One of the most important reasons for an AKC club to become a Member Club is for the right to have an AKC delegate. With that right goes great responsibility. The delegate body is fundamental in the governance of our club. They have the sole responsibility to elect the board of directors and to amend the bylaws and rules.
Another influential role the Delegate plays is at the level of serving on the delegate committees. These committees have recently developed into significant forums for discussing and proposing issues important to our sport. With this opportunity the delegates assume yet another influential role.
There was a time in our history when the delegate body was like the obedient child: “speak only when spoken to and do not disturb your parents.” I need not remind anyone that such is not the situation today. Delegate voices are heard at the meeting, over the telephone, and yes, on L-lists. Few would want to go back to the old days.
However, with increased delegate participation comes increased delegate responsibility to the club the delegate serves and to the AKC as a whole. Today's delegate must be prepared to make a considered and intelligent contribution to our deliberations as a governing body.
Each member club must make it their responsibility to elect a delegate with the background and experience to understand the issues and to make sound decisions. It is difficult to draw up a list of essential qualifications, but a significant time in the sport would seem to be at the top of any list.
Our Bylaws state few positive qualifications for being a delegate. We have mostly disqualifications. Article VI, Section 5 states the reasons why a person cannot be a delegate. That section certainly needs some serious review.
A good delegate must be fair minded and willing to listen to their fellow delegates. They must follow the directives of their clubs if so instructed and, when not instructed, they must vote for the best interests of both their club and the AKC. The motive for being a delegate should never be self-serving. President Kennedy's admonition, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” is applicable.
Historically, 20% of our delegates turn over each year. While that may not mean that we have that number of “new, never before” delegates (as some may be former delegates returning and others are changing clubs), the figure is still troublesome. In any healthy organization, there must be a balance between stabilizing, experienced influences and the infusion of new blood.
I am hopeful that in 2005, the subject of improving the stability and the qualifications of our delegate body will be discussed by the delegates and by others at all levels of our organization. The delegates are critical to the future of AKC, and we should seek to fill the delegate body with the best-qualified people in our sport.
Sincerely,
Ron Menaker
Chairman