CURRENT MINUTES
   
ANNUAL MEETING BOSTON TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA, INC. July 18, 2005  

President Comstock called the meeting to order at 8:09 p.m. EST by conference call. Present were: Fred Comstock, Melany Anaya, Joyce Fletcher, Marby Kelly, Ann Sunday, Deana Jones, Kathleen Brewer, Maxine Uzoff, Peggy Jackson, Ola Jean McCollough, Ellen Dresselhuis. Absent was: Alice Ochiai.

General Discussion -
Comstock asked the board if they were opposed to the audio recording of the board meeting so that Anaya can have them to refer back to when typing the official minutes. It was noted that, if approved, Anaya would audio tape the board meeting beginning at the next official meeting. Jones asked how long the tapes would be kept afterwards and all agreed that they could be kept until the minutes had been approved. Motion by Fletcher to allow Anaya to audio record the board meeting, McCullough seconded. Motion carried.
Comstock discussed the general conduct of the board at the board meeting.
Fletcher read a letter to the board from Sharon Saberton regarding concerns that she had relative to the Charitable Trust and other financial items.
Fletcher also voiced concerns regarding the boards’ conduct and her opinion that we’ve lost focus (of what we’re all about).
Kelly added to the discussion the fact that the board is not to get involved in internet complaints.
McCollough asked when the Charitable Trust issue would be discussed…….

Health Committee -
Kathryn Graves (an advisor to the Health Committee) & Mary Miller (Chair of the Health Committee) joined in the meeting for discussion relative to Dr. Grave’s request for funds to further cataract research in Boston Terriers. For the research she is currently conducting she said she needs approx. $2500. The board had several questions for Dr. Graves regarding the details of the research. Graves left the meeting at that point. Jones made a proposal that Fletcher send a letter to the Trustees of the Charitable Trust, along with a copy of the write-up detailing the research, and requesting $2500.

Mary Miller discussed the Health Committee and how many active members there currently are (12, plus the advisors, which is the maximum) and discussion on proposed new committee member, Loretta Dolan. Discussion on the Health Committee opening an online store, the question of opening a PayPal account was brought up again, and Mary also notified the board that Maureen Blackwood would be handling the Health Committee’s finances.

Jones/Fletcher/Anaya/Miller/Blackwood will have a separate conference call to come up with a proposal regarding a potential Health Committee PayPal account. They will report back to the board at the September 2005 board meeting.

Miller added that OFA has set up a database for hemivertibrae, and that it’s a volunteer program for French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers only. Uzoff added that any vet can submit x-rays via internet if they sign-up with OFA and that more information could be found on the OFA website. Brewer asked that more information be submitted to her for inclusion in the next Coast to Coast.

Miller requested a $400 “petty cash” fund be allowed for the Health Committee to cover smaller expenditures. Board to discuss issue after Miller leaves meeting. At that point Miller left the meeting. The board discussed the request for petty cash and decided that it is not viable for any committee to have a petty cash fund since we would be setting precedence.

Board discussed having an article on juvenile cataracts written in “layman’s terms” for the membership, with definitions of such terms as “markers” & “sequencing”, etc.

Motion by Jones, seconded by Uzoff to pay $2500 from the Charitable Trust for cataract research in Graves’ name. Approved. Fletcher to send a letter to the Trustees of the Charitable Trust, along with a copy of the write-up detailing the research, and requesting $2500.

Motion by Fletcher, seconded by Uzoff to add Loretta Dolan to the Health Committee. Approved.

Board Reports

President –
Discussion regarding how funds should be requested from Treasurer & Charitable Trust. All expenditures from the Trust account need to be approved by the Trustees. Current sales by the Health Committee are being written to the Charitable Trust and should instead be payable to BTCA and then any excess in that account will be deposited back into the Charitable Trust. Dressulhuis to write a legal opinion for the Coast to Coast explaining to the members that if they receive “goods” when they write a check to the Charitable Trust that their alleged “donation” may not be tax-deductible as they thought it might be.

Discussion regarding making a Quarterly Financial Report available to the Health Committee and to possibly all committees.

Vice President – no report
Recording Secretary - Minutes of April 3, 2005 Annual Board Meeting - Jackson made a motion to approve the minutes, as amended. Seconded by Sunday. Approved.
Minutes of June 27, 2005 Board Meeting - Sunday made a motion to approve the minutes, as amended. Seconded by Fletcher. Approved.

Corresponding Secretary - correspondence received from AKC, one of which was noteworthy for the BTCA, which states that we now must include a copy of our membership roster with board member changes sent to AKC after our annual meeting.

Treasurer - No Report.

Discussion regarding the 2005 national. Fletcher requested detailed breakdown of 2005 Show Report. Discussion on differences in figures, why no profit, why expenses were higher than anticipated. Jones & Brewer to work on Final Draft together. Regarding RV parking, some checks are missing. Jones to write to those whose checks are missing and request replacement checks be sent to Jones.

Unfinished business
Ways & Means Chairman –Comstock reported that he had not had an opportunity to contact Linda Martin regarding the Ways & Means Chair position.

Election of new member
New member application: Randy Weckman. Each board member to send Fletcher a ballot.

New Business
Rescue – Jackson reports that she has spoke to the Rescue Committee Co-Chair regarding rescue. Discussion regarding expenses & re-imbursement of rescue, how rescue works and that BTCA doesn’t “rescue”, the Affiliate Clubs do. Discussion shelved until next meeting.

Nominating Committee to be discussed at next meeting.

At the annual Meeting we forgot to appoint a committee to review the Treasurer’s books. This will be done at the September 20, 2005 Board Meeting.

Discussion regarding website, fees associated with it, why it was disconnected, what the fees are to re-connect, how the domain name is a separate bill from the website itself. Motion to pay $184.85 + reconnection fee of $50 “if” website it not backed up, made by Sunday, seconded by Jackson. Approved.

Motion to adjourn by McCollough, seconded by Jackson. Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Melany Anaya
Recording Secretary