UNITED SCHUTZHUND CLUBS OF AMERICA GENERAL BOARD MEEING MINTUES NOVEMBER 2, 2017 BY: Michele Clubb

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1 UNITED SCHUTZHUND CLUBS OF AMERICA GENERAL BOARD MEEING MINTUES NOVEMBER 2, 2017 BY: Michele Clubb President Jim Alloway called the meeting to order at 8:15 am on Thursday, November 2, Roll Call: 16 EB Officers present (Jim Alloway, Vadim Plotsker, Sean O Kane, Michele Clubb, Mike Diehl, Gary McGillivary, Dennis Vander Linde, Mark Chaffin, Mark Scarberry, Don Yelle, Debra Krsnich, Pedro Jimenez Jr, Carissa Kuehn, Hal Lymus, Dr, Dena McGowan and Teresa Cowart) 37 Clubs were represented (Alaska GDI, Alexandria Schutzhund Verein, Aztec Schutzhund Club, Blitzberg Hundesport Club, C3 Hundesport, Central Coast Schutzhund Club, Central Mass Working Dog Club, Coal Mountain Schutzhund Association, Empire Working Dog Club, Flint Hills Working Dogs, Gold Country Working Dog Club, Greater Dallas Working Dog Club, Greater Philadelphia Schutzhund Club, High Plains Schutzhund Club, Iowa Hundesport, Lone Star Schutzhund Club, Mid-Ohio Schutzhund Club, Mid- Rivers Schutzhund Club, Monadnock Working Dog, North County Schutzhund Club, Northeast K9, Northern Indiana Scutzhund, OG Bierstadt Schutzhund, OG Buckeye Schutzhund Club, OG Indianapolis Schutzhund und Polizei, OG Inselstadt Schutzhund Club, OG Landshark Schutzhund Polizeihund und Rettungshunde, OG West Penn Schuzhund Club, Quinebaug Schutzhund Club, South Metro Atlanta Schutzhund Club, South Michigan Schutzhund & Police Club, Southern New Hampshire Working Dog Club, Southwest Working Dog Association, Topline German Shepherd Dog Club of Illinois, Unite Fido Schutzhund Club, Way Out West Schutzhund Club and White River Working Dog Club Quorum was met Jim reminded everyone of the ground rules for the meeting. He also advised that as of 11/1/17 all law suits against USCA have been dropped. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Dena McGowan to approve the GBM minutes for November 3, Motion 2 nd by Nathaniel Roque. Approved unanimously Officer s Reports: Published on USCA website no questions Committee Reports: Published on USCA website no questions Special Committee Reports: Published on USCA website no questions

2 NEW BUSINESS: ELECTIONS: *incumbents Judges Committee: elect 2 positions (Candidates in alphabetical order: Nina Bingham, Mike Gardner* & Gary McGillivary) Nominations from the floor: Deleta Jones (by Cherie Flores, 2 nd by Carissa Kuehn, Deleta accepted) 1. Mike Gardner 2. Gary McGillivary Events Planning Committee: elect 4 positions (Candidates in alphabetical order: Michele Clubb, Roni Hoff*, Hal Lymus* & Kathy Prudden). Nominations from the floor: Tony Copani (by Mike Diehl, 2 nd by John Horen, Tony accepted) 1. Michele Clubb 2. Tony Copani 3. Roni Hoff 4. Hal Lymus Nominating Committee: elect 5 positions (Candidates in alphabetical order: Nina Bingham, Rifky Mackeen*, Gary McGillivary*, Kevin Nance* & Betty Thomas*) Gary spoke about what the committee does and how they vet people who are running for election. No nominations from the floor. Motion by Deb Krsnich to elect by acclimation, 2 nd by Dr Dena McGown. Approved unanimously OTHER NEW BUSINESS: Judges Memorial Award: Michael Caputo spoke on behalf of the Judges Committee regarding the award recipients. This year the vote was split 11/11 on two candidates so the committee decided to award two awards this year. 1. Sara Wallick (accepted by her RD Hal Lymus) Active member since 1989 devoted to USCA, was USCA Secretary, Regional Secretary and member of BOI for several years 2. Tony Copani Involved in USCA since 1985, founder of Niagara Frontier Working Dog has coordinated several national events over the years always keeping competitors, spectators and volunteers a priority. Bylaw Addition Verbiage / Add Article IV Section 2 e. USCA Members may not be members of any competing German Shepherd Dog organization in the United States. Jim Alloway read the amendment. Sean O Kane discussed how USCA had several meetings over the year with GSDCA to try and come to an agreement, however they proved very

3 quickly they are not our allies and did not want to come to an agreement or compromise. We thought GSDCA was putting a good faith effort to come to an agreement but that proved to be wrong. EB tried to work with GSDCA however they do not appear to want work with USCA. They filed false accusations with the SV causing USCA to defend ourselves to the SV. GSDCA also filed falsified documents with USCA for one of their members to enter the Qualification trial this year. Lengthy discussion by members: - In theory agree with adding the amendment back. Club members are members of both USCA and GSDCA because they want to show their dogs at AKC trials for titles USCA doesn t offer. Their club members will leave USCA if they are forced to choose. Agree 100% if you are showing for IPO you should only show in USCA and not GSDCA. - Knows firsthand about the issues and frustrations about the group running the SV events for GSDCA. This amendment would punish the membership for what a few leaders are doing. If we want to be the premier origination for the SV events then take the positive and make sure we re the origination they want to go on with because we support members who are showing in IPO. Very unfair to the average person, should be working for the dog and the membership. Understands the frustration working with GSDCA but this will affect the little guy. Low level members in GSDCA don t have control over things that the board does and we shouldn t punish them. - GSDCA did just have elections and has a new president. We don t know them and do not know what we will be dealing with. Don t know if he understands Schutzhund. - Long talk with new GSDCA President does want to cooperate with USCA. - Have several members and breeders in region that compete in AKC events (rally, herding, agility), if we force them to choose they will probably choose GSDCA. However, have a concern about protecting USCA and need to look at verbiage that limits what members of USCA can be members of GSDCA. Need to make sure USCA committee members, EB members, judges and teaching helpers cannot be members of GSDCA - Question about what problems we have had about reaching out to GSDCA. Last President on gong disagreements, anytime we tried to progress or come to an agreement was a fight with them, get no response, when you did get a response it was like there was never a conversation with them. They are always trying to get us in trouble with WUSV, painting USCA in a bad light. People they delegated to run the SV programs do not know what they are doing, it is an EGO and prestige issue vs what is best for the GSD breed. They wanted to open the Qualification Trial to anyone in GSDCA vs following the agreed upon qualification process. - What level are you required to be a GSDCA member? You can trial in any AKC trial without being a GSDCA member until you reach the top level.

4 - With the Sieger Show when GSDCA hosts, how does that affect USCA members entering their Sieger Show? USCA members are allowed to enter their National Sieger Show on the years USCA is not hosting, mandated by the WUSV. - How many ran to GSDCA when this was removed last year? We didn t track that, no way to know how many. Our numbers didn t go down significantly over the last year - What do we gain as an organization by passing this amendment? Loyalty members vs members playing both organizations to get on the world team. Go to GSDCA since it is easier to get on qualification team. - Will we lose face with SV over the fighting? How does it affect our judges? We don t allow our judges to judge their events and we don t allow their judges to judge our events - Several GSDCA members connected and don t want to be punished because of GSDCA Board Member actions. Have spoken to the new GSDCA President at this point he seems willing to accept everything USCA has to offer as far as getting along. They don t do a lot of IPO mainly do agility, herding and conformation. They don t think butting heads will be an issue going forward, since they don t do a lot of IPO - We have talked about moving forward with a breed program, but we (USCA) hasn t moved forward with that. If we do that it will move people to USCA and entice them to stay with USCA. Yes vote is add back the amendment = 21 No vote is not to add back the amendment = 30 Abstain = 1 Motion did not pass Jim stated the EB will look some of the restrictions on judges, officers, elected officials and people competing in both organizations. It doesn t need to be a bylaw, it can be a qualification process or rule in place that covers people in those roles. Will not affect members doing agility, rally etc, unless you have significant position within the organization that can be deemed to cause a conflict or trying to make the world team. FROM THE FLOOR: Request to move the GBM to a better day and time or even electric meeting for those that can t attend. Jim stated we have looked at electric meetings in the pass, but couldn t recall reasons on why it won t work. Since meeting is much shorter these days we can look at changing the meeting time to at least later on Thursday. Jim Hill thanked the EB for all their work and being honest with the members. Suggested that the meeting be held at WDC since the event is for all working dogs breeds and not just the GSD.

5 Irene Wright stated she is a showline breeder and it is important that there are others who don t compete in IPO that are still working dogs, and breeders need to remember to breed for temperament and working ability as that is what is important Motion to adjourn by Dena McGown and 2 nd by Mid-Ohio and Betty Thomas. All agreed, meeting adjourned at 9:28 am Michele Clubb USCA Secretary

Leslie Carpenter, Monty Ellison, Amanda Hoskinson, Mike O Donnell, Christopher Smith.

Leslie Carpenter, Monty Ellison, Amanda Hoskinson, Mike O Donnell, Christopher Smith. American Working Dog Federation Board of Inquiry Findings and Recommendations to the AWDF Executive Board In the matter of Anne Camper, AWDF President vs. United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USCA) BOARD