Secretarys Report

This report details the day to day activities of the ASCA Board of Directors and includes issues brought before the ASCA Board and communications done by mail, fax, e-mail and/or phone.

 January 1-31, 2002 

97:14 DNA COMMITTEE - DNA Requirements for Popular Sires

Motion by Gray, Liaison to the DNA & Genetics Committee.

I move to approve the following DNA Requirements for Popular Sires submitted by the DNA & Genetics Committee.

Motion by Joan, second by C.A.
I move ASCA initiate a DNA policy for the profiling of ASCAregistered sires, who sire 4 or more litters in any one calendar year. All sires that have sired four or more ASCA registerable litters in any one
calendar year [calculated by date(s) of service] must be profiled by one of ASCA's designated testing labs and certified either DNA-CP or DNA-VP. This profiling must be completed and recorded with the ASCA Business Office prior to the issuance of litter registration papers for the 5th litter.  Further, any sire who has sired 9(or more) litters in his lifetime and who's 10th (or more) litter is born after 01/01/03, will also be required to be DNA profiled before the issuance of the litter registration papers. This policy becomes effective January 1, 2003

Comments: Popular Stud Dogs have a huge impact on ASCA's registry, and this ruling will give some measure of security against breeding errors.  It also allows for ample opportunity for the new ruling to be advertised in the Aussie Times, so that the membership can be fully informed before implementation of the rule.
Committee Voting:  Yes: Chris, Kris, Laura, Sally, George, Peter, Marilyn, C.A. and Joan

No: Kim and Susan

Board Voting :Approve: Gray, Adolphson, Davenport, Aufox & Warren. Disapprove: Toft, Berryessa & Trumbull-Clark. Abstain: DeChant. Motion is approved.

LETTER OF DISSENT
I disapprove the following DNA Committee recommendation for the below reasons.
1. My understanding of past Board decisions was to allow for membership education, input and possible vote prior to any future decision regarding mandatory DNA testing of ASCA registerable dogs.
2. Neither the Board nor the DNA Committee has provided adequate education for our general membership on the pros and cons of mandatory DNA testing for ASCA.
3. Neither the Board nor the DNA Committee have requested input from the total ASCA membership on this proposal.
4. ASCA suffered an almost $40,000 drop in registry income from 2000 to 2001. This drop concerns me as to possible greater future losses if the ASCA membership is not fully educated in the need for mandatory DNA testing and until there is measurable membership support for the plan.

Therefore, due to lack of membership education and input on the proposed mandatory DNA testing and concern for a large drop in income for ASCA, I disapprove the following recommendation.
-Kyle Trumbull-Clark

99:13 2001 NATIONALS - Stockdog Finals Budget/Actual

Motion by Warren, second by Berryessa.

I move to send a check for $7753.15 to CASA to cover the cost to them for  putting on the 2001 Stockdog Finals.

Board voting: Approve: Aufox, Davenport, Trumbull-Clark, Berryessa, Warren, Gray, Toft & DeChant.
Abstain: Adolphson. Motion is approved.

02:01 2002 ELECTIONS - Schedule

Motion by Toft, second by Trumbull-Clark

I move to alter the Elections Schedule for 2002 and to publish it in the March-April, May-June, July-August and September-October issues of the Aussie Times as follows:
    July 29          Ballots mailed to all foreign members
    August 12     Ballots mailed to all US members
    October 12    Deadline for voting on Directors and any referendum questions
The start of the General membership meeting is the deadline for voting the proxy portion of the ballot, although it may be submitted to the counter at any time prior to that date.

Comments: ASCA needs to have a proxy ballot in 2002 so the membership may vote on the proposed amendments to the Bylaws. The current Bylaws stipulate proxy ballots only be valid for 90 days from the date of mailing. The Nationals is November 2-9 in 2002. A date of August 12 assures the ballots will be valid for the General Membership meeting in 2002, where they will be cast. Due to an oversight when the previous amendment for proxy balloting was approved the timeline given above is necessary. This oversight has been corrected in the proposed Bylaws and the old election schedule may be resumed as soon as the proposed changes are approved.

The Bylaws Committee has completed the final sections of the proposed Bylaws and they are ready for publication in the March-April issue of the Times. Members will then have approximately 4 months to send any final comments to the Committee.

Board voting: Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft, Adolphson & Berryessa. Disapprove: Aufox, Warren, Gray, DeChant & Davenport. Motion is disapproved.

91:07 ASCA BUSINESS OFFICE - OFA DNA Reports

Motion by Toft, second by Trumbull-Clark

I move ASCA offer for sale combined OFA and DNA reports as the Business Office has time to compile them.

Data to be listed alphabetically by dog's registered name. DNA information will include whether the dog is DNA-CP or DNA-VP. OFA information will include OFA number. If more than one OFA rating was
issued, all ratings with OFA number will be included.  Past records will be published with approximately 20,000 total entries per book. Once the backlog is complete, reports will be published once a year         and include all information for the previous year.  Reports to be published in-house using either staple or comb binding.  Reports to be generated only as orders are received.  Price to be determined in consultation with Business Office manager after thorough cost analysis.  Advertising for the sale of the DNA/OFA reports will be included in each issue of the Aussie Times, on ASCA's webpage and in any other ASCA promotional/marketing outlets.

Comments: In-house publishing will minimize the cost to buyers while maximizing ASCA's profit. A number of members have contacted me registering their disappointment that a previous motion to publish this information was rejected. They would all have liked to purchase such a book. I will be
happy to assist the Business Office staff in any way on this project.

This motion has been sent to the Business Office manager and incorporates comments offered by her.

Board voting: Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft & Adolphson.  Disapprove: Aufox, DeChant, Davenport, Gray, Berryessa & Warren. Motion is disapproved.

91:07 ASCA BUSINESS OFFICE - Stud Books

Motion by Toft, second by Trumbull-Clark

I move to begin publishing ASCA studbooks as soon as the ADMS2 is completely in place, utilized, the Business Office staff trained at writing reports and any previously scheduled reports are completed.

The ASCA Studbooks will be offered in the following format:
Volume One: All "A", "B", "C", "D", "I" and all Hardship registered dogs.
Volume Two: First 20,000 "E" registered dogs
Volume Three: Second 20,000 "E" registered dogs
Volume Four: Third 20,000 "E" registered dogs
Volume Five: Fourth 20,000 "E" registered dogs
Volume Six: Fifth 20,000 "E" registered dogs

Subsequent volumes to be published every 20,000 registrations. Volumes may be published in reverse order depending on the current accuracy of the registry.

Listings to be arranged alphabetically by dog's registered name. Listings to include the following information: Dog's registered name, sex, Date of birth, registration number, color, tail length, eye color, breeder, registered name of sire, registered name of dam

Books can be bound using staples such as are currently used for our rulebooks or an inexpensive comb binding machine can be purchased for this purpose (cost of these machines runs from about $125 to $200 depending on the type of machine purchased. Binding combs are less than 25 cents apiece. The binding machines and combs are available for purchase at most major office supply stores).

Printing may be done as orders are received. It will not be necessary to maintain extensive inventory with in-house printing.  Price to be determined in consultation with the Business Office manager after thorough cost analysis.  Advertising for ASCA studbooks will be included in each issue of the Aussie Times, on the ASCA website and in all other ASCA promotional/marketing outlets.

Comments: We have been assured this information may be easily accessed once the computer programming is complete. The programming is approaching completion and due to ASCA's serious financial situation they should be offered for sale as soon as possible. The membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of publishing studbooks in the most recent election.

The format detailed above will be the simplest for members to use and understand and provide the most commonly needed information for breeders and other fanciers. The books can be printed completely in-house, eliminating the higher cost of outside vendors. This will minimize the cost to members and maximize ASCA's profit. I will be happy to assist the Business Office staff in any way necessary on this project.

This motion has been sent to the Business Office manager and Webmaster and incorporates their comments.

Board voting:  Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft & Adolphson. Disapprove: Davenport, Aufox, Berryessa, Warren, Gray & DeChant.  Motion is disapproved.

93:17 STOCK DOG RULES - SDC Recommendation CH. 3 Sec. 3.3

Motion by Warren, Liaison to the Stock Dog Committee.

I move to accept the following SDC recommendation. CH 3 Sec. 3.3
Motion by Simmons seconded by Walter
Change CH 3 Sec. 3.3 to read:  3. Class in Each Division: Each division may be divided by the following livestock classes: Ducks, Sheep/Goats, and Cattle. A dog may enter in multiple divisions in the same sanctioned trial. Example-Post Advanced Sheep, Open Cattle and Advanced Ducks. A dog may only enter once in each class of livestock per sanctioned trial. Exception-Junior's Division see Chapter 3 Sec.3.2.d.4.

Comments: With the above change hopefully people will understand better what they can enter. New people coming into the program don't know and look to the rules for answers and we really don't have this down anywhere in the current Rule Book.

Approve: Myrick, Holmes, Mackenzie, Walter, Harris, Baker, Schvaneveldt, Simmons, Walker
Disapprove: Bailie   Non-Voting: Sutherland, Robinson, Mahoney

Board voting: Approve: Davenport, Aufox, Warren, Gray, Toft, Adolphson, DeChant & Berryessa.
Abstain: Trumbull-Clark. Motion is approved.

98:15 OBEDIENCE COMMITTEE - Ch. 1, Sec. 14.

Motion by Trumbull-Clark, Liaison to the Obedience Committee

I move to accept the following recommendation from the Obedience Committee:

Motion was made by Evans, seconded by Case and unanimously approved as follows:
Change the last sentence of Chapter 1, Section 14 to: ASCA affiliates hosting a sanctioned show trial or agility competition must file a Trademark Agreement with the ASCA Business Office in order to use the ASCA Logo in awards.

Board voting: Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft, Adolphson, Berryessa, DeChant, Warren & Gray.
Disapprove: Aufox & Davenport.  Motion is approved.

98:15 OBEDIENCE COMMITTEE - Recommendation

Motion by Trumbull-Clark, Liaison to the Obedience Committee.

I move to accept the following recommendation from the Obedience Committee: The Obedience Committee would like to recommend to the Board of Directors, the following motion, effective as soon as possible.  If a club anticipates an entry in excess of its facilities for a Specialty or Sanctioned Obedience Trial, it may limit entries in any or all classes, but Nonregular class entries shall not exceed 25% of the total limited entry.

Motion by Evans, seconded Burlingame. Voting: Approved Evans Burlingame, Willems, Hamelin, Bohren, White, Case, Link, not voting, Swatko, Mann, Cyboron.

Board voting:  Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft & Adolphson. Disapprove: Davenport, Aufox, Berryessa, Warren, Gray & DeChant. Motion is disapproved.

00:19 BUDGETS - 2002

Motion by Warren, seconded by Davenport.

I move to accept the following advertisement budget:

1) Australian Shepherd Annual - ASCA has front cover reserved for next 2 years. We get the cover plus 1 page inside write-up. Payment due in June. 1 time insertion. Cost = $1000.00/yr
2) Front and Finish Magazine - Changing format to bound publication. Ad size 2 X 31/2". Insertion 12 times per year. One time $10.00 set-up charge to change ad. Include obedience finals in current ad.

Cost = $540.00/yr
3) Clean Run Magazine - Increase ad from classified to 1/8 page. Add agility finals to current ad. Insertion 12 times per year. Cost = $672.00/yr
4) Dog Fancy Magazine - Leave boxed ad as is in the classified section. There was a slight rate increase for this publication. Insertion 12 times per year. Cost = $980.00/yr
5) Dog World Magazine - Leave ad as is in classified section. There was no rate increase for this publication. Insertion 12 times per year. Cost = $967.00/yr

Grand Total = $4159.00 for the year

Board voting:  Approve: Davenport, Aufox, Trumbull-Clark, Berryessa, Warren, Gray, Toft & DeChant.
Abstain: Adolphson.  Motion is approved.

Miscellaneous

Motion by Toft, seconded by Trumbull-Clark.

I move to cancel the April 2002 Board meeting in Bryan, Texas.

Comments: No major agenda items have been evidenced which would require a face to face meeting. ASCA is reportedly suffering a known $40,000 budget deficit due to the computer costs and also has a reported $30,000 loss in registry income for 2001. This totals a $70,000 budget deficit. Sending 9 Directors, the Executive Secretary and the club attorney to Bryan, Texas costs ASCA approximately $8-10,000 in travel, per diem and motel fees.  By canceling the April 2002 Board meeting and working towards better communication efforts using e-mail, the Board would be acting responsibly towards lowering ASCA's operating expense. This action would represent a very large savings immediately for ASCA.

Board voting:  Approve: Trumbull-Clark, Toft & Adolphson.  Disapprove: Aufox, DeChant, Davenport, Warren, Gray and Berryessa.  Motion is disapproved.

94:01 SDC - Committee Packets

Motion by Toft, second by Trumbull-Clark

I move ASCA stop sending out Stockdog Committee packets.

Comments: Due to ASCA's increasingly difficult financial situation, we need to dispose of all wasteful spending. Hard copy packets are an expensive luxury ASCA can no longer afford. Paper reports of Stockdog Committee business are both wasteful and redundant, costing ASCA not only materials
(paper, envelopes, copy toner, postage, etc.) but also office overhead and time. Stockdog Committee discussions are already conducted via e-mail as evidenced by the headers on all the hard copies already included in the packets. Stockdog Committee members wishing to continue having hard copies have several choices.

1. Each SDC Committee member may print out e-mails on their own printer
2. Each SDC Committee member may pay someone on the committee to print and mail copies of discussion, etc.

ASCA has 11 standing committees presently. 10 of these committees function free of charge to ASCA by conducting business via e-mail. The most recent Stockdog Committee packet contains a current committee membership list. 100% of the membership of the Stockdog Committee have e-mail addresses listed. All 10 of the ASCA Committees doing business by e-mail have created discussion lists for their committee. Discussion lists work very well for archiving comments and discussion.

ASCA members who wish to continue receiving copies of the SDC discussions:

1. May request access to the SDC list archives.
2. May request an SDC appointed person forward discussions via e-mail.
3. Or members may pay a person on the SDC to print out and mail hard copies of the packets to them.

Board voting: Approve: Toft, Adolphson & Trumbull-Clark.  Disapprove: Aufox, DeChant, Davenport, Gray, Berryessa & Warren.  Motion is disapproved.

Items approved or disapproved

Approved:

Application to Affiliate  -- OZ ASC

Jamie Burns is added to the DNA & Genetics Committee

Reimburse CASA for $887.54 for the Actual expenses of the 2001 Obedience Finals

Reinstatement of a disqualified dog

Disapproved:

Affiliate Bylaw Change

Kennel name

Business Office Report -- January 2002