Secretary's 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.

September 1-30, 2001

93:17 Stock Dog Rules CH. 3, Sec. 3 - TRIAL DIVISIONS AND CLASSES, 2. e. Novice Handler

Motion forwarded to the Board by the Stock Dog Committee Liaison, Kathy Warren

Motion by Sharon Simmons, second by Dana Mackenzie

Motion to change CH. 3, Sec. 3.2.e. to the following:

e. Novice Handler Dog is open to all handlers over 17 years of age who have not completed an OTD in the class of stock entered.

1.2.3.4 will stay the same as written in the current Rule Book.

Comments: Our current rule limits the amount of wins to three that a Novice Handler can have with competition in the Novice Class. There has been expressed concern by the Novice Handlers that the current rule is too restrictive with limiting the amount of time a Novice Handler can stay in the class. You only qualify for the Novice class if you have not obtained an open title on a dog in that class of stock so right there than Handler does have a restriction to really being a Novice Handler. I say let the Novice Handler stay in the Novice Class as long as they want to gain the trialing experience they feel they need before moving on. This class when I see it being used is most often used for the Novice Handler between the started and open levels. If we keep the restriction to three wins, we will discourage Novice Trialers who really want to stay in novice but are unable to and they feel like they are not ready to move on into open so they cannot really trial. I personally have had several Novice Handlers this year express concern with this limiting rule. So lets change it so the Novice Handlers can use the class until they feel like moving on.

Approve: Sutherland, Moe, Holmes, Bailie, Mackenzie, Simmons, Davies, Rossy, Baker, Walker.

Disapprove: Harris, Presley Non-Voting: Walter

Board voting: Unanimous

The recommendation will become effective thirty days after printing in the Aussie Times.

98:11 Obedience Rules - Judges Test

Motion sent to the Board by the Obedience Committee Liaison, Kyle Trumbull-Clark

Motion by Nancy Link, second by Sandra Case

The Obedience Committee would like to recommend to the BOD the following motion, effective as soon as possible:

The Obedience Committee recommends that the following letter be sent to all obedience judges with valid addresses listed by ASCA prior to the results of the judges' test,

That in the future, the only applicants that need to take our obedience judges' test are those who are not licensed by AKC, UKC, or Canadian KC as obedience judges.

That the Obedience Committee will be responsible for compiling a short list of the differences in rules between ASCA and other registries plus changes for the latest year. That may be sent by the Business Office with the judge's copy of the Obedience Rules.

Dear Sir or Madam:

The Australian Shepherd Club of America wishes to thank you for judging for us in the past.

As you may have heard, last year ASCA initiated a judges' test to help judges familiarize themselves with the differences between ASCA's Obedience Rules and other registries. We believe that this test has accomplished its purpose. In the future, we will require the test to be taken only by applicants who are not licensed by any other registry as an Obedience Judge.

Therefore, if you are licensed currently by AKC, Canadian KC, or UKC, or have taken and passed the ASCA obedience test, you are welcome and appreciated as an ASCA Obedience Judge.

Thank you for considering our Affiliate Clubs' requests for judging assignments. ASCA and its Obedience Committee are working hard to see that you have an enjoyable experience at our trials.

Very truly yours,

Approved: Bohren, Burlingame, Case, Cyboron, Hamelin, Evans, Link, Swatko, White, Willems.

Non-voting: Mann

Comments: The Committee is responding to overwhelming input that Affiliate Clubs are unable to fill their judging slates. If we notify the judges of the differences and changes, that should be enough to assure a quality performance from the judge without offending anyone. It seems this is the best way to get back the judges we have lost without losing face.

Board Voting: Unanimous. This recommendation will become effective thirty days after printing in the Aussie Times.

Business Office Report

Registry                       Membership                            Show/Stock

Ind       342                  New-Single              44            Sanc. Rec'd               32

NFB                 49            New - Dual                     17            Sanc. Proc.               28

Litters              151            New-Foreign                              2            Sanc.Pend                  7

Trans               45            New-Canadian                 0            Results Rec'd                        15

Lease              5            Renew-Single                         186            Results Proc.                        22

LEP                 3            Renew-Dual                   47            Results Pend.                        9

Dups                 20            Renew-Foreign                4            S&T Subs.               19

Hardships            8            Renew-Canadian             6            Certificates                    532

Pedigrees            17            Jr. Times                    3         

New Ken            4             Affil. - New                 0             Shows Held:

Renew ken            12            Affil - Renew             0             Con/Obed                  31

Judges Apps            1                                                          Stock                             9

E-mail requests                      963                              Ranch                           0                     

DNA Kits Mailed  49                                            Agility                           18

DNA Tests Done   102                                          Tracking                        1

Respectfully submitted, Ann B. DeChant, ASCA Secretary