Letter to the Membership:

After several Board meetings I have drawn the conclusion there is a lot of work to be done in this forth coming year.

Getting the committees into working order, reviewing the committee results of what is being prepared to propose to the membership, and possibly combining committees that overlap in area content.

The Board is committed to overseeing the general management of the ATFTC and to implement a better working relationship between the Board and the membership.  Any suggestion on how we can achieve this would be appreciated.

Reviewing the progress of  the ATFT  Club, one of the deficiencies I fear is the length of terms for the Officers and Board.  When each new Board is in place in January, by the time they review what has happened, what is needed, and items are addressed, the year is over and its possible a complete change/direction could occur which left much of the business un-attended.  Hopefully, the Constitution By Laws committee will address this in the proposed revisions, specifically Article III , Section I Board of Directors.  All officers and Board are elected at the same time for a one year term.  This is not long enough to even begin any changes that the membership request.  Two year terms is what most Parent clubs and other organizations have in place.  I ask you, how in the world can any continuity take place should they all be removed at the same time?  What a mess could occur and the club would be in a real dilemma.  We have no provisions in our bylaws assuring the continuity of the officers/board.

A good safe guard would be elect the officers one year(say even years) and the board members the following year (odd years).  This would allow work that has begun to have ample time to be completed before changed take place and would always guarantee someone on the Board or in Office would remain aboard to help those coming aboard with the facts.  This is badly needed.

I  hope we have enough volunteers to serve on each  committee that the Board members will only need to serve on one committee at a time.  This will  allow  us to include more members in the operations of the organization.  We have a lot of members with a lot of expertise in the dog world and we need these people to get involved via committees to help us make a difference.

We must all remember this organization must be operated as a business and it must not function in the red.  Many proposals will be made which will not be economically feasible.  I will ask each committee to submit a proposed budget for the year and will attempt to stay within such allowing the best possible use of  income and expenditures.

In any organization a “chain of command” is extremely important for maximum success. When members have suggestions or issues they should be directed to the Chair of that specific committee.  When making suggestions it would be most helpful to use the following format, in writing:

1. Why it is not working or not successful?

2. Why is the solution and why?

3. How this will make it successful.

I have given the responsibility of the Vice President to be the liaison between the committees and the Board.  The reports from the Vice President at each meeting will facilitate the committees work, needs, and achievements and allow the board to make better decisions on the submitted reports.  This procedure will enhance the ability of the Board to improve all areas that affect the internal operations of this club.

I would ask the membership to get involved, following the suggested format which will reduce the gossip and permit the committees to function to their greatest degree.

The Constitution and By Law committee have worked diligently to upgrade the rules we operate under.  There are several areas that are weak and need addressing, one was previously discussed.   These are forthcoming and I solicit your attention to review and hopefully consider the much needed changes that will be proposed.  I will ask the committee to explain the reasoning for the suggested changes to accompany the changes being proposed.

We have placed the club’s monies in a Bank of America account.  The President, Secretary, and the Treasurer are the signatures that can sign checks.  Two signatures will be required on each check that will be written to dispense club funds.    Further, I have prepared a form that the Treasurer will use to give the monthly report that includes, beginning balances, number of each check that has been written, the amount, purpose, all monies received and deposited, and the running balance each month. 

Rescue is such an important part of any breed club and its success depends on many factors.  Those who are willing to serve the group in an administrative capacity and those willing to work extremely hard to care for and provide money for the rescue league.  I will probably get a committee to investigate making Rescue a separate organization from the ATFTC.  As it is now, those donating money can not write if off, tax donation, if it is a separate non profit unit, application can be made to allow donors to write off donations.  This would be an incentive for donors to donate more money and the league could become self sufficient.  ATFTC can never offer tax donations to donors. 

The breed illustrated standard is still in the process of being completed.  It is imperative that it be completed quick as possible since these materials are so relevant to all the education programs needed for development. I have reviewed most of what is completed and it looks great.  A tool very beneficial to the Breed.  I know a lot of work has gone into the development of the illustrated standard and I know it will never please everyone.  But we must have some place to start, keep a committee to work on the continuation of improvements as the materials are used and items are found that can be improved.

It is my hope the materials developed can be used with modification, to educate the general public, the breeders, exhibitors, and the judges who will have a great influence on the future of the ATFT.  We must always remember, the judges are not the care keepers of the breed, the Parent club is the care taker of the breed and therefore continued education is the secret for improving the breed.

I am planning two sessions at the National this year.  One is a Mentor Training session-It will take about one hour and one half to complete.  Those who would like to serve as a mentor for the breed will need to attend the session.  It will be for people who want and will serve as a mentor for the breed.  One must attend and complete the training before you will listed as an approved mentor for the breed.  Applications for this program will be available after the training session is over.  Those names approved will be added to the Mentor List that will be provided to the American Kennel Club which in turn will be released by AKC to those requesting the services of a Mentor.

The second is the Presenter Training session-two hours is the timeline.  People who or will be available to give seminars and workshops for the breed after such training.  You must complete this training before you will be approved to give these educational sessions.  Applications to present will be available at the end of the session.  Those approved, (Board approval) will be added to the list. The Secretary will keep an up dated approved list.

I would also like to have available a Meet Your Board session at the National this year.  To be held prior to the Annual meeting.  This meeting will give the membership a chance to meet and ask any questions they might have about the management of the club.  Also a chance to voice new ideas, concerns that we might be able to include for discussion to improve the organization.

I look forward to working with the newly elected officers and board members this year and hopefully we can begin to make the improvements it appears are needed for continued success of the American Toy Fox Terrier Club of America.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Roger S Pritchard,  President