CURRENT APPROVED MINUTES

Vice President Joyce Fletcher called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. (EST). Present were Joyce Fletcher, Melany Anaya, Sharon Stoll, Linda Jett, Richard Nix, Peggy Jackson, Carolyn Gastley, Dane LaJoye and Kathleen Brewer. Ola Jeanne McCollough and Marby Kelly joined later in the meeting. Dick Wiest was absent. Show Chair Marcia Terry and BT of the Year Chair Ken Roux joined the first part of the meeting.

2009 Show - Chair Marcia Terry is still looking for a Chief Ring Steward and assistant. The board offered a few suggestions and Terry will contact those people. Terry reports that she has secured the services of MBF as the show superintendent and that Fred Lyman is the contact. It was noted that this year we need to make sure that Team & Brace are listed correctly in the premium list. A show photographer is still needed and after a brief discussion it was decided that the Show Chair & Co-Chair will make the decision who to use. In regards to Obedience and Agility, Carolyn Gastley reported that all applications have been sent to AKC and the judges have been selected. The performance aspect of the show is approved with the exception that AKC needs a Statement of Compliance. Michelle DuBois is the judge and she charges $150. AKC needs a copy of a current roster that includes Bev Bolson’s name in it. Nix to mail current roster to Gastley. LaJoye reported that we received approval from AKC for the Sweeps show. The theme for the show is “Bostons Light Up Our Lives” and a copy of the logo was emailed to all board members. Fletcher asked Terry to be sure to get board approval for sweeps judges next year before the sweeps judge is secured. Terry added that the show packet will be mailed out in the next Coast to Coast and asked permission for the host club to be allowed a couple pages. There was a brief discussion regarding catalog advertising and the ads that are submitted after the deadline. Jackson motioned that all catalog ads postmarked or emailed no more than 3 days past the deadline will incur a $20 penalty. Seconded by Brewer. Motion approved.

BT of the Year – Ken Roux joined the meeting to discuss some of the details and asked what night the event would take place. It was decided that Wednesday night April 22nd would be best. Brief discussion regarding duration of the event and whether or not refreshments would be served. In regards to inquiries that only BTCA members were able to show their dogs, Roux inquired as to when would be the latest new members could be voted in before the show. The board agreed that any applications for membership received after January 15, 2009 will be held until after the national show.

Futurity – Roux reported that he has received $1600 so far and the goal before the national is $3000. He has 11 litter nominations and 11 stud dog nominations. He added that the program requires excessive bookkeeping and that Kelly Estes has offered to handle that aspect of it. Roux reports that Janet Harner is working with Eukanuba to possibly sponsor the event. (Marby Kelly joined at 8:43 p.m. EST). Only 2 ribbons are required and will cost approximately $20 each. Invitations will be designed by Brook Berth and the deadline to mail them is January 31 (Marge Weakley to handle).

Terry and Roux left the meeting at 8:47 p.m. (EST).

Board Reports

President - no report

Vice President – no report

Recording Secretary – Motion by Gastley to approve the minutes of 8-19-08 as corrected, seconded by LaJoye. Motion approved. Anaya reports that she and Nix are in the final stages of making sure Nix’ roster matches the master roster that Anaya maintains. Anaya requested Nix send her a list of members who were recently dropped from membership for non-payment of dues so she can update her roster. Anaya reminded the Nominating Committee that she needs their list of nominees by Dec. 15th.

Corresponding Secretary – LaJoye received AKC approval for Sweeps at the 2009 national.

Treasurer’s Report - The balance as of 9/30/08 is $67,348.75. The breakdown is as follows: $1350 Futurity; $38,369.14 General fund; $27,680.33 Health; $4608.03 Perpetual Trophy; $5341.25 Rescue. The board thanked Nix for his contribution.

Unfinished Business

Budgets – Budgets for the following committees were discussed:

Affiliate Clubs 100
Perpetual Trophy 800
Breeder Referral 0
Awards 500
Cont. Education 200
Gazette Column 0
Health 4000
Judges Education 500
Jr. Show 25
Meet the Breed 300
Membership 600
Newsletter 4800
Rescue 600
President 100
VP 100
Recording Sec’y 1500
Corr. Sec’y 1500
BOD 0
Treas. 1500
Ways/Means 500
Show Chair 12,000

Motion by Nix to approve the proposal of each line item. Seconded by Jett. Motion approved.

Membership Directory – Brief discussion regarding who would be sending out the next membership roster. Although Nix sent the 2008 directory out it was noted that it is the Recording Secretary’s job. Anaya is having difficulties with her (older) Excel program and can’t print out a roster at this time. Nix to mail out the 2009 roster and it was mentioned that when the Bylaws are changed that we possibly include that the roster as part of the Treasurer’s job description. Motion by Brewer for BTCA to cover the cost to upgrade Anaya’s Excel program, seconded by Gastley. Motion approved.

Website – The board reviewed the contract submitted by Prize WebWorks and a brief discussion followed. McCollough joined the conference at this point (9:23 EST) and Fletcher turned the meeting over to her. Motion by Fletcher to accept the contract presented by Prize WebWorks, seconded by Brewer. Motion approved. Motion by Fletcher to move the current website over to Prize WebWorks as soon as possible, seconded by LaJoye. Motion approved. Anaya added that she will have the board review the new website before it is uploaded onto the internet.

Affiliate Clubs – LaJoye contacted the AKC regarding the status of the Valley of the Sun BT club. The AKC reported that it is “still in review” and that the club is not approved to be dissolved yet. The VOTS club will continue to be a BTCA affiliate club until the AKC reaches a decision. Fletcher to contact Mike Liosis at AKC to see if they will contact BTCA first (with their decision).

2010 National Specialty – The Atlanta club will send Nix to evaluate several hotels the week of October 20th. Brief discussion on whether or not we would need to hold a 5-day show to accommodate the Futurity judging.

New Business

Catalogs for the National – In regards to a previous discussion that the club would be required to print 2 separate catalogs, that information was incorrect. As per Mike Liosis at AKC we only need one catalog for the entire show.

Proposed New Members – LaJoye to send copies of the applications received to each board member.

Board Meeting at the National – The board meeting will be held on the Sunday before the show. Jackson and Gastley will not be in attendance but offered to be available via teleconference. Nix motioned that if the Treasurer is not showing dogs, nor does he/she own or co-own any dogs being show at the national, that the BTCA comp his/her room for the entire length of the show, with a four night maximum. Seconded by Fletcher. Brief Discussion. Motion approved. It was also noted that if the individual board members need to fly in one day early to attend the board meeting that they may ask to be reimbursed for one night’s stay by submitting a request to the Treasurer.

Membership – Nix reports that 42 BTCA members were recently dropped for non-payment of dues and that one of those dropped is board member. Brewer stated she FedEx’d her dues to Nix and Nix reports that he never received it. Brewer was encouraged to produce her cancelled check and FedEx receipt as proof that her dues were received by Nix.

AKC Breed Realignment – Marby Kelly reports that the AKC is still reviewing a possible Breed Realignment and that she will report any updates to the board. She also mentioned that the AKC’s registrations are down due to the numerous new registries that are now available. It is very important to get breeders to register all their puppies and not to rely on the new puppy buyers to do it. Breeders are also encouraged to add to their contracts that AKC is the only registry for their pups. Because of lack of registrations there’s a possibility that AKC will allow mixed-breeds to compete in performance events. (Nix left the meeting at 10:03 p.m., EST). The board will write a letter of their opinion to not allow mixed-breeds to compete in performance events and Kelly will relay to AKC. Others are encouraged to do the same. Education is the only way to let people know how important the AKC registry is.

New Members – Jeanne M. Steward (MA); Jennifer Block (OK); Martha Anderson (NE); Michelle and Tab Waterman (MI); WELCOME!

Next board meetings are December 2, 2008 and January 20, 2009.

A motion was made by Jackson to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. (EST).

Respectfully submitted,
Melany Anaya
BTCA Recording Secretary