Continued from Page 22 attendees, and <strong>the</strong>n more general and specialized sessions. AKC CAR <strong>of</strong>fered an excellent overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir new microchip and explained <strong>the</strong> strategy being used in disaster response efforts. They encouraged clubs to <strong>of</strong>fer microchip clinics, and those that do will receive <strong>the</strong> incentive <strong>of</strong> low-cost chips. How does a club operate democratically? “The Governance <strong>of</strong> Parent <strong>Club</strong>s” <strong>of</strong>fered valuable information on this topic. First, and foremost, each club’s bylaws are <strong>the</strong> first line <strong>of</strong> defense when conflicts pop up. Mike Liosis, AKC Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>Club</strong> Relations, stressed <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> clubs adhering to <strong>the</strong>ir bylaws when managing <strong>the</strong>ir affairs. As with our own club just recently, when bylaws are being revised, <strong>the</strong> AKC <strong>Club</strong> Relations department is <strong>the</strong> first stop before submitting a ballot to <strong>the</strong> membership. The last session I attended was exciting because <strong>the</strong> <strong>BCOA</strong> recently purchased <strong>the</strong> template for this program. Dr. Claudia Orlandi presented <strong>the</strong> current status <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Canine Education (UCE). She <strong>of</strong>fered methods for parent clubs on how to develop and/or enhance <strong>the</strong>ir breed education programs. Dr. Orlandi explained <strong>the</strong> complete series <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Basset Hound University program and how o<strong>the</strong>r clubs can use that model as a template for <strong>the</strong>ir own University program. Envision <strong>the</strong> <strong>Basenji</strong> University. It’s coming to basenji fanciers everywhere. by Karla Schreiber While Wanda attended <strong>the</strong> Saturday session on National Specialties, I attended <strong>the</strong> Breed Standards session chaired by Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC Assistant Vice President <strong>of</strong> Customer Service. This session reviewed AKC’s requirements for maintaining and modifying breed standards, and explored <strong>the</strong> ever-present question <strong>of</strong> how parent clubs determine <strong>the</strong> need for standard changes without compromising <strong>the</strong>ir breeds’ basic function and form. We had a lively discussion regarding <strong>the</strong>se topics, including “tales from <strong>the</strong> front line” by several parent club <strong>of</strong>ficers whose clubs recently went through <strong>the</strong> Standards revision process. The session was followed by a question and answer period, during which I took <strong>the</strong> liberty <strong>of</strong> once again asking Ms. O’Neill, on behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>BCOA</strong>, whe<strong>the</strong>r, in her opinion, <strong>BCOA</strong> should consider a standard revision to expressly include brindle pointed tri-colors. Ms. O’Neill responded exactly as she did when asked this question by <strong>the</strong>n-<strong>BCOA</strong> President Midge Greenlee several years ago: No such change is necessary given <strong>the</strong> facts that a) our Standard has no disqualifications for color or pattern, and b) both tri-color and brindle are standard colors already. Ms. O’Neill, likewise again, expressed <strong>the</strong> opinion that if <strong>the</strong> fancy believes brindle pointed tri-colors are not viewed favorably by judges, <strong>the</strong> answer to that problem is better judge’s education, and not a standard revision. My second Saturday session was <strong>the</strong> Health Seminar. The primary presenter (and a very entertaining and knowledgeable one!) was Thomas Graves, DVM, Ph.D., <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Illinois - - who spoke to us regarding <strong>the</strong> topic “Canine Hypothyroidism: Fact or Fiction.” Dr. Graves’ presentation examined <strong>the</strong> medical evidence behind many commonly held beliefs about hypothyroidism in purebred dogs, and concluded that hypothyroidism is being over-diagnosed. Dr. Graves urged breeders not to rush to thyroid The <strong>Basenji</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> America, Inc. BULLETIN - 24 The AKC Parent <strong>Club</strong> Conference is a “shot-in-<strong>the</strong>-arm” as it seems to arrive at a point when it’s needed most. This is a very well prepared conference. It goes without saying that <strong>the</strong> sessions <strong>of</strong>fer beneficial information and organized materials for everyone. The Parent <strong>Club</strong> Committee should be applauded for <strong>the</strong>ir hard work in putting toge<strong>the</strong>r this event. More importantly, much informationga<strong>the</strong>ring occurred outside <strong>the</strong> sessions. The break-out meetings, <strong>the</strong> clusters <strong>of</strong> people joined in sharing ideas, conversations across <strong>the</strong> dinner table, and even chats while waiting for <strong>the</strong> elevator yielded a fountain <strong>of</strong> knowledge. When I became involved in <strong>the</strong> world <strong>of</strong> dogs, I thought <strong>the</strong> AKC and its board members were an austere, unreachable group. Not so, I discovered! These are people no different than you or I, and <strong>the</strong>y all have <strong>the</strong> same concerns and love for <strong>the</strong> canine world. They give as much time and dedication as we do, and <strong>the</strong>y come from <strong>the</strong> same types <strong>of</strong> backgrounds. The chief operating <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> AKC is just as friendly and approachable as those I meet everyday at shows and functions. The AKC Board members who attended this conference never held <strong>the</strong>mselves apart from <strong>the</strong> attendees. We are all working toge<strong>the</strong>r for a common interest, and it has never been more apparent than at <strong>the</strong> <strong>2007</strong> AKC Parent <strong>Club</strong> supplementation when no confirmed, primary clinical signs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disease are present (i.e. a diagnosis based strictly on thyroid “test numbers” alone), and cautioned that what we do not know about <strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> providing thyroid supplementation to o<strong>the</strong>rwise healthy animals may come back to haunt us when more research has been conducted in this area. O<strong>the</strong>r presenters at <strong>the</strong> Health Seminar included Erika Werne <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Canine Health Foundation – filling us in on CHF’s grant making process, and Eddie Dzuik <strong>of</strong> OFA, updating us about CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) and its DNA repository. Last. but not least, on Sunday afternoon I attended <strong>the</strong> session on Financial and Tax Aspects and Issues for Parent <strong>Club</strong>s, hosted by attorney and former IRS agent Edmund Sledzik. I was pleased to find myself in <strong>the</strong> company <strong>of</strong> several o<strong>the</strong>r parent club attorneys, and as always, <strong>the</strong>re were far more issues to discuss than could possibly be covered in <strong>the</strong> 1.5 hour time frame. However, we managed, with Ed’s able assistance, to review financial record keeping procedures for parent clubs, how to deal with IRS audit situations, choices <strong>of</strong> entity issues, lobbying by parent clubs and charitable subsidiaries, and <strong>the</strong> special challenges facing those organizations that operate federally tax exempt public charities like <strong>the</strong> <strong>Basenji</strong> Health Endowment. I wish this session could have lasted ano<strong>the</strong>r hour or two! Like Wanda, I traveled home feeling like I suffered from pr<strong>of</strong>ound information overload. On <strong>the</strong> plus side, <strong>the</strong>re is so much that <strong>BCOA</strong> is doing right – we are way ahead <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> curve in many areas <strong>of</strong> club governance. That being said, <strong>the</strong>re are some areas in which we can definitely improve. After having a chance to review some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> beautiful and informative illustrated breed standards put toge<strong>the</strong>r by o<strong>the</strong>r parent clubs, this is one area where I hope we can challenge ourselves - to create an illustrated standard truly worthy <strong>of</strong> our beautiful, natural dogs. Likewise, seeing what o<strong>the</strong>r clubs provide in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> judge’s education process and accompanying materials made me think long and hard about <strong>of</strong> how <strong>BCOA</strong> can step up to <strong>the</strong> plate in this area as well.
JERLIN BASENJIS PRESENT A NEW CHAMPION CH. JERLIN’S DOUBLE O SEVEN (Ch. Jazzeta-Jerlin Double Stuff x Ch. Jerlin’s Airborne) “Bond” is shown finishing his championship under Judge Mrs. Edna Martin by going Best <strong>of</strong> Breed over a special for his fourth major win. Also featured in <strong>the</strong> picture is Jerlin <strong>Basenji</strong>s number one fan and my favorite granddaughter, Ms. Cagney Ehlers. Bond has been a fun dog to show with his wonderful personality and excellent movement. He will be available to approved bitches. Testing for Fanconi and hip dysplasia will be done. Linda Ehlers 660 747-8552 E-mail: jerlin@wcblue.com The <strong>Basenji</strong> <strong>Club</strong> <strong>of</strong> America, Inc. BULLETIN - 25
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