Page 55 - Chow LIfe - Summer 2021

AKC Delegate
Report
March 2021 by Margaret DiCorleto, Delegate
AKC Committee meetings and the quarterly
Delegates meeting were all held virtually during the
week of March 1-5 and on March 9.
The Dog Show Rules Committee discussed the
proposed Puppy Bred by Exhibitor class and
questioned adding this as a new class, having a
box to check on the entry form similar to Owner
Handled or changing the requirements for the Bred
by Exhibitor medallion program. No decision was
made so discussion will continue.
The All-Breed Clubs Committee discussed
a proposal for reaching out to diverse ethnic
communities with a focus on millennials and empty
nesters. This would be a way to recruit new club
members, boost participation in conformation,
and encourage new breeders. People would
be encouraged to explore and support breeds
originating in their countries of origin, so called
Heritage Breeds.
Highlights from the Parent Club Committee:
An email was sent to clubs by Lisa Cecin, AKC
Director of Club Relations, announcing an improved requirement to publish judges’ address with judges’
process for clubs amending or updating their bylaws
and the procedure for submitting to AKC. The link is Approved.
www.akc.org/clubs-delegates/clubs/forming-a-club/
club-bylaw-services. (I suggest we maintain this
information in the appropriate location for future
reference.)
Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC staff, reported that
Veterinary Outreach held 14 virtual meetings in
the Fall with 12 scheduled for the Spring. The AKC
CHF Parent Club conference is scheduled for August
13-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. The hope is to hold
an in-person event, but there is an alternate plan
for a virtual conference. She also shared the report
of the Juniors Best Practices subcommittee. The
subcommittee recommended and received approval
from the AKC Board for an 18-month Pilot Program
allowing mixed breed dogs (Canine Partners) to be
shown in Junior Showmanship competition. This
generated a great deal of discussion, both pro and
con, and resulted in a new recommendation that
this be an “opt-out” program with a start date of
January 2022. The committee also recommended
that clubs add a “Junior Coordinator” to their list of
club positions. This person would be an advocate for
Juniors and Junior involvement in the club.
The Parent Club Committee is working on a Best
Practices document for Parent Clubs that will
address various topics including membership,
publications, and finances. There was a report from
the Parent Club Breeders Development Committee
which plans to do a survey of all clubs asking how
they attract new members to their clubs and what
they do to get new owners involved in the sport.
There was a reminder that the AKC Marketplace
should be monitored often by the club representative
to ensure ads are accurate, e.g. sellers are not
misrepresenting themselves. This is especially
important since Marketplace usage has increased.
The AKC Delegates meeting held March 9 began
with the election of new Board members for the
Class of 2025 -Rita Biddle, Esq., Dominic Carota,
Dr. Thomas Davies, and Thomas Powers. There
was a vote on Ch. 6, Sect. 2 of Rules Applying
to Dog Shows which proposed some changes to
the premium list which would modify required
components such as replacing publication of
Secretary’s address with club address, replacing
city and state, and requiring publishing entry fee(s).
President Dennis Sprung presented a video called
AKC, We are all in this together, 2020 Retrospective.
The meeting highlighted AKC growth and
opportunities in many areas. Virtual learning
and titling opportunities have increased during
the pandemic. Television coverage of events has
expanded from AKC.TV the network for dog lovers
to affiliations with ESPN and ABC. Viewership is
exceptionally good. Breeder Education webinars
have been remastered, Public Education has a
PupPals Program, and there is an Educational
Curriculum/lesson plans for grades K-12 and
lessons for exceptional learners such as those with
physical or mental challenges.
Delegates were reminded that social media should
be used respectfully. If there are complaints related
to social media offenses, they should be directed to
Bri Tesarz, Director of Compliance.
The next meeting will be June 8, 2021.
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