GDCA Board Minutes

Great Dane Club of America, Inc.
Board Meeting
January 28, 2006
Dallas, Texas.


The meeting was called to order at 8:00 AM by President, Linda Ridder. 

Present: Sid Levin, Dave Miller, Warren Benoit, Lynda Moriarty, Kathy Varian, Joe Longo, Linda Ridder, Sue Davis Shaw, Lourdes Carvajal, Cindy Harwin, Dianne Powers, Pookie Kostuk, Tom Sandenaw, Dale Desjardins and Chuck Crawford

Absent: Jane Chopson

All motions are unanimous unless otherwise stated.

MOTION
To excuse the absence of Jane Chopson.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Cindy Harwin

The board entered into executive session. Upon reconvening, the meeting continued with the secretary’s report.

Secretary’s Report
MOTION
To accept the minutes with the following corrections:
· To list Tom Sandenaw as present at the second board meeting
· To add for clarification , “on Page 10, Under Judges” to the motion, All final nominees are to be notified by mail with proof of delivery……… 
Moved: Warren Benoit 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

Corresponding Secretary 
Lynda Moriarty reviewed many items of correspondence. Several related to the Top 20 score sheets. She read notes from members asking to have the Top 20 score sheets released. Correspondence on that issue was reviewed from the Boxer Club, the Doberman Club and the Alaskan Malamute Club. The item has been placed on the agenda under National Specialties. The procedure for announcing the Top 20 winner will be discussed as well. Lynda had correspondence from the Canine Health Foundation and an e-mail from David Frye requesting a link to Westminster from the GDCA website. This has been done. Pookie shared a Christmas card from David Farquharson and expressed his gratitude at being made an honorary member.

Treasurer’s Report
Sid Levin presented his report and read excerpts from the final audit report.
MOTION
To accept the Treasurer’s report as presented.
Moved: Warren Benoit 2nd Cindy Harwin

Pookie asked if it would be possible to have more credit card use at the national. Sid will look into it.

Affiliate Delegate’s Report
Dianne Powers reported that she is working with the Great Dane Club of the Mid-South on their by-laws. She asked that, if they make the changes to their constitution that she has requested, their by-laws then be approved by electronic vote. She is still working with a couple of other clubs on their by-laws. Dianne has had no response from the clubs she contacted with low memberships. She will follow through and review the membership lists when they all come in.

Legislative
Tom Sandenaw reported that he will be at the AKC March delegates’ meeting. He reviewed items of correspondence from the AKC and commended them for keeping their delegates well informed. Tom reported that the AKC was active in hurricane relief efforts pertaining to dogs. The PAWS legislation is being rewritten. He reported that AKC board elections are upcoming and he will send out the names when he gets them.

Sid told Tom that AKC has not addressed the group clubs regarding whether 
they are considered all-breed or specialty clubs.

Futurity
Dave Miller reported on the futurity numbers and also reported that Purina has asked for a change in the method of reporting. The form is currently being restructured.

Health & Research 
Linda Ridder passed around a report received from Dr. Neil O’Sullivan.

Judges Selection
Lynn Brown Quick reported to Linda that the ballot will be going out and is due back by April 28th.

Membership
MOTION
The following applicants were voted into membership:

Debbie Burden
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dale Desjardins

Rich Friedlen and Kelly Wilder
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dianne Powers

Joyce Guthrie
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Sid Levin

Mike and Fay Holbay
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Sid Levin

Kay Ivalis
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Gary H. Kettring
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Beverly L. Mercer
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

Deborah Schenher
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dianne Powers

Lisa A. Taylor
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Leslie Telford
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Alan Steven Yockelson
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Cindy Harwin

The application of Catherine and Robert Roh was tabled for additional information from the membership committee. Diane Taylor will be asked to go back to the sponsors and give the sponsors the opportunity to respond to the fact that there are negative comments about persons that they sponsored.

There was a discussion of the membership procedure. Diane Taylor will be asked to put together an overview of the membership procedures and timelines to be reviewed at the next board meeting. It was noted that we need a procedure to follow up with sponsors regarding any negative feedback on an applicant. There were concerns that the sponsor letter is not available on the web site with the application.

There was a discussion regarding the need for a procedure manual detailing job descriptions and procedures for each committee. Once completed, the file copy will be kept by the recording secretary. 

MOTION
To ask all Committee Chairmen to submit a job description before the next board meeting.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Lynda will contact each committee chair to ask that they submit a job description before the next meeting.

Judges’ Education
Pookie asked if the board could see the Judges’ Education power point presentation. Lynda Ridder will contact Judy Harrington and make the request.

National Specialty
2005
The 2005 financial statement was discussed.

MOTION
To accept the 2005 financial report with cosmetic corrections.
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Kathy Varian

2006
Lourdes reported on the completed show application. She noted that the obedience judge needs to be released from the contract. Lourdes asked the GDCA to register with AKC and to get a password so that applications may be done on line. Lynda will take care of it. Lourdes also reported that everything is in place and running smoothly.

2007
Nothing to report.

2008
Joe Longo reported that he will have a location within the next couple of weeks.

Top 20
MOTION
To release the Top 20 score sheets to the owners.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Kathy Varian
The motion failed.

MOTION
To have a CPA attend the Awards Dinner at the division’s expense and hand carry and present the envelope containing the name of the winner of the Top 20.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Companion Events
The board commended Sandy Schneider on a good report. In response to her recommendations, the following motions were made:

MOTION
Upon recommendation from Sandy Schneider, that we add the following two trophies: HSA, Highest Scoring Dog in Agility and HSR, Highest Scoring Dog in Rally.
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

MOTION
To allow the reporting of dogs in previous Agility and Rally trials that would have been the High Scoring Dog to be listed as such for historical purposes. 
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Kathy Varian

In response to a letter from the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club, the following motion was made:

MOTION
That we choose not to participate in drafting events.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Kathy Varian

In response to a question, Tom Sandenaw reviewed the cost of trophies for companion events.

At this point, the business was suspended so that Cindy Harwin could introduce Dr. Keith Murphy from Texas A & M University, who spoke about his work in discovering the merle gene and his need for funding in order to continue to work towards discovering the harlequin gene. He estimated the cost of funding to be approximately $69,000.

After Dr. Murphy concluded, there was a break for lunch.

Upon reconvening, the funding of Dr. Murphy’s study was discussed. The board enthusiastically supported the research but cannot afford to totally fund the project. The consensus was to go back to Dr. Neil O’Sullivan with an endorsement in concept and to get funding recommendations from the Health and Research Committee. Sid suggested and the board discussed having the GDCA match funds so that money raised would only be $35,000. Donations should be made out to the Charitable Trust and earmarked for the harlequin gene study. 

Public Education
Kathy Varian volunteered to chair the Public Education Committee.

Rescue
Pookie recommended approval for three rescue grants.

MOTION
To recommend that the Charitable Trust fund the following three rescue grants:
Dane Outreach WA (1) $500.
Dane Outreach WA (2) 500
GDC of Greater KC Rescue, Inc. (1) 500
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Cindy Harwin

Pookie recounted a story about a Great Dane rescued from Hurricane Katrina and cared for by Mary Barnett and her husband. She had incurred expenses of $998.56 and asked for some donation towards it.

MOTION
To fund the entire veterinary expense for the dog rescued from Hurricane Katrina, as submitted by Mary Barnett, Hoosier Great Dane Rescue.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Sid will write a check to the Charitable Trust and they, in turn, will send a check to Mary. The board wished to express their heartfelt thanks to the Barnett’s for caring for this dog. Lourdes will take care of writing a note to go along with the check.

Internet
Nancy Lerch submitted her report.

Breeder Referral
The board was in possession of a complaint about incorrect and inconsistent information on the Breeder Referral List.

To remedy the situation, a disclaimer was discussed.

MOTION
To forward the following disclaimer to Nancy Lerch for placement on the Breeder Referral List and to ask her to remove the current disclaimer from the List page.

The information contained herein is believed to be true but has not been verified. Please contact the breeder listed or one of the following links: AKC(www.akc.org), OFA(www.offa.org), Pennhip(www.pennhip.org), CHIC(www.caninehealthinfo.org), CERF(www.vmdb.org/cerf.html)
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

In addition, Pookie recommended some changes to the breeder submission form which would not leave room for comments. Her suggestions will be forwarded to Nancy.

The board wanted to express its appreciation and thanks to Nancy Lerch and Paul Mumford for their excellent work on the web site.

Budget and Finance
There was a discussion on the purpose of the Budget and Finance Committee.

MOTION
To eliminate the Budget and Finance Committee.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Dianne Powers

Championship Awards
Dale Desjardins will have final figures for the next meeting.

Corporate Sponsors
Joe Longo will request that the Silver sponsorship be cash only. He also requested that each division book ten rooms for their corporate sponsors. Joe also discussed the ringside placement of the corporate sponsor booths.

Legislative
Tom Sandenaw reviewed AKC legislative alerts and how the information is disseminated.

Pictorial History
Kathy Varian was in contact with Paul Mumford and he is unable to help her at this time because of his work load on the GDCA web site. 

Yearbook
Sid has 15 yearbooks left (150 were ordered last year.) His recommendation is not to increase the number of yearbooks ordered.

Unfinished Business
Great Dane University – The brochure was reviewed and minor changes were made. Sue Davis Shaw and Dianne Powers will look into the cost of reproducing the brochure. 

Trophies
There was a discussion concerning the cost of the trophies and the elimination of the wooden bases.

MOTION
That the Parent Club pay 50% of the trophy cost.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Chuck Crawford

MOTION
To return to the original trophies with wood bases in all classes.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

New Business
Meeting dates and places were discussed. The next meeting will be on May 6th, tentatively in Baltimore, MD. The August meeting will be held on August 12 tentatively in the Central Division.

MOTION
To adjourn the meeting.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Dale Desjardins

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Davis Shaw
Recording Secretary


Electronic Votes


2-24-06
MOTION
To send flowers to Virginia Gardiner.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Sid Levin


3-1-06
MOTION
That we accept Dr. Murphy's new proposal and commit to sponsor the Harlequin Gene Project through the Charitable Trust with matching funds to the fund raising campaign for this said project which is already underway.
I would include in my motion that Board members have 48 hours to vote as to get this project finally on its way.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Cindy Harwin
MOTION PASSED 12-2


3-9-06
To reinstate both the Great Dane Club of Western New York and the Great Dane Club of Western Pennsylvania as affiliate clubs to the Great Dane Club of America.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Jane Chopson


3-20-06
That a $100 donation be made to the GDCA Charitable Trust in memory of Eva Robinson - earmarked to the harl gene study. 
Moved: Kathy Varian 2nd: Susan Shaw

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