Page 26 - Chow LIfe - 2022 01 Spring

AKC Delegate
Report
December 2021 by Margaret DiCorleto, Delegate
I attended the Delegates Meeting held in
Orlando, FL December 16 and 17, 2021.
Highlights from the two committee meetings I
attended:
Sheila Goffe, Vice President, Government
Relations, reported that more legislation than
ever before is currently being tracked- 3,000
bills. Three hundred legislative alerts have been
sent. New lobbyists are being hired. There are
new issues to be addressed in the coming year
such as “lawyers for dogs” and cost of care
legislation. She stressed the importance of club-
community communication and support of
AKC PAC. Her complete report is attached to
this report. For the most up-to-date information want to leave a review of a location at which
go to www.akcgr.org This department is a
valuable resource and it’s worth going to the
website to see legislative updates, AKC position
statements, and tips about how to best interact
with local legislators.
Guy Fisher from AKC Club Development
thanked the AKC Board for reassessing the
COVID regulations, some of which have been
modified or extended. For events held on or
before June 30, 2022 the following rules apply:
1) If it is stated in the premium list that location
(indoor or outdoor) will be determined on the
day of the event, exhibitors would not be eligible
for a refund based on the location of judging
on the site. 2) There are three opportunities for
Championship points on a single day provided
one of the three events is a Specialty show. 3)
All-breed and group clubs can travel up to
300 miles out of their territory in extenuating
circumstances to hold a show and 4) Specialty
clubs can travel up to 300 miles out of their
territory to join another specialty club of their
own breed. The pre-COVID event application
process will apply to all events to be held after
January 1, 2022. Also in order to provide fair
opportunity for all exhibitors to enter All-
Breed conformation events with an entry limit,
premium lists containing these events are
required to be published at least 72 hours prior
to the acceptance of entries. All-Breed
24
events with an entry limit must have a defined
date and time for the opening of entries, which
is to be prominently displayed in the premium
list.
All other conformation event types: All-Breed
without limits, Group/Limited-Breed (with
or without limits), Specialty (with or without
limits), and Parent Specialty (with or without
limits), are not required to identify an opening
date and time for entries.
SPECIALTY SHOW SITE COMMITTEE
addresses the subject of good locations for
national specialty shows. The AKC website now
has a portion dedicated to Parent Clubs who
they held one of their national specialties. This
is a new, streamlined 10-question survey that
can be completed in minutes. Go to the AKC
Specialty Show Site Locator It also includes
suggestions that a Show Chair or committee
might want to negotiate with a potential show
site. A Show Site Survey letter was sent to PC
Presidents, Secretaries, and Delegates in late
November 2021. After clubs have completed a
National Specialty, they are encouraged to visit
the show site website and review the location
used. This will be a help to every Parent Club
that struggles with finding suitable locations
for its premier annual event. It is fine to post
negative reviews. It’s just as important to decide
where you DON’T want to go as to where you
DO.
There is concern that while registration
numbers are increasing, the number of breeders
involved in our sport is decreasing. This decline
affects club membership, event participation,
and availability of health-tested puppies, bred to
the breed standard. The Breeders Development
Subcommittee of the Parent Club Committee
and AKC staff are looking for ways to support
new breeders. Programs include Parent Club
breeder education both online and at national
specialties, Parent Club breeder mentors, and
breeder recognition programs.