Executive Board Ballots 2011

Approve Updated Rules for Universal Sieger and WUSV Universal Sieger Team
E-Ballot #34-11

Motion by Tim Burke, second by Craig Groh, to approve the revised Universal Sieger and WUSV Universal Sieger Team selection regulations. (Regulations attached.)

Overturn Denial of Event Waiver for Willamette Valley Schutzhund Club
E-Ballot #33-11

Motion by Kevin Nance, seconded by Nancy Brigham, to overturn the PNW regional director’s denial of an annual event waiver for Willamette Valley Schutzhund Club for 2011.

Background — On September 13, 2011, Mary Dygert petitioned then PNW Regional Director Warren Jones on behalf of Willamette Valley Schutzhund Club for a 2011 waiver from the requirement to host a sanctioned event. Ms. Dygert indicated the following reasons:

We lost the turf farm for tracking earlier this year; with the crazy weather we’ve had the farmers are still busy working the fields that we would have had available. WVSC members all have young dogs and none are ready for a title. With the economy the way it is, we can’t count on enough outside entries to cover or break even. In all of the years WVSC has been a full member club we’ve hosted anywhere from one to four events per year. The past couple years that sadly went to only one event per year. This new economy has hit the SchH/show world hard as well.

In the previous year it should further be noted that Willamette Valley Schutzhund Club hosted both the regional conformation show and a working trial. Also, in 2010 and 2011 Mary was very active in supporting USCA national events as secretary for the USCA Sieger Show. Both of these events under her guidance were presented extremely well and a testament to her dedication and talent.

Some parties in the region are adamant regarding the need to adhere to existing bylaw requirements and not grant the waiver. Others are equally adamant that “compassion” for the circumstances surrounding Ms. Dygert’s request, her unwavering support for USCA national, regional, and past club events, and existing precedent call for the waiver to be granted at the regional level.

However, in the current regional climate of mutual rancor, the new regional director, Kevin Nance, has indicated a position of summarily denying all such waivers lest he be considered “favoring” one entrenched “camp” over another. Thus, it falls before the Executive Board for redress.

Approve Slate of Judges for 2012 WDC
E-Ballot #32-11

Motion by Nathaniel Roque, seconded by Jim Alloway, to approve the following slate of judges for the 2012 Working Dog Championships as approved by the USCA Judges Committee

• Tracking – Mike Hamilton (USCA/SV)
• Obedience – Anne Marie Chaffin (USCA/SV)
• Protection – Doug Deacon (CND/SV and GSSCC Head Judge

2012 USCA-GSD National Championships
E-Ballot #31-11

Motion by Sean O’Kane, seconded by Nancy Brigham, to select Cumberland Valley Schutzhund & Police Club as the host club for the 2012 USCA-GSD National Championships from bid submitted to the National Events Committee

Background — The NEC has reviewed and approved them as a suitable host club.

Waive 21-Day Pre-Notification Period for German Shepherd Schutzhund Club
E-Ballot #29-11

Motion by Kevin Nance, seconded by Nancy Brigham, to waive the 21-day pre-notification period for German Shepherd Schutzhund Club’s trial scheduled for Saturday, November 19, 2011.

Background — On September 10, 2011 then PNW Regional Director Warren Jones issued a trial authorization to Lynne Lewis and German Shepherd Schutzhund Club for November 19, 2011. Both the USCA and regional web sites were annotated accordingly.

Due to several legitimate distractions in the days leading up to the notification, Ms. Lewis was remiss in the sub-mission of the required notice, submitting it November 2, 2011.

Some parties in the region are adamant regarding the need to adhere to existing bylaw requirements and not grant the waiver. Others are equally adamant that “compassion” for the circumstances surrounding Ms. Lewis’ oversight, the adverse affect on her club members, and the club’s need for the trial before year end to avoid affiliate status along with adherence to existing precedent calls for the waiver to be granted at the regional level.

However, in the current regional climate of mutual rancor, the current regional director, Kevin Nance, has indicated a position of summarily denying all such waivers lest he be considered “favoring” one entrenched “camp” over another. Thus, it falls before the Executive Board for redress.

Move 2012 WDC date
E-Ballot #28-11

Motion by Jim Alloway and seconded by Dennis Vander Linde that the 2012 WDC be moved from the current WDC window to the weekend of April 20-22, 2012.

Background — This change of date is requested so that there is a minimum of three weeks between the WDC and the AWDF trial (which is currently slated for the weekend of May 11-13, 2012).

Approve Judges for 2012 USCA Sieger Show)
E-Ballot #27-11

Motion by Tim Burke, Seconded by Sean O’Kane to approve Frank Goldlust and Johannes Grewe as our USCA Sieger show judges for 2012.

Background — The BAC has reviewed and approved them.

2012 Working Dog Championships
E-Ballot #26-11

Motion by Nancy Brigham, seconded by Sean O’Kane, to select Mid Ohio SchH Club as the co-host club for the 2012 Working Dog Championships from bid submitted to the National Events Committee

Background — The NEC has reviewed and approved them as a suitable host club.

Change to 2011 USCA German Shepherd Dog National Championship Slate of Pre-Selected Helpers
E-Ballot #24-11

Motion by Dennis Vander Linde, seconded by Mark Scarberry, to approve Don Yelle to replace Patrick Davis as one of the four (4) pre-selected helpers for the 2011 USCA German Shepherd Dog National Championship.

Background — Patrick Davis sustained an injury and will not be able to perform the helper work in the 2011 USCA German Shepherd Dog National Championship. As such, Patrick has requested that his name be withdrawn from the Slate of Pre-Selected Helpers for the event. The Helper Committee wishes Patrick a full and speedy recovery. Based on a review of the Helper Committee voting results of the helpers who submitted their qualifications to work this event, Don Yelle had the next highest vote total.

USCA Donation to AWDF Team at FCIIPO Championship
E-Ballot #23-11

Motion by Craig Groh, seconded by Al Govednik, to approve a $5,000 donation by USCA to the 2011 AWDF Team competing at the FCI-IPO Championship.

Background — This year we have five USCA members handling their German shepherd dogs on the AWDF/USA Team at the FCI-IPO Championship. The AWDF Team relies completely on donations to help their team members defer the cost of overseas travel with their dogs. We should support the entire team by making a donation.

Many of you may not be aware that funding for the trip comes primarily from the competitors themselves. Flight, airfare, hotel, rental car, etc. can easily run in excess of $5,000 per competitor. THE TEAM NEEDS OUR HELP! All donations will be equally split among the competitors. All of the collected donations will pass directly through to the competitors—no administrative costs.

The team has not been able to gain any sort of large personal or corporate sponsorships this year. At this time the AWDF is not in a position to provide anything other than entry, trophy, and a few other misc. fees for our international team. Last year the team did quite well, finishing 3rd overall. Supporting the FCI Championship is really in our best interests, as it is also a reflection on the USCA. These are the donations for the FCI team that have been received so far by USCA:

• $100 — Kentucky Ridge Hundesport
• $200 — Ivana Karlsen
• $509 — Hallmark Kennels (Jim Hill)
• $200 — Mideast Region

Some other AWDF member clubs have also made donations to the team.

Approve slate of judges for 2011 GSD National Championship
E-Ballot #22-11

Motion made by Nancy Brigham, Seconded by Tim Burke to approve the slate of Judges for the 2011 GSD National Championship as recommended by the Judges Committee with the consent of the host club

• Tracking – Al Govednik
• Obedience – Michael Caputo
• Protection – Nathaniel Roque

2011 USCA German Shepherd Dog National Championship Slate of Helpers
E-Ballot #21-11

Motion by Dennis Vander Linde, seconded by Nathaniel Roque, to approve the USCA Helper Committee’s recommended slate of pre-selected helpers for the 2011 USCA German Shepherd Dog National Championship:

• Kevin Coombs
• Patrick Davis
• Marcus Hampton
• Sean Murphy

Final selection will be determined by helper tryouts as outlined in the USCA Helper Program.

Waive 21 day pre-notification for Wasatch Hundesport Helper Seminar
E-Ballot #20-11

Motion made by NW Regional Director Mark Hamilton, Seconded by Helper Committee Chair, Dennis Vander Linde to waive the 21 day pre-notification period for Wasatch Hundesport SC Helper Seminar.

Background — This event was scheduled with Teaching Helper, Joel Monroe and all clubs within 500 miles of the hosting club were advised of the event. Unfortunately, being a club with members that are new to the sport, they were unaware of the requirement for an Event Authorization and 21 day advance notification to the region. An Event Authorization Request was submitted 5 days prior to the event.

I believe the club acted as diligently as they knew how and would encourage Executive Board Members to read the supporting documentation for more details on the circumstances. As Regional Director I support the waiver and believe it is important to young helpers, this club, the region and the organization to allow the event to be official and any Helper Certifications earned to be recognized by USCA

Fee for Non-USCA Apprentice Judges
E-Ballot #19-11

Motion made by Nathaniel Roque and seconded by Al Govednik to add a fee for Non USCA Apprentice Judges in the amount of $ 100.00 per Trial to apprentice either at a USCA Trial or under a USCA Judge.

Background — In the past USCA has always provided at no charge to all AWDF Member Clubs, Judges and training by way of approving apprenticeships and teaching judges to all AWDF Member Clubs, with the increase of clubs starting their own judges programs we are doing more and more apprenticeships for other organizations. This uses USCA Judges resources at the expense of USCA Funds to directly benefit non USCA Clubs.

The reasons that our judges are requested is because we are world recognized, this is due to USCA membership in the WUSV. The WUSV recognizes our judges College because we meet their requirements IE proper apprenticeship, paperwork, an active authorization process. active DOJ as well as yearly meetings (Judges College). Currently the cost to maintain our Judges College is at or above $ 20,000 a year due to the high cost of travel and that we now have 21 judges and apprentices. This cost should not be the sole burden of dues paying USCA members if our judges resources are being used for other organizations benefits, training their judges or allowing our judges to judge their trials. USCA members will not receive much benefit in the near future from the licensing of these other organizations judges since these judges can not be used to judge at a USCA Trial (USCA bylaws require all judges at USCA Event to be USCA, SV or FCI Judges from WUSV Member Clubs). Our members will benefit from additional judges in other organizations by having potential availability to enter a trial and earn a title at another AWDF Club but this title will be accepted the same as we currently accept DVG earned titles it will only count towards a sport title, not valid for Sports Medal Points, SchH 3 Club or Breed Survey.

I believe that the fees being introduced for USCA Services to non USCA members and Clubs are very fair both for the other clubs and for our members. Their is no reason to support USCA as a member if you can get all of the benefits for free. In order for USCA to continue to provide support to our membership and to our AWDF Member Clubs services must be compensated. USCA has long been supporting all AWDF member clubs through supporting the lions share of the dues to support AWDF Activities and by providing access to USCA Events, providing judges and training and will continue to do so.

Amend USCA Aggressive Dog Policy
E-Ballot #18-11

Motion made by Warren Jones and seconded by Craig Groh to adopt the amendments made to the USCA Aggressive Dog policy as shown in the attached document. Click to view document

Background — With the recent incident a the Working Dog Championships (2011), it became apparent that USCA lacked a mechanism to prevent a handler from entering a truly dangerous animal in subsequent trials. The Aggressive Dog Policy is proposed to be amended by making some minor typographical changes and adding the following two sentences:

“If a dog bite incident is sufficiently severe or there is reason for the Director Of Judges to believe that the dog represents a significant menace to the public, the DOJ may refer the incident to the Judges’ Committee, who may upgrade the offense to a second or third offense level. Any such increase in penalty must be approved by the Executive Board.”