GDCA Board Minutes

GDCA Board Meeting
January 16th and 17th, 2010 - Las Vegas, Nevada
MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 8:10 AM by President David Miller. The following members were in attendance:

Cindy Harwin, Dianne Powers, Nancy Ridgway, Paul Hardiman, Chuck Crawford, Lynda Moriarty, Joe Longo, Doug Toomey, Jane Treiber, Jean Highlands, Dave Miller, Susan Davis Shaw, Jane Chopson

MOTION
To excuse the absences of Linda Ridder, Rita Suddarth, and Tom Sandenaw.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Nancy Ridgway

The time and place of the next board meeting was discussed.

MOTION
To hold the next board meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 24th.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Nancy Ridgway

Rita will be asked to make the arrangements.

Minutes
MOTION
To approve the minutes of the October board meeting as submitted.
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Corresponding Secretary
Nancy Ridgway reviewed several items of correspondence, including:
• A thank you note from Nancy Simmons
• An email from a graphic designer
• A letter regarding a dispute with a member breeder – We will respond that it is a civil matter and not within the role of a parent club. We will also draft a general response letter for such complaints.
• A thank you from the Great Dane Rescue of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• A letter from a Purina employee, Michael Allway
• A letter from Beverly Capstick regarding breed mentors, which was given to Jane Treiber for response
• An invitation from Take the Lead

Treasurer’s Report
Jean Highlands reviewed her report. In this fiscal year we will close out two nationals. She was disappointed in the sales of the CD’s. Dianne will include it in her affiliate mailing and we will put it on the website. There was a question regarding the lease on the postage meter. We will investigate and give notice that we do not wish to renew the lease when the current contract expires.

MOTION
To accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Jane Chopson

Jean also received correspondence requesting a donation to the Canine Health Foundation. Paul or Jane C. will contact them to see how they are distributing their information. Dave will also contact JP Yousha.

Jean distributed the 2009 Futurity Financial Summary. The Futurity this year had the largest entry in history and a profit of $4,495.95.

Affiliate Representative
Dianne reported that she has distributed a survey for Health & Welfare. To date she has had only two responses. Dianne’s term is up this year and she has asked the affiliate delegates to be thinking of someone to replace her. She is working with several clubs on their bylaw revisions and will submit them for email votes.

Awards – Lisa DeRoulet has resigned as awards chairman. Jeannette Daley will replace her.

Futurity – Entries are down 35% from last year at this time.

Health & Research – An email was received from Leeann Clark at Clemson. She needs a letter to confirm funding. The Charitable Trust will look into it as they have already approved the funding.

Judges Education – Jane Treiber asked the board if they wanted ringside mentoring for Best of Breed at the 2010 national. Consensus was yes. Jane C. suggested that they watch puppy judging as well. Jane T. responded that she does try to have a lot of ‘hands-on’ with the puppies. So far she only has one Judges Education program booked and that is in New Castle, PA in late May. She reported that she will need someone to step in and replace her in 2011.

The board entered into a brief executive session.

Returning to regular session, Jane will ask Bill Stebbins if he would like to cover for her. If he accepts, she will ask him to assist her in 2010 so that he will be familiar with the program.

Standard Committee
Regarding the revision of the standard, Jane reported that Sue Davis Shaw has been compiling comments on the proposed revision. Sue reported that the overwhelming choice appears to be Option 5, with 70 emails in favor. Jane T.’s recommendation was to go with Option 5 to be presented to AKC and, if approved, to the membership for a vote.

MOTION
To approve the recommendation of the Standard Committee to present Option 5 (Merle is normal) to AKC.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Dianne Powers

Paul reminded the board that the sentence at the end of the harlequin description needs to be removed, as it doesn’t belong there and is redundant.

An explanation of the process for changing the standard is to be placed on the website.

The proportion issue was discussed.
MOTION
To take out the line in the standard that refers to the proportion of 50/50.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

Sue Davis Shaw will notify AKC and give a statement to Nancy Lerch for the website.

Jane Treiber continued her report, telling the board that we have the biggest illustrated standard. She passed around some samples of illustrated standards from other working breeds for review. We can’t do anything until the standard is done, but she wanted to board to be thinking of how they would like it to be.

There was a short break.

Upon everyone’s return, the committee reports continued.

Judges Selection – Dave reported that Mary Ellen Thomas will stay on as Judges Selection Chairman.

Membership – Lynda Moriarty reported that the comment period ends next week on the 23rd for those applicants that were recently published and she will ask for an electronic vote at that time.

National Specialty – Lynda reported that she had an outstanding conference call with the division chairmen last Sunday. She had a letter with regards to schedule changes for 2010. They would like to move Rally to Monday after the Futurity judging.

MOTION
To move the 2010 Rally judging to Monday after the completion of Futurity judging.
Moved: Nancy Ridgway 2nd: Doug Toomey

They had another request, which was to open the Agility Trial to all breeds. There was discussion and Jane Chopson suggested that they may need a separate insurance rider. It was noted that agility is held in an off-site facility.

MOTION
To approve opening Agility up to all breeds for the 2010 national.
Moved: Paul Hardiman 2nd: Chuck Crawford

A third request was to allow outside people to attend the educational programs.

MOTION
To allow the division to open up their educational programs to people from other breeds.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Paul Hardiman

The menus for 2010 were discussed. Joe Longo will review them with Teri Holle.

Jane Chopson suggested that they hold a new exhibitor briefing for townspeople.

They have contact Dr. Tirrell regarding his doing a cardio clinic. Dave asked Teri to put together a proposal and a budget and to submit it to the Charitable Trust. Dave commented that to have a board-certified cardiologist do the testing for his third national will result in important data for the future.

2008 – Lynda reported that they had approval from an independent CPA. They do have an issue with one club that fulfilled their pre-national financial responsibilities but only one person from the club attended. The central division will have to make a decision as to whether that club should benefit financially. They will have a conference call and the division clubs will decide. If the clubs decide not to let them share in the profit, their contribution will be refunded.

MOTION
To approve the financials from the Central Division.
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Paul Hardiman

The consensus was that we need to better organize the final reviews. Ed Sledick was suggested as someone who would be knowledgeable and who might be willing to do the reviews. Jean will contact him and see if he is willing to do them and in a timely manner. If not, Jean and Dave will make a decision. Jean has been finalizing the financials with Gabi Kostiuk.

There was a break for lunch.

Upon reconvening, the Committee reports continued.

Rescue – Kathie Shea’s report was reviewed.

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund two Rescue Grants in the amount of $1,000 to Great Dane Rescue of Northern California.

Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Jane Chopson

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund two Rescue Grants in the amount of $1,000 to the Heart of Texas Great Dane Club.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund a rescue grant in the amount of $320. to the Great Dane Club of the Mid-South.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

Website – Nancy Lerch submitted her report. Cindy and Dianne, who were previously appointed to the website committee, will review other breed sites with Nancy and Paul to see if it should be organized differently. Nancy and Paul were praised for doing an outstanding job.

Championship Awards – Cheryl Godwin will be contacted to see what is done within this committee.

Charitable Trust – Jane Chopson reported that the Charitable Trust has established a budget for the coming year. They operated at the loss this past year and therefore will limit their expenditures this coming year and expenditures will be capped, a first step in being prudent. The Donor-Pro program was discussed. Paul talked about the legacy alliance packet that he had put together for donors. He has hired an attorney, Attorney Laurie Silver, in the event there are issues in regard to estate donations. He also reported that Oyama and Clark will do a parallel study. Neil thinks that we should do a genome project and is looking at a number of different people with canine experience.

Corporate Sponsors – Joe passed out the information that he gives out each year to the corporate sponsors. He wants to give a little more to each category. He suggested the following additions:
• Platinum Sponsor – Give up to 20’ of space if available
• Gold Sponsor – Give up to 15’ of space if available, a show catalog and a Top 20 catalog
• Silver Sponsor – up to 10’ of booth space if available
• Bronze Sponsor – two tickets to the Top 20 and a catalog

Joe discussed the importance of keeping the corporate sponsors and the vendors separate.

Historian - Nancy Ridgway reported that she had received in the mail a huge packet with news clippings going back 50-60 years. The board discussed having historical materials scanned. Nancy will check into how much it would cost the have the materials scanned.

Newsletter – Cindy asked the board to email their materials to her in a timely manner and exactly the way they want them inserted in the newsletter.

Pedigree Bank – Kathy Varian and Cindy Harwin had talked about the pedigree bank that Glenn Beech has compiled and if we could somehow incorporate it. Cindy will email a link for the board’s review. Paul suggested a motion to donate to the website after it has been reviewed for accuracy.

Written Standard – Sue Davis Shaw will contact AKC and put the information on the website.

New Business

National Specialty Financial Allocations – The National Specialty Financial Allocation document was reviewed. There was a discussion about standardizing the Top 20 fees.

Since the only means of income for the GDCA are dues and the national profit, breaking even at the national is no longer ok. The board discussed ways to make money:
• Perhaps offering hats, shirts, etc., to the general public on the website.
• Jane Treiber will research the possibility of running a GDCA cruise.
• They discussed starting as associate membership at some point.

Meet the Breeds - There was a discussion about finding a coordinator with creative skills.

The meeting recessed at 4:30 PM.

January 17, 2010


The meeting was resumed at 8:10 AM by President Dave Miller.

The same board members were in attendance and were joined by:

Louis G. Bond, Lourdes Carvajal, Putt Richards, Linda Jacobs and Tom Jacobs.

Dave welcomed the guests.

MOTION
That the National Specialty Coordinator will be allowed to show at the national.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Nancy Ridgway

There was a discussion of the trophy donations to the division and how it affects the split. Specialties held before the national, their advantages and disadvantages were discussed.

MOTION
Any specialty held in conjunction with a national will follow the national, not precede it, and will assume all financial responsibilities starting in 2011.
Moved: Doug Toomey 2nd: Jane Chopson

The following points were discussed:
• It was discussed that the Top 20 has had the same entry fee for 25 years and it should be raised.
• Having score cards and ballots so that attendees may guess the winner. When the Top 20 winner is announced a slip will be drawn from those who picked the winner and that person will win an amount of money.
• How ‘free’ rooms may be allocated. Room night credits should be credited to the master account.
• The division needs to use some kind of automated accounting system.
• There is no job description for the National Specialty Coordinator. Lynda will coordinate with the division chairman to develop a job description.
• The bonding of the division treasurer.
• We need to have an escape clause in the event local laws change. Nancy will draft a paragraph.
• The cost of the contract review will be split 50/50.
• Futurity judges will be compensated.
• Performance event fees and expenses are at the discretion of the division.
• Changes in regard to Corporate Sponsors.
• Add Novice Intermediate and Open Intermediate to the Jr. Show classes
• The price of catalogs cannot be reduced during the national.
• Top 20
Tight leads should be acceptable if a dog has been shown that way
Two down and backs; do not stop on the down and backs.
Judges should sit on the left side of the table
Tape will be placed on the floor where they want the dog to stand
Bring back the half points in the scoring
In the event of a tie, all will be invited up to #20
The Top 20 entry fee will be raised to $200 and will include a catalog
Conversation should be kept to a normal tone
Music may be played
The announcer needs to emphasize that applause should be held to the end

MOTION
The division use of rooms is at their discretion as long as it incurs no cost to the Parent Club.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Cindy Harwin

MOTION
To approve all changes to the National Specialty Rules & Regulations.
Moved: Jane Chopson 2nd: Chuck Crawford

MOTION
To recess the meeting until April 24 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Davis Shaw
Recording Secretary

The following motions were moved, properly seconded, and unanimously voted electronically, unless otherwise noted.

MOTION
January 23, 2010
That the applicants included in this email be voted into membership.

Teija Salmi-Aalto
Deborah Freeman
Jenny Kenton
Jennifer Rychcik
Danna Paine
Gay Peck
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Jean Highlands

MOTION
January 25, 2010
To vote Ann-Christin Danielsson into membership.
Moved: Susan Davis Shaw 2nd: Nancy Ridgway