The Boxer Club of Canada Inc. Minutes of the General Meeting held on Monday March 3rd, 2014 The meeting was called to order at approx. 8:05 p.m. - on-line Moderator/Chair. – President: Dave Gilmour Attendance: Arlene Wood, Bernice and Bill Langley, Bev Pope, Bill Helen Frankland, Christine Burton, Cindy Thomas, Dave & Patti Gilmour, Doris Avery, FrancineGgillanders, Irene & Len Waddell, Jenny & Michael Catton, Karen Parton, Kevin Serjeant, Kim Long, Kirstan OBrien, Lillian Wainwright, Marta Nettelfield, Mary Curl, MaryJane & Lee Nowak, Mary-Jane Werleman, Melissa & Mark Mathers, Paul & Judy Wilcox, Linda Norris, Sandra Beck, Shawn Mealey, Shirley Bell Minutes:  Dave: I assume everyone has had a chance to read last month's minutes. Were there any errors or omissions? No errors or omission. Moved by Jenny Catton Seconded by Kim Long - Minutes accepted Business Arising From the Minutes – None Treasurer’s Report – Kim Long Kim: I have nothing Dave, nothing has even been sent to me Dave: Understood Kim as I know things are in a bit of an upheaval right now with Paul's passing Paul Wilcox: Could we take a moment to remember Paul Dulong Dave: Great Idea Paul - We will pause a minute to remember Paul and everything he has done for this club Mary: There is a place where you can send your condolences I believe the link was sent to the Yahoo list and it is on the facebook page - http://www.lifenews.ca/announcement/4391686-dulong-paul-douglas Program - Lillian:  2 items posted to the list - one on safety / security, one on new PQ animal laws.. I have been told that they will not affect dog shows, but will affect animal shelters, pet stores, breeding and boarding kennels Mary: Lillian when you post these if you want them as "programme items” can you let me know and I can post them on the site.  Can’t put everything you send if I don't know. Lillian: Mary - will let you know if anything should be archived... COMMITTEE REPORTS Show Committee  Mary: Royal Canin Contract is signed and sent for 2014. I will send copies to those involved in Nationals & Regionals so they can follow the terms. It is better than the last but is only good one year at a time. Jenny: could we post the contract on our members only site so everyone can read it and have access to it pls. Mary: I can Dave: The only thing that is different with this contract is that we are going to need applications in as soon as possible because we are given limited funds for the small regional shows so we have to know so that we can notify Royal Canin who will be getting funds. Mary: It is better than before as all the Regionals are included for funding and they do not have to negotiate for it with the local reps. Those will have to be set before the end of the year for the next year's contract Publicity: Rich Tarrington – (not in attendance)  No Report Trophy Committee: Anne Dave: I realize Anne is in the hospital does anyone else have anything for trophy Mary: I know that she has contacted Mike regarding plates for trophies for the Ontario BCC regional.  I believe she has it all under control Jenny: we are in process in making up the trophies for the national and regional   Awards Committee: Kristi Wagg – Not in attendance Dave: I know Kristi is not here but just to remind everyone that Kristi had put a post out in regards to applying for awards. Out of sequence: Good & Welfare: Lillian:  sympathy card to Mary Dulong, get well card to Anne Mcdougall, and will mail out a sympathy card tomorrow to Tanis Carter now that I have the correct address Dave: In case no one recognizes Tanis Carter she is the wife of Kevin Carter who was a former BCC member that lost his battle with cancer in January Membership: Patti Gilmour – No Report Obedience Committee:  Marta Nettelfield  - No Report Nomination Committee: Jenny: anyone willing  to stand for either Vice-President, Treasurer or Recording Secretary, or Regional Director please send in all nominations to me at cattonj@cogeco.ca Nominations CLOSE March 31st as they are to be announced April 1 for voting, ballots will be sent out and then results are announced at AGM ALL nominations must have a seconder and confirmation of willing to stand.  All current regional directors and Exec please contact me as to your willingness to stand Discipline Committee:  Frank Rouse (Not in attendance) - No Report Fund Raising Committee:  Patti Jenny: we now have all of the bills for the weathervane and there is a $600 profit-- $300 to BCC: $150 To Boxer rescue Ontario and $150 to Boxer rescue Canada- thanks to all that participated and congratulations to Barb Maclean for winning.  Dave: Great job Mike. Kim: I still have some cards to sell on that beautiful homemade quilt if anyone would like one. Reading of General Correspondence:  Cindy Thomas Received approval letter from the CKC for the BCC Regional Specialty judge's panel on June 8, 2014. Received approval letter from the CKC for the BCC National Specialty judge's panel on July 12, 2014. Received event date application approval letter & judge's panel approval letter from the CKC for the BCC Regional Specialty on August 8, 2014. Special Service Committee: Deb Allardyce – No report Old Business:   Dave: The only thing I have for old business is the voting for the 2016 National. There are two requests for the 2016 National. They are the Western Canada Boxer Club applied for by Sheila Verhulst and the Renaissance Dog Club applied for by Monika Pinsker. Mary-Jane: I am the rep for the WCBC, does anyone have any questions for us. I had not really thought about a dinner for the national, but we are very happy to host one, or I had an idea of having food at ringside Sandra Beck: Where is the venue for WCBC's BCC National? Mary-Jane: it will either be in Cloverdale or I know the club is looking at the Olympic oval in Richmond. yes it is with the oceanside show Dave: Are there any other questions before we conduct a vote? To vote we will have everyone state their name and the club they wish to vote for. We will then wait a few minutes and tally up the votes and make the announcement. Dave: I have counted them twice and I have come up with these results. The vote is 17 for Renaissance and 14 for Western Canada Boxer club. Cindy will notify Rennaisance they are the successful applicant. Suggestions to increase meeting Attendance: Cindy: this came from Mike: 1 point for every meeting they attend – including AGM– regardless of membership status – probationary etc.. 1 point for every committee they sit on (must show they actually did something at the end of the year in order to get the point) 1 point for every committee they chair 1 point for being a member of the Executive – but no point for attending Exec Meeting because not everyone would be able to get points here 1 point for any other action you feel worthy. At the end of the year, each point thrown in a hat and a winner drawn.  Winner gets a 50.00 Walmart – Tim Horton – Gas etc Card. For 2014 – start at the March meeting and go to the Dec meeting.  If it works, start it next year at the January meeting. Cindy: If anyone else has a suggestion please bring one forward. Christine: I suggested that members must attend 3 meetings during the Sept. - June calendar year before they can apply for regional or national.  This would get members to attend at least 3 meetings Dave: It is a good idea Christine but all membership requirements have to be handled by amendments to the constitution Christine: I realize that, however if approved it may get more members to attend Kevin: Quebec has a regional most years, and there is no club out there. Does not attending meetings mean they are not capable of holding a regional? New Business: Lillian: my proposal for the limiting of regional shows.. as in ontario last year in a 3 mth period we had 6 specialties and 3 BCC regional show... just 2 many regionals. I believe the BCC should hold one National and on Regional per year Dave: That may be an issue for Ontario but the west is so spread out that we only have two or three for the whole year Mary: One BCC regional per year is unfair to the clubs that want to up entries and draw Boxer people to their areas.  Lillian: entries are down, $$ are being stretched , we should make an effort to reduce the Regionals so a win is a prestigious event Shirley: It is my opinion that reducing Regionals will hurt entries NOT increase them. Lillian: I have an alternative to your "unfair"... one regional per province - ie:  BCC Maritime regional; BCC PQ Regional; BCC Ont Regional; BCC Man regional, etc. Sandra: that is an interesting piece of information Lillian. What were the entries like numbers... Kevin: I don't think bringing prestige to a Regional is an issue. A Regional is just that, a Regional. I feel we need to bring more prestige to the National Mary-Jane: I was going to suggest one per province Jenny: I was thinking along the same lines except the CKC sets out the zones & Nfld,labrador and Nova  Scotia for example is 1 zone... same is true for NEW Brunswick & PEI.  not even looking at western withBC having 2 zones Kevin: Futurity? Stand alone? Somehow we need to make breeders across the country and south of the border want to showcase their dogs Kirstan: Personally, I feel that the decrease in entries across the board has far more to do with economics than it does about a lack of desire to showcase dogs.  There's not much the BCC can do to help put disposable income in people's pockets to show dogs... It would cost me thousands of dollars to travel to Ontario for the National between expenses and lost wages - I simply can't afford it, though I would love to be able to do it! Lillian: if they have a ltd amount of $$ for dog showing, then we should present or give them the opportunity of presenting them at a single regional in their area with the best judge we can Sandra: while I don’t know if your number increased or decreased with the example Lillian pointed out... I would think that would be something for the individual clubs to consider when making their next regional application... or not Linda: I agree that the economy has a lot to do with the number of entries but I also agree that more specialties is not the answer.  I know personally I have to pick so many shows to enter and therefore have to choose which specialties I can attend and I am sure many feel the same so if there are even three specialties within our driving area I would have to choose which of the three to enter. If there was just one then I would of course enter that one specialty. Dave: My feel on this is the only place we have a problem is Ontario. If indeed this is a problem maybe the regional clubs should get together and discuss this Sandra: Just to play the devil’s advocate... what about the BCC Ontario regional? Kevin: The BCC regional became obsolete once the stand alone specialty was abolished Kirstan: As a general rule, the quality of judges has to do with how much money the club has to spend on them.  Want better judges?  We need to do more fundraising.  And if BCC members would like the regional host clubs to bring in better judges who cost more, then the BCC needs to consider giving the hosts clubs money for that purpose Lillian: the specialty should provide entertainment for the participants - ie:  educational programs, social events, screening of some sort for medical problesm in the breed - ie:  heart, DM... Lillian:  Dave - do you want my proposal to go to Cindy as a by-law change or will it do to have it discussed and voted on at a meeting? Dave: Lillian I will have to see where that is covered to see how it has to be addressed More conversation was held on Judges and costs of Specialties Sandra: Have we checked with the CKC to see if such a change would be contrary to their policy... just saying.... Cindy: SECTION N Regional Specialties    The Club will hold no more than the maximum number of Regional Specialty Shows as permitted by The Canadian Kennel Club.    The Canadian Kennel Club policy allows for one Boxer Club of Canada Specialty Show (National or Regional) to be held annually in each CKC Electoral Area. Each Electoral Area will have the opportunity to hold one Regional  Specialty per calendar year with the exception of the Electoral Area holding the National Specialty. The Electoral Area hosting the Boxer Club of Canada National Specialty will not be granted a Regional Specialty in the same  calendar year.  Sandra: looks black & white to me when the CKC uses the term "will" Dave: If there is more than one club per electoral area that wants a regional than you apply and it is voted on by the club Dave: I think we need to carry this on to another meeting as we seem to have lost most of the members Christine: Could you please confirm date wise when proposed changes to constitution and by-laws are due.  I have already submitted mine to Cindy Dave: Changes to constitution are required 60 days prior to the AGM whereas bylaws can be changed at anytime during the year. If you go to the website in members only there are forms to fill out in regards to amendments plus lists the time frames   Jenny moved to adjourn. Christine seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:58 p.m. Next Meeting:  April 7, 2014 8:00 p.m. Ontario time EST