DELEGATE REPORT, December 2011
The Quarterly Meeting of the AKC Delegates took place on December 15-16, 2011 at the Rosen Center, Orlando, FL.
The Committee Meetings were held Thursday.
Bylaws took up the issues of:
Term Limits for Committee Members and Chairmen
Removal of Staff Liaisons from Committee Meetings
Nominating Committee Guidelines
Bylaws Review
The Delegates Meeting started Friday Morning with the Forum and the Q & A for Board of Director Candidates” - Moderated by James P. Crowley. This lasted about two hours.
President Dennis Sprung then called the meeting to order. There was the usual
· Introduction of persons on dais,
· Delegates seated since last meeting
· Introduction of Delegates attending their first meeting
· Approval of minutes
· Vote for new member club
Reports of the Chief Financial Officer, President and Chairman:
Chairman’s Report – Ron Menaker Highlighted the accomplishments of 2011
· Welcome the 11th Annual AKC/Eukanuba Championship
o 4975 Entries, 47 Countries, 1300 Owner handlers
o Broadcast Feb 4th on ABC
· 75th Anniversary of Obedience
· Conformation:
o Introduction of GCH level, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum
o Owner Handler Competition Series
o Breeder of Merit Program – 6900 awards
· Agility:
o Time to Beat events
o Preferred Agility Ch
· Coursing Ability Tests
· Therapy Dog Title – 1600 presented
· Meet the Breeds, NYC – 40,000 attendees
· Responsible Dog Day Activities – More than 600 events
President’s Report – Dennis Sprung
· DVD - AKC part in 9/11 presented to the Delegates as a gift from Dennis and Susan Sprung
· Meet the Breed high lights
Dog Show Research and Enhancement – Assisted by John Lyons, Robin Stansell and Charles Knifel, to look at:
· Decrease in average entries per show
· Decrease in number of majors per show
· Questions: Too many shows?
· Explain the Moratorium on New Clubs and New Shows.
· Explain demographics of exhibitors, dog shows, majors, effect of independent or associated specialties, etc.
· Moving forward:
o Moratorium is lifted
o All Clubs with dates will remain owning those dates
o All new specialty clubs will be >100 miles from another specialty club
o All new specialty shows will be associated with an establish All-breed or Group Club. Use of Concurrent Specialties
o No new clubs/dates will be established in high density areas
o New shows and dates to be > 300 miles apart
o Calculation of majors will be based on the prior one year entry not three and not include National or Parent Club Specialties or AKC/Eukanuba weekend. 20% of shows to have majors.
Treasurer’s Report – Jim Stevens:
· Explanation of AKC’s NYC Office Expenses
· Problems:
o 20yr lease signed in 1998 (7 years left, not signed by any current management)
o Lease restrictions on subletting
o $1.6M in unamortized lease improvements
o Current Rent $12.24/ft ($430K/yr)
o 2011 Operating deficit $3.8M
o Investments down $1.2M
· Benefits:
o Media Exposure – 2011 estimated $9.7M benefit
o Proximity to sponsors
o Back up systems to Raleigh
o Avoid loss of personnel
· Result: There is no value to consolidate to Raleigh before 2016
· Report of 2011 Operating Deficit - $3.8M
o Registrations down $2.1M (but rate of decline decreased)
o Sponsorships down $1M
o Publications down $460K
o Entries up 2%
o Digital Advertizing up $178K
o Expenses down $108K
o Investments down $1.7M
o GCH program generated $3M income
o Reserves still $60M
o While entries continue to decline, rate is less with increases from BOM Program
Vote and Readings on proposed amendments:
Vote on proposed amendment to Chapter 7, Section 1, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows, which would eliminate the prohibition of a person employed by dog food, dog remedy or kennel supply companies in the capacity of solicitor or salesman, from becoming an AKC judge – failed to pass.
Reading on proposed amendment to Chapter 16, Section 1, new sixth paragraph, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows, which will create a new three-point major for the dog designated Reserve Winners Dog and the bitch designated Reserve Winners Bitch at one National Specialty each year, specified by the AKC Breed Parent Club.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 1, Section 3, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows – Dog Shows Defined, which would remove references to the entries restricted to puppies, with the remaining sections to be renumbered to reflect deletion.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 6, Section 3, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows – Premium Lists and Closing Entries which would remove all references to seven groups.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 3, Section 1, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows – Dog Show Classifications, which would create eleven groups.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 3, Section 15-20, of Rules Applying to Dog Shows – Dog Show Classifications, which would remove all references to seven groups to eliminate a specific number.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 2, of Registrations and Discipline – Registrable Breeds by Group, which would create eleven groups.
Reading of proposed amendment to Chapter 9, New Section 8, of Beagle Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Brace, Small Pack and SPO Field Trials and Two-Couple Pack Hunting Tests – Entry Requirements and Eligibility, which would create a new section describing the requirements to earn a Grand Field Champion title.
Presentation by Alan Kalter and Lee Arnold (BOD):
PSA by Willie Nelson for AKC Rescue and C
