GDCA Board Minutes

GDCA Board Meeting
May 6, 2006
Baltimore, Maryland
MINUTES

Board members present:
Linda Ridder, Susan Davis Shaw, Dianne Powers, Joe Longo, Lynda Moriarty, Dave Miller, Tom Sandenaw, Sid Levin, Pookie Kostuk, Lourdes Carvajal, Charles Crawford, Dale Desjardins

Guests present: Dr. Neil O’Sullivan, Diane Taylor, Carol Grossman

President Linda Ridder called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM. She welcomed the guests. 

MOTION
To excuse the absence of Warren Benoit.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Chuck Crawford

MOTION
To excuse the absence of Cindy Harwin.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Jane Chopson and Kathy Varian were unable to attend because they were at dog shows. Jane did not ask to be excused. After discussion and referring to the by-laws, it was decided to bring the issue of what constitutes an excusable absence under new business.

MOTION
To excuse the absence of Jane Chopson and Kathy Varian.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal
3 votes opposed – the motion passed.

Secretary’s Minutes
MOTION
To approve the minutes of the January 28, 2006 meeting as written.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Corresponding Secretary’s Report
Lynda reviewed many items of correspondence, including a request to support the 2006 Eukanuba show.

MOTION
To support the 2006 Eukanuba show in Long Beach, CA, as we have done in the past (trophy donation, catalog ad).
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Dianne Powers

Lynda reviewed other correspondence from AKC, including all 2006 national show approvals. She received a check from Purina for over $5,000 along with a request for participation up to 2008. Consensus was to continue participation. She reviewed other items. All board members were asked to sign a waiver sheet that they would accept email notification of club meetings and board meetings. Lynda reported that she has been working on the request to add mantle merles, merlequins and piebalds to the registration form. She has the letter partially written and has pictures to submit as well. She asked Neil O’Sullivan to assist her in the wording so that we will have a rock solid case.

Lourdes read letters of correspondence from Mary Barnett and Kari Delane.

Treasurer’s Report
Sid gave updates on the Midwest division and the Western division. He reported that the Southeast Division has paid its debt in full. He reviewed his Treasurer’s Report. 
Sid asked for reinstatement of the following members:

MOTION
To reinstate the memberships of Pat Haltmeier, Jay and Joyce Haas, Sallie Cummings, and Deborah Zalyski.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Sid noted that the following clubs had not submitted their club rosters – Arizona, Greater Dallas, Met.Washington, New England, Tidewater, Western Michigan (Wolverine) and North Central Florida.

MOTION
To approve the Treasurer’s report.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Joe Longo

Affiliate Representative’s Report
Dianne reported that the Heart of Minnesota was the first club to have their by-laws approved by AKC. Mid South has made revisions to its by-laws and were due to vote the amendments at their club meeting in April. Dianne has not yet heard from them and when she does she will ask for an email vote for approval. The Great Dane Club of Greater Kansas City has submitted their revised by-laws.

MOTION
To approve the revised by-laws of the Great Dane Club of Greater Kansas City.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Joe Longo

Dianne presented three requests for education grants from Great Dane Club of Lehigh Valley, Great Dane Club of New England, and Great Dane Club of Oxford. 

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund an educational grant to the Great Dane Club of Lehigh Valley in the amount of $846.50.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund an educational grant to the Great Dane Club of New England in the amount of $400.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund an educational grant to the Great Dane Club of Oxford in the amount of $400.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Dianne reported that, since the inception of the program in 2001, eleven clubs have taken advantage of educational grants for a total of $9,264. She would like to see educational grants encouraged and would like to see the $1,000 lifetime limit lifted. After discussion, the following motion was made:

MOTION
To lift the lifetime cap of $1,000 on educational grants to affiliate clubs.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Joe Longo

Dianne also reported on the status of new clubs.

Legislation
Tom Sandenaw reported that AKC has requested electronic club member lists so that they can cross reference with the breeder lists. He discussed several items of interest: DNA, a possible amateur class for owner-handled dogs, sending parent club newsletters to the AKC permanent archives, the changing of the AKC seal, items to be voted on in June, and he discussed the recent ruling on evening specialties. He encouraged everyone to discuss any issues with him.

Futurity
Dave Miller reported that to date he has 191 litters nominated with 215 males and 199 females for a total of 404 puppies. 63% are fawn/brindle, 20.5% are harlequin/mantle, 14.2%black and 2.3% blue.

Health & Research
Neil O’Sullivan updated the board on the research on Addison’s Disease, the harl gene project, the microarray gene study related to DCM.

He reported that AKC has requested funds for the DCM project from the Canine Health Foundation. 

MOTION
To ask the Canine Health Foundation to release $5000 to the Dilitated Cardiomyopathy Project at the University of Pennsylvania.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Neil explained that his committee members’ expertise is in the scientific area and they do not have expertise in fund raising. However, he discussed several good fundraising techniques, including small direct deposit donations, which, when all put together, result in a large amount of funds. He discussed getting clubs to raise funds and to “create a culture of fund raising”. We need to have funding in place before we review projects.

He suggested earmarking contributions to the Charitable Trust in areas of rescue, research, etc. We need to make it clear that earmarking is available. He suggested a fund raising committee that is large and well-distributed across the country. Linda suggested that we should appoint another standing committee for fund raising.

Lourdes will contact AKC regarding the possibility of adding a check box on specialty entry forms for contributions to the Charitable Trust. Selling logo items, café press and amazon.com were also mentioned.

Neil also reported that he is working on resolving the issue regarding the cardio screening at the last national. We will, with Kathy Varian’s input, send a letter to the dean at TAMU. Board consensus was in favor of a letter and will defer to the recommendations of Neil and Kathy, who will draft the letter with Tom’s input. Linda will email Kathy regarding this issue and will report back to the board.

Neil also discussed his ideas behind a geriatric project, which would build a data base on old, healthy dogs.

Judges’ Education
Due to scheduling issues at the national, board members may sit in on the judges education presentation at the national rather than have Judy give it at a board meeting. Also, Lynda Moriarty will email the presentation to the board. We need to do a small printing of the standard with/extras for the national so that Sid can sell them as well. 

Judges’ Selection
Linda passed around the letter from Lynn Brown Quick with the finalist names for the 2008 national. She reported that there was a 30-40% increase in voting from last year, but that 3 less clubs voted. Lynn Brown Quick suggested developing an email list to distribute important information. Lynda volunteered to try to set one up.

Junior Showmanship
Lourdes read the essay from the scholarship application of Kristin Heiden.



MOTION
To request that the Charitable Trust approve a scholarship grant to Kristin W. Heiden. Money to be sent to the college of her choice.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Joe Longo

Membership Committee
Diane Taylor discussed revising some of the membership procedures. As a result, the following motions were made:

MOTION
That the Membership Chairman accept only completed applications (with completed sponsorship forms) and, if a sponsor withdraws, that the application be returned to the applicant.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

MOTION
That the Membership Chairman submit the sponsorship form to the Internet Chair so that it may be placed on the GDCA web site.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

MOTION
That the Membership Chairman present all applicants for a vote at the next board meeting whose names were published in the bulletin and received no comments during the 45-day comment period.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Any comments received on any applicant will be copied and distributed to the board at the start of the board meeting so that they can review the comments before the vote.

MOTION
To vote into GDCA membership the following applicants:
Heather Budd (Canada)
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Joshua Hudson Burton
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Joe Longo

Valerie Clows
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Chuck Crawford

John Collums & Celeste Perkins
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Delayne Corle
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dale Desjardins

Wendy Cox
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Terri Dilliston
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dale Desjardins

Kimberly E. Hall
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

James M. Howey
Moved: David Miller 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Darcy Hudman
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Joe Longo

Douglas F. and Kristin V. Kish
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

Kathleen Kurtz
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

Karen L. Jaidl Lozinski
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Dianne Powers

Nikol Marsh
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Yukato Natori (foreign)
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Susan Shaw

George Petzke & Sherry Egan Petzke
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Alan Poston
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Dianne Powers

Joe & Carmen Richards
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Susan & Albert “Putt” Richards
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Teija Salmi-Aalto (Foreign)
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Hitoshi & Yuri Sayama (Foreign)
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Dianne Powers

Edna Taylor
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Gerard Thompson
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Susan Shaw

Mark & Mary Ellen Young
(pending receipt of dues)
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Amanda Kehoe
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Dianne Powers

Kathryn & Conley Netser
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

Kyle Preston
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Joe Longo

Dina Whitehouse
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

Beth Wise
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Dianne Powers

The board entered into executive session. Upon reconvening the open session:

MOTION:
To vote Linda Reese into membership.
Moved: Chuck Crawford
This motion died for lack of a second.

MOTION
To vote Teresa Lynn Williams into membership.
Moved: Dianne Powers
This motion died for lack of a second.

MOTION
To vote Catherine & Robert Roh into membership.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal
This motion died for lack of a second.

After a break for lunch, the meeting resumed with Carol Grossman joining the group.

National Specialty
2006 – Lourdes reported that the packets were out and the website is set up to accept credit cards. All is going well. Lourdes requested that Mary Lou Carmody be named co-chair of the Top 20.

MOTION
To name Mary Lou Carmody as co-chair of the Top 20.
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Joe Longo

2007 – Sue reported that everything is on schedule and that there will be a division representative meeting and a show committee meeting on June 17th in Lancaster.
2008 – Joe reported that the Drawbridge Inn had increases in their prices so he looked at other locations. He looked at the Executive Inn in Owensboro, KY. He liked it, researched it, had Lynda and Carol fly in to look it over. They were all impressed with the site - it has 599 rooms, 3300 sp. feet of expo center, lots of grass, agility and obedience can be held on site, and their prices were very good. Joe requested that the board meeting in August be on-site. Board members were given the contract to review. Carol noted that the board may wish to see the site, but that it is not necessary for them to view it.
2009 – Dave has had his first Southeast Division meeting in Perry, GA. Attendance was good. They have narrowed their search to five sites, including the Kentucky site. He will narrow it to two properties by September.

Top 20 Rules
Carol recommended some wording changes to the National Rules and Regulations regarding the Top 20. As the result, the following motions were made:

MOTION
The Top 20 Winner will be allowed to order additional rosettes, sterling silver pins, gold pins, and trophies up to the number of actual owners at the time of the event at their expense. Top 20 participants will be allowed to order additional rosettes and silver pins at their expense up to the number of actual owners of record at the time of the event.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Pookie Kostuk

MOTION
Requests for additional duplicate or replacement pins, trophies, rosettes must be made to the board in writing.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Sue Shaw

MOTION
There shall be no restrictions on owners of dogs eligible for this (Top 20) competition.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Chuck Crawford

MOTION
Only the owner’s letter will contain a ballot. Owners and co-owners will decide which judge to nominate and return the ballot.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

National Specialty Rules

MOTION
The contract must be submitted 30 days in advance to assure time for review by legal counsel. This contract will be reviewed by legal counsel prior to signature.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Susan Shaw

Linda gave a background on the trophies.
After discussion about the molds and comparing prices from vendors, and a recommendation from Virginia Perry Gardiner, the following motion was made:

MOTION
To order new molds and to order trophies from Stas Scorobogaty.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

The National Trophy Coordinator will keep a list of the current vendors.

Companion Events
Chuck Crawford questioned the High in Agility and High in Rally and discussed the AKC regulations stating that there should not be competition between classes. We need clarification from Sandy Schneider that, in the event of a tie, how do you resolve the highest scoring dog in agility and rally.

Packets provided by Cindy Scarpa explaining Drafting were distributed to the board. After reviewing the issue, as well as the Companion Events Committee’s recommendations, it was decided not to revisit the prior vote.

Rescue
Pookie presented eighteen rescue grants and recommended approval of all eighteen.

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund the following 18 Rescue Grants:
1. GDC of San Diego (1) $500
2. Heart of Ohio GDC (1) $500
3. GDC of Mid South (1) $500
4. Heart of MN GDC (1) $500
5. GDC of Met Washington (1) $500
6. GDC of Met Washington (2) $500
7. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NC (1) $500
8. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NC (2) $500
9. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NJ (1) $500
10. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NJ (2) $500
11. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League MD (1) $500
12. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League MD (2) $500
13. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NY (1) $500
14. Mid Atlantic GD Rescue League NY (2) $500
15. Pam Ehlers GDR Inc. AL (1) $500
16. Pam Ehlers GDR Inc. AL (2) $500
17. Sandy Boutin GDR Inc. MI (1) $500
18. Sandy Boutin GDR Inc. MI (2) $500
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Dianne Powers

Website
Upon hearing that Paul Mumford and his wife will be attending the National this year, the following motion was made in appreciation for all his good work on the web site.

MOTION
To purchase two awards dinner tickets for Paul Mumford.
Moved: Sid Levin 2nd: Dave Miller

Champion Awards
Dale Desjardins reported on the numbers and mentioned that the numbers were up from last year, the difference being rally.

Charitable Trust
Lourdes reported on some of the donations that were coming in. She noted that the Trust had received its first bequest. Neil commented that we need to build up in the membership that fundraising is everybody’s job.

Corporate Sponsors
Joe reported that he had sent out twelve letters and had six responses: 3 Platinum, 2 Gold, and 1 Silver.

Legislative
Tom Sandenaw asked the board to please cross post the legislative alerts that he sends them.

Yearbook
Printing costs were discussed.

MOTION
To order 200 Yearbooks.
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Dale Desjardins

Old Business
Costs to print the brochure “Great Dane University – Discover the Great Dane” were discussed and Dianne and Sue presented two quotes. Carol Grossman will look into whether Purina might be able to print them at no cost to us if they bear the Purina logo. S

New Business
1. AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day – There was no interest in participating.

2. Nominating Committee - The board appointed Nancy Lerch, Rita Suddarth, Sue Mahany, Dale Desjardins, and Jane Chopson, Chairman. Tom Sandenaw will serve as an alternate member.

3. Fund Raising Committee

MOTION
To add a special committee to be called Fund Raising.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

MOTION
To ask Jay Miller if she will chair the Fund Raising Committee.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

4. Breeder Education Day - Linda had a request for a Breeders Education Day at the national and she distributed a proposal from Nikki Riggsbee. The importance of developing of a program was discussed.

5. Committee Descriptions – Lynda distributed the job descriptions and the board was instructed to take them home, read them, and they will be discussed in August. Job descriptions have not yet been received from Cheryl Godwin, Kathy Varian, Bob Edison, and Carol Grossman.

6. Absence from a Board Meeting – There was a discussion of what constitutes a valid excuse. It was decided that a policy should be put in place from this point forward.

MOTION
That exhibiting at a dog show is not an excusable absence.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Dianne Powers

The next board meeting will be held at the Executive Inn in Owensboro, Kentucky on August 18th.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Davis Shaw
Recording Secretary

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