General Membership Meeting Minutes

The Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America, Inc.
October 12, 2005
Red Lion Inn at the Quay, VanCouver, Washington

President Karen Kleinhans called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. on October 12, 2005.

Karen introduced the members of the Board of Directors in attendance: Vice President Alan Klessig, Treasurer Marilyn Currey, Eastern Director Mike Lauer, Central Director Tim Bergeron, and Directors at Large Debby Smith, Deb Cooper, Beverly Wall, Marilyn Vinson, Grace Fritz, and Gail Garrison. Western Director Bob Rosenberger was absent as was Secretary Jo Ann Redditt. Kay Rosenberger was acting as Secretary; the Parliamentarian for the meeting was Corwyn Hopke.

CSPCA members present were: Scott Strong, Ted Steiling, Gail Tighe, Patrick Tighe, Cyndi Skinner, Linda Jokela, Janine Rodriguez, Sylvia Truitt, Linda Bates, Linda Outlaw, Nancy Caron, Joseph Caron, Mary Jo Jano, Dee Dee Wells, Marge Calltharp, Deena Harvey, Dale Burgess, Karen Burgess, Dennis Wilson, Judy Wilson, Rick Carusillo, Cathy Carusillo, Anita Cox, Judy Dorough, Coreen Bebawer, David Melvard, Kathy Melvard, Rosie Steinke, Gavrielle Nearhouse, Deb Combs.
Sam S. Skinner, Todd Skinner, Jennifer Moore, Charlee Abrams, Harriet Land, Linda Penhuto, Betsy Michael, Michele Curry, Domino Alleman, Pat Evetts, Nancy Bergeron, Kelly Starbuck, Shelly Knoff, Bud King, Debra Taylor, Lauren Sobol, Donald Bangers, Ann L. Cookson, Jan Otterson, D. Lisky, Marial Hans, Roberta Libman, Mindy Carter, Leston Ml, Larin Yarkam, Paula Paynter, Tony Carter, Connie Gard, Judy Welsh, Bonnie Stoney, Ganela Burns, Georgette Schaefer, Marla Jerdon, Dorothy Schuerman, Shirley Strong, and Cindy Sterling. (Not all names were legible. My apologies if your name is mispelled. Sec'y)

Adoptions of the conference rules (with corrections noted) were introduced:

Guidelines for the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America These guidelines shall be adopted by a 2/3 vote at the onset of the Annual Business Meeting held on October 12, 2005 at the Red Lion Inn at the Quay, Vancouver, Washington.
• A timer shall be appointed for the meeting • Members will use a microphone to seek recognition to speak • Members will, before speaking, give their full name and their state of residence • Each member will have one opportunity to speak and will not be recognized a second time until all other members who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so.
• Each speaker will have the opportunity to speak a two full minutes on a topic.
• The chair will recognize speakers in such a way as to have alternating points of view expressed on a topic where the membership is divided between those opposed to an issue and those in favor of an issue.
• Where there is agreement on a topic, indicated by two successive speakers having addressed the same side of an issue, and no one wishes to speak on the alternative side of the issue, the total discussion time for that topic shall not exceed ten (10) minutes.

Members were asked to stand if they were in favor of adopting the Conference Guidelines and with more than 2/3 standing, the Guidelines were adopted.

The minutes of the last General Meeting on October 19, 2004 have been approved by the Minutes Approval Committee consisting of Gail Tighe, Nancy Camera and Barbara LaVere and were published in the Nov/Dec 2004 Barker.

Volunteers were requested for a Minutes Approval Committee for this meeting.
Those volunteers are: Dale Burgess - Western, Scott Strong - Central, and Marge Calltharp - Eastern.

President's Report
Karen reviewed the annual election results for 2004: Those officers nominated (President and Secretary) were not contested. For Directors at Large:
Debby Smith - 230 votes, Deb Cooper - 175 votes, Alice Fix - 169 votes, Gail Tighe
- 169 votes, Terry Faulkner - 116 votes. The tie between Alice Fix and Gail Tighe was resolved with the advice of the Parliamentarian by a coin toss before the general meeting and the winner was Alice Fix. Grace Fritz acknowledged and thanked Gail and Alice for agreeing to resolve this in a expedient and cost efficient manner.

The auction and raffle will close 30 minutes after the general meeting.

Thanks to the Harmony Bay Club for a job well done.

Secretary's Report - none

Treasurer's Report (see handout)
Scott Strong asked about comparison of actuals to the budget. Marilyn Currey explained how dependent the income and expense figures are on Nationals and that a comparison right now would not make sense.

Membership Secretary's Report - none
Karen did mention that there were 1202 voting members in good standing.

COMMITTEE REPORTS (not all committees required a report today)

AKC Judges Education - Karen Kleinhans
Karen reported that the Judges' Seminar is set for Saturday morning, October 15th 2005. Five judges have signed up. She reported the various Judges'
Seminars that have been held throughout the past year.

AKC Delegate - Marge Calltharp
Marge spoke about DNA testing for registry and to ID dogs from mixed breed litters to put into the registry, cross testing with other breeds. AKC will not make any statement about cloning. She reported on AKC involvement in Katrina rescue, Paws Legislation and the election for different members of committees.

Budget and Finance - Karen Kleinhans
Next year's budgeting will begin after the National's financial numbers are in.

Awards
Karen announced a new position, that of the Awards Chairman, Alice Fix who will oversee all awards given at the Nationals banquet.

Futurity/Maturity
Kay Rosenberger reviewed the report (copy included) and asked for feedback from the membership regarding qualification of judges There was discussion by the membership and Karen provided explanations on how the judges are selected at present. The Committee will continue to take feedback from the membership.

Longevity Program
It is in a state of flux. The Board of Directors is working on it.

National Specialty Show Chair
Special thanks were expressed to Karen Burgess.

OFA/PennHip Representative
Karen mentioned that OFA data has been added to the OFA website making it convenient for people to look up information.

Rescue Administrator - Deb Cooper
There is $14,000 in the rescue account. Thanks to Grace Fritz for her efforts. $1,000 in funds were sent to Debby Smith for Katrina. There have been six more applications for rescue funds. There are three already in existence.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Karen explained a new award, the CSPCA Valued Member Award. It will be a bi-monthly award with a write-up in The Barker about the recipient. The winner of the award will pick the next winner. It is to recognize efforts by club members at all levels. The first award will be made at the banquet on Friday.

Marilyn Vinson received a letter from AKC explaining that there will be a delay in adding coat types on the registration forms until 2006.

Scott Strong asked about putting the CSPCA money in a savings account.
Karen indicated that is presently being worked on.

Scott Strong asked about the 2004 Poop expense for Nationals. It was explained that it goes to NASPR.

Linda Jokela asked about our logo status. Pat Evetts said that she had received four submissions and was hoping for more ideas. A request will go in The Barker for more ideas. Judy Dorough asked why we would change our logo.
Karen explained how the barking dog is not a good example of our breed. The membership was told to get their ideas to Pat Evetts.

NEW BUSINESS
Marilyn Vinson spoke about the efforts to offer agility at Nationals next year. It would be an agility trial open to all breeds and would not interfere with Nationals.

Ann Cookson asked about returned votes for the election. "Karen explained that the recent hurricanes and their damage affected the mail delivery to that area. The ballot counter was located in the hurricane disaster zone and special arrangements were made to get the mail. Because the voting deadline and the storms happened about the same time affecting mail service, a few ballots may have been missed."*

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Submitted for approval by Secretary, pro tempore Kay Rosenberger

These minutes have been reviewed by the three volunteers: Dale Burgess, Scott Strong and Marge Calltharp. *The only changes (in quotes under New
Business) were submitted by Marge Calltharp.

Jo Ann Redditt, CSPCA Secretary