GDCA Board Minutes

GDCA Board Meeting
October, 2007, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by President Linda Ridder.

Members Present: Linda Ridder, Lourdes Carvajal, Lynda Moriarty, Sue Davis Shaw, Warren Benoit, Jane Trieber, Lucinda Harwin, Jean Highlands, Pookie Kostuk, Dianne Powers, Chuck Crawford, Joe Longo, and Tom Sandenaw, Dale Desjardins, Dave Miller

Guests: Sid Levin, Mary Barnett Reed, John Reed, Willie Crawford, Nancy Lerch, Sharon Hennessey

All motions are unanimous unless otherwise stated.

MOTION
To excuse the absence of Paul Hardiman.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Dianne Powers

Recording Secretary’s Minutes
MOTION
To approve the minutes of the July 28, 2007, meeting as submitted.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Dianne Powers

Corresponding Secretary’s Report
Lynda reviewed several items of correspondence, including:
• Correspondence from AKC concerning Drafting, the 2007 show approvals and new standard wording.
• A report from Purina regarding the Parent Club Partnership, which noted 1,344 declared Great Dane members, 348 submitting weight circles, and $6,944 accumulated so far this year.
• Letters regarding the rescue situation in California
• Correspondence on bill AB1632 and a response from the Great Dane Rescue of No. California.
• The 2007 Eukanuba ad is taken care of.
• She has the Top 20 posters and has all but one of the winners.
• The National Specialty Rules & Regulations are 99% complete. She still has a little bit of research to complete.
• Lynda wrote a letter to the Northeast Great Dane Club regarding their posting of our standard. She will check to see if it has been removed.
• She will prepare the standard vote mailing. Each change will have its own check-off box. She discussed the procedures for making the ballots anonymous. Included in the vote will be the Honorary Membership for Eleanor Leslie.

Treasurer’s Report
MOTION
To accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted.
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Susan Davis Shaw

Some money designated for rescue in California will not be used. Mary Barnett Reed will send letters asking if the donors would like to have their money returned to them or added to the Charitable Trust Rescue Account.

Affiliate Representative’s Report
Dianne distributed background information on Illini’s request for by-law approval which will be moved to Thursday’s agenda. She also gave information on a request for an educational grant.

AKC Delegate
Tom Sandenaw asked board members if they would like to continue to receive correspondence from AKC that he has been forwarding to them. The response was absolutely yes. He reviewed the nominees for AKC board of directors.

Futurity
Dave Miller had submitted his report.

Health & Research
Lourdes requested that she has requested an update from Dr. Keith Murphy. She discussed the Bloat Research Study and noted that she needs a proposal to proceed. Linda will try to contact Neil during the break.

Judges Education
Jane Trieber reported that she has 22 people signed up for Judges Education, 17 of those are non-Dane people. She reported on the educational CD she is working on and will need a list of what we would like on the CD. She will put it off until January after the standard vote.

The board entered into a brief executive session. Upon reconvening, the following motion was made:

MOTION
That the Judges Education Committee will now be a committee made up of the Division Chairs or an approved representative of a Division Chair.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Dianne Powers

Jane reported that Judges Education is on Friday.

She also reported on progress with the mentoring program and draft requirements to be a mentor, as well as a mentor list which was compiled with the help of the division chairs.



Judges Selection
Linda reported that 33 affiliate clubs voted. She has the list and will discuss the voting at the affiliate representatives meeting. She also reported that Lynn Brown Quick is resigning after this year.

Junior Showmanship
Lourdes reported for Jessie. She requested approval of the new scholarship application and reported that two scholarships applications will be reviewed on Thursday.

MOTION
To approved the revised scholarship application submitted by Jessie Gerszewski.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

Membership – moved to Thursday

National Specialties
2007 – The national is going well.
2008 – Joe Longo reported that they are back on track and the packets are ready to be distributed on Saturday.
2009 – Chuck reported that the national will be held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo
2010 – Approval was requested for the Western Division New Officers.

MOTION
To approve the Western Division new officers, who are: Division Chairman, A. P. Putt Richards; Secretary, Shari Ziegenbein; Treasurer, Kathy Munyan, pending the GDCA membership of Kathy Munyan.
Moved: Jane Trieber 2nd: Dianne Powers

Rescue
Mary Barnett Reed reported on the Rescue Statistics and presented eight rescue grants for approval:

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they fund the following rescue grants as recommended by the Rescue Chairman:
1. Great Dane Club of Greater Kansas City (2) $459
2. Great Dane Rescue SW Florida (1+2) 500 each
3. Great Dane Angel Network (Texas) (1+2) 500 each
4. Great Dane Club of No. CA (1+2) 500 each
5. Great Dane Rescue, Inc AL (1+2) 500 each
6. Great Dane Rescue, Inc IN (1+2) 500 each
7. Great Dane Rescue, Inc MI (1+2) 500 each
8. GDC of Oxford CT Rescue (1) 296.77
Moved: Pookie Kostuk 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

Sharon Hennessey and Nancy Lerch requested changes to the rescue grant request form to insure that grants come through an affiliate club.

MOTION
To approve the new rescue grant application changes as recommended by Mary Barnett-Reed.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Nancy Lerch passed around a book entitled The French Bulldog, by an author, Muriel Lee, who is currently writing a book on the Great Dane.

Standard
Linda reported that Bob Edison has tendered his resignation as chairman of the committee. Linda needs someone to take over and complete the new illustrated standard. Lourdes volunteered to take over the project.

Web Site
Nancy submitted her report.

Champion Awards
Dale has nothing to report at this time.

Charitable Trust
Lourdes reported that people are donating for many reasons and she reported on some of them. The financial report will be in the next bulletin.

Corporate Sponsors
Joe Longo reviewed the corporate sponsors and their level. Platinum sponsors are Purina, Virginia Perry Gardiner, and Louise Peterson; Gold sponsors are Arnie Eckenrode, Royal Canin; Silver Sponsors are Dane World, Eagle, Omar, and Nutro. Joe asked everyone to be sure to thank them for their support when you see them.

Legislative
Tom Sandenaw needs to have the names of some regional contacts. This will be discussed at the Division Chairs meeting on Wednesday.

Old Business
PAC – Tom will bring the AKC report to the Thursday meeting.
Emergency Committee – This committee will deal with emergency situations. We can handle this through the yahoo group.

New Business
Lourdes asked if the board was aware that there are new rescue groups organizing across the country. Someone may come to the rescue meeting.

Linda thanked Pookie and Dale for their service on the GDCA board.

The meeting recessed until Thursday.


The meeting was reconvened by President Linda Ridder on Thursday, October 25, at 3:10 PM.

Members Present: Jane Trieber, Lucinda Harwin, Chuck Crawford, Jean Highlands, Rita Suddarth, Susan Davis Shaw, Linda Ridder, Dianne Powers, Dave Miller, Joe Longo, Lynda Moriarty, Warren Benoit, Tom Sandenaw, Lourdes Carvajal

Guests Present: Norvel Benoit, Tom Proios, Laurie Lutton, Carol Grossman, Donna Snider, Sue Larkin, Ann Heaney, Edie Prois

MOTION
To excuse the absences of Jane Chopson and Paul Hardiman.
Moved: Jean Highlands 2nd: Dave Miller

Health & Research
Linda gave an update. She reported that the CHF had approved an acorn grant and that Neil had been in touch with Matthew Plachard and apprised Lourdes of the situation.

Junior Showmanship
Jessie has submitted two applications for approval that Linda is passing around for review.

She also made a special request of the board. Her report stated: “Kristen Heiden was the inspiration for the change in the scholarship Program to reward applicants based on their GPA. I was so impressed with her GPA of 3.98 that I am requesting the board approve Kristen’s grant retroactive to the new scholarship application. Her application was approved at the July meeting for $1000. Please consider approving an additional $1500 for Kristen”. As a result, the following motion was made:

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they approve the request of the Scholarship Chairman to increase the scholarship of Kristen Heiden retroactively.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Chuck Crawford

MOTION
To recommend to the Charitable Trust that they approve the scholarship applications of Kari Dalane and Scott Dalane, as recommended by the Scholarship Chairman.
Moved: Joe Longo 2nd: Jean Highlands

Membership
Lynda reported that there were two additional names added for publication: Clyde Morris and Candace Gerhardt. She noted a new sponsor for one of the applicants to be voted on.

MOTION
To approve the following applicants into membership:

Michael & Joanna Anne
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Melissa Bennett
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Lisa Garrison
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Dave Miller

Bonnie Knight
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Tom Sandenaw

Logan Rees
Moved: Dave Miller 2nd: Sue Davis Shaw

Johanne Elmholt
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Dianne Powers

Liselotte Schjerbeck
Moved: Jean Highlands 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Brinda Snively
Moved: Dianne Powers 2nd: Chuck Crawford

Affiliate Club Representative
Dianne reported that the Illini club has requested approval of their by-laws, which are more restrictive than the Parent Club (in that members must adhere to the color code rather than be cognizant of it). There was a discussion on whether an extension of a Parent Club can act differently than the Parent Club. Dianne reported that they can be more restrictive only if approved in writing by the Parent Club. As a result of the discussion, the following motions were made.

MOTION
That the Board not approve Affiliate Club constitution and by-laws that are more restrictive than the Parent Club.
Moved: Chuck Crawford 2nd: Lynda Moriarty
Yes – 4; No – 7
THE MOTION DID NOT PASS.

MOTION
That we permit the amendment and notify AKC with a letter approving Illini’s by-laws even though they are more restrictive than the Parent Club.
Moved: Tom Sandenaw 2nd: Rita Suddarth
Yes-4; No-4; Abstentions-5
Presidential vote to break the tie – No
MOTION DID NOT PASS.

MOTION
To table the request of Illini to approve their revised constitution and by-laws until a policy is in place regarding Affiliate Club constitution and by-laws that are more restrictive than the Parent Club.
Moved: Tom Sandenaw 2nd: Joe Longo

Board members agreed that we need to have a policy in place to control any issues that may come up. We need to think this through and discuss it in January. As soon as a policy is in place, Illini’s by-laws will be considered.

Dianne requested approval for an Educational Grant to the Great Dane Club of Maryland.

MOTION
To request that the Charitable Trust fund an Educational Grant to the Great Dane Club of Maryland in the amount of $350.
Moved: Lourdes Carvajal 2nd: Jean Highlands

Dianne reported further that the Great Dane Club of Oklahoma has submitted an application for membership. She would like an electronic vote so they can be published.

National Specialties
Carol Grossman reviewed the upcoming nationals.

2008 – The national will be Oct. 11-18 of next year.
2009 – On track and will be held at Chatanooga Choo Choo with one specialty before the national.
2010 – There is difficulty in finding a location and they are exploring possibilities of using the Topeka facility.
2011 – They haven’t started looking yet. There is a Western Division meeting tomorrow.
Carol reported that Purina is working on an event center that won’t be ready until 2010.

Carol will discuss with the division chairs the possibility of realignment of the divisions. She will have a report for the board in January.

Mentoring
Jane Trieber reported that the mentoring committee will consist of herself and the division chairs.

Cindy Harwin reported that PetPac is looking for money for rescue in response to the California fires. Carol Grossman will forward emails that she has received regarding the rescue efforts and if something comes up we can do an electronic vote.

Warren will look into getting bonding for our treasurer and we can discuss it at the January meeting.

In response to a request from Cyndy Simon, the following motion was made:

MOTION
To approve the request of Cyndy Simon for a replacement Top 20 pin.
Moved: Lynda Moriarty 2nd: Joe Longo

MOTION
To hold the next meeting on January 26, 2008, in Las Vegas, tentatively at the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson.
Moved: Jane Trieber 2nd: Cindy Harwin

Old Business (from the first meeting) PAC
Tom Sandenaw reported that AKC has received approval to permit a PAC which includes AKC members and licensed clubs. Warren and Tom will look into a policy for the GDCA.

MOTION
To adjourn the meeting.
Moved: Cindy Harwin 2nd: Dianne Powers

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Davis Shaw
Recording Secretary

The following motions were made, seconded and approved by electronic vote.

Nov. 21, 2007
MOTION
To reinstate the membership of Henry Burt due to extenuating circumstances.
Moved: Susan Davis Shaw 2nd: Jane Chopson
Yes – 8; No-4
Motion Passes

MOTION
December 5, 2007
To move approval of the Committee Chairs selected by President Ridder.
Moved: Jane Chopson 2nd: Paul Hardiman

MOTION
December 20, 2007
That the GDCA grant up to $5000 to cover veterinary expenses and or other costs Mary Barnett Reed deems appropriate for the 30 some dogs involved in the Florida rescue effort if and when the dogs are released to the local rescue group.
Moved: Jane Chopson 2nd: Lourdes Carvajal

MOTION
January 14, 2008
That the GDCA donate $100 to the Betsy Powers Memorial Fund at Bucknell University.
Moved: Sue Davis Shaw 2nd: Lynda Moriarty

 

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