President Comstock called the meeting to order at 8:08 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, Alice Ochiai.

General Discussion - Motion by Fletcher to enter into Executive Session to discuss financial issues, tax status, status of Treasurer, Treasurer’s Report and other issues that have come before the board from the membership. Seconded by Jackson. Approved. Executive session occurred, lasted approx. 1 hour of general discussion by the board. Motion by McCollough to exit Executive Session, seconded by Sunday. Approved.

Comstock called regular board meeting back to order.

Health Committee – Fletcher shared that she talked to the Charitable Trust Trustees regarding approved $2,500 cataract research donation. Dr. Graves requests the Trustees hold onto the check for now, until she requests it.

Board Reports

President – Comstock reminded board of privacy of items discussed during Executive Session and that punitive actions will be taken against any board member who violates those terms.

Vice President – no report

Recording Secretary – Motion by Jones to approve minutes of 7-18-2005 as written, seconded by Jackson. Approved. Minutes to be forwarded to the BTCA webmaster ASAP for publication on the website. Anaya reports that she has the Avery Labels program installed and has completed updating the database with address changes she has received thus far. New membership roster to be published and mailed to the general membership as soon as it is confirmed that all are current with their dues. Anaya to call Jones and compare database to who she’s received dues from. Board to approve and proofread prior to publication. In addition, anyone requiring a set of mailing labels needs to ONLY use a current roster from Anaya. Anaya to provide a copy of the updated roster (with the current date on it) to Comstock, Jones, Fletcher, Coast to Coast Editor and the Show Chairman, on an as-needed basis.

Corresponding Secretary - Fletcher reported that she had received the Lifetime Achievement ballot from AKC. For conformation, motion by Jones to vote for Dorothy Welsh, seconded by Brewer. Approved. For Companion Events, motion by Jackson to vote for Bonne Baker, seconded by Dresselhuis. Approved.

Letter received from Marian Sheehan regarding donating issues of the Coast to Coast (1993 to present) and the Boston Quarterly (Summer 1987-Spring 1999) to raise money for either the Health Committee or Rescue, wherever the board sees fit. Motion by Jackson to accept the donation, seconded by Uzoff. Brewer to post as an auction in the Coast to Coast. Sheehan to keep the publications until the auction is over and mail them directly to the winner/s of the auction. Questions can be directed to Brewer.

Treasurer - Complete financial report (balance sheets, ledger, bank deposit report, general journal report, check register, general ledger report) was mailed via US Mail to each board member (for the period of July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005).

The Financial Report for 2004 was completed in September 2004. Through an oversight, it was not published in the Coast to Coast, as is the usual practice. The 2005 report has been issued and the Board is in the process of reviewing it. It was noted that no summary had been posted in the Coast to Coast in 2004 or 2005 and that the next issue of the Coast to Coast will include both

Regarding the annual review of the Treasurer’s books, the board is to assign one board member and 2 regular members to the Review Committee. Normally done on the January circuit, it is hopeful that all 3 people will be available ASAP to complete this. Fletcher offered to fly to FL, at her own expense, to represent the board. Uzoff motioned to accept Fletcher’s offer, Jackson seconded. Approved. Fletcher to contact 2 members from the following, in order, Jorge Palacio, Byron Elder, Linda Spinner & Leslie Charde to see if 2 of them are available to assist. Brewer suggested that this new committee be formed within the first few weeks of October 2005 and that they review both the 2004 and 2005 books at the same time. After the review a completed report will be given to the board.

The BTCA is current as a Corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as of September 20, 2005.

Comstock noted that the books (balance sheet and the income statement) are to be opened to the general membership at the annual meeting.

Lengthy discussion & questions from the board to Jones & Brewer regarding the 2005 show expenses.

Brief discussion about bank fees and the possibility of switching banks to avoid these charges. Discussion shelved until later.

Unfinished business – Received letter and resume from Cindy Pagurski expressing her interest in being the Ways & Means Chair. Motion by Uzoff to appoint Cindy Pagurski as the Ways & Means Chairman, seconded by Brewer. Approved. It was also noted that Kim Bass may be willing to assist Cindy with the artwork. Comstock to be the liaison to the Ways & Means Committee.

Rescue – Jackson reports that there were many miscommunications between herself and the Rescue Chair, and Jackson asked for the board’s assistance in order to resolve. In addition, Jackson requests that a check for $1000 be made payable to Kim Pennington as a donation towards the boston terrier rescue efforts in Louisiana. Pennington to provide receipts to Jackson. Motion by McCollough to have a check made payable to Kim Pennington, for spay/neuter, heartworm check, vaccinations and rescue fees (if applicable), and that the check be sent directly to Jackson (one time only) to process before being given to Pennington, seconded by Uzoff. Approved. Opposed: Jones

Jones mentioned that the meeting regarding the Health Committee’s PayPal account, to include Jones, Anaya, and Miller & Fletcher never happened.

Election of new members - Ballots were distributed to all board members for proposed new members. The following were voted into membership of the BTCA, via secret ballot: Randy Weckman (KY), Carolyn Gastley (MD), Larry Shepherd (GA), Lynda Bradley (CA), Jan Shelton (OR), Sam Chrisman (MT).

New Business
Fletcher moved to rescind the increase in dues. Jackson seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Result: Dues to remain at $30 until a full review of the current income and expenses has been made. Using this information, the Board will be working to establish budgets for the Board and various committees. These budgets will help the BTCA visualize income and expenditures and will present ways to reduce expenses as well as increase income. Establishment of budgets will take time. However, the dues will not increase at this time

A motion was made by Brewer to rescind the raising of the entry fees for the national to $35, and to make the increase a clear $3 across the board instead. Seconded by Uzoff. Fletcher opposed.

Discussion regarding charging $10 for the Parade of Titleholders entries and that we will not mail the rosette if it’s not picked up at the show.

Byron Elder is the Affiliate Club Chair and might be in need of an assistant. Motion by Sunday to allow Elder to ask whomever he chooses to assist him, seconded by Jackson. Approved.

Show dedication. Fletcher motioned to dedicate the 2006 national show in memory of Judy Kay Gabriel, seconded by Brewer. Approved. Uzoff motioned to also dedicate the show in memory of Ruby Byers, seconded by McCollough. Approved.

Nominating committee. Jones motioned to elect Brewer as Chairman. Motion not carried. Motion by Fletcher to elect Jackson, seconded by Sunday. Motion rescinded due to the fact that Jackson is up for re-election. Motion by Jackson to elect Anaya, seconded by Sunday. Approved. Motion by Sunday to also ask Roni Elay and Benny Byrd to sit on the committee, with Leanna Terrill and Jean Craig as alternates, seconded by Dresselhuis. Approved.

Brewer reports that the all-breed club in Cincinnati would like to use our agility license to host an agility & rally trial on Memorial Day. Motion by McCollough to allow the Cincinnati club to use our agility license for this event, seconded by Dresselhuis. Approved.

Motion by McCollough to have a board meeting in 2 weeks for the sole purpose of approving the minutes of 9/20/2005, seconded by Sunday. Approved. Comstock to write letter to general membership with highlights of the 9-20-05 meeting and post it to the BTCA website asap.

Next meeting Tuesday, October 4th , with the sole purpose of approving the minutes of 9-20-05 so that they are expedited to the membership.

Motion to adjourn by McCollough, seconded by Dresselhuis. Approved. Meeting adjourned at 11:30 (EST).

Respectfully submitted,
Melany Anaya