DELEGATE REPORT , September 2007…….
Charles A. Baris
 

Other than the various Committee elections, I do not believe there was too much to report on from this Delegate Meeting. However I will touch on the following areas:
 

There were several very long discussions that centered around two proposed amendments… Re: AKC Board of Directors and their election. 1. The vote on the amendment to Article VII, which would allow a Director of the AKC to continue to hold his/her office after resigning or being removed from their position as a Delegate, was postponed for further study and some suggested changes. 2. A vote on this proposed amendment, to The Standing Rule took place and was adopted after some changes were made. This eliminates the three-minute speeches that candidates give on Election Day at the Annual Meeting and permits them to speak instead at the meeting preceding the Annual Meeting. This gives Delegates 60 to 90 days to communicate their opinions to the Club that they represent so that the Club can decide on how the Delegate votes at the Annual Meeting. Three amendments to the AKC Field Trial Rules were adopted and can be seen in the Gazette or online. Two pertain to Retrievers and one to Basset Hounds.
 

You will recall that we discussed both the possibility of the Mixed Breeds being accepted to participate in certain AKC activities. Also the possibility of exhibitor’s armbands from AKC shows will be given to local legislators, where AKC events take place, so they would know that breeders/exhibitors are good folks that really do help to financially support the communities where these AKC events take place. Nothing was mentioned at the September meeting re: Mixed Breeds, nor have we seen anything regarding this in AKC releases during the past few months. I am sure there will be more to come on this issue shortly.
 

At the conclusion there was a moment of silence to remember Chester Collier, former AKC President, Board Member and Westminster Bench Show Chairman which came from the floor.
 

At the incredibly excellent July 20-22, 2007 AKC Parent Club Conference in the Atlanta, Georgia area, I was told that as attendees registered at the Conference, almost all of them signed a card (instead of armbands in this case) with a message similar to that which we wrote in our June, 2007 Report. The excellent result is clear from the message below written to Pat Laurans, the Chairperson of the AKC Delegates Parent Club Committee:
 

Dear Pat,
 

Today we were able to make arrangements to present the Appreciation Cards that were signed by the participants at the AKC Parent Club Conference to the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue. The date for the presentation is August 28, 2007, Tuesday at 10:00 AM. Karen Mays is contacting those being asked to attend the presentation so that I might give the Governor's office the total number of participants and their names. We were very pleased to be able to get on the Governor's schedule. It will be during what is called a photo opportunity at the Georgia State Capitol and will take place in the Governor's office.
 

We would like to invite several state representatives who have worked with the Georgia Canine Coalition and members of the Fancy on canine legislation. They may not be available, but with your permission, we would like to extend an invitation to them to attend the presentation.
 

On behalf of the Georgia Canine Coalition and its members, we appreciate the opportunity to assist in making the above arrangements.
 

Sincerely,
 

Gail LaBerge, Legislative Specialist, Georgia Canine Coalition, Inc.