September 1999 Board Minutes

September 13-14, 1999

The Board convened Monday, September 13, 1999 at 10:55 a.m. after the meetings of the various Board Committees. All Directors were present as were the President, Chief Operating Officer, and Secretary.

The Board reviewed the August 1999 minutes. Mr. Crowley reported an error in that the donation of Mr. Stevenson’s library was to the AKC, and not the AKC Museum of the Dog. Upon motion made by Ms. Scully, and seconded by Mrs. Welsh, the minutes of the August 1999 meeting, copies of which were made available to all Directors, were adopted as amended (unanimously).

Mr. Merriam, reported on correspondence he had received as Chairman since the last meeting.

There was a discussion on the proposed letter of understanding between AKC and the AKC Canine Health Foundation. The Board was assured by Dr. Hritzo, as President of the Foundation, that the Foundation Board’s review of the proposed letter was almost complete and that a reply would be sent shortly.

The Board reviewed a Foundation request to include Foundation membership information in the same envelope used to mail AKC individual and litter registrations. While on first consideration staff did not believe this was practical, it was directed to report to the Board in October with possible alternatives including the cost.

There was a discussion on a question posed by the Canine Health Foundation concerning an Affinity card it planned to introduce and how the name of the organization would appear on the card. AKC counsel had advised that AKC’s contractual agreement precluded AKC agreeing to the use of "AKC" or "The American Kennel Club" on any other credit card. It was agreed, however, that simply using "The Canine Health Foundation" would present no such problem.

There was a discussion on prevailing guidelines for staff attendance at Board Committee meetings. It was agreed that these guidelines would be reviewed at the October Board meeting.

There was a review of the status of the priorities and goals set by the Board for 1999.

The President, Mr. Cheauré, gave an update on the Raleigh renovations.

Mr. Cheauré reported on the September staff off-site planning meeting. He indicated that it was very productive with the focus on changing the staff organizational culture.

Mr. Cheauré reported that the new web site should be on line on September 19 or 20 and that staff is working with AKC’s public relations firm to publicize the launch.

Mr. Cheauré reported that the 2000 Budget will be ready for review by the Board at its November 1999 meeting.

The Treasurer, Mr. Marden, gave a financial update. Mr. Murphy, staff, was present for this report. The Financial Report for August 1999 showed an excess of revenue over expenses of $410,000.

The registration figures for August 1999 (individual and litter registrations) are 135,232, versus 142,214 for August 1998.

Mrs. Welsh, Ms. Scully, and Dr. Smith, members of the Judges Review Committee, left the meeting prior to the report on Judges Applications.

Mr. Hayes, staff, was present for the discussion on Judges Applications. Upon motion made and seconded, it was VOTED:

That the applications for the following New Breed judging applicants be accepted for the breeds indicated:

Mr. Khalid N. Ahmad - Rottweilers

Mrs. Mary L. Brunk - Bulldogs, JS-L

Mr. Michael D. Brunk - Bulldogs, JS-L

Mr. Richard D. Buckel, Jr. - Pointers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, English Setters, Vizslas, Smooth Fox Terriers, Pugs

Mrs. Susan Winifred Heckmann Buckel - Afghan Hounds, Basset Hounds, Bloodhounds, Borzois, Dachshunds, Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets

Mr. Lloyd H. Graser, Jr. - Pomeranians, Collies, German Shepherd Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs

Mr. Jeff Gregg - Rottweilers, JS

Ms. Judy A. Harrington - Golden Retrievers, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Clumber Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Weimaraners, Afghan Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Whippets, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Chinese Cresteds, Australian Shepherds, Briards, JS-L

Ms. Daisy Schapheer - German Shorthaired Pointers

Mrs. Dorothy K. Schulman - Collies

Mr. Clifford W. Steele - Pointers, Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, Weimaraners, Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeens, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boxers, Giant Schnauzers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Bichons Frises, Tibetan Terriers, Bearded Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, JS

Ms. Dorothy A. Wade - Rottweilers, JS

That the applications for the following Approved Breed judging applicants be accepted for the breeds indicated:

Mr. Larry Adams - Norfolk Terriers, German Shepherd Dogs, Cardigan Welsh Corgis

Ms. Karen Archibald - Afghan Hounds

Mrs. Sheila R. Balch - Australian Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdogs, Belgian Tervuren, Pulik, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Mrs. Katrina K. Bravo - Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, French Bulldogs

Mr. James C. Briley - Balance of Working Group
(Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Anatolian Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Giant Schnauzers, Great Pyrenees, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Komondorok, Kuvaszok, Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Portuguese Water Dogs, St. Bernards, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies, Standard Schnauzers)

Mr. Jon R. Cole - Balance of Sporting Group
(Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly-Coated Retrievers, Flat-Coated Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, English Setters, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, American Water Spaniels, Clumber Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Field Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels, Welsh Springer Spaniels)

Miss Carol R. Curry - Afghan Hounds, Beagles, Borzois, Dachshunds, Irish Wolfhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Salukis, Miniature Pinschers, Border Collies

Mr. Michael H. Faulkner - Black and Tan Coonhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Kuvaszok, Silky Terriers, Briards, Collies, German Shepherd Dogs, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs

Mrs. Irvin (Anne) Fleming - Akitas, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bullmastiffs, Great Danes, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies

Ms. Donna J. Garten - Collies

Mrs. Mary E. Gattone - Australian Shepherds

Mrs. Joyce E. Geshwiler - Afghan Hounds, Borzois, Dachshunds, Irish Wolfhounds, Australian Shepherds, Collies, Cardigan Welsh Corgis

Ms. Gloria A. Glisson - Chinese Shar-Pei

Mrs. Sharon L. Grieves - Golden Retrievers, Vizslas

Mr. Edward W. Hall - Beagles, Bloodhounds, Borzois, Dachshunds, Irish Wolfhounds, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies

Mr. Robert E. Hall - Balance of Non-Sporting Group
(Bichons Frises, Boston Terriers, Finnish Spitz, Keeshonden, Löwchen, Poodles, Schipperkes, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniels, Tibetan Terriers)

Mr. Richard Lashbrook - Alaskan Malamutes, Giant Schnauzers, Siberian Huskies, Standard Schnauzers

Mr. Kenneth M. McDermott - Dachshunds, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets, Boston Terriers, Dalmatians, French Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Australian Shepherds, Collies, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Ms. Charlotte Clem McGowan - Balance of Toy Group
(Brussels Griffons, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Havanese, Poodles, Silky Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers), Bedlington Terriers, Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Smooth Fox Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Welsh Terriers, West Highland White Terriers

Mr. Joseph P. Molloy - Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Mr. Ray S. Parsons - Pointers, American Water Spaniels, Clumber Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels

Mrs. Lynette A. Pizzino - Doberman Pinschers

Ms. Linda Robey - Balance of Herding Group
(Bearded Collies, Bouviers des Flandres, Canaan Dogs, Old English Sheepdogs, Pulik, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis)

Mrs. Midge Ruscak - Alaskan Malamutes, Doberman Pinschers, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies

Mrs. Alfred (Esme) Treen - Balance of Toy Group
(Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Havanese, Maltese, Manchester Terriers, Miniature Pinschers, Pugs, Silky Terriers)

Mrs. Carol A. Williams - Balance of Toy Group
(Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Chinese Cresteds, English Toy Spaniels, Havanese, Italian Greyhounds, Japanese Chin, Manchester Terriers, Papillons, Shih Tzu, Silky Terriers)

Mrs. Betsy A. Yates - Brittanys, Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, English Setters, English Springer Spaniels, Vizslas

That the following named persons, who have completed five group assignments in the first Variety Group, be approved to judge Best in Show:

Mrs. Barbara A. Brooks (Chester, NH)

Mrs. Judith A. Brown (Houston, TX)

Mrs. Claire K. Steidel (Santa Barbara, CA)

That the following Provisional Junior Showmanship applications be approved:

Mr. Daryl Cooper (Lino Lakes, MN)

Miss Kelly McCormick (Elma, NY)

Upon motion made and seconded, it was VOTED that the following Visiting Judges be approved for assignments at shows as indicated:

Mrs. Julie Gotch (Australia) - Okaloosa Kennel Club - 3/2-3/00

Mr. Alan Albert Hall (England) - Conyers KC of Georgia - 2/5/00

Mr. Peter Johnson (England) - Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America - 5/18-20/00

Ms. Julie Moyes (England) - Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Southern CA - 6/24/00

Mrs. Anna Spanswick (Australia) - Okaloosa Kennel Club - 3/2-3/00

Ms. Ann Waugh (England) - Cairn Terrier Club of Greater Detroit - 3/4/00

Following completion of the report on Judges Applications, Mrs. Welsh, Ms. Scully and Dr. Smith returned to the meeting.

Mr. Kelly, Ms. Laurans, and Mr. Marden, members of the Board Discipline Review Committee, left the meeting. The following actions were taken or reports given:

Mr. Slay, staff, participated in the portion of the meeting dealing with disciplinary actions.

There was a report on the actions taken by the AKC staff during the month of August 1999 on the cancellation of litters and individual registrations.

During the month of August, the registrations of 45 litters were cancelled: 2 because of impure breeding;, 1 because of the identity of the sire, 1 at the request of the litter owner and 41 as a result of the Compliance Audit Program - DNA.

The cancellation of the 45 litters resulted in the cancellation of 55 registered dogs and rendered 149 dogs, members of these litters, ineligible for registration. In addition, the registrations of 5 dogs were invalidated.

The following actions taken by the AKC Management Disciplinary Committee were reported:

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended the following individuals from all AKC privileges for a period of five (5) years, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed fines of $500 each for failure to comply with the recordkeeping and identification requirements of Chapter 4 of the Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline:

Gary Hopkins (Douglasville, GA) - Multiple Breeds

Jacquina Lail (Elberta, AL) - Pomeranian - Rottweiler

Chester Turner (Climax, NC) - Multiple Breeds

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended the following individuals from all AKC privileges for a period of ten (10) years, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed fines of $500 each for failure to comply with the recordkeeping and identification requirements of Chapter 4 of the Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline:

Bill Brotherton (Carrollton, MO) - Beagle

Grace Crawford (Cottondale, AL) - Pekingese - Pomeranian

Tina Crawley (Anthony, NM) - Chihuahua - Dachshund

Richard Daniels (Corry, PA) - Multiple Breeds

Polly Elliott (Vina, AL) - Multiple Breeds

Alice and Pedro Felix (Anthony, NM) - Chihuahua - Dachshund

Ona Fitzgerald (Albuquerque, NM) - Rottweiler

Lafonda Kay Fletcher (Clovis, NM) - Multiple Breeds

Rebecca Harders (Alcester, SD) - Shih Tzu - Cocker Spaniel

Carol Ann Davis and Stanley Haywood (Camden, TN) - Poodle - Boston Terrier

Agnes Hutchins (Utica, MS) - Multiple Breeds

Malinda Miller Pierson (Dayton, OH) - Multiple Breeds

William Morrison Piland (Suffolk, VA) - Beagle

Doris Reese (Frankfort, OH) - Beagle - Basset Hound

Lila Richardson-Grissom (Cranehill, AL) - Multiple Breeds

James Rimes (Magnolia, MS) - Beagle

Linda Boney Shelton (Lugoff, SC) - Pomeranian - Shih Tzu

Vicki Silva (Ellijay, GA) - Golden Retriever

Larry Dale Ulmer (Muldrow, OK) - Poodle

James Voit (Beaverdam, WI) - Multiple Breeds

Cindy and Harold Ward (Albuquerque, NM) - Rottweiler

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended the following individuals from all AKC privileges for a period of ten (10) years, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed a $500 fine each for having refused to permit an inspection of records and practices, as provided by Chapter 4, Section 7 of the Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline:

Mark Adkisson (Centerville, TN) - Multiple Breeds

Betty Block (Lucerne Valley, CA) - Great Dane

Dan Burke (Mansfield, MO) - Maltese - Yorkshire Terrier

Giorgio Ceceres (Duarte, CA) - Multiple Breeds

Lorraine Flaig (Lucerne Valley, CA) - Great Dane

Alton and Elizabeth Huggins (Summerville, SC) - Multiple Breeds

Thomas Hume (Duarte, CA) - Multiple Breeds

Robert Iven (Lucerne Valley, CA) - Great Dane

Carrie and Connie Iver (Lucerne Valley, CA) - Great Dane

Marguerite Peg Myrick (Springville, CA) - Poodle - Pomeranian

Cheryl Oxendale (Unionville, MO) - Multiple Breeds

Charles and Read Parker (Centerville, TN) - Multiple Breeds

Connie Quisenberry (Watonga, OK) - Multiple Breeds

Juanito Setias (Middleburgh, NY) - Multiple Breeds

Norman Snider (Cincinnati, OH) - Boxer

Nancy Tkacz (Las Vegas, NV) - Miniature Pinscher

Kenneth Ray Washington (Petersburg, VA) - Rottweiler

It was reported that the following individuals have been suspended for ten (10) years, effective September 13, 1999, and fined $500 each for conduct considered prejudicial to the best interests of purebred dogs in connection with the conviction as indicated:

James Green (Yonkers, NY) - based on his conviction in City Court of Yonkers (NY) of Animal Cruelty/Menacing. (Mixed Breed)

Charles Allen Sander (Anchorage, AK) - based on his conviction in District Court at Anchorage (AK) of Cruelty to Animals. (Mixed Breed)

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended Ginger Kilbreth (Chesapeake, VA) from all AKC privileges for a period of one (1) year, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed a $300 fine for having submitted, or caused to be submitted, registration applications which she knew, or should have known, did not contain the signature of her co-owner, without having a properly completed Power of Attorney Form on file. (Pomeranian)

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended Machelle Pepper (Las Vegas, NV) from all AKC privileges for a period of two (2) years, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed a $300 fine for having submitted, or caused to be submitted, registration applications which she knew, or should have known, did not contain the personal signature of her co-owner. (Chihuahua)

The AKC’s Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended Karen Veurink (Harrison, SD) from all AKC privileges for a period of ten (10) years, effective September 13, 1999, and imposed a $500 fine for having submitted, or caused to be submitted, three registration applications which she knew, should have known, or had a duty to know, contained false certifications. (Multiple Breeds)

Upon completion of the above reports, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Laurans and Mr. Marden returned to the meeting.

Mr. Goodman gave the Events and Clubs Committee Report on fines assessed clubs for late submission of date applications and judges panels.

There was a discussion of Article VI, Section 5 of the AKC Bylaws, which provides in part that an individual is ineligible to become or remain a Delegate if "associated in a commercial capacity with the operation of dog shows." Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Welsh, it was VOTED (unanimously) that the Board understands "commercial capacity" to be synonymous with making a profit over and above actual expenses.

It was moved by Mr. Goodman, seconded by Mrs. Strand and VOTED (unanimously) to approve the Delegate credentials of the following persons, whose credentials have been published in two consecutive issues of the GAZETTE:

Sharon Bruno, Ft. Mitchell, KY to represent Queen City Dog Training Club, Inc.

Karen J. Burgess, Vancouver, WA to represent Greater Clark County Kennel Club

Kathleen M. Corbett, Aloha, OR to represent Portland Dog Obedience Club

Lee D. Fitzgerald, Fincastle, VA to represent Roanoke Kennel Club

Charles J. Foley, Dedham, MA to represent Eastern Dog Club, Inc.

Mr. Goodman reported that the Delegate credentials of the following persons are to be published in the October and November 1999 issues of the GAZETTE:

Vivian A. Hogan, Damascus, MD to represent Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc.

Joanne Jaytanie-Duncan, Bremerton, WA to represent Peninsula Dog Fanciers Club, Inc.

Margaret Mayes, Santa Rosa, CA to represent Redwood Empire Kennel Club

Evelyn Rechler, Mill Neck, NY to represent Ladies Kennel Association of America

John F. Remondi, Santa Rosa, CA to represent Ohio Valley Beagle Club

Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Strand, it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve the membership applications of the following clubs, which will be voted on by the Delegates at the September 1999 meeting:

Clearwater Kennel Club (Clearwater, FL)

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America

Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association (Newport Beach, CA)

The Board considered whether providing clubs with a list of approved judges, who would forego their normal fee if a club hired a certain number of provisional judges, would fall within the prohibition in the Guidelines for Conformation Judges against promoting or soliciting assignments. Staff recommended that this practice be considered to be contrary to the Guidelines and the Board agreed. Following a motion by Ms. Scully, seconded by Mrs. Welsh, it was VOTED (unanimously) to advise any judges group engaged in this practice to immediately discontinue it.

There was discussion on a request received from the Italian Greyhound Club of America to add Italian Greyhounds to the list of breeds eligible to compete in AKC Lure Coursing Trials. Following a motion by Mr. Marden, seconded by Ms. Scully, it was VOTED (affirmative, Mr. Marden, Ms. Scully, Mr. Goodman, Mrs. Welsh, Dr. Battaglia, Mr. Merriam, Ms. Laurans, Mr. Kelly, Dr. Hritzo, Mrs. Strand, Dr. Smith; opposed, Dr. Mays) to adopt the following amendments to the Lure Coursing Regulations, effective January 1, 2000:

Chapter 1, Section 3. Eligibility of Sighthounds to read:

"Only purebred Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, Borzois, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets that are one year of age or older, that have been registered with The American Kennel Club or that have been granted an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP), are eligible to participate in lure coursing tests and trials.

*Note: Italian Greyhounds are not eligible to compete for Best in Field.

Spayed and neutered hounds are eligible to participate. Monorchid and cryptorchid

hounds are ineligible to participate.

Chapter IX, Section 5. Best In Field, first paragraph to read:

"Best In Field shall be offered. All Best of Breed winners, with the exception of Italian Greyhounds, shall be eligible to compete for Best In Field competition. The host club shall so indicate this in the premium list..."

The Board considered a proposal submitted by the Pointing Breed Advisory Committee affecting the number of dogs not co-owned by them that an amateur may run. Following a motion by Dr. Battaglia, seconded by Mr. Marden, it was VOTED (unanimously) to recommend approval of the following amendments to the Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Pointing Breeds, effective July 1, 2000:

Revise Chapter 14, Section 2: Definition of an Amateur for Pointing Breed Trials, paragraph 5:

New paragraph 5 would read as follows:

"An Amateur (as defined above) may run any number of dogs wholly owned by him or her, or members of his/her immediate family (as defined in Chapter 14, Section 5) but shall not run more than three dogs that are not so-owned in any amateur stake.

The above proposal will be read at the December 1999 Delegates meeting for a vote in March 2000.

The Board considered a proposal submitted by the Pointing Breed Advisory Committee to clarify the Field Championship requirements. Following a motion by Mr. Marden, seconded by Mr. Goodman, it was VOTED (unanimously) to recommend the adoption of the following amendments to Chapter 14, Section 7 of the Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Pointing Breeds, effective July 1, 2000:

Amend Chapter 14, Section 7. Paragraph 1: Field Championship.

New paragraph 1 would read as follows:

"At present, a dog of one of the Pointing Breeds will be recorded a Field Champion after having won 10 points under the point rating schedule below in regular stakes in at least three licensed or member field trials, provided that 3 points have been won in one 3 point or better Open All-Age, Open Gun Dog, Open Limited All-Age, or Open Limited Gun Dog Stake, that no more than 2 points each have been won in Amateur Walking or Open Puppy and Amateur Walking or Open Derby Stakes, and that no more than 4 of the 10 points have been won by placing first in Amateur Stakes;..."

Revise Chapter 14, Section 7, paragraph 5 allowing a dog that places second in a stake of 25 or more starters to receive 2 championship points.

New paragraph 5 would read as follows:

Placement 1st 2nd

4 to 7 starters............................... 1 point

8 to 12 starters............................. 2 points

13 to 17 starters........................... 3 points

18 to 24 starters.......................... 4 points

25 or more starters...................... 5 points 2 points

The above proposal will be read at the December 1999 Delegates meeting for a vote in March 2000.

The Board considered a staff proposal to officially designate the winner of the National Obedience Invitational as "National Obedience Champion of _____ (year)." The initials "NOC" would be a permanent title that will precede the registered name of the dog. Following a motion by Ms. Scully, seconded by Mr. Kelly, it was VOTED (unanimously) to adopt the following amendment to create a new Chapter 7 to the Obedience Regulations with the current Chapters 7 and 8, being renumbered 8 and 9:

Chapter 7. A National Obedience Championship shall be for dogs over six months of age, which by reason of wins previously made in AKC Obedience Trials, qualify under special criteria approved by the Board of Directors. This event shall not be run more than once in any calendar year by the National Obedience Association. The winner of the event shall be entitled to be designated "National Obedience Champion of _______ (year).

To be invited to participate, each dog must be ranked in the top 25 dogs by number of OTCH points or ranked in the top three of their respective breeds by OTCH points. If the total number of dogs accepting the invitation to be present at the event is less than 125 dogs, invitations shall be extended to a reserve list selected by ratio of dogs qualified by OTCH points in that breed to the number of dogs entered in that breed.

The National Obedience Invitational competition shall be comprised of a varied combination of Open and Utility exercises performed as described in the AKC Obedience Regulations and Obedience Guidelines for Judges. The winner of the event shall be entitled to be designated "National Obedience Champion" (NOC) of _______(year). The Title will be placed before the dog’s AKC registered name and will become part of the dog’s permanent title.

The four previous winners of the AKC National Obedience Invitational will retroactively be granted this title.

Dr. Battaglia gave a report from the Business and Planning Committee.

Following a motion by Dr. Battaglia, seconded by Mrs. Strand, it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve a request from the Irish Setter Club of America to permanently retire the kennel name of Tirvelda, previously registered to E. Irving Eldredge. The request was made with the concurrence of Ann Eldredge Mateer.

The Board reviewed the criteria used to evaluate foreign registries seeking to be added to the list of such organizations with pedigrees acceptable for AKC registration. Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Goodman, it was VOTED (unanimously) to require that an all-breed registry register a minimum of 500 dogs per year and a specialty registry 100 dogs.

Following a motion by Dr. Battaglia, seconded by Ms. Scully, it was VOTED (affirmative, opposed, abstaining, ) to take the necessary steps to move as many Plott Hounds as possible from the Foundation Stock Service database to the AKC registry. Only dogs with three-generation pedigrees would be affected.

The Board considered a request from the Canine Defense Fund for financial support. Following a motion by Mrs. Welsh, seconded by Mr. Kelly, it was VOTED (unanimously) to deny the request.

Dr. Battaglia reported that the committee had considered a staff proposal for a video on Gun Safety at Field Events. It will be presented for a Board vote in October.

Mrs. Strand gave a report from the Public Affairs and Marketing Committee.

Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Scully, it was VOTED (unanimously) to make a $25,000 contribution to support an effort by Nature’s Recipe for the erection of two war dog memorials to honor the heroic dogs and handlers who served in Vietnam. They are to be unveiled on Presidents’ Day, 2000 at Riverside (CA) National Cemetery and at Arlington National Cemetery.

There was a discussion on the effort by the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association to seek support for a commemorative stamp that would honor war dogs who have served in all wars where America has fought. Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Dr. Hritzo, it was VOTED (unanimously) to consider the matter at the September meeting waiving the usual prior notice. Following a motion by Dr. Smith, seconded by Dr. Hritzo, it was VOTED (unanimously) to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, America’s military dogs have served valiantly and selflessly at their handlers’ sides in all wars where America has been involved; and,

WHEREAS, the actions of these brave dogs have saved the lives of countless handlers and service men and women; and,

WHEREAS, many of these courageous canines have sacrificed their own lives to protect the lives of our military members; and,

WHEREAS, America is the only country that has not issued a commemorative stamp recognizing these heroic animals,

NOW, THEREFORE, be it

RESOLVED, that The American Kennel Club supports the Vietnam Dog Handlers’ Association request for a commemorative stamp to be issued by the United States Postal Service in honor and appreciation of all war dogs who have served America.

There was a discussion on a proposal to produce an art book jointly with the AKC Museum of the Dog, which would include the artwork of both organizations. Following a motion by Mrs. Strand, seconded by Mr. Goodman, it was VOTED (unanimously) to consider the matter at the September meeting, waiving the usual prior notice. Following a motion by Mrs. Strand, seconded by Mr. Goodman, it was VOTED (unanimously) to direct staff to proceed with the project and to ensure that the Dog Museum was fully involved in the process..

Mr. Marden gave the Board Discipline Review Committee Report. The AKC Management Disciplinary Committee had reversed the decisions of the Lizard Butte Kennel Club and the Great Western Terrier Association, which had each resulted in the suspension of an individual. Both were reversed on procedural grounds and both clubs appealed that decision. The Board Discipline Review Committee denied both appeals.

Under New Business, the Board reviewed a facet of its policy concerning customer-initiated DNA testing. The applicable portion of the policy states:

"If the intended sire is proven by DNA testing to be the actual sire, the litter is eligible for registration."

Following a motion by Mr. Marden, seconded by Dr. Smith, it was VOTED (unanimously) to amend the sentence to read as follows:

"The litter is eligible for registration if the one sire is proven by DNA testing to be the actual sire of the purebred litter."

Ms. Laurans gave a report for the Breeders Education Committee. She indicated that the committee’s final report, including a formal proposal, would be submitted for review by the Board Events and Clubs Committee at its October meeting.

There was a discussion on the Canine Health Database. It was indicated that while AKC was willing to support this effort, its stewardship properly rested with the Canine Health Foundation. Before AKC could proceed with assistance, it would need a formal proposal with a specific business plan.

Dr. Mays read a proposal from the AKC Canine Health Foundation to have AKC and the Foundation jointly sponsor a pet health insurance plan. The matter was referred to staff for review.

Ms. Scully reported that she had attended the National Amateur Retriever Championship Stake in McCall, Idaho.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m., Monday, September 13, 1999.

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The Board reconvened at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 14, 1999, and immediately went into Executive Session to discuss business matters. All Directors were present, as was the President.

There being no further business to come before the meeting, and upon motion made

and seconded, it was

VOTED: To adjourn at 9:10 a.m., Tuesday, September 14, 1999.

Adjourned

Attest:

James P. Crowley
Executive Secretary