GDCA Board Minutes

Minutes of the Board Meeting
August 6, 2005
Chicago, Illinois

Board Members present: Jane Chopson, Lynda Moriarty, Lourdes Carvajal, Lisa DeRoulet, Sid Levin, Dianne Powers, Nancy Lerch, Linda Ridder, Pookie Kostuk, David Miller, Kathy Varian, Paul Hardiman, Cindy Harwin, Dale Desjardins, Chris O’Connell, Tom Sandenaw, and Susan Davis Shaw, recording secretary.

Guests present: Diane Taylor, Harriett Cotharn, Sabryna Joy King

All motions are unanimous unless noted.

The meeting was called to order by President Jane Chopson at 8:00 AM. 

Minutes
MOTION
To approve the minutes of the meeting of May 7, 2005, as written.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

There was a discussion as to whether to place the approved minutes in the bulletin and on the GDCA website. Jane recommended placing them on the web site.

MOTION
To place the approved minutes on the web site.
Moved: Paul Hardiman 2nd: Dianne Powers

Sue will send the approved minutes to Nancy.

Corresponding Secretary
Lynda reviewed many items of correspondence. As a result, the following motions were generated.

MOTION
To participate in the Eukanuba Invitational in Tampa, Florida with a trophy donation,
catalog ad, and booth.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd Sid Levin

Diane Taylor still has a team in place and will coordinate the booth.

Lynda reviewed candidates for the AKC Lifetime Achievement Award and read bio’s on Marion Hoddesson, Dr. Harry Smith, and Dorothy Welsh.

MOTION
To direct the secretary to send in the GDCA vote for Marion Hoddesson for the AKC
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Moved: Lisa DeRoulet 2nd Lourdes Carvajal

The Board chose not to submit votes for companion events or performance events.

Lynda reviewed several items of correspondence from AKC regarding policy changes.

The Board reviewed the revised AKC puppy brochure “Congratulations on Choosing a Great Dane. Some suggestions were made for a final revision, which Lynda will bring back to AKC.

MOTION
To approve the AKC brochure “Congratulations on Choosing a Great Dane” with the exception that Lynda Moriarty and Lourdes Carvajal will work on including Charitable Trust wording.
Moved: Lisa DeRoulet 2nd: Pookie Kostuk
The Westminister web site description of the Great Dane was discussed, and Lynda will ask them to simply list the colors for conformation.

Lynda reviewed the vote on the honorary members. All received a majority to approve. Votes were submitted by 299 individuals and 15 affiliate clubs. She received requests for hard copies of the bulletin from 198 members.

It was decided to send out one more hard copy of the bulletin and to clearly state on the front cover that “This is the last hard copy you will receive unless you notify us.”

Dianne Powers was asked to add the bulletin to the Affiliate Delegates’ agenda at the national.

Jane will send congratulatory letters to the new honorary members. Sid asked her to mention that, if they wish to retain voting privileges, they need to still pay dues.

Regarding the slate of officers for 2006, Lynda has received no nominations from the floor.

Lynda read a letter from a rescue regarding deaf Great Dane puppies and requesting the Board of Directors to address this on the GDCA website.

After discussion, Jane asked Cindy Harwin to look into the issue and develop information on:

1. Information on what creates a deaf puppy
2. How to train and how to live with a deaf puppy

Jane will ask Dr. Neil O’Sullivan and JP Yousha to put something together from the aspect of genetics.

Pookie will respond to the rescue and let them know that this is being worked on.

Treasurer’s Report
Sid reviewed division financial reports.

Due to illness, he requested reinstatement of Eva Robinson.

MOTION
To reinstate the membership of Eva Robinson.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

Sid reviewed a letter from the external auditor. All is in order and we received a clean audit. Sid will meet with the auditor at the national or at the January meeting.

A possible increase in dues was discussed. Consensus was not to raise the dues. There was a request to add lines on the dues form for donations to the Charitable Trust, the Jrs. Scholarship and Health and Welfare.

MOTION
To approve the Treasurer’s report as presented.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd Lisa DeRoulet

Affiliate Representative Report
Dianne presented a request from Heart of Minnesota for an educational grant and she recommended approval.

MOTION
To recommend that the Charitable Trust fund the educational grant for the Heart of
Minnesota Great Dane Club in the amount of $700.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd Dave Miller

Paul Hardiman suggested that Charitable Trust brochures be distributed at the event, since they were funding it.

Dianne reported that four clubs had responded with revised by-laws. She commented that all four clubs did a wonderful job. Two have adopted the GDCA constitution and two have not. Dianne will talk to the clubs that have not. Dianne will also request a copy of the minutes of the meeting where the vote took place to approve the revised bylaws and she will ask them to address the constitution in their bylaws. Consensus of the board was to approve the bylaws by an electronic vote as each one comes up for approval. Dianne will check to see that she has Illini’s revised bylaws.

Paul asked Dianne to place the Charitable Trust on the Affiliate Club agenda.

Dianne was also asked to contact the four clubs that currently list under 15 members. There are also a couple of clubs that have not submitted rosters.

Parent Club Delegate
Tom Sandenaw reported on the delegates’ meeting and explained the Sunday caucus and the Monday AM meetings. He discussed the Monday afternoon delegates’ meeting. The major topic of discussion was the PAWS legislation. He reviewed the history of the legislation. Jane mentioned that the AKC website has a PAWS question and answer page, and she urged everyone to review it. Pookie questioned a possible impact on rescue and was told that it should have no impact.

Tom also reported that the Parent Club Conference was held in 2004. He has a disk if anyone is interested in seeing it.

Standing Committees
Awards
Lisa DeRoulet reviewed several suggestions from people for changes to the criteria for
awards. After discussion, the following motions were made:

MOTION
To approve that a conformation champion and UD (including comparable other AKC companion event titles) to enter the Hall of Fame.
Moved: Paul Hardiman 2nd Pookie Kostuk 

MOTION
A dog may be entered in the Hall of Fame upon earning 100 points. Points
may be earned in the following manner: an all-breed Best in Show or National Specialty Best of Breed – 10 points; a Best in Specialty Show or Group 1 – 5 points
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dianne Powers

MOTION
A Breeder Certificate may be earned by the breeder or breeders of any Great Dane earning an AKC conformation or companion event title.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd Sid Levin

MOTION
To revise the Top Awards for 2005 in Agility to be:
Top Novice, Top Open, Top Excellent
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

MOTION
To add Top Awards for Rally:
Top Novice
Top Advanced
Top Excellent
Moved: Paul Hardiman 2nd: Dianne Powers

MOTION
To amend the Hall of Fame criteria to add:
OTCH, MACH, or VCD3
Moved: Paul Hardiman 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Bylaws
Lourdes Carvajal reported on the bylaws and requested a separate mailing to send the bylaws out to members.

Futurity
David Miller reported on the current futurity numbers.

Health and Welfare
Kathy Varian reported on the cardio clinic for the national and discussed a DNA study and a two-prong cardio study.

Membership
Diane Taylor reported that some new members had not yet received her new member packet due to computer problems.

Jane asked Diane to come back to the board with a revised welcome packet. She asked board members who had anything they thought should be included in the packet to get it to Diane.

National Specialty
2005 – They need trophy donations.
2006 – Lourdes reported on veterinarians on site and nearby and also reported they will distribute a brochure at the end of the 2005 national.
2007- The hotel contract was reviewed in detail. There are a couple of questions that Jane will review with Rita.

MOTION
To direct Jane to sign the hotel contract for 2007 with a letter regarding
contingency upon any sale of the hotel.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Paul Hardiman

Rescue
Pookie reviewed the rescue grant requests. 

MOTION
To recommend that the Charitable Trust fund the following eleven Rescue
Grants:

1. Great Dane Club of Tucson (1) $500.
2. Great Dane Rescue, Inc. MI (1) 500.
3. Great Dane Rescue, Inc. MI (2) 500.
4. Great Dane Rescue, Inc. AL (1) 500.
5. Great Dane Rescue, Inc. AL (2) 500.
6. Great Dane Club of GKC Rescue Inc. (1) 500.
7. Dawn Ruhl Great Dane Rescue TN (1) 500.
8. Southwest Florida Great Dane Rescue (1) 500.
9. Willamette Great Dane Rescue (1) 500.
10. Willamette Great Dane Rescue (2) 500.
11. Illini Great Dane Club (1) 500.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Linda Ridder

Standard Committee
Jane read a letter from Bob Edison reporting that AKC had approved opening up the standard for revision. His committee will address proportion and add more detail on the mantle color. The illustrated standard will be ready for review by the time the revisions are published in the AKC Gazette.


Website
Nancy Lerch reported that 25 historical pictures are up now and they will be adding another 50, going back to 1910. Paul, the webmaster, will be adding another hour per month due to the extra work. Norvel Benoit had found an old brochure on reflections of prominent breeders. Nancy passed it around to see if members want this on the website. Jane recalled a JLuRob video on prominent breeders on the east coast. Sue will contact Louis Bond and Bob Layne to see if they have a copy available.
Special Committees

Breeder Referral
Nancy asked if she could use futurity nominations as a tool for referrals. She also asked if anyone had any additional ideas for the website.

Championship Awards
Dale Desjardins reported 365 titles, with 256 either GDCA or affiliate club members. He suggested sending out a notice to those eligible for a free award. Lisa DeRoulet commented that agility and rally should be included.

Charitable Trust
Lourdes reported that they would meet immediately following the board meeting, and all were invited to attend. She encouraged everyone to look at the web site. Lourdes reported on an $8000 donation from the No. California club and another sizeable donation from Monterey Bay. Lisa DeRoulet has offered to send a card acknowledging each memorial donation made. Lourdes requested a free page in the catalog and yearbook. Dianne was asked to suggest to affiliate clubs that, in lieu of a judge’s gift, they could make a donation in their name to the Charitable Trust.

Pedigree Bank
Kathy Varian will continue her work on the pictorial history of the breed next year, after this national is over.

Yearbook
Jane thanked Lisa DeRoulet for sending out numerous email reminders regarding the affiliate club ads in the yearbook.

New Business

Jane read a letter from Capt. Haggerty, requesting the presence of Great Danes at the German American parade in New York City on September 17th. Pookie, Sue, and Dianne will bring his request of people in the northeast.

Jane read a letter from Mike Boa inviting the board to have its January meeting in Tucson. Consensus was that it should be a decision for the new board to make in October.

Regarding standardized letters on anti cropping legislation and breed specific insurance denials, board members were asked to go back to their emails from January and February to see if letters were put out at that time.

Trophy Report
Cindy Harwin presented her research on how to make the cost of the trophies more reasonable. Using less expensive wood or a changing the base size was discussed, as well as offering the medallion on a ribbon with a velvet bag.

MOTION
To eliminate the wood base on trophies for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places
beginning in 2006 and substitute with a medallion and a bag with our logo.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Kathy Varian
Passed on a 9-6 vote 

MOTION
At the end of the 2005 national, the GDCA will purchase all of the
remaining 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place trophies.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dianne Powers

Great Dane University
The 100 level brochure, generated by the Great Dane Club of New England, was reviewed page by page and will be brought back to the board when revisions are complete. Dianne Taylor commented that the brochure will be an ideal item for “meet the breed” booths and other informational events.

Health Testing Ballot
Jane read several emails and other correspondence on the subject. She commented that most Health and Welfare Committee members would recommend CHIC testing. Wording was reviewed and discussed for the ballot and accompanying informational page.

MOTION
To approve the ballot on health testing as revised.
Moved: Lisa DeRoulet 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Health Booklets
Pookie asked where the booklets are stored. They are in Arizona. Because of the bulk and changes in some of the materials, she volunteered to take the health binders only and give out the empty binders so people could print pages from the website. People who still have their health booklets were asked to review them and see what needs to be revised and added. It was noted that the surgical guidelines and the vaccination protocol should be added.

MOTION
To adjourn the meeting at 3:15 PM
Moved: Lisa DeRoulet 2nd Nancy Lerch

The next board meeting will be held on October 14, 2005, in Chandler, Arizona.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Davis Shaw
Recording Secretary

Electronic vote:
September 5, 2005

MOTION
I would like to make a motion the GDCA send $1000.00 to the AKC Katrina Fund. If this motion passes I would like to send a challenge to all Dane owners to send money and to all breed clubs to match or better us.

Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd Lisa DeRoulet

MOTION
I make motion that we donate an additional $1000.00 to be divided between two other animal related charities: ASPCA (already there and working) and Noahswish.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd David Miller

Electronic Vote:
September 28, 2005

MOTION
That the GDCA approve the changes to the Great Dane Club of Northern
California Constitution and By-laws.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd Lourdes Carvajal


MOTION
That the GDCA approve the changes to the Heart of Minnesota Great Dane
Club Constitution and By-laws.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd Lourdes Carvajal

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