing wrong with each of you thinking as Pat Laurans did on that subject and just admit this was a “bad” idea and rescind it as the Board did on the subject discussed after the February 15th, 1998 joint meeting. As some of you are aware, there have been other reversals.

     2. The Board’s point in restricting AKC judges from judging at events sponsored by other organizations is clearly aimed at placing a stumbling block in front of AKC’s conceived COMPETITORS. In the process, you have punished a good many of our own AKC judges by disallowing them to gain experience by judging their approved breeds and for judges having to ask permission to even judge unapproved breeds - very intimidating to say nothing of the ominous threat of revoking their judge’s license.

We would ask you to consider AKC’s recently approved “AKC Code of Sportsmanship” concerning competitors: “Sportsmen find that vigorous competition and civility are not inconsistent and are able to appreciate the merit of their competition and the effort of competitors.’

If the AKC Board insists the folks within the AKC family “appreciate” their competitors, surely the AKC itself should appreciate its conceived competitors, and in the true American fashion, live with it and be better for it as is the custom in our country that we all love and for which a good many of us have sacrificed to maintain the freedom we have come to know and expect in the United States.

Sincerely,

Wallace H. Pedé

Chief Executive Officer

WHP/kms

SCJA: Dedicated to serving for the good of all associated with the dog world.

Handy links:

SCJA Cites AKC Charter/Bylaws re Delegate Duties June 2006
Delegates have "sole power" to make the Rules!  Not the AKC Board.

Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter to the AKC Board April 2006
Individual Rights or AKC's Right to Change The Rules in Mid-Game?

AKC Conflict Of Interest Policy May 2006
The Policy That Launched A Rebellion

Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter To Members
No Judges' Associations Were Contacted, SCJA Reacts, Seeks Input

Conflict Policy Prohibits Learning New Breeds May 2006
Where Are Judges To Learn About Plott Hounds and Icelandic Dogs?  ____________________________________________________

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