It was reported that the following Executive Officers were re-elected:

• Dennis B. Sprung President and Chief Executive Officer
• John J. Lyons Chief Operating Officer
• James T. Stevens Chief Financial Officer
• James P. Crowley Executive Secretary

The Chairman has appointed the following Board liasons for 2009-2010: Field Trial and Hunting Tests- Kenneth A. Marden and Patricia H. Haines

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Events and Entries Update – Mr. Sprung reported that for the first two months of 2009; the number of events was up 10.4% and total entries were up 6.3%.

PERFORMANCE EVENTS

Doug Ljungren, AKC Staff, participated in this portion of the meeting via video conference.

Retriever Advisory Committee Recommendations

The Board reviewed three recommendations that were developed by the Retriever Field Trial Advisory Committee.

• Proposal #1 – Addresses amateurs judging dogs run by their professionals. The Retriever Advisory Committee voted to caution individuals who are asked to judge to “use care” when accepting assignments.
• Proposal #2 – Amend the wording in Chapter 8, Section 9 of the Retriever Field Trial Rules that addresses communicable diseases.

• Proposal #3 – Substitute “shall” for “should” in 13 different sections of the Standard Procedures for Retriever Field Trials.

These recommendations will be discussed further at the May meeting.

Items that may come to the Board for a VOTE in May 2009:

·         Approving the Russell Terrier to compete in the Miscellaneous Class

·         Requiring prior notification to AKC for Plan OC Obedience Matches

·         Rule changes proposed by the Retriever Advisory Committee

·         Revisions to the Coonhound Event Regulations

·         Additional Conformation Titles for Miscellaneous Class Competition

Items that will continue to be discussed by the Board in May 2009 and beyond:

·         An AKC Conformation Ranking System

·         Ways to keep participants in the Sport involved.

·         The concept of an advanced Grand Champion Title.

·         Legislation and Legislation Alerts.

 

PREVIOUS MINUTES:

FEBRUARY:

PERFORMANCE EVENTS

Doug Ljungren, AKC Staff, participated in this portion of the meeting via video conference.

Additional Pointing Breed Hunting Tests

Following a motion by Mr. Marden, seconded by Ms. Scully, it was VOTED (unanimously) to amend Board Policy to permit licensed Pointing Breed Hunting Test Clubs in remote areas to hold up to six hunting tests per year if the nearest hunting test is more than 100 miles away. This exception will require written approval and be granted one year at a time.

American Brittany Club National Championship Qualifications

The American Brittany Club submitted a request to amend the qualifications to enter the American Brittany Club’s National Amateur All-Age Championship field events. In the past, a dog needed two first or second placements in All-Age stakes with an amateur handling the dog to qualify. These placements had to be earned in the past year. The club would like the qualification changed to: – one first or second placement in All-Age stakes with an amateur handling the dog. The Board requested further justification from the American Brittany Club concerning why they want to make this change.

Chapter 9, New Section 11, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Brace, Small Pack Option Field Trials and Two Couple Pack Hunting Tests and Chapter 9, Section 6, of the Beagle Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Large Pack Field Trials

The Board discussed these Beagle Field Trial rule changes, which the Delegate Body was to vote on at the December 2008 meeting. The vote was postponed until March. The rule changes would differentiate the Beagle Field Trial Championship title by the three distinct hunting styles demonstrated in different field trials. Following a motion by

Dr. Davies, seconded by Dr. Newman, it was VOTED (unanimously) to reaffirm the Board’s approval of this amendment as recommended by the Beagle Advisory Committee.

 

JANUARY:

PERFORMANCE EVENTS

Doug Ljungren, AKC Staff, participated in this portion of the meeting via videoconference.

Lure Coursing Regulations

The Board reviewed proposed changes to the Lure Coursing regulations as recommended by the Lure Coursing Advisory Committee. These include changes in how the event is run and multiple administrative changes. One of the proposed changes involved mandatory continuing education for approved judges. There was a motion by Mr. Gladstone, seconded by Dr. Davies to eliminate this requirement. That motion was defeated, with the VOTE (affirmative: Mr. Gladstone, Dr. Davies, Mr. Merriam, Mrs. Schaefer, Mr. Goodman; opposed: Mr. Menaker, Mrs. Scully, Dr. Newman, Dr. Haines, Dr. Battaglia, Mrs. Strand, Dr. Garvin, Mr. Marden).

There was a motion by Mrs. Schaefer, seconded by Ms. Scully, and it was VOTED (unanimously) to approve all suggested revisions to the Regulations For Lure Coursing Tests And Trials. (All changes are outlined in Attachment A.)

Additional Pointing Breed Hunting Tests

The Board reviewed a staff proposal to allow licensed clubs in remote areas to increase the number of Hunting Tests that they may hold from four to six per year if the nearest hunting test is more than 100 miles away. This exception would require written approval and be granted one year at a time. This will be discussed further at the February meeting.