April 13, 2008 Minutes

USNMC BOARD MEETING

SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2008

MINUTES

 

 

Members in Attendance: Sharon Costello, Donna Welty, Irene O’Connor, Rita Biddle, Anita Goetz, Kendail Gonzales, Jennifer Groves, Nikki Stamper

Members Absent: Ingrid Fortunato, Shani Stewart-Robbins, Nydia Thornton

 

Guests: none

 

Meeting called to order at 9:13 PM EST

 

Minutes from March 9, 2008 accepted as printed moved by Nikki Stamper; seconded by Irene O’Connor

 

President’s Report: President Costello gave a summary of the latest Show Committee meeting; the Awards for our approaching dinner; a progress report on the September Specialities; and the dates of December 12 & 13 2009 for the AKC Eukanuba show.  Pres. Costello wished everyone attending the coming Nationals a safe trip.

 

Secretary’s Report: Correspondence sent: Various emails to BOD re: proposed legislation, health survey inquiries, reminders for annual report, 2009 National, possible speciality locations; Phone calls made to AKC re: breed information being sent out.

Correspondence received: AKC email re: mentoring, Prized Possession catalog (possible trophies),letter from AKC in regards to status of California clubs, an email from the Health Committee requesting article posted to website, and an email from the NBKC.

Membership applications

The following have had their names listed twice and are ready to be voted on:

Ena Barrise

New Jersey

Associate

Sponsor – Sharon Costello

Judith Forrester

Massachusetts

Associate

Sponsor – Cathy White

Pamela Hamilton

Maryland

Associate

Sponsor – Jennifer Groves

Heather Welty

New Jersey

Full

Sponsors – Irene O’Connor

                   Sharon Costello

Susan Vann-Spruill

Virginia

Full

Sponsors – Irene O’Connor

                   Sharon Costello

Michael Hinshaw

Pennsylvania

Associate

Sponsor – Cathy White

Michael Vescio

Nevada

Associate

Sponsor – Jennifer Groves

 

To be included on ballot:

Jane Pampelone

North Carolina

Associate

Sponsor – Peggy Wolfe

Carlos Calderon

Louisiana

Associate

Sponsor – Cathy White

 

NEW Applications:

Anne Latimer

Michigan

Associate

Sponsor –Peggy Wolfe

Dr. Christy Peterson

Iowa

Subscriber

 

Bill Goetz

Indiana

Associate

Sponsor – Anita Goetz

 

Treasurer’s Report: Refer to Irene’s email dated March 13th which states the below:

Attached is a synopsis of the income and expense for March 1 to April 13th.   The Balance of the Checkbook is:  $27,166.52.  A total income for that time period is $2,374.99 and total expenses amounted to $4,242.62.  Leaving a balance of -$1,867.63.

 

The Putnam Fund Balance is $3909.41.  FYI:  The Putnam fund was started on November 19, 1999 with a total of $2998 with USNMC Rescue monies.    

 

Bills to be paid:

 

Sharon Costello:               $94.89  -  Postage, Office Supplies, Faxing charges (App. Sept. Specialty), and an additional Nat. Spec. Award

                                                $71.44 – Faxing and phone bills to USNMC Specialty Judge in Italy

                                TOTAL   $166.33

 

Good Impressions:          $1,412.13 NeoGram

 

Donna Welty submits two bills for copying and supplies.

Rita Biddle moves to accept report and pay bills. Anita Goetz seconds. Motion passed – all ayes

Donna Welty moves for Irene O’Connor to write a check for the amount of $3000.00 for expected expenses at 2008 National. ( payments to Alessandra, start up money for Ways & Means). Nikki Stamper seconds. Motion passed – all ayes

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

            Communications – liaison Ingrid Fortunato ( absent)

                        Website – no report

                        Neogram – Congratulations to Editor and staff! A Great issue!!

 

            Fundraising – liaison Nydia Thornton  (absent)

                        Sharon Costello reported that all items are in that she arranged for, the old items   

                                    are packed. Nydia had emailed that Iveta’s items are being shipped to her

 

            Judges’ and Public Education -  liaison Sharon Costello

                        Jim Deppen presented to a judges’ study group on March 22. The USNMC has been

                                    invited to a Judges’ study Group in Greenville, SC, where 50-60 judges are

                                    expected  for our comparison presentation of the Cane Corso and the Neo            .                                   The Cane Corso’s will be accepted into AKC Miscellaneous class this July.

                                    Rita Biddle moved to authorize the cost of this seminar. Nikki seconded.

                                    Motion carried. All ayes.

 

            Health – liaison Nikki Stamper\

                        Nikki reported that the Board needs to vote on the Health Committee having

                                    their own website.  The Health Committee would also like to provide a

                                    Puppy Packet of basic information. A short discussion ensued on how

                                    motion should be worded. Rita Biddle helped us in this area. It was

                                    decided to form a draft of the motion and to discuss this with Dr. Scalia

at our National weekend. Rita Biddle moves to table below motion.    Donna Welty seconds. 6 ayes and 1 nay. Motion carried.

                        Proposed Motion re: Health Committee website link

                                    The USNMC BOD discussed and made the following motion regarding

                                    the establishment of a separate website for the Health Committee. These

                                    motions are part of a whole and should not be construed as independent

                                    motions:

a.      The Health Committee will have their own website.

b.      The site domain will be purchased and owned by the USNMC as part of the parent club’s website. Possible link to be Health.Neapolitan.org

c.       The two websites shall have links to each other.

d.      Passwords will be held by club secretary and site webmaster. Any changes of any passwords to be approved by the Board of Directors.

e.       Content materials will be maintained by the Health Committee.

 

Legislation – liaison Rita Biddle

            Rita shared with us information from the last AKC Delegates Meeting. Items

                        Reported on were the latest AKC uncontested election, the ability to

                        change a dog’s name from registered name, all breed clubs and AKC

                        Scholarships. Rita had recently attended a day long seminar at Michigan

                        University with Cindy Cook where the roles of PETA and HSUS were

                        topics.

 

Historian – liaison Donna Welty

            No report

 

Ethics – liaison Shani Stewart-Robbins (absent)

            No report

 

Membership – liaison Anita Goetz

            Report included in Annual Report

 

By- Laws Review – liaison Kendail Gonzales

            Draft done – trying to clarify some of the verbage

 

Local Clubs – liaison Irene O’Connor

            Letter received from AKC giving permission to both Cate Speakman and

            Dr. Pierluigi Scalia to continue as two separate clubs. Their qualifications for

            following the AKC requirements were stated.

 

2008 National and Awards – Chairperson Jennifer Groves

             Everything seems to in order for 2008 National. Nominations for Mastinari

            Awards are made for the following club members: Joe Steinfeld, Cathy White,

            Jim Deppen and Sue Luedemann. Rita Biddle moves to accept nominated

            Names. Jenn Groves. Seconds. Vote – all ayes.

 

2009 National and Awards – Chairperson Jennifer Groves

            As mentioned in previous minutes, the show chair from the Ohio Cluster has

            resigned. Despite her statement to keep us informed as to the new show chair,

            no contact has been made to date.

Several club members in the Mid-West have been contacted to see if they were willing to connect us with an All- Breed AKC club in their area. No success.

The New Brunswick Kennel Club in New Jersey is more than willing to have us. Jennifer moves that the USNMC 2009 National be held in conjunction with the New Brunswick Kennel Club at their March Madness Show Weekend. Irene O’Connor seconds. Vote taken – all ayes. Motion carried. Date of the show will be March 20 and 21 in 2009.

An email has been sent to Michele Palazzo requesting him to judge. As yet there

has been reply.

 

Old Business

1.      Annual Meeting April 19, 2008

a.       Room reserved at Chase Suites

b.      Food has been ordered

c.       Printed reports have been done

d.      Only 1 request has been received to be added to Agenda

2.      Rescue Status

a.       January 1 thru December 2007

b.      July 1 2007 thru December 2007

c.       USNMC Rescue dissolved in October 2007

d.      October thru December 2007 NeoRescueInc.

 

New Business

1.      2009 National (see above)

2.      Need expressed to clarify definitions of Awards

 

Other

1.      Need to follow up on licensed Parent Club status with AKC ($250 fee?)

2.      Need to clarify Affiliate club membership requirements

 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 6th at 9 PM EST ( second Sunday is Mother’s Day!)

 

Adjournment moved by Jennifer Groves at 11:29 PM