AKC REPORT, COMMENT & HIGHLIGHTS

AKC Board Of Directors Meeting October, 2010
AKC no longer furnishes "highlights" but everyone likes a quick read so we present excerpts from the Secretary's Page:

• EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT - “Z” Designation in Cocker Spaniel Registration Numbers
  There was a motion by Dr. Garvin, seconded by Ms. Scully, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve the request from the American Spaniel Club to add merle as a color designation option on the AKC Registration Application and designate each of the dogs registered as merle with a “Z” designation in the prefix of the dog number. The designation will not be retro-active but going forward for dogs registered with the merle color.

• Executive Session

• Article VII, Section 1 of AKC Bylaws - The Board reviewed a proposal from the Greater Collin Kennel Club to amend Article VII, Section 1 of the Charter and Bylaws of The America Kennel Club to preclude someone from being re-elected to the AKC Board of Directors for a full term of four years after they have served two consecutive terms. This will be discussed further at the November Board meeting.

• American Lhasa Apso Club - The Board reviewed a request from the American Lhasa Apso Club to ballot its membership for approval to open its stud book to a limited number of dogs from Native Tibetan Stock. There was a motion by Dr. Haines, seconded by Mr. Ashby, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to consider the matter at this meeting, waiving the usual prior notice requirement. There was a motion by Mr. Ashby, seconded by Mr. Marden, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to allow the American Lhasa Apso Club to ballot its membership on the issue of opening its studbook to a limited number of dogs.

• Finnish Lapphund - The Board reviewed a petition from the Finnish Lapphund Club of America seeking acceptance for the Finnish Lapphund into the American Kennel Club Stud Book and for the Finnish Lapphund to be eligible to compete in the Herding Group. This will be discussed further at the November meeting.

• Breeds Eligible for Miscellaneous Class - The Board reviewed a staff request to advance the Azawakh and Belgian Laekenois to the Miscellaneous Class effective June 30, 2011. This will be discussed further at the November meeting.

• Parent Club for Miscellaneous Class Breeds - The Board reviewed a staff request to select the Parent Club for the following breeds prior to having them enter the Miscellaneous Class: Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Dogo Argentino, and Peruvian Inca Orchid. This will be discussed further at the November meeting.

• Dogo Argentino - The Board was advised that without objection the Dogo Argentino will become the official name for the breed effective January 1, 2011, as requested by the Dogo Argentino Club of America. The breed’s current name is Argentine Dogo. There was no objection.

• Hovawart - The Board was advised that the Foundation Stock Service Committee recently approved the petition for the Hovawart to be accepted into the FSS program.

• United States Australian Shepherd Association Proposal - There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Ms. Scully, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to consider the matter at this meeting, waiving the usual prior notice requirement. There was a motion by Dr. Garvin, seconded by Mrs. Strand, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to allow the United States Australian Shepherd Association to ballot its membership on the issue of removing dogs that were either initially registered from National Stock Dog Registry pedigrees or are descendants of these dogs that meet the phenotype of a “miniature” Australian Shepherd from its Stud Book. These dogs would then be registered as a separate breed.

• Registration of Dalmatian/Pointer Cross decedents - There was a discussion on the possible registration of descendents of a Dalmatian Pointer cross breeding. This will be discussed further at the November 2010 meeting.

• Old English Sheepdog Breed Standard - There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Ashby, and it was VOTED (unanimously; absent Dr. Smith) to allow the Old English Sheepdog Club of America to ballot its membership on proposed revisions to the breed standard in accordance with the club’s Constitution and Bylaws.

• Japanese Chin Breed Standard - There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Arnold, and it was VOTED (unanimously; absent Dr. Smith) to allow the Japanese Chin Club of America to ballot its membership on proposed revisions to the Color section of its breed standard in accordance with the club’s Constitution and Bylaws.

• Canaan Dog Breed Standard - There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Dr, Haines, and it was VOTED (unanimously; absent Dr. Smith) to allow the Canaan Dog Club of America to ballot its membership on proposed revisions to the breed standard in accordance with the club’s Constitution and Bylaws.

• Pomeranian Breed Standard - The Board concurred with staff’s recommendation to have the American Pomeranian Club re-ballot the membership of the American Pomeranian Club on all proposed revisions to the breed standard concerning color or pattern. See background on club balloting.

• American Foxhound - The Board reviewed the results of the balloting of the membership of the American Foxhound Club on proposed revisions to the breed standard. They will be published in the Secretary’s page of the AKC Gazette.

• Great Dane Breed Standard - The Board reviewed the results of the balloting of the membership of the Great Dane Club of America on proposed revisions to the breed standard. They will be published in the Secretary’s page of the AKC Gazette.

• Cane Corso Breed Standard - The Board reviewed a request from the Cane Corso Association of America to make a correction to the breed standard as published by The American Kennel Club. There was a motion by Dr. Haines, seconded by Dr. Davies, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to consider the matter at this meeting, waiving the usual prior notice requirement. There was a motion by Mrs. Strand, seconded by Dr. Garvin, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to allow for the correction of the published breed standard to reflect the approved standard. Mr. Ashby left the meeting to attend a memorial service.

• Four to Six Month Puppy Competition - The Board reviewed the staff’s recommended proposal for the addition of a 4-6 month beginner puppy class to be held as a special attraction at All Breed and Specialty conformation events. This will be discussed further at the November meeting. The proposal is to institute this as a trial program, and staff was authorized to work with a club un Michigan and a club in Oregon, to try it in early 2011.

• AKC Grand Championship Ranking System - Without objection the Board approved a new Grand Championship Ranking System, effective immediately. The Grand Champion Ranking system will allow exhibits to continue to accumulate points through the end of the year and the Top 25 winners will be determined and recognized by the largest number of points accumulated by Breed. In addition, in January 2011 a category for the Top 10 Grand Champion pointed dogs by breed in each state will be available as an added accomplishment to the dog’s record. Continuing in May 2011, levels of recognition that include Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards of achievement to exhibits obtaining a predetermined number of points for each level of awards will be available. These awards will not be considered a title.

• Championship Points Computation - There was discussion on the Championship Points computation for conformation events. There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Mrs. Strand, and it was VOTED (affirmative: Mr. Menaker, Dr. Davies, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Marden, Mrs. Strand, Ms. Scully, Mr. Arnold, Dr. Newman, Mr. Kalter, Dr. Haines; opposed: Dr. Garvin; Absent: Mr. Ashby, Dr. Smith ) to reduce the point schedule computations from a calculation using a 3-year averaging to a single year calculation beginning with the 2011-2012 Schedule of Points, and to remove all independent and designated Specialties held by National breed Parent Clubs, as well as the local shows held three days prior to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, from the data base used to make the calculations for the 2011-2012 Schedule of Points.

• Judging Advertising/Solicitation - There was a discussion on the policy regarding advertising and solicitation of judging assignments by AKC approved judges. The tremendous growth in the amount and types of AKC events, together with the increasing number of AKC approved judges, and the fact that modern technology offers a way to connect available judges to event-giving clubs across the nation without regard to the traditional limitations of familiarity, communications, and geography, and given that judges are not AKC employees, there was a motion by Mrs. Strand, seconded by Dr. Davies, and it was VOTED (unanimously, absent Mr. Ashby and Dr. Smith) that, effective immediately (October 19, 2010), judges no longer be prohibited from advertising or  soliciting assignments. This applies to all AKC events, and judges are responsible for ensuring that all information is factual and accurate, and that any advertising or solicitation is not fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading.

• Judges Temporary Referral Policy - The Board reviewed a staff proposed policy to permit AKC to hold an AKC- approved judge’s eligibility to judge or to accept assignments in abeyance on a temporary basis, pending the outcome of certain criminal charges.

• AKC Gazette Notification of Judging Approvals - The Board reviewed a staff proposal to eliminate the first publication in the Gazette that advises that a judging applicant has been approved but cannot accept assignments at this time. Staff further recommends the publications be reduced to one single notice that the applicant has been approved for the provisional breeds listed and may now accept assignments. Following a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Arnold, it was VOTED (unanimously; absent Mr. Ashby, Dr. Smith) to adopt the above procedure, effective immediately.

• Dealing with Misconduct at AKC Events - There was a discussion on the standard fines and penalties listed in the AKC’s Discipline Guidelines. Staff was asked to revisit the penalties associated with the Mistreatment of Dogs and to bring back recommendations.

• The Board VOTED to approve the American English Coonhound and Cesky Terrier to be eligible to compete in the Hound & Terrier Group effective June 30, 2011 and to approve the attached standard as the official standard for the breed. The breed will move from the Foundation Stock Service into the Stud Book of the American Kennel Club on June 1, 2011. AKC will maintain an open registry for the breed until July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2015

• Pension Committee - Mr. Marden gave the report on the Pension Committee. The AKC Pension Fund is currently 85% funded which places it in the top tier of pension plans nationwide according to the plan’s trustee, New York Life. Consequently, AKC will not have to make a contribution to the plan until 2012.