AKC REPORT, COMMENT & HIGHLIGHTS

AKC Board Of Directors Meeting

(January 2011)
AKC no longer furnishes "highlights" but everyone likes a quick read so we present excerpts from the Secretary's Page and/or Board Minutes

• PENSION COMMITTEE Mr. Marden, Chairman of the Pension Committee, reported that on the previous day the committee was given the annual reports of the various fund managers. The AKC Pension Plan is currently 83% funded. This amount would have been higher if interest rates had not declined during the year, which increased the present value of the plan’s actuarial liability..

• Opening Toy Fox Terrier Stud Book The Board approved a request from the American Toy Fox Terrier Club to open the Toy Fox Terrier stud book. The stud book will be open to dogs with acceptable three-generation United Kennel Club pedigrees for a period of 18 months effective May 1, 2011. (May 1, 2011 – November 1, 2012).

• Parent Club Approval for Misc. Class Breeds - The Board approved the following clubs as the official AKC Parent Club for their respective breed: Azawakh – the American Azawakh Association | Belgian Laekenois - the American Belgian Laekenois Association | Cirneco Dell’Etna – the Cirneco dell’Etna Club of America.

• 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 American 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. The Board took no action. The amendment therefore will be read in March 2011, with a vote in June 2011, with no Board recommendation.

• Article VI, Section 5 of AKC Bylaws - The Board reviewed a proposal to add a new paragraph (Section 5) to Article VI, of the AKC Bylaws to prohibit former AKC employees, who were dismissed or were requested to resign for misconduct, or that were subsequently determined to have committed a material violation of AKC policy, from serving as an AKC Delegate. Following a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Mr. Kalter, it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve the following wording: Article VI Section 5, (New Paragraph):
  No person may become or remain a delegate if the individual, as an employee or contractor, (i) has been terminated or requested to resign in lieu of termination or whose services were otherwise terminated, for reasons related to misconduct, by the American Kennel Club, or an AKC subsidiary or other AKC-affiliated organization, as determined by the sole discretion of the AKC, the AKC subsidiary or other AKC-affiliated organization, as applicable, or (ii) is subsequently determined to have engaged in conduct that constitutes or constituted a material violation of policy as determined by the AKC Board of Directors, or the AKC subsidiary or other AKC-affiliated organization, as applicable. This amendment will be read in March 2011, for a VOTE in June 2011, with an immediate effective date.

• Trial Board Structure - Based on a request from the Board, Staff reviewed the current Trial Board Structure. No changes to the present structure will be made at this time.

• Parent Club Approval for Miscellaneous Class Breeds - The Board reviewed the clubs that Staff has recommended to serve as the Parent Club for Spanish Water Dog and the Coton de Tulear. This will be discussed further at the April meeting. | Cirneco dell’Etna - The Board reviewed a request from the Cirneco dell’Etna Club of America to advance the Cirneco dell’Etna to the Miscellaneous Class. This will be discussed further at the April meeting.

• Wikipedia - It had previously been noted that the Wikipedia content entry for The American Kennel Club included misleading and incorrect information. The Delegate Canine Health Committee had been requested to, and has provided, suggested changes. The American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation has also been asked for input. A final version will be prepared by AKC’s Communications Department and an effort will be made to have this factual information placed on Wikipedia.

• APPEALS COMMITTEE - Dr. Newman gave the report of the Appeals Committee.
  Mrs. Jacqueline L. Stacy - At its meeting on October 19, 2010 (Not LISTED in the 2010 October Board Minutes or 2010 Secretary's Report), the Board suspended the judging privileges for Mrs. Jacqueline Stacy and fined her $500 in connection with her disregard for and failure to adhere to both the “Conflict of Interest” and the “Ethics, Honesty, and Common Sense” guidance in the Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges booklet. Mrs. Stacy appealed this decision. During the appeal the suspension was stayed. The Appeals Committee found that Mrs. Stacy’s actions reflected a lack of judgment and common sense, and recommended that the penalty be set at a reprimand and $100 fine. The Board adopted the recommendation of the Appeals Committee.
  Mr. Charles P. (Skip) Herendeen III - At its meeting on October 19, 2010 (Not LISTED in the 2010 October Board Minutes or 2010 Secretary's Report), the Board suspended the judging privileges of Mr. Charles P. (Skip) Herendeen III, for failure to respond to an AKC inquiry and for inaccuracies in judging applications. Mr. Herendeen appealed this decision. During the appeal the suspension was stayed. The Appeals Committee upheld the decision, but recommended that the penalty be set at a five-year suspension of judging application privileges, five-year suspension of judging privileges, and a $300 fine. The Board adopted the recommendation of the Appeals Committee.  Get The Real Story of The Herendeen Case

• Scottish Terrier Breed Standard - The Board discussed proposed revisions to the Scottish Terrier Breed Standard. There were questions, which were to be addressed with the Scottish Terrier Club of America.

• Boston Terrier Breed Standard - The Board reviewed the results of the Boston Terrier Club of America’s ballot of its membership on proposed revisions to the Color and Markings and Disqualifications sections of its breed standard. Following a motion by Dr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Arnold, it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve the proposed Boston Terrier Standard with an effective date of March 30, 2011.

• Tibetan Mastiff Breed Standard - The Board discussed proposed revisions to the Tibetan Mastiff breed standard. There were questions which are to be pursued with the American Tibetan Mastiff Association.

• Enriching Dog Shows - Based on a request from the Board, Staff presented an analysis on the number of All-Breed Conformation dogs shows held annually with recommendations to current policies. Additionally, they recommended new programs that could enrich the dog show experience for exhibitors and clubs which include the Open Show proposal, an AKC Owner Handler Series and an Adult Handler Competition.

• New Conformation Events - There was a lengthy discussion on the proliferation of new shows and the negative impact this was having on the entries at long established events. With thirteen All-Breed, twenty Group, and one hundred and fifty-seven Specialty clubs at the Sanctioned Match level there could be as many as three hundred and eighty additional shows within the next year or two. There was a motion by Mrs. Strand, seconded by Mr. Kalter, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to place an indefinite moratorium on the licensing of new Conformation clubs, with the exception of new breed Parent clubs, while AKC studies the issue of the increase in the numbers of shows accompanied by average decline in entries.
  There was a motion by Mr. Kalter, seconded by Mr. Davies, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to not approve any additional All-Breed or Group shows for existing clubs while the AKC studies the issue of the increase in the number of shows accompanied by declining entries. Thus an All-Breed or Group club that has been holding one show a year will not be approved for more than one show a year.

• Proposed Dog Show Rule Changes - In January the Board approved amendments which would have created a Reserve Best in Show Placement and fifth and sixth placements in the Groups. It was to have been read in March for a vote in June 2011. However, the Board agreed to postpone the read until June, with a vote in September.

• Discipline Guidelines - There was a discussion on the Discipline Guidelines regarding the violation, “mistreatment of dogs in connection with an event”. This will be considered further at the April 2011 meeting.

• Deceased Judges; Mr. Phillip A. Lanard III - Mrs. Josanne E. Larsen - Mr. Merlin J. Van de Kinder

• Emeritus Judges; Mrs. Midge Ruscak

• Resigned Judges; Ms. Christine Feldman-Bartnick

• Reinstated Judges; Mr. Mark Threlfall