The monthly Board Zoom meeting was held on October 5, 2021.

Nancy McDonald, our Health Committee Chair, joined the Board Zoom call to provide the Board with an update on the activities of our Health Committee.  The Health Committee recommends that BFCA appoint a person to join AKC’s Purebred DNA Bank committee that is in its infancy of organizing the program.  Nancy recommended a person and the Board approved Nancy approaching this person to see if she would be interested in representing BFCA on this AKC committee.  Nancy will get back to the Board after contacting her.  Nancy requested that as many members as possible complete the OFA online breed survey.  Here is the link:  https://www.ofa.org/about/educational-resources/health-surveys.   Nancy told the Board that the Health Committee will have DNA swabs available at the National Specialty in Madison.  The Committee will also have Artero grooming supplies available for purchase as a fund raiser for the Health Committee.  The Health Committee has a new logo, and the committee will have available for purchase items such as jar openers and pads with their new logo on them.  The Committee members will also be modeling shirts with their new Bichon Health logo on them and will be taking orders from anyone who would like to buy one.  Nancy discussed the CHIC 5 Star award; the Board agreed that the historical award recipients can be added to our website.  The most current quarterly award recipients will continue to be published in the Bulletin.   Nancy will forward to Pres. Wotton the historical list to be put on our website.

Thank you, Nancy, for doing a great job as our Health Committee Chair and thank you for updating the Board with this important information.

After Ms. McDonald disconnected from the Zoom call, the Board proceeded with business.  The Board had many important topics to cover in this month’s meeting.

Pres. Wotton gave quick updates on multiple topics as follows.  Tasheena Housman will be assuming the role of Show Chair for our annual All-Breed Agility Trials – thank you Tasheena!   Tasheena is currently attempting to find dates for the trials that wouldn’t interfere with other trials in the area.  Tasheena is requested to keep the Board apprised of her endeavors.     Voting for the Futurity judge for 2023 was discussed, and Dir. Tupes will distribute the instructions and ballot within the next week.  There will be 2 rounds of electronic voting with short turn around times due to our imminent deadline for announcing the judge and posting the new Futurity litter nomination form.    The Board has not yet received a detailed proposal for a potential addition of a Junior Handler Scholarship.  Pres. Wotton indicated that AKC requested additional information on voting timelines for the revised Constitution & Bylaws and that the Board answer was e-mailed to AKC.  No further communication from AKC regarding our revised Constitution & Bylaws approval has been received.   Mollie Fletcher, Awards Chair, at the request of Pres. Wotton, obtained quotes for printing booklets for our Illustrated Standard, the Membership Directory, and, when AKC approved, our new Constitution & ByLaws.  Corres. Sec. Ball also obtained a quote for printing (after AKC approved) our new Constitution & ByLaws.   When & if the Board decides to move forward with printing, the Board will review all the quotes.  The Board also discussed the possibility of printing the Judge’s Education presentation instead of having it printed at a local store.

Diana McFarlane contacted Pres. Wotton regarding who she should send BFCA’s historical documents.  The Board discussed the position of Historian and Dir. Allen volunteered to be our Historian and will store all historical documents for the Club.  Thanks, Roz!!

It is time for our annual Breeder Directory sign-up.  Nancy Noonan will be sending the required sign-up form with instructions to be placed in the Member’s Only section of our website as well as having it published in the upcoming Bulletin.  The Board discussed the Breeder Directory fee and, since the fee hasn’t increased for many years, the Board decided to raise the fee from $50 to $60 (this would be the discounted rate for paying by check) with the PayPal fee being $62.40.

Treasurer Abbott spoke to the Board regarding the recent month’s income and expenses and will forward the actual report after our meeting for distribution to the Board.  Pres. Wotton had asked Tres Abbott and VP Endo to ascertain whether AKC indeed had a rule to keep the equivalent dollar amount of 2 National Specialties in Reserve.  They reported that AKC does not have this requirement for Parent Clubs.  The Board will discuss at our next meeting with input from Treas Abbott and VP Endo what minimum dollar amount the Club should keep in an “Emergency Fund”.   

VP Endo provided an update to the Board on the 2022 National Specialty in Tulsa.  VP Endo informed the Board that she has contacted a Show Secretary who has provided a contract for her services (since we have been unable to identify any Superintendent willing to provide their services in Tulsa).  The proposed contract has been reviewed and multiple questions will be sent to this Show Secretary for answers/clarifications.  If we use a Show Secretary, the Board will need to locate show rings and Obed/Rally equipment to rent.  VP Endo is looking into this.   Thanks to Ms. DeMartini and VP Endo for their work as Show Chair and Assistant Show Chair!

The Board discussed the Breeder of the Year award.  Apparently, this award had been given each year up until a few years ago.  The Board decided to re-instate the Breeder of the Year award and will offer this award to the Breeder of the Year for 2020.

The Board discussed having a sign-up sheet at a table in Madison that would include the attendee’s name, e-mail address, and a box to check whether the attendee is a BFCA member or non-member.  The Board decided to move forward with this sign-up sheet as it would provide the Board with valuable information regarding member versus non-member attendance.  This sign-up sheet will be available on Wednesday only.

The issue of AKC Marketplace Puppy Scams was brought to the Board’s attention.  After discussion, the Board decided to post an article on puppy scams and questions to ask to increase the odds of avoiding a puppy scam on the BFCA website, the BFCA Facebook and Instagram pages.  Dir Spruiell volunteered to compose the article – thanks Mary!!

Our next Board meeting is scheduled for November 2, 2021, so expect to hear from me again shortly thereafter.  In the meantime, stay safe, and I wish you all a Happy Halloween!

Myra