AKC Delegates' Meeting Minutes
March 9, 1999
Alfred L. Cheauré, President
Present 364

Afghan Hound Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Constance Butherus
Airedale Terrier Club of America - Ms. Virginia F. Saurwein
Akita Club of America - Dr. Sophia Kaluzniacki
Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Virginia P. Grefe
American Belgian Malinois Club - Ms. Nancy L. Bennett
American Belgian Tervuren Club, Inc. - Janina K. Laurin
American Bloodhound Club - Mrs. Susan L. Hamil
American Boxer Club, Inc. - Mrs. Margaret Archibald
American Brittany Club, Inc. - Mrs. Catherine M. Murphy
American Brussels Griffon Association - Ms. Jacqueline J. Jones
American Bullmastiff Association, Inc. - Mrs. Helma N. Weeks
American Chesapeake Club, Inc. - Mrs. Betsy H. Humer
American Fox Terrier Club - Bruce R. Schwartz
American Lhasa Apso Club, Inc. - Mr. Edmund R. Sledzik
American Maltese Association, Inc. - Mr. Richard W. Glenn
American Manchester Terrier Club - Mrs. Phyllis J. Andreasen
American Miniature Schnauzer Club, Inc. - Mrs. Barbara P. Schulenberg
American Pointer Club, Inc. - Mrs. Karen R. Spey
American Pomeranian Club, Inc. - Marge Kranzfelder
American Rottweiler Club - Mr. Peter G. Piusz
American Sealyham Terrier Club - Mrs. Richard G. Wood III
American Shetland Sheepdog Association - Mrs. Lynette J. Saltzman
American Shih Tzu Club, Inc. - Ms. Betty E. Blair
American Spaniel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Annette Davies
American Whippet Club, Inc. - Ms. Donna D. Lynch
Anderson Kennel Club - Mrs. Sherry L. Massey
Anderson Obedience Training Club, Inc. - Ms. Patricia A. Sample
Antelope Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Bruce D. Wartlieb
Asheville Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Wesson J. Ritchie
Atlanta Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Neil A. Bates
Atlanta Obedience Club, Inc. - Ms. Virginia M. Mayhall
Austin Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Lorraine Adams
Back Mountain Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Nina Schaefer
Basenji Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Jon Curby
Basset Hound Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Barbara Wicklund
Battle Creek Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. John A. Studebaker
Bearded Collie Club of America, Inc. - Susan F. Glatzer
Beaumont Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Carl E. Holder
Beaver County Kennel Club, Inc. - Chris Gaburri
Belgian Sheepdog Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Gloria D. Bray
Berks County Kennel Club, Inc. - Frank S. Piehl
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Sharon C. Smith
Bexar County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Gerald H. Yarbrough
Birmingham Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Helen R. Vance
Blennerhassett Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Gloria C. Cochrane
Border Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Ruth A. Naun
Borzoi Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Karen Staudt-Cartabona
Boston Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Kathleen M. Kelly
Bronx County Kennel Club - Ms. Alexa Samarotto
Brookhaven Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Marie E. Carlough
Bryn Mawr Kennel Club - Mr. Robert H. Clement
Bucks County Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. M J. Deubler
Bull Terrier Club of America - Cecil Mann
Bulldog Club of America - Isabel Bernfeld
Bulldog Club of Philadelphia - Mrs. Lynn E. Smith
Burlington County Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Nancy McQuillan
Butler County Kennel Club, Inc. - John W. Towns Jr.
Cairn Terrier Club of America - Mrs. Marilyn L. Joachim
California Airedale Terrier Club, Inc. - Dr. Suzanne H. Hampton
California Collie Clan, Inc. - Mrs. Evelyn Honig
Camden County Kennel Club, Inc. - James I. Conley
Capital Dog Training Club of Washington, D.C., Inc. - Mr. Spencer J. Harrill
Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Eugenia B. Bishop
Catonsville Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Edward F. Watkins
Cedar Rapids Kennel Association, Inc. - Mr. Robert N. Nejdl
Central Florida Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Diane J. Albers
Central Iowa Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Mona Maytag
Central New York Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Diane Demma
Channel City Kennel Club, Inc. - Edward M. Gilbert, Jr.
Cheshire Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. James G. Phinizy
Chicago Bulldog Club, Inc. - Mr. John P. Schmelzer
Chicago Collie Club - Mrs. Dorothy Welsh
Chihuahua Club of America, Inc. - Rey Burgos
Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Lee Arnold
Chow Chow Club, Inc. - Mrs. Ginny Atkinson
Cincinnati Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Patricia H. Haines
Clermont County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Lucretia P. Dye
Clumber Spaniel Club of America, Inc. - Ricky Blackman
Cocker Spaniel Breeders Club of New England, Inc. - Ms. Pamela A. Maher
Collie Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Harold W. Sundstrom
Colorado Kennel Club, Inc. - John G. Seader
Companion Dog Training Club of Flint, Inc. - Gail Knapp, Ph.D.
Contra Costa County Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Millicent J. Evans
Corpus Christi Kennel Club, Inc. - Shirley Justus
Council Bluffs Kennel Club - Ms. Caryl Martinez
Cudahy Kennel Club - Mr. C A. Nicks
Dachshund Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Charles A. Baris
Dalmatian Club of America, Inc. - James W. Smith
Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Carleton H. Musson
Dayton Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Helen Stein
Del Monte Kennel Club, Inc. - Merlyn A. Green
Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore - Ms. Paullet De Long
Delaware County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Donna E. Bedrick
Des Moines Obedience Training Club - Ronald H. Menaker
Detroit Kennel Club - Mr. Frank J. Kovalic
Devon Dog Show Association, Inc. - John C. Sheahan, III
Dog Fanciers Association of Oregon, Inc. - Mrs. Patti L. Strand
Duluth Kennel Club - the Honorable David C. Merriam
Durham Kennel Club Inc - Ms. S L. Connelly
Eastern Dog Club - Frank A. Frisselle Jr.
El Paso Kennel Club - Darrell W. Baker
English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Jesse A. Pfeiffer Jr.
English Setter Association of America, Inc. - Mr. John P. Nielsen
English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, Inc. - Mrs. Alice E. Berd
English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Club of Illinois - David H. Hopkins
English Toy Spaniel Club of America - Ms. Deborah K. Bowman
Erie Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Peggy Helming
Evansville Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Thomas C. Burger
Farmington Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Anthony Di Nardo
Field Spaniel Society of America - Mr. George T. O'Neil
Finger Lakes Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Margaret B. Pough
Finnish Spitz Club of America - Roland L. Pelland
First Company Governor' s Foot Guard Athletic Association - Major James D. Holloway
Forsyth Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Almira B. Dallas
Fort Worth Kennel Club - Mr. Harry G. Ottmann
French Bulldog Club of America - Mrs. Ann M. Hubbard
Genesee County Kennel Club, Inc. - Connie S. Clapp
Genesee Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Audrey I. Thomas
German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. - Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia
German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America - Mr. Kenneth A. Marden
German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Patricia W. Laurans
Giant Schnauzer Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Mary A. Kennedy
Glens Falls Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Bonnie Lapham
Golden Retriever Club of America - Mr. Howard Falberg
Grand Rapids Kennel Club - Mrs. Sandra L. Lovett
Grand River Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Larry G. Ward
Great Barrington Kennel Club, Inc. - Andrew Di Giorgio
Great Dane Club of America, Inc. - Christopher O'Connell
Great Pyrenees Club of America, Inc. - Dr. Robert M. Brown
Greater Kingsport Kennel Club - Karen Riddle
Greater Lowell Kennel Club, Inc. - Francis E. Mc Kenna
Greater Ocala Dog Club, Inc. - James Lynn
Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Association - Mrs. Elizabeth C. Ginsberg
Green Mountain Dog Club, Inc. - Ms. Deborah D. Mulvey
Greenville Kennel Club - Mr. Francis P. Fretwell
Greenwich Kennel Club - Charles H. Trudeau
Greyhound Club of America - Mrs. Gloria R. Reese
Harrisburg Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Cynthia A. Miller
Hatboro Dog Club, Inc. - Robert D. Black
Hawaiian Kennel Club - Dr. Theo Kjellstrom
Heart of America Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Juanita L. Kean
Heart of the Plains Kennel Club - Pat W. Hastings
Hockamock Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Wendy G. Willhauck
Holyoke Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Grace M. Brewin
Houston Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Carol A. Williamson
Huntingdon Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Barbara Karl
Huntington Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Robert D. Smith
Ibizan Hound Club of the United States - Peter Viveiros
Idaho Capital City Kennel Club, Inc. - Col. Harold R. Brizee
Indianapolis Obedience Training Club, Inc. - Mrs. Marcia S. Adler
Ingham County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Dee L. Mattern
Inland Empire Kennel Association, Inc. - Mrs. Barbara W. Keenan
Intermountain Kennel Club, Inc. - Linda Larson
Irish Setter Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Constance B. Vanacore
Irish Terrier Club of America - Mrs. Elizabeth G. Clark
Irish Wolfhound Club of America - Samuel E. Ewing, III
Italian Greyhound Club of America, Inc. - Sondra Katz
Jacksonville Dog Fanciers' Association, Inc. - Dr. David K. Qualls
Jaxon Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Kenneth R. Morrison
K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County, NJ, Inc. - Pam Goldman
Kanadasaga Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Beverly M. Nosiglia
Keeshond Club of America, Inc. - Mr. John D. Sawicki
Kenilworth Kennel Club of Connecticut, Inc. - Mrs. Gwen Wexler
Kennel Club of Buffalo, Inc. - Carole Plesur
Kennel Club of Niagara Falls - Mrs. Florence L. Prawel
Kennel Club of Northern New Jersey, Inc. - Mr. Kenneth Dilorenzo
Kennel Club of Pasadena - Mrs. Patricia A. Ellis
Kennel Club of Philadelphia, Inc. - Charles H. Schaefer
Kennel Club of Riverside - Mr. Frank A. Thomas, CFP
Kettle Moraine Kennel Club, Inc. - Earl Brandau
Key City Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Fred C. Bock, II
Klamath Dog Fanciers, Inc. - Mrs. Nancy M. Damberg
Lackawanna Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Virginia Van Doren
Ladies' Dog Club, Inc. - Mrs. Virginia T. Rowland
Lake Shore Kennel Club, Inc. - Frank Majocha
Lakeland Winter Haven Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Bonnie L. Guggenheim
Lakes Region Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Crecia C. Closson
Lancaster Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Cynthia L. Garman
Land O' Lakes Kennel Club, Inc. - Robert L. Kelly
Lawrence Jayhawk Kennel Club, Inc. - Prof Douglas C. Taylor
Lewiston-Auburn Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Sue Goldberg
Lexington Kennel Club Inc - Cheryl D. Speed
Long Island Kennel Club - Mr. William B. Tabler, Jr.
Longshore-Southport Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Susan R. Ostermueller
Los Encinos Kennel Club, Inc. - David M. Powers
Louisville Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Betty F. Williams
Macon Kennel Club - Jeannette Nieder
Mad River Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Betty J. Miller
Magic Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Sandra B. Barker
Mahoning-Shenango Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Robert J. Hritzo
Manatee Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Nikki Riggsbee
Marion Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Timothy Catterson
Marion Ohio Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. J C. Garvin
Mastiff Club of America, Inc. - Dr. William R. Newman
Medina Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Pat Dresser
Memphis Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Anne T. Fleming
Mensona Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Charlotte Strong
Merrimack Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Marion L. Hopkins
Michiana Kennel Club - Mrs. Susan Jackson
Mid-Del-Tinker Kennel Club, Inc. - Lt. Col. Wayne B. Fessenden
Mid-Hudson Kennel Association, Inc. - Mrs. Joyce Hadden
Middlesex County Kennel Club - Robert A. Procter, Jr.
Midwest Field Trial Club, Inc. - Mr. Marshall Simonds
Mispillion Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Blackie H. Nygood
Mississippi Valley Kennel Club - Mrs. Gretchen Bernardi
Mohawk Valley Kennel Club - Mrs. Sandra Haber
Monmouth County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Robert S. Konderock
Monterey Bay Dog Training Club, Inc. - Ms. Vicki K. Dudley
Montgomery County Kennel Club - Ms. Ida E. Weinstock
Mount Ogden Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Connie J. Simmonds
Mount Vernon Dog Training Club - John S. Ward
Mountain States Dog Training Club, Inc. - John D. Landis
Mountaineer Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Rebecca S. Stanevich
Muncie Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Camilla C. Anderson
Nassau Dog Training Club, Inc. - Mrs. Karen L. Sofield
Naugatuck Valley Kennel Club - Mrs. Viola Burgos
Nebraska Kennel Club Inc - Mrs. Medora E. Harper
New England Beagle Club, Inc. - Mr. Mario S. Palumbo
New England Dog Training Club, Inc. - Ms. Emma M. Parsons
New England Old English Sheepdog Club - Mrs. Jane C. Ogg
New Jersey Beagle Club, Inc. - Louis Schmitt
Newfoundland Club of America, Inc. - Mrs. Mary W. Price
Newton Kennel Club - Ms. Michelle Sager
Newtown Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Diane F. Taylor
North Shore Kennel Club - Richard F. Coletti
Northeastern Indiana Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Mary P. Osbun
Northern Kentucky Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Betty C. Pomeroy
Northwestern Connecticut Dog Club, Inc. - Mrs. Joyce J. Fenn
Norwegian Elkhound Association of America, Inc. - Edward W. Hall
Norwich and Norfolk Terrier Club - Ms. Margaretta D. Wood
Obedience Training Club of Hawaii, Inc. - Ms. Patricia C. Scully
Obedience Training Club of Rhode Island - James M. Ashton
Okaloosa Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Gayle G. Stillwell
Old Dominion Kennel Club of Northern Virginia, Inc. - Mr. George H. Roos, Jr.
Olympic Kennel Club, Inc. - Harvey A. Mueller
Onondaga Kennel Association, Inc. - Mr. Douglas R. Lehr
Ox Ridge Kennel Club - Mrs. Barbara T. Birdsall
Ozarks Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Patty Brooks
Pacific Coast Bulldog Club, Inc. - Mr. Robert L. Newcomb
Papillon Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Arlene A. Czech
Park Shore Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Bernard Schwartz
Pasanita Obedience Club Inc. - Mr. Charles P. Merrick, III
Pekingese Club of America, Inc. - William H. Blair
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. - Judy A. Hart
Penn Ridge Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Maureen R. Mohr
Penn Treaty Kennel Club, Inc. - Harold D. Sanderson
Petit Basset Griffon VendŽen Club of America - Daniel J. Smyth
Pioneer Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Margaret Vohr
Plainfield Kennel Club - Mr. Francis T. Foley
Pocatello Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Audrey G. Shade
Poodle Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Barbara Green
Portland Kennel Club, Inc. - Frederick W. Braun
Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Joan-Ellis Van Loan
Providence County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Rose M. Hogan
Pug Dog Club of America, Inc. - Joan L. Perry
Puli Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Barbara A. Pessina
Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers, Inc. - Mrs. Anne M. Rappaport
Rapid City Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Sally J. Nist
Reno Kennel Club - Steven D. Gladstone
Rhode Island Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Richard E. Grant
Richland Kennel Club, Inc. - Donald L. Dvorak
Richmond Dog Fanciers Club, Inc. - Mr. Nathan J. Reese
Rio Grande Kennel Club - Col. Rodger W. Smith
Riverhead Kennel Club, Inc. - Anthony J. De Maula, Jr.
Roanoke Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. William L. Totten, III
Rockingham County Kennel Club, Inc. - Janice S. Gardner
Rockland County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Raymond T. Mundy
Rubber City Kennel Club - Mrs. Wilma Baron
Sahuaro State Kennel Club - Robert C. Little
Samoyed Club of America, Inc. - Mr. John L. Ronald
San Francisco Dog Training Club, Inc. - Stanley S. Saltzman
San Gabriel Valley Kennel Club - Ralph S. Roberts
Santa Ana Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Vern R. Johnson
Santa Clara Dog Training Club, Inc. - Mrs. Beverly Z. Cobb
Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club, INC. - James R. Dok
Saw Mill River Kennel Club - Mrs. Patricia J. Boelte
Schipperke Club of America, Inc. - Mr. William Suazo
Scottish Deerhound Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Alan R. Arthur
Scottish Terrier Club of America - J R. Seelbach
Scottsdale Dog Fanciers Association, Inc. - Richard C. Perrell
Seattle Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Lynne M. Myall
Shreveport Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Sam F. Burke, Jr.
Siberian Husky Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Carol A. Deeks
Silver Bay Kennel Club of San Diego - James E. Frank
Sioux Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. C C. Farrow
Sir Francis Drake Kennel Club, Inc - Hobart E. Brown
Skokie Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Corinne J. Kehoe
Skye Terrier Club of America - Mr. Walter F. Goodman
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America - Ms. K C. Carlson
Somerset Hills Kennel Club - Dr. Asa Mays
South Hills Kennel Club - Mrs. Kathleen R. Parks
South Jersey Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Linda B. Willson
South Shore Kennel Club, Inc. - Linda C. Flynn
South Texas Obedience Club, Inc. - Mrs. Gerry Dalakian
South Windsor Kennel Club - A D. Wampold
Southern Adirondack Dog Club, Inc. - Dr. John V. Ioia
Southern Colorado Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Klaus Anselm
Spartanburg Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. William P. Dwelly
Springfield Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Thomas M. Davies
St. Bernard Club of America, Inc. - Dr. Nancy M. Demory
St. Croix Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Janet Ahlgren
St. Joseph Kennel Club, Inc. - Thomas W. Carneal
St. Louis Collie Club, Inc. - Mr. Alexander F. Draper
St. Petersburg Dog Fanciers Association, Inc. - Dr. Gerry Meisels
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, Inc. - Dr. David O. Harris
Staffordshire Terrier Club of America - I. L. Brisbin, Jr., Ph.D.
Standard Schnauzer Club of America - Mrs. Ruth W. Crumb
Staten Island Kennel Club, Inc. - Dr. Bernard E. Mc Givern, Jr.
Steel City Kennel Club, Inc. - Miss Susan M. Napady
Suffolk County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Robert Eisele
Superstition Kennel Club, Inc. - G P. Booker
Susque-Nango Kennel Club, Inc. - Thomas D. Parrotti
Sussex Hills Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. William J. Berry
Sussex Spaniel Club of America - Mr. John R. Lewis, Jr.
Tampa Bay Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Myrle Hale
Tennessee Valley Kennel Club - Mrs. Catherine Bell
Terry-All Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Thomson P. Stanfield, Jr.
Texas Kennel Club, Inc. - Rev. Thomas V. O'Connor
Tibetan Spaniel Club of America - Mr. Herbert H. Rosen
Tibetan Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Carole A. Miller
Tidewater Kennel Club of Virginia, Inc. - Ms. Christine E. Pinkston
Tonawanda Valley Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Vincent D. Forsythe
Tri-City Kennel Club, Inc. - Bruce A. Korson
Troy Kennel Club, Inc. - John J. Cadalso Jr.
Tualatin Kennel Club, Inc. - James S. Corbett
Union County Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Norman Shuman
United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, Inc. - Mr. Carl C. Ashby, III
Upper Snake River Valley Dog Training Club, Inc. - Joan E. McFadden
Vacationland Dog Club, Inc. - Mr. Don L. Evans
Valley Forge Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Anne Stein
Vancouver Kennel Club - Robert F. Damberg
Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association - Mr. William F. Dumas
Vizsla Club of America, Inc. - Ms. Lynn Worth
Wachusett Kennel Club, Inc. - Suzanne Gray
Walla Walla Kennel Club - Mr. Rod Strand
Wampanoag Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Naida L. Parker
Washington State Obedience Training Club, Inc. - Ms. Barbara Gaines
Waterloo Kennel Club, Inc. - Mrs. Anita A. Lustenberger
Waukesha Kennel Club, Inc. - Bruno Mauer
Weimaraner Club of America - Ms. Judy Colan
Welsh Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Robert H. Merkel
West Highland White Terrier Club of America - Mrs. Dorinda R. Dew
Westbury Kennel Association, Inc. - Mrs. Ruth Winston
Westchester Kennel Club - Mr. Judson L. Streicher
Western Beagle Club - Dr. Sheldon B. Adler
Western Fox Terrier Breeders Association - Mrs. Billie R. Kneale
Western Reserve Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. William A. Russett
Westminster Kennel Club - Mr. Chester F. Collier
Whidbey Island Kennel Club Inc - Clare Lincoln
Wichita Kennel Club, Inc. - Mr. Joseph E. Miller
Wilmington Kennel Club, Inc. - James Ryan
Windham County Kennel Club, Inc. - Ms. Susan W. Sullivan
Windward Hawaiian Dog Fanciers Association - Mrs. Karen Mays
Wisconsin Kennel Club, Inc. - Richard H. Havener
Woodstock Dog Club, Inc. - Mrs. Jan Marshall
Worcester County Kennel Club - John H. Honig
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, Inc. - Mr. Carl Trehus

Alfred L. Cheauré, President, in the chair.

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Cheauré at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. Cheauré: Today is the annual election of Directors. To best use our time and to keep our luncheon commitment, we will proceed with the first part of the agenda in the usual way.

Without objection, at an appropriate time in the meeting we will have speeches by the Director candidates and cast the first ballot. We will then recess for lunch; and afterwards, we will resume the meeting.

Is there any Delegate present who has not signed the attendance record? If you have not, please do so before leaving since this is the official record of your attendance.

If any Delegate plans to propose an amendment to any rule changes to be voted today, please provide a written copy to the Secretary.

For the information of the Delegates, the Chair would like to introduce the persons seated with me on the platform. On my immediate left is David C. Merriam, Chairman; to his left is Dr. Robert Hritzo, Treasurer; on my immediate right is Doris Abbate, Professional Registered Parliamentarian; to her right is James P. Crowley, Secretary; and to Mr. Crowley's right is Dana Daufeldt, the Court Reporter.

New Delegates who wish to submit individual photographs for publication in the AKC GAZETTE should see the photographer at the back of the room during a recess in the meeting or after adjournment.

The Chairman calls on Secretary Jim Crowley to read the names of Delegates seated since the last meeting.

Mr. Crowley: The Following Delegates have been seated since the last meeting

Susan J. Digiorno, El Dorado Hills, California, to represent the American Bouvier des Flandres Club;
Robert Eisele, East Islip, New York, to represent Suffolk County Kennel Club;
Steven D. Gladstone, Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, to represent Reno Kennel Club;
Gene S. Hains, Waxhaw, North Carolina, to represent Piedmont Kennel Club;
Marjorie MacNally Hanson, Coronado, California, to represent Terrier Club of America;
Shirley Justus, Corpus Christi, Texas, to represent Corpus Christi Kennel Club;
Lynda Kenney, Westford, Massachusetts, to represent Framingham District Kennel Club;
Marge Kranzfelder, San Juan Bautista, California, to represent American Pomeranian Club;
David M. Krogh, West Linn, Oregon, to represent Clackamas Kennel Club;
Linda S. Larson, Salt Lake City, Utah, to represent Intermountain Kennel Club;
Laurence J. Libeu, Santa Ynez, California, to represent Santa Maria Kennel Club;
Bruno J. Mauer, Dousman, Wisconsin, to represent Waukesha Kennel Club;
Dorothy M. McCauley, Santa Maria, California, to represent Sandia Dog Obedience Club;
Robert H. McKowen, Leola, Pennsylvania, to represent Mississippi Valley Retriever Club;
Christopher A. O'Connell, Lloyd Harbor, New York, to represent Great Dane Club of America;
Kathrynann Sarvinas, Catonsville, Maryland, to represent Dog Owners' Training Club of Maryland;
Patricia Spear, Locust Valley, New York, to represent North Dakota Retriever Club;
Constance B. Vanacore, Mendham, New Jersey, to represent Irish Setter Club of America.

Mr. Cheauré : For those of you who are presenting Delegates attending their first meeting, please introduce them and allow them to stand Please use the microphones here that were set up for your use. There are three in the center aisle and two at the outside aisles.

The following Delegates, who were attending their first meeting, were introduced from the floor:

Christopher A. O'Connell, to represent the Great Dane Club of America
Earl Brandau, to represent the Kettle Moraine Kennel Club
Bruno Mauer, to represent the Waukesha Kennel Club
Robert H. McKowen, to represent the Mississippi Valley Retriever Club
David M. Krogh, to represent the Clackamas Kennel Club
Robert Eisele, to represent the Suffolk County Kennel Club
Linda Larson, to represent the Intermountain Kennel Club
Clare Lincoln, to represent the Whidbey Island Kennel Club
Dr. Gerry Meisels, to represent the St. Petersburg Dog Fanciers Association, Inc.
Karen Riddle, to represent the Greater Kingsport Kennel Club
Sandra Lovett, to represent the Grand Rapids Kennel Club
Shirley Justus, to represent the Corpus Christi Kennel Club
Isabel Bernfeld, to represent the Bulldog Club of America
Patricia Spear, to represent the North Dakota Retriever Club
Constance Vanacore, to represent the Irish Setter Club of America
Dr. Anthony Di Nardo, to represent the Farmington Valley Kennel Club
Sondra Katz, to represent the Italian Greyhound Club of America
Steven D. Gladstone, to represent the Reno Kennel Club
Laurence Libeu, to represent the Santa Maria Kennel Club
Marjorie Hanson, to represent the Bedlington Terrier Club of America
Dorothy McCauley, to represent the Sandia Dog Obedience Club

Mr. Cheauré: The Chair welcomes all of the new Delegates. The minutes of the December 8, 1998 Delegates meeting were mailed to all Delegates. There was an error in the number of attendees at the meeting in those published minutes. While the actual list of attendees was correct, the total was doubled to read 648. It should have been 324.

If there is no other correction, the minutes will stand approved as they are.

Hearing no corrections, the minutes stand as corrected.

The next item is the approval of new member clubs. The following clubs having been approved by the Board of Directors and will be voted at this meeting.

The Australian Cattle Dog Club of America, Inc.,

The Texas Tri-City Obedience Club, Inc., Arlington, Texas.

In accordance with the Bylaws, a written ballot shall be required if requested in writing by at least five Delegates made to the Secretary of the AKC seven days prior to the start of the meeting at which such election is scheduled.

I have been advised by the Secretary that no such requests have been made. We will therefore proceed with a standing vote. A affirmative vote of four-fifths of all the Delegates is required to elect.

The question is on the election of the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America as a member club of the American Kennel Club. Those in favor, please stand.

Thank you.

Please be seated.

Those opposed, please stand.

Thank you.

There are four-fifths in the affirmative. The Chair declares that the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America has been duly elected as a member of the American Kennel Club.

The question is now on the election of the Texas Tri-City Obedience Club as a member club of the American Kennel Club.

Those in favor, please stand.

Thank you. Please be seated.

Those opposed, please stand.

There are none opposed. There are four-fifths in the affirmative. The Chair declares that the Texas Tri-City Obedience has been duly elected a member of the American Kennel Club.

The next item is a proposed amendment to Chapter 5, Section 8, of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows. This proposal submitted by the Poodle Club of America would enable National Specialty Clubs to award multiple-win prizes at their shows for Best in Puppy, Twelve-to-Eighteen Month, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor; American-Bred; and Open Classes. This proposal was read at the December 1998 meeting and was accomplished in two issues of the AKC GAZETTE. The Board recommend its approval. It is on the cream-colored work sheet and will require a two-thirds affirmative vote for adoption.

Is there any discussion on this amendment?

We have a person coming to the microphone.

The Chair recognized Barbara Green, Delegate for the Poodle Club of America, who spoke as follows:

I would like, after the Open Class, to say "best in any additional classes which show-giving club may offer in accord with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which sexes are divided" to be added.

Mr. Cheauré : Is the delegate proposing an amendment to what we have on the table?

Ms. Green: Yes, sir. Under the National Specialty Section.

Mr. Cheauré : Just a moment. You will need to repeat that. We have not gotten your motion so that we know what to tell the Delegates, please.

Ms. Green: Okay. In the last paragraph, in shows held by the National Specialty Clubs only, awards for Best-in-Puppy, Twelve-to-Eighteen Month, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-Bred, and Open Classes, best in any additional classes which the show-giving club may offer, in accord with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which the sexes are divided.

Mr. Cheauré : All right, Delegates. The amendment that's being proposed is, if you look at your work sheet, you will notice in the second paragraph after "Best in Open Classes," you have the words "best in any additional classes." That phrase is being asked to be put in to the final paragraph in the middle after "Open Classes."

Ms. Green: Correct.

Mr. Cheauré : So in other words, it would read: "American-Bred and Open Classes and best in any additional classes." Is that correct?

Ms. Green: And that would be Chapter 3, Section 12, with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12.

Mr. Cheauré : "Which the show-giving club may offer in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12." Is that correct?

Ms. Green: Yes. And then "which the sexes are divided."

Mr. Cheauré: All right, Delegates. We have a motion to insert into the change that's being proposed the following sentence: Best in any additional classes which the show-giving club may offer in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which the sexes are divided. That sentence to be put in after the words "Open Classes" on the underlying paragraph. Does everybody understand that?

Do we have the second?

We have a second.

We are going to have discussion on this amendment. Is there any discussion on this amendment?

Would you come to the microphone, please?

The Chair recognized Mona Maytag, Delegate for the Central Iowa Kennel Club, who spoke as follows:

What she is proposing, you already have it in the paragraph before, exactly what she is saying; so why edit it. It is already in there.

Mr. Crowley: The first paragraph pertains to trophies to be offered on a single-time basis. The amendment is for multiple-win trophies. This would make this also acceptable for multiple-win trophies.

Mrs. Maytag: Okay. I get you. Sorry.

Mr. Cheauré: Questions?

The Chair recognized Margaret Pough, Delegate for the Finger Lakes Kennel Club, who spoke as follows:

I thought I would try to explain. This is to allow challenge trophies for things like your best between your two veterans, your best in your performance if you have a working class or something like that at your National Specialty, and allow a challenge trophy just as it would for your regular classes. So it would allow single dog non-regular classes at your National Specialty.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have any other discussions on this amendment?

All right Delegates, your vote is going to be on the amendment. The amendment would add to insert the following sentence: "Best in any additional classes which the show-giving club may offer in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which the sexes are divided" after the words "Open Classes."

Are you ready to vote? This will be a majority vote. A vote yes will be to insert the amendment.

Those in favor of this amendment, please rise.

Thank you. Please be seated.

Those opposed?

The motion carries. The amendment is now inserted. We are now back on a discussion of the change to Chapter 5, Section 8. Do we have further discussion on this?

The Chair recognized Jesse Pfeiffer, Delegate for the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America, who spoke as follows:

The English Cocker Club has a great interest as expressed by our Regional Specialty clubs to be added to that provision in the underlying that are now just for National Specialty Clubs. So I would like to recommend an amendment to add these words: "And Regional Specialty Clubs" after "National Specialty" in the first line of the underlying.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have a second?

Delegate: Second.

Mr. Cheauré: We have a second.

Delegates, the amendment on the table for your discussion is to add the words "and Regional Specialty Clubs" after the words National Specialty Club in the proposed main motion.

Is there any discussion on this?

Yes.

The Chair recognized Carl Holder, Delegate for the Beaumont Kennel Club, who spoke as follows:

Does this mean that Regional Specialty will be equal level of the National Specialty, the Annual National Specialty?

Mr. Crowley: I don't know what you mean by equal. They could offer the same trophies that would be offered in a National Specialty. That would be the only result of the amendment. It would not make them equal in any sense other than being able to offer the same trophies, if that answers your question.

The Chair recognized Edmund Sledzik, Delegate for the American Lhasa Apso Club, who spoke as follows:

What does "Regional Clubs" mean? We don't consider our clubs to be regional.

Mr. Crowley: It is really semantics whether you call them a Regional or a Local Specialty Club. If the wording "local" would be preferable.

Mr. Sledzik: Well for us, since we do not hold Regional Clubs, "Local" would cover everything.

Mr. Crowley: "Local" would be clearer if the maker of the amendment would be amenable to that change.

Mr. Pfeiffer: I would be amenable.

Mr. Cheauré: So the maker is changing his motion to any Local Specialty Club; is that correct?

Mr. Pfeiffer: Correct.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have any further discussion?

Yes, ma'am.

The Chair recognized Nikki Riggsbee, Delegate for the Manatee Kennel Club, who spoke as follows:

I would suggest that there are Local Specialty Clubs and that there are Regional Specialty Clubs and they are not necessarily the same; and if you want to include both I think it might be clearer to say "Local and/or Regional Clubs." If that's agreeable to the original amendment maker.

Mr. Pfeiffer: Agreeable.

Mr. Cheauré: Would the maker repeat what he is agreeing to?

Mr. Pfeiffer: Those words should be regional and local.

Mr. Crowley If I can clarify, "any specialty show" might clarify it.

Mr. Pfeiffer: It has been suggested it just simply read "any special club," and I certainly agree with that.

The Chair recognized John Nielsen, Delegate for the English Setter Association of America, who spoke as follows:

Maybe to even clarify it further, maybe you could say "any breed specialty club."

Mr. Cheauré: Yes, Mister Pfeiffer.

Mr. Pfeiffer: I would ask Jim Crowley does that change anything to add or not have the word "any breed specialty club"?

Mr. Crowley: No. I can't think of any specialty club that is not a breed specialty club. If it makes the voters more comfortable, that's fine. I don't think it would add or detract anything.

Mr. Pfeiffer: In the spirit of harmony, any breed specialty club.

Mrs. Maytag: We have the Western Sight Hound Association Specialty, now that wouldn't be a breed. How would that fit in?

Mr. Crowley: That would be a group club which would not be covered by this amendment.

Mrs. Maytag: Okay. Single breed. Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The amendment now reads to insert the words "any specialty club" after the word "National Specialty Club."

Let me read the first line. The amendment now reads to take out the words "national" to say "in shows held by" and subsequent word "any breed specialty clubs."

I have more discussion, yes.

The Chair recognized Annette Davies, Delegate for the American Spaniel Club who spoke as follows:

With that language, how would the American Spaniel Club fit in with Flushing Spaniels and also as the parent club of the Cocker Spaniel?

Mr. Crowley: The American Spaniel Club is approved as a breed specialty show even though they do hold classes for all the Flushing Spaniels. We are talking about the club here, and it is a specialty club that is being approved for a show. So I would say under this they would be permitted to offer it. It is a specialty show of the American Spaniel Club.

Mrs. Davies: With all the breeds?

Mr. Crowley: Yes.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have any further discussions?

The amendment being proposed is to strike the word "national" and add the words "any breed."

This is a majority vote. We will take a voice vote.

All in favor of this change of this amendment, please say aye.

The nays?

The ayes carry.

We are back to the main motion. It has been amended twice. Is there further discussion?

This is a vote. This is a two-thirds vote on the basic motion as amended.

For all those in favor of - the question is on the adoption of the proposed amendment to Chapter 5 Section 8, of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows as amended.

Those in favor, please rise.

Thank you. Please be seated.

Those opposed, please rise.

Thank you, please be seated.

The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted.

The amendment reads as follows:

Chapter 5, Section 8.

At specialty shows held apart from all-breed shows, prizes, for outright award, may also be offered for:

Best in Puppy Classes, Best in Twelve-to-Eighteen Month Classes, Best in Novice Classes, Best in Bred-by-Exhibitor Classes, Best in American-bred Classes, Best in Open Classes, Best in any additional classes which the show-giving club may offer in accord with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which the sexes are divided.

(In breeds in which there are varieties, a prize may be offered for Best in any of the above classes within the variety.)

In shows held by breed Specialty clubs only, awards for Best in Puppy, Twelve-to-Eighteen Month, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-bred, and Open Classes, Best in any additional classes which the show-giving club may offer in accord with the provisions of Chapter 3, Section 12, in which the sexes are divided, may also be awarded on a three-time win basis provided permanent possession goes to the owner and/or breeder winning the award three times, not necessarily with the same dog, provided such prizes are offered by the show-giving club itself or through it for competition at its shows only.

The next item is a proposed amendment to Chapter 3, Section 1, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules. This proposal, submitted by the Board based on the recommendation of the Beagle Advisory Committee, would make the procedure for processing Beagle Field Trial applications consistent with the procedure used for most other AKC events.

This proposal was read at the December 8, 1998 meeting and published in two issues of the AKC GAZETTE. It is on the pink work sheet and would require a two-thirds affirmative vote for adoption.

Is there any discussion on this amendment?

Yes, sir.

The Chair recognized Mario Palumbo, Delegate for the New England Beagle Club, who spoke as follows:

I would like to say a few words in regards to Chapter 3, Section 1, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules.

This change was brought up at the last meeting of the Beagle Advisory Committee and the Delegates were instructed to vote on this change at that meeting. The procedure since the inception of the Beagle Advisory Committee is that the proposal was brought back to the Beaglers and the Delegates through the BAC would be advised on how to vote on the change.

I am also the President of the Northeastern Federation which consists of five associations and sixty Beagle clubs. In regards to Chapter 3, Section 1, the majority of the Beaglers don't want the change. I request the Delegates vote this change down so that the members of the 450 Beagle clubs could be made aware of this change and to let their BAC Delegates know their feelings on this.

Mr. Cheauré: Thank you.

Do we have any further discussion on this proposed amendment?

The question is then on the adoption of the proposed amendment to Chapter 3, Section 1, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules affecting how Beagle Field Trial applications are processed.

Those in favor, please rise.

Please be seated.

Those opposed, please rise.

Thank you, please be seated.

It is the opinion of the Chair that the motion is not adopted.

The next item is the proposed amendments to Chapter 9, Sections 7, 8 and 9, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules that formalize championship events already being held and to make them consistent with similar events held in other breeds. These proposals are submitted by the Board. They were read at the December 8, 1998 meeting and published in two issues of the AKC GAZETTE. They are on your yellow work sheet and will require a two-thirds affirmative vote for adoption.

Is there any discussion on these amendments?

The Chair recognized Dr. Gerry Meisels, Delegate for the St. Petersburg Dog Fanciers, who spoke as follows:

I would like to ask for an amendment that corrects language in this particular set of rules, specifically if you will turn to Line 4 of the three Sections, 9:7, 9:8 and 9:9.

The first sentence of these sections is incomplete, and I would like to propose the following amendment. Beginning on Line 4 with the word "which," delete the words "which by reason of qualifications previously obtained" and insert instead the words "that have qualified previously," for the same change in the next section, and the same change in the section after that. That's my motion.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have a second to this amendment? Do I hear a second?

Delegate: Second.

Mr. Cheauré: Thank you.

The proposed amendment is on Line 4 to strike the words "which by reason of qualification previously obtained" and substitute "that have qualified previously"; is that correct? And that in Sections 7, 8 and 9.

Is there a discussion on this amendment?

Your vote now is a voice vote. It is a simple majority vote on this change. All those in favor of the proposed amendment, please say aye.

Those opposed, please say nay.

The ayes have it.

The discussion is now on Chapter 9, Sections 7, 8 and 9, as amended, do we have discussions on this main motion?

Mr. Palumbo: I would like to make an amendment on the part that says, "Note: The winner of each class at a national championship will receive credit for a win and the points available in accordance with requirements for a Beagle Field Trial champion." And I would like to insert "points to be awarded to second place, third place, and forth place as awarded in member and licensed field trials."

Mr. Cheauré: Would you repeat that one more time a little slower, please?

Mr. Palumbo: Sure. "Points to be awarded to second place, third place, and fourth place as awarded in member and licensed field trials."

Mr. Cheauré: And do you have any part of the underlying notes that are stricken?

Mr. Palumbo: After "field trial champions," additionally, only to be eliminated.

Mr. Cheauré: In other words, the line "additionally only," all the lines following that would be stricken; is that correct?

Mr. Palumbo: "Additionally only," then "First-place dogs would receive champion points only at a National Championship Trial. Points to be awarded also to second place, third place, and fourth place as awarded in member and license trials." Then eliminate no points would be awarded for dogs placing second, third and fourth.

Mr. Cheauré: All right. Do we have a second?

Delegate: Second.

Mr. Cheauré: We have a second.

Let me then read to you the amendment that's being proposed.

The final line: "No points would be awarded for dogs placing second, third, or fourth" is stricken. In its place following the words "Championship Trial" is "Championship Trial and points to be awarded also of the second, third, and fourth place dogs that are as awarded in member and licensed field trials."

Do we have some more discussion?

The Chair recognized Louis Schmitt, Delegate for the New Jersey Beagle Club, who spoke as follows:

I feel it should be consistency. Either you are going to award points to all dogs or don't give points to any dogs. To go and pick out just a first- place dog, I don't think is right. You either do it all the way and give all the points down or don't give any.

Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: Thank you.

Dr. Meisels: Is this equivalent to awarding points on second, third and fourth in the groups as we now award points for the group first?

Mr. Crowley: No. In Beagle Field Trials the four placed dogs traditionally do receive points in their trials, unlike shows, so this would be consistent with a licensed or member Beagle Field Trial.

Mr. Cheauré: Do we have any further discussion?

The vote that you're about to make is to strike the last sentence "No points would be awarded for dogs placing second, third and fourth" and to substitute in its face, "Points to be awarded to second, third and fourth place as awarded at member and licensed field trials." All those in favor, please say aye.

All those opposed, nay.

The ayes carry it.

We are back to the main motion, which is Chapter 9, Sections 7, 8 and 9. Do we have any further discussion?

The question is on the adoption of the proposed amendments to Chapter 9, Sections 7, 8 and 9, as amended, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules.

All those in favor, please rise.

Thank you. Please be seated.

Those opposed, please stand.

There are none.

The motion is adopted.

The amendment reads as follows:

Chapter 9, Section 7:

A National Brace Championship Field Trial shall be held not more than once in any calendar year and shall be for hounds that have qualified previously in Brace Trials under regulations submitted by the National Beagle Brace organization and approved by the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club. The trial shall be held by the organization which shall file an application for permission to run it under procedures approved in advance by The American Kennel Club. The winner of each class at this trial shall be entitled to be designated "National Beagle Brace Champion of 19 -20" for its class.

Chapter 9, Section 8.

A National Small Pack Option Championship shall be held not more than once in any calendar year and shall be foxhounds that have qualified previously in Small Pack Option Trials under regulations submitted by the National Small Pack Option organization and approved by the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club. The trial shall be held by the organization which shall file an application for permission to run it under procedures approved in advance by The American Kennel Club. The winner of each class at this trial shall be entitled to be designated "National Beagle Small Pack Option Champion of 19 -20" for its class.

Chapter 9, Section 9.

A National Large Pack Championship shall be held not more than once in any calendar year and shall be for hounds that have qualified previously in Large Pack Trials under regulations submitted by the National Large Pack organization and approved by the Board of Directors of The American Kennel Club. The trial shall be held by the organization which shall file an application for permission to run it under procedures approved in advance by The American Kennel Club. The winner of each class of this trial shall be entitled to be designated "National Beagle Large Pack Field Champion of 19 -20" for its class.

Note: The winners of each class at a National Championship will receive credit for a win and the points available in accordance with requirements for a Beagle Field Trial Champion. The dogs placing 2, 3, and 4 will also be awarded Championship points as available in licensed and member field trials.

I now call on the Secretary to read a proposed amendment to Article XVI, Section 2, of the AKC Constitution and Bylaws.

Mr. Crowley: Article XVI, Section 2, of the AKC Bylaws stipulates that the notice for each quarterly meeting must be mailed to all Delegates at least twenty-one days before the date of the meeting. The Battle Creek Kennel Club through its Delegate, John Studebaker, has proposed the addition of a paragraph to this section, on the purple work sheet, to read as follows:

"Each notice mailed shall be accompanied by the most current quarterly financial report except for the annual meeting which shall be accompanied by the financial report for the fiscal year just ended."

The Board of Directors did not approve this amendment because quarterly financial reports are unaudited and subject to adjustments. the Board is in fact providing the audited financial report for the year end prior to the annual Delegates meeting.

In accord with Article XXI, Section 3(b), of the Bylaws, the Battle Creek Kennel Club has requested that the proposal be presented for a vote. It will be published in two issues of the AKC GAZETTE, and you will be asked to vote on it in the June 1999 meeting.

Mr. Cheauré: The Secretary will now read the report of the Nominating Committee and the report on additional nominations.

Mr. Crowley: Pursuant to Article VIII of the Bylaws of the American Kennel Club, the Nominating Committee, appointed by the Board of Directors on August 10, 1998, has nominated the following Delegates as candidates for such vacancies on the Board of Directors as are to be filled at the next annual meeting of the Club on March 9, 1999.

Class of 2003:

Dr. Patricia H. Haines, representing the Cincinnati Kennel Club.
John L. Ronald, representing the Samoyed Club of America.
Patti L. Strand, representing the Dog Fanciers Association of Oregon.

Nominating Committee:

Dr. Suzanne H. Hampton, Chair
Ginny Atkinson
Kathleen R. Parks
Stanley S. Saltzman
Carol A. Williams

Pursuant to Article VIII of the Bylaws of the American Kennel Club, the following Delegates have been endorsed in writing by the required number of Delegates as additional candidates for such vacancies on the Board of Directors as are to be filled at the next annual meeting of the club on March 9, 1999.

Class of 2003:

Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, representing the German Shepherd Dog Club of America
Robert L. Kelly, representing the Land O'Lakes Kennel Club
Dee Mattern, representing the Ingham County Kennel Club
Dr. William R. Newman, representing the Mastiff Club of America
Blackie H. Nygood, representing the Mispillion Kennel Club.

Mr. Cheauré: The Bylaws provide that no nominations may be made from the floor. Nominations, therefore, closed on January 31, 1999.

For this election, we have eight polling stations in order to expedite the process of casting your ballots. In accordance with the Delegate standing rule, each candidate is allowed three minutes to address the Delegates. Dennis Sprung will indicate to the candidates when their three minutes are up. He will also signal a two-minute notice. Candidates will speak in alphabetical order, and no questions from the floor will be permitted.

I will now introduce the candidates from the Class of 2003. The first is Dr. Carmen Battaglia, Delegate from the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.

Dr. Battaglia: Good morning. This is election day for three candidates, and I hope that I will be one of them. Dr. Bob Berndt was Chairman of the Board when I first became a Delegate just a few years ago. The AKC had come through some very hard times, a lot of public criticism, and a lot of concern about the Stud Book and the way we register dogs. He asked that I chair the Committee for the Future and to place special emphasis on finding a way to improve the integrity of the Stud Book.

Our committee considered blood and hair samples but felt that the DNA mouth swab was not only just as effective but loss costly. We recommended a one-year pilot study to the Board which was funded. It was so successful that the Board adopted DNA as a regular part of our inspection program and they funded a three-year parent club program which is still ongoing today.

Dave Merriam became the next Chairman and he asked that I chair the Budget and Planning Committee with emphasis on goals and management improvements. Today we have, for the first time, both short and long-range goals in the American Kennel Club. We have an Audit Committee of the Board, improved management practices for making bids, laptop computers in the hands of all of our field reps so they can receive and transmit reports in a timely manner instead of taking two and three weeks to do it as they have in the past; more computer capacity and a new AKC Web site.

During that time, we relocated the staff to Raleigh and moved the New York offices all under budget. Now the staff is positioned to function more efficiently. There are still several remaining projects we need to complete, including the modernization of our computer system, especially in the area of events and registration. We need to complete the review of the Bylaws which would take some time. We need to establish and develop a strong public relations program and we need to focus on the steady decline of our registrations. With your support and your vote today, I will continue to work on those programs.

Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The second candidate is Dr. Patricia Haines, Delegate for the Cincinnati Kennel Club.

Dr. Haines: Good morning. Believe it or not, it's still morning.

The focus of these elections should not be about politics. It should not be about who is the next Chairman, and it should not be about media control. In short, it should not be about personal power or egos. Instead, the focus should be on three key issues, what I like to refer to as the "RÓ issues; registration, revenue and responsibility.

Registration is significantly important for several reasons. It's income, it's value in terms of the integrity of the Stud Book, and in terms of its decline. I don't believe that the decline is necessarily a bad thing. To me it means we have become more stringent on what we accept in our Stud Book through the use of DNA and we are utilizing stronger reinforcement of our rules. We have proven that we are more interested in the integrity of the Stud Book rather than just registering any papers that come our way. Nonetheless, we need to make new owners understand that blue slips must be sent back. We need to consider incentives for breeders to make sure that all of their puppies are registered. Let's give something back to the breeders that help us and who are us.

Responsibility is the key to being a member of the AKC Board of Directors. As a Director, it is our responsibility to support our very capable President, Al Cheauré, who has brought the American Kennel Club to the cusp of the 21st century, with policies and with programs that are forward thinking. DNA, Customer Outreach, and the Web site are all positive steps. As Directors, we must be responsible to acknowledge that we need to update our governing document, and we must also recognize that we must be responsible to understand that we need to stand strong and stand behind our staff during the performance of our duty.

Directors are irresponsible when the respect for our animals is forsaken. We cannot afford to look away when our dogs die due to neglect at our events or in connection with our sport. We must not pretend that any dog in a pet shop is okay, and we must never ignore our obligations through the traditions of our sport. We must demand the ethics of our Board as easily as we demand the ethics of our breeders.

I bring to the Board the traditions of the sport. With over thirty years involvement, I combine the professional and scientific training as a practicing veterinarian and with the knowledge, understanding and passion for our purebred dogs.

I am an individual with a strong belief in personal integrity, and I have always believed that my seat on the Board of Directors carries the responsibility to uphold the business side of the American Kennel Club; but at the same time, we must preserve our sport of purebred dogs for future generations.

Revenue is the factor of the business side of our sport, and we need to have income offset our expenses. We need to not only look at improving registration percentages but also to seek outside revenue sources. When we do this, however, we must make sure that we are getting the very best deal with the very best product. We should never cheapen the American Kennel Club.

Without the business, there is no sport; and without the sport, there is no purpose for the business.

Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The third candidate is Robert Kelly, Delegate from the Land O'Lakes Kennel Club.

Mr. Kelly: Good morning. Sophocles says heaven helps the men who act. I have spent my life as a man of action, and I would like to act for you on this Board.

My energy, experience and skills, and tendency to act, would improve work performance and collegiality. I can contribute to the corporate memory, knowledge of the fancy of all dog sports needed as a management resource. To the vigilant organization oversight without interference that's indicated.

The strategic planning effort is indicated, too; but the Paramount need is a complete marketing plan for the AKC registered purebred dog. The twenty-three percent reduction in five years in the amount of blue slips turned in for registration is a problem and it does say that we the public are losing interest in the value of the AKC registration. The only counter for this is strong, powerful, public-relations program which gives the public the knowledge of the value, the great events, performance events, in which I certainly think I am a great expert and value the performance events, the pleasure of a purebred dog, the pleasure of knowing what the dog is going to be like, and we absolutely immediately need a strong, positive public-relations policy in action.

Please judge what I would be as a Director by what I have done as a Delegate. I have moderated the Delegates caucus for more than ten years. This keeps us informed on everything, on the actions that are going on, and on the elements that this legislative body is going to vote on.

I think we need to fulfill our responsibilities as a Delegate without losing authority. And this has been a battle of mine. I was Chairman of the Dog Show Rules Committee for three years, and I have chaired as Chairman of the Land O' Lake Kennel Club, specialty shows, organized a large combined specialty and trials and promoted and judged the (inaudible) in good citizenship test. I had more than three dual champions, champion, and obedience trial championship, with a dog who also was the Grand Sire of the 1998 Westminster Hound Group.

Please give a place on your ballot for Kelly, a man of action. Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The fourth candidate is Dee Mattern, Delegate from the Ingham County Kennel Club.

Mrs. Mattern:: Good morning. By now you have probably read all of the things that have been printed about all of us and are aware that I am a travel professional who's been involved in business all of my life. As an integral part of my life, I have also been involved in the sport of dogs for many years. I have meaningful and long experience in breeding, showing, judging, and very importantly, in managing and directing local and national dog clubs' financial and business affairs.

Seeking a position on the Board is very important to me. Not from the aspects of fame and control, but from the aspects of making this a better place for our dogs and our fancy. We must seek out and listen to those who make up the backbone of our beloved sport; the breeders and exhibitors, plus those who produce all of our events; confirmation, obedience, and performance. Many of you fit into one or more of these categories.

Anti-dog groups have tried to soil our image. I believe we need more contact with the dog-owning public, many of whom find their way into AKC events. This can be done in many ways, but a few would be using short spots in conjunction with the increasingly popular pet-oriented TV shows, using our Delegate network to increase local media coverage, and utilizing our AKC public-relations staff to enhance our image.

Sportsmanship, ethics and integrity have always been the grand tradition of the American Kennel Club. Those who govern us must adhere to these principals and leave favoritism, political groups and personal agendas behind them.

We all know the problems and issues facing us today. The Delegate body, and that means every one of you sitting out there, deserves to be heard through individual voice and through the Delegate committees. I believe the Board should respect and take more seriously those recommendations made by the committees and the member clubs as spoken through you, their Delegates. Let's strive for better communication between the Board and the Delegates. We need it.

You will be voting for Directors who have the integrity to protect our fancy and the knowledge to build for the future. My long-term commitment to the sport we all love is a matter of record and clearly demonstrates my ability and my strength to make unbiased decisions based on what is best for the dogs, the fancy, and the American Kennel Club.

I believe the vast majority of you people are people of integrity and commitment. I think the day of coming to New York for lunch in a gossip session with your friends is over. Now is the time for positive moves reflecting our true desires, making the world a better place for the dogs and our sport. I ask for your support so I can serve you and help resolve those short and long-term issues that face us. Let's forget the we and them and make it us.

Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The fifth candidate is Dr. William Newman, Delegate from the Mastiff Club of America.

Dr. Newman: Good morning. When I was accepted to medical school, one of 150 out of 2,000 applicants, I was justly proud. However, in my first week of school, I was soon to discover that my classmates were all valedictorians and salutatorians. It was a humbling experience. When I was elected to this astute body by the Mastiff Club, I was impressed with my thirty-plus years of dog accomplishments, but here again I found at my first meeting that for every champion I owned, someone had a group winner. For every specialty show I'd won, someone had won Multiple Best in Shows. Another humbling experience.

What do the groups have in common, the positions and the members of our dog fancy? Many threads are woven through the fabric. Both are knowledgeable, both are dedicated, both are competitive, and I am afraid that both are independent. Unfortunately, the independence of positions in the medical community has led to their demise in the face of managed health care. I see a similar problem facing us, that is the fighting within leaving us vulnerable to the forces from without that would destroy what we hold dear.

Over the years, we have made strides in that the Delegates appear to have more to say in the policy making. We have come to grips with reality that public relations is an important part of our work. We have taken steps forward in canine research and DNA registration. We have recognized auctions as an unsatisfactory method of transferring dogs. But have we made enough progress?

In reading the speeches read by prior candidates talking about integrity, trust, selfish motivation, self-interest and infighting, it is obvious that these major problems have not been solved but seem to be sustained in perpetuity. What then can I or anyone do if we cannot change the character of the beast that has destroyed us?

I come to you with a record perhaps no better or no worse than any other candidate. But then how can you determine for whom you should vote at this important time with the current Class of 2003 carrying us into next millennium? We must look for people for whom we believe to be honest, sincere, not selfishly motivated, nor with any particular or individual goal.

My background in Mastiff Club politics, government politics, and the politics of the various boards in which I have served has given me the ability to perceive the problem, evaluate it, and take the most plausible solution that would not be detrimental to the organization or create new problems. My agenda for the AKC is fueled by zealousness to build a bridge between factions, to encourage a less prescriptive and more collaborative approach. I care not to carve out a position of power but am inclined to be a conduit to bring people together. It was an experience respected Delegate when speaking about the members of the Board said, "Well, who are they?Ó They are us. We elected them. Words of wisdom simply put.

Ladies and gentlemen, I humbly request your support to change the use of personal pronouns us, they, and them all become we. Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: The sixth candidate is Blackie Nygood, Delegate from the Mispillion Kennel Club.

Mrs. Nygood: My husband will never believe that I can be confined to a three-minute speech.

First, I would like to thank the AKC on behalf of all Delegates for this splendid new executive staff telephone book that just arrived.

There is not much that can be said in three minutes to convince you to vote for me. On the other hand, if I talked any longer, I would probably say something to make you not vote for me, so I will be brief.

It is very easy for dog people, Delegates, dog writers, and editors of dog publications to point out problems and bewail the handling, or lack of handling, of those problems. How many times have we said, "Oh, for heaven's sake, it is so simple. Why don't they just do this?" It is not that easy. It behooves all of us to think before we speak and look at every side of an issue before we declare how to fix it.

It has been said that I am not serious. I think whoever believes that perhaps does not understand that one can be in dead earnest and still cheerful and upbeat. A positive attitude is not synonymous with frivolity. Believe me, I am serious about what needs to be done by all of us in the future of our dogs. I would like the privilege and opportunity to work as a Board member for and with all of us; breeders, exhibitors, obedience trialers, field trialers, hunters, performance eventers, Judges, Delegates and AKC staff. Let us put aside our egos and personal agendas and work together to maintain and improve the American Kennel Club as the greatest most respected purebred dog organization in the world.

I would like to give something back to the dog game for the rewarding life it has given me. Let me work with you and for you. Together, we can do it. I thank you, and my eleven dogs thank you for your support.

Mr. Cheauré: The seventh candidate is John Ronald, Delegate for the Samoyed Club of America.

Mr. Ronald: Since being nominated by the Nominating Committee, I have been asked by many what I stand for. I would like to address that question today because, after all, that is what today's election is all about, what any of us candidates stand for.

When I first became a Delegate twelve years ago, we Delegates played a very small role in relation to the staff and to the Board. The Staff, Board and Delegates are like a three-legged stool; and if one leg is too short, it just doesn't work. I knew AKC would benefit if you talented people were allowed to contribute more. So, while representing my club, I have always looked for ways to strengthen your role. That's what I stand for.

I stand for AKC broadening its revenue base for a pure Stud Book and for AKC providing the highest quality customer service possible. I believe AKC should stand up for all of us who volunteer our time, like Judges, Show Chairs, and, of course, the people in this room, the Delegates. But most of all, I stand for a healthy AKC and a long-term future of purebred dogs. That's what I stand for.

That's why I have worked so hard on Perspectives, and why I proposed and worked for the formation of the Delegate Committees. That's why those elected to the Board should work with the Delegate Committees and not bypass them. Isn't it better if we all work together as partners? I know AKC in the sport of purebred dogs will only benefit if we do. As a Board member, I will represent your interests. You deserve nothing less. That's what I stand for.

Directors should attend the Delegate Committees for which they are assigned and the caucus. They should share their views and perspectives as well as on the floor of our meetings. Just getting elected isn't enough. Board members should continue earning the votes and trust you gave them at the time they were elected. I promise I will, because that is what I stand for, and my record shows I always have.

In my professional life, I have spent over twenty-five years in investments, finance, and employee benefits. I own my own company. I know I can contribute, especially with AKC's fiscal management and pension plan. Further, I have world champions, owner-handled best in show dogs, and I currently judge. In addition to a strong business background, I am a dog person and I believe it isn't enough for your Board members to have one credential and not the other. AKC deserves dog people with business strengths as well. So what do I stand for? I stand for you, the Delegates, and I would really appreciate your vote today.

Mr. Cheauré: The eighth candidate is Patti Strand, Delegate for the Dog Fanciers Association of Oregon.

Mrs. Strand: Good morning. I am Patti Strand; and, like you, I am here today because I care about the future of the American Kennel Club. In fact, although I've been deeply invested in most areas of the sport, I became a Delegate because I recognized that the ongoing erosion of the American Kennel Club's public image poses a serious threat to that future and also because I believe that the American Kennel Club, whatever its shortcomings, does more for dogs than any other organization in the world; and not just corporate AKC, but the volunteers all across America who donate their time and their expertise and at the end of the year their club treasuries to the benefit of dogs.

But times have changed and what people may not realize is that in the '80s when many animal protection groups shifted to radical philosophies, they also shifted to a kind of a radical fund-raising method that's used by protest industries.

This is the method they use. They create a villain to blame for the crisis, and they tell the public where to send the money to put the villain out of business. Here are a few of their messages that affect us. Maybe you'll recognize a couple of them.

The deliberate breeding of dogs while others die in shelters is wrong.

Purebred dogs have more health problems, especially genetic diseases, than mixed-breed dogs.

Shelter dogs make better pets than the ones you can buy from a breeder.

And finally, even if you are fortunate enough to have a healthy, purebred dog that you like, it's probably not the dog listed on the AKC papers.

Have you heard any of these? Do you think we have a problem? Do you think the public is buying these messages? The answer is yes. The answer in part is in our registration statistics!

So, who do you think should be framing the issues and setting the agenda for dogs in America? Do you think that it should be fund-raising organizations that do absolutely nothing for dogs, or do you think it should be the American Kennel Club? I am biased, but I think it should be us.

Specifically, as chairman of the Public Affairs Committee, I want AKC to establish public relations and registration marketing programs that promote the value of purebred dogs; their predictability, their versatility, the joy they bring people, and also the very, very important roles that responsible dog breeders and the American Kennel Club play in preserving, improving and protecting them.

In fact, I believe that if the American Kennel Club is to fulfill its mission, which is to assure the continuation of the sport of purebred dogs, then it must firmly re-establish itself as the authentic representative and protector of purebred dogs in America.

We are the good guys. It is time for AKC to take whatever actions are necessary to assure that the public knows it. And as chairman of the Public Affairs Committee, this will be my number one priority if elected to the Board. Thank you for your support.

Mr. Cheauré: Delegates, I will remind you that there are eight polling stations, the first five along the back wall, the last three are through the doors to the right as you go out. Please line up by your last names, give your last name and club name to the teller, facilitate the counting procedure. We ask that you just fold each ballot in thirds before inserting it in the box.

If the ballot is submitted blank, it does not count towards the majority. If the ballot has more than the maximum number of votes it is invalid and it does count towards the majority. Only one vote per candidate on the ballot will be counted.

Delegates are reminded that under Robert's Rules of Order, if more than three candidates for the Class of 2003 receive majority votes, the three candidates receiving the highest total are elected. If less than the three candidates receive the majority, those receiving the majority are elected and all other candidates remain on the ballot for the necessary repeat elections.

After the results of each ballot are recorded, the Chair will give ample time and opportunity for any candidate who wishes to withdraw. A representative of Ernst & Young, our accounting firm, will oversee the tellers, conduct the election, and count the ballots. All candidates have been offered the opportunity to observe the election procedures.

After it appears that everyone present has voted, the Chair will inquire as to whether everyone who wishes to vote has done so, and the polls with then be declared closed. When the first ballot has been cast, we will recess the meeting for lunch.

The staff will now distribute the ballots and the balloting is open.

We are ready to vote.

(Whereupon, after the Chair declared the polls closed, a lunch recess was taken)

Mr. Cheauré: The meeting will come to order. The Chair now calls on the Chair of the Tellers Committee, Elaine Allen from Ernst & Young, to read the results of the balloting for the Class of 2003.

Ms. Young: Good afternoon. I am going to read to you the results of the first ballot. 362 Delegates voted so that 182 votes are needed for election. The results of the election are as follows:

Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia, 183 votes;

Dr. Patricia H. Haines, 176 votes;

Robert L. Kelly, 127 votes;

Dee Mattern, 30 votes;

Dr. William R. Newman, 127 votes;

Blackie H. Nygood, 69 votes;

John L. Ronald, 77 votes;

and Patti Strand, 194 votes.

Mr. Cheauré: The Chair declares that Patti Strand and Carmen Battaglia are duly elected to the Class of 2003.

There is still one vacancy for the class of 2003, so we will proceed with another ballot. If there are any withdrawals, now would be the appropriate time to indicate this.

Once you are given the ballots, please make sure you are voting for one person. There is only one vacancy left in this class.

Mr. Ronald: John Ronald. I would like to withdraw any further candidacy, and I encourage anyone who voted for me to vote for Robert Kelly. Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: Are there any other withdrawals?

Proceeding on, candidate Delegates to not vote for are Carmen Battaglia and Patti Strand as they are already elected. Do not vote for John Ronald, as he has withdrawn.

Will the observers please go to the polling stations, and the staff will now distribute the next ballot.

We will take a recess. At the completion of the balloting, if you would, please come back into this room so we can resume the meeting while the votes are counted.

The boxes are being sealed, we will recess and you can vote. We will distribute the ballots. We are in recess. Delegates, please cast your next vote.

(A short recess was taken.)

Mr. Cheauré: The balloting is closed. If you would, please come back to your seats so we can please resume the meeting.

Delegates, the meeting will come to order.

Delegates, proceeding on with our agenda, with regards to the June 8 Delegates meeting, it will be held at the North Raleigh Hilton in Raleigh, North Carolina. Airline discounts for attending this meeting have been arranged with Continental, United, Delta and USAirways.

We will be offering tours of our North Carolina offices throughout the day on Monday, June the 7th. Buses will run between the hotel and the office throughout the day.

In the next few weeks, our conference and travel department will send you all hotel and airline discount information along with other information about things to see and do in Raleigh.

We are working to offer you various bus tours for various places on Sunday, June 6th. If you have any questions, please contact Paula Spector.

I now call on the Chairman for his report.

Mr. Merriam: Thank you, Al.

Just a few brief informal comments. I know that to all of you that have come to love and cherish the Hotel Pennsylvania, you will be disappointed to know that Paula has arranged that for the next meetings here in New York City, September and December, we are going to be back at the New York Sheraton.

The other informal thing I would like to do is I hope you were impressed as I was with the quality and the graphics of the new annual report. It seems like every year we wonder how staff is going to be able to improve on the one before, and they always manage to do it. I think this one is just spectacular.

To those of you who haven't been to 260 Madison Avenue to see the new offices, I strongly encourage you to do that. Just come in, we will disrupt the whole AKC. Dennis particularly likes to do that. He has nothing particularly else to do and his office is right close to the front.

I would like to share with you a few things that the Board did yesterday. We approved the registry for the Icelandic Kennel Club for registrations acceptable to the American Kennel Club. It is a small kennel club, we had to make sort of an exception on it. They register 400 to 500 dogs a year from about fifty breeds. But the quality of their registration procedures is such that we thought that it was appropriate.

We also, the Board, given the constitutional mandate made an interpretation of Chapter 3, Section 7, in the Bred-by-Class to expand slightly the category of who may be involved. Parents involved may be biological or legal guardians, and sons and daughters may be biological, adopted, stepchild, or legal wards. So it allows in those, and there are probably quite a few family situations that have these additional children or stepchildren or wards and they are able to participate in the bred-by-Class.

The other thing that the Board did was to approve the Great Dane standard. The primary the amendment to that standard involved the color of mantle as an acceptable color, and that was approved by the Board.

The past year has been a good one for AKC. The highlight, obviously, was the move to our new headquarters building in New York City. And as I have said, if you have not been there to take a look. I encourage you to do so. The offices are top quality by any corporate standards, and when they are dressed with our outstanding art collection, the result is really quite stunning. We are extremely proud of these new head offices.

We have expanded our facilities in Raleigh and now occupy the entire building. What was once known as the Bladen Building is now known as the American Kennel Club Building, and those of you who come to Raleigh in June will have an opportunity to take some tours through that building.

Our computer re-engineering program is progressing; although, I might add not without some growing pains. We are learning some of the pitfalls as we implement events in the record, system and hope to expect to avoid those when we implement the registration system.

In many ways I might describe 1998 as a year of promise rather than achievement. For we have commenced or continued in progress some very significant plans and programs. Individually, these might be impressive; and collectively, they seem almost daunting. However, these projects address issues and problems which AKC has long ignored or handled in a trivial fashion. I am hopeful that 1999 will bring culmination to most if not all of those projects, and they include the following: Constitutional reform, as you know, Ron Menaker chairs a committee that is working now to propose major changes to our Constitution and Bylaws. Their goal is to help AKC to function in a more efficient and a more responsive manner.

Final Board action on the show-site committee report I would hope will be completed very soon. The Board is actively working on the suggestions of the future direction of show events and committee report and we must address the territorial issue for members and for licensed clubs. The decision in whether to license handlers, and if so, how to do so, I hope would be decided this year.

Judge approval seems to be a continuing subject for the Board. And the Board is now working on a Board Committee Report and expects to receive a committee report soon on judge eligibility to address the seemingly insoluble issues and problems of devising a judge approval system that is a both effective and fair. This project continues to be a challenge.

On the negative side, we have seen a significant decline in registration figures. This is very important because much of our income is dependent upon our registration fees. We must aggressively market our registration and reverse this declining trend.

We are discovering that AKC has many potential sources for additional income besides registration. Our credit card program brings in almost $4 million each year. It is imperative in 1999 that we develop significant new revenue, and I believe that we will do just that. Not only will we increase our income, but we will begin to diversify our revenue, which is certainly a good objective.

AKC is a $50 million, 500-person company, and is prepared to launch into the new century, into the millennium. Our success, however, will be judged not on our financial condition but rather how well we regulate and support the sport of purebred dogs, and I am confident that we will also meet that challenge.

Thank you.

Mr. Cheauré: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is now time for my remarks now.

It is my second year in this position, and this is not a State of the Union, maybe it is the State of Two-Year Union. I believe we are better managed, with strong foundations to maintain leadership as we go forward into the next century. And the question is, of course, what made this all possible? And I lay that squarely on the Visionary Board, helpful input from you, the fancy, as we have made changes, and certainly the commitment of a dedicated staff. Acting together, I believe we made great strides and we are on track to long-range goals, and I truly feel privileged to be part of this effort.

As the Chairman mentioned, the highlight of 1998 was the move to the headquarters at 260 Madison. And I have to share with you, that's something I have never done. I have never gone into an office space that was gutted in New York City and hammered out a twenty-year and then a ten-year extension lease. It was done professionally, it was done on time, and the results you are going to share and hold dear in the next thirty years.

The annual report clearly tells the story of a proud organization both past and present. Our purpose this past year was to explore some of the things that the Chairman mentioned and the positive recognition for all we do. We have expanded the Web sites, and we actually hammered out a contract to televise the National Agility Championships. Now we know how to do that and we are paid for that; and we are making a concerted effort to take our positive message to the public. Lest we forget we are truly an information company. We receive over 10,000 letters a day. We are basically a post office. 100,000 phone calls a month, and have experienced this past month over 10 million visits to our website in one month.

In every case, people are looking for timely information, and I believe this trend will truly continue. To respond effectively, we are exploring new technologies that provide easier access to our data. Much of this is policy driven by which the Board will have to spend time to make sure we are on the right track. We want to be able to quickly search a dog's event record, find out where a particular judge will be next, produce a detailed progeny report, and all of this with a single phone call or a single visit to the Web site.

Looking at the challenges ahead, we continue to focus on the inability to register approximately one-half of the eligible purebred dogs. The problem is twofold. It is not only that there is a decline in the dogs that are being bred, in other words, the decline in litters; but for me, the part I don't understand is that we have a decline of those dogs that are eligible where blue slips have been sent to the breeders, hopefully passed on to the buyers, and not being returned in the same percent as done before.

We have developed a strong message about what value the American Kennel Club brings to those who are buying our dogs. The Puppy Pack which was given to you today is the start of such a program. Everywhere you see in what we have given you, you will see where it says register your dog, register your dog. There is value in doing so. What you have been given will be sent out to breeders who request registration forms. If you request ten, you will get ten of these to hand out. We obviously have to find a way to ensure that our breeders are in fact giving those to the buyer of our dogs.

As mentioned before, the DNA initiative was a highly successful program. It is not just that we are doing DNA, so is everyone else. But the point is we have done it very, very well. It has withstood all the tests in our legal proceedings and the fancy you all have become very confident in its results. We can expand that to whatever direction you and the Board wish for us to go.

Summing up, we are on the right track to becoming the kind of AKC as a business and as a sport that you want. We are reaching out to you as never before. We are building bridges within the fancy, working closely with Clubs and Delegates, advancing communications with international clubs, speaking out effectively against anti-dog legislation, and helping clubs in this battle. We are focusing on our image and we are winning respect.

Finally, in our endeavors to promote, preserve, and protect our purebred dogs, we have not lost sight in the fact that we participate in events to enjoy our dogs like other minded dog fanciers. Despite all the hard work, everything we do provides great personal satisfaction. It just doesn't get any better. Thank you.

Delegates, the tellers are ready with the results of the second ballot.

Ms. Allen: I am here to read to you the results of the second ballot, 363 Delegates voted so that a majority required will be 183 votes. The results of the election are as follows:

Dr. Patricia H. Haines, 144;

Robert L. Kelly, 157;

Dee Mattern, 2;

Dr. William R. Newman, 39,

Blackie H. Nygood, 13.

Mr. Cheauré: Delegates, the results of the balloting for the second balloting is not sufficient in the majority to elect a third Board member. There is still one vacancy for the Class of 2003 which will require an additional ballot.

Are there any withdrawals? If there are, this would be an appropriate time to indicate if you withdraw.

Dr. Newman: I would like to thank the people that supported me and the people that helped me. I would like to withdraw my name for consideration on the third ballot. I would ask those people that think as I do to vote for a beautiful, dedicated, and talented lady, Dr. Patricia Haines.

Mrs. Nygood: I want to thank you all for supporting me, and I withdraw my candidacy. Please vote your conscience.

Mr. Cheauré: Thank you.

Any other Delegate running for office that wishes to withdraw?

Dee Mattern has just indicated to me that she is also withdrawing.

Delegates, once you are given the ballots for this next vote, please be sure you are voting for one person. There is only one vacancy left in this class. Please don't vote for Carmen Battaglia or Patti Strand as they have already been elected. Do not vote for John Ronald, Dr. Newman, Blackie Nygood, or Dee Mattern as they have withdrawn. Will the observers please go to the polling station. The staff will now distribute the next ballot.

Delegates, I will let you know as soon as the ballot box is sealed and then we will distribute the ballots.

The staff will now distribute the ballots. We will recess.

(A short recess was taken.)

Mr. Cheauré: Delegates the polls are closed. If you take your seats, we can continue the meeting with the Treasurer's report.

Delegates, please take your seats.

The next on our agenda is the Treasurer's Report.

Delegates, the Chair now calls on Dr. Robert Hritzo to read the Treasurer's report.

Dr. Hritzo: Good afternoon, Fellow Delegates. The Treasurer's report for the past year is this: The consolidated results from operations for the American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club Companion Animal Recovery, and the American Kennel Club Holdings, Incorporated were $2.5 million for the year ending December 31, 1998 which includes an non-cash pension credit of $3.3 million. This compares to a $4.7 million net result for 1997 which included an non-cash pension credit of $2.8 million.

Revenues for 1998 versus 1997 were $47.2 million for 1998 compared to $47 million in 1997. Core business ventures were down slightly from those in 1997. A major initiative is underway to promote the value of AKC services available as a result of registration. During the year, a rate increase was approved by the Board of Directors which became effective January 1, 1999, the first increase since 1994. Royalty income was $3.4 million for 1998. That's compared to $3.2 million for 1997. Interest income earned was $893,000 in 1998 and $605,000 in 1997. This increase reflected the positive impact in AKC's investment strategy and a favorable investment market in 1998.

Expenses: The total operating cost in Board Appropriations for 1998 were $44.7 million and $42.3 million for 1997. Payroll and related benefits were $20.6 million in 1998 versus $20.8 million in 1997. Payroll costs were flat because salary increases were offset by a lower head count due to open positions and the increased pension credit. Programs costs were higher in part due to the significant increase in the DNA use by the I & I staff. Professional fees were higher in 1998 because of the expended audit programs and review of business processes relating to re-engineering. Rent increased in 1998 as a result of the Club taking full occupancy of the North Carolina facility and a three-month overlap in the rent for two New York facilities as a result of the new headquarters construction. Depreciation and Amortization expenses was higher in 1998 due to the purchase of hardware and software to support the Events re-engineering and leasehold improvements and purchase of furniture for both the New York and North Carolina facilities. AKC contributed $1.1 million to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. The American Club Museum of the Dog received $150,000 for operations and $150,000 one-time grant for facility maintenance.

Non-operating gains were $1.6 million. During 1998, the land purchased in 1996 was sold which resulted in a one-time gain of $1.6 million dollars. AKC Holdings Incorporated, the corporation established to hold title to the property, was dissolved upon sale of the land.

In 1998, the Club relocated its New York offices from the New York Life Building at 51 Madison Avenue to 260 Madison Avenue and terminated its lease with New York Life. The liability established in anticipation of early termination charges were written off in 1998 because of the favorable lease termination for the Club.

Cash position as of December 31, 1998: The AKC's cash and investments totaled $15.4 million as of December 31, 1998. The Board-designated funds totaled $10.9 million to fund projects important to the AKC and its support of the sport of purebred dogs. Major projects include computer systems, re-engineering, redesigning the AKC Web site, expansion of North Carolina facility to accommodate relocation of operating departments to North Carolina and relocation/renovation of the New York office headquarters. The Board appropriates funds from operating surpluses for projects important to the future success of AKC. Please see the schedule attached to this report for a complete breakdown of these funds.

The 1999 budget: The 1999 budgeted revenues are estimated to be $50.7 million with operating costs totaling $46 million. The projected net results for the year ending December 31, 1999 is budgeted to be a $4.7 million surplus. Capital spending of $1.6 million and the non-cash pension credit of $2.8 million are provided for by the surplus.

Revenues. Budgeted revenues for 1999 have increased over 1998 due to a rate increase approved by the Board of Directors and effective January 1, 1999, the first increase since 1994. The assumptions for 1999 are that litter registrations will decline three percent and dog registrations will decline five percent reflecting current trends. Publication revenue for 1999 will be the same as 1998. The Club has entered into a long-term sponsorship agreement with First USA Bank for the Canine Good Citizen Program starting in 1999 with guaranteed minimum annual revenues of $270,000. Interest income will be lower in 1999 reflecting our declining cash balance as a result of the major projects discussed earlier.

Expenses: Operating costs will increase by $1.3 million for increases in payroll, benefits, and travel. Equipment maintenance costs are also higher relating to the re-engineering