President Comstock called the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. (EST). Present were: Fred Comstock, Melany Anaya, Joyce Fletcher, Marby Kelly, Kathleen Brewer, Peggy Jackson, Pat Kennedy, Richard Nix, Ann Sunday, Leana Terrill & Ola Jean McCollough. Lloyd Amodei was absent.
Board Reports
President - Brief discussion on the correct way to make motions on a “going-forward” basis. Comstock stated that no board member will be permitted to use a speaker phone now or in the future due to the inability to hear the person.
Vice President – no report.
Recording Secretary – Motion by McCollough to approve the minutes of 12/12/06 as corrected, seconded by Nix. Motion approved. Motion by McCollough to add to the 12/12/06 minutes that Fletcher will also send a letter and application to those lapsed members that did not pay their 2006-2007 dues, seconded by Nix, motion approved. Anaya reports that the color-only breed standard ballot has been mailed to all members and that all ballots are being returned to her. Anaya asked the board if they would like to hire an outside CPA to count the ballots. Motion by Fletcher to have Anaya hire a CPA to count the ballots, seconded by Sunday, motion approved. Anaya added that ballots had been sent to foreign members prior to realizing that the bylaws state that foreign members are not eligible to vote on any breed standard revisions, therefore returned ballots from foreign members will not be counted. Regarding the upcoming officer election, Anaya requested that the nominating committee contact the nominees and have them submit their resumes to the Recording Secretary by Feb. 7 as the ballot must be in the mail by Feb. 20th. Kennedy to contact the nominees. Anaya also reported that the new membership directory will be worked on after Feb. 20th (after the annual election ballots have gone out).
Corresponding Secretary – 30 applications for membership were received, board members are to mail secret ballots to Fletcher.
Fletcher received the Constitution and Bylaws for the Greater Houston and Western BT clubs. Anaya requests that Byron Elder, the Affiliate Club Chair receive copies.
Letter from AKC received, giving approval for the 2007 national specialty.
Letter of resignation as the Rescue Chair from Susan Hunter received, however it was noted that she is no longer a member in good standing.
Letter from Lisa LeMere to host the Meet the Breed booth at the Eukanuba show in Long Beach, tabled until next meeting.
Letter from Craig Reavis regarding BTCA website links, tabled until next meeting.
Treasurer’s Report – Nix reports that the club’s account balance is $24,297.62 (each board member received a balance
sheet & transaction report). Nix reports that he has received a bill for insurance for the club’s national trophies. The
premium is $184, and the deductible is $250 with a combined value of $14,600 for all trophies. It was Nix’ feeling that we
have an appraiser appraise the trophies to determine if they are under-insured or over-insured. Motion by Jackson to
investigate the cost of having an appraiser look at the trophies while they are at the 2007 national specialty and report
back to the board, seconded by McCollough, motion approved. Lastly, Nix requests that all checks and bills be sent to him
expeditiously.
Unfinished business
Rescue – Jackson received clarification from Kim Pennington regarding a receipt with erroneous information on it. Jackson also reported that Pennington is doing a fabulous job with the Rescue Committee and that Pennington is considering Sheryl Trent’s assistance on the committee. They are also looking into the possibility of organizing a committee that consists of people from different regions of the U.S. Motion by McCollough for Kim Pennington to chair the Rescue Committee, seconded by Fletcher, motion approved. Questions regarding the 800 number that Susan Hunter was using, Fletcher to write letter to Hunter to inform her that BTCA will no longer pay the bill for the 800 number she has been using. Board to consider transferring the 800 number to Pennington, Jackson to discuss with her and report back to the board.
Affiliate Club Chair – Letter from Byron Elder, the Affiliate Club Chair, received by liaison Anaya, who will make copies to distribute to all board members for discussion at next board meeting. Subject tabled until then.
Copyright – Brewer questioned the status of getting the breed standard copyrighted as discussed at a previous board meeting. Fletcher to investigate and report back to the board.
2008 Show – There are two clubs, Milwaukee and Minnesota, that have expressed an interest to host the 2008 show. Brief discussion followed and it was noted that the policy has been to award it to the club that has not recently done it. Motion by Terrill to start working with the Milwaukee club on the 2008 show, seconded by Sunday, motion approved. Brewer to begin negotiating fees with the proposed host hotel and report back to the board.
Patella Grant – Fletcher to send letter to Trustees of the Charitable Trust asking for the status of the Patella Grant request that was approved by the board at the April 9, 2006 meeting.
Judges’ Selection Committee – McCollough is ready to send out a secret ballot to the membership for judges’ selection. There are 10 on the ballot, each member may vote for 7. Ballots will be returned to McCollough and will be opened and tallied at the May board meeting.
New Business
Lifetime membership – Brewer motion to nominate Ann McCammon for lifetime membership, seconded by Sunday, Motion approved. Official vote will take place at the annual meeting.
2007 Show In Honor Of – Jackson motion that the 2007 national specialty be dedicated to Lillian Huddleston, IN HONOR OF her contributions to the Boston Terrier, seconded by Brewer, motion approved.
Election of New Members – 30 applications were received and a secret ballot was distributed to all board members. Comstock asked the board to please have the ballots returned to Fletcher by Feb. 1 so that the new members would be able to vote in the upcoming election of officers. An affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the voting board (8 people) must be received in order for the applicant to become a member of the BTCA.
New Members – New members voted in via secret ballot: Marcia Jongsma (MI); Sheila Jweid-Webber (NY); Luann Brown (IL); Jean Lynn Bernstrom (VA);
Next meeting is March 21st, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. (EST).
Motion to adjourn by Nix, seconded by McCollough. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 9:34 EST.
Respectfully submitted,
Melany Anaya
