To the members,

How appreciative  we are of your dedication to the breed.  I am amazed that we have members who prize themselves on the knowledge they have about our sport.  This sport, especially the ATFTC has so much to offer the dog world, but, instead of being positive, offering ways to make things better, some are just doing their best to keep trouble brewing.  Which in no way helps the club to advance to a level it is capable of reaching.  Folks this is the American Toy Fox Terrier Club and how other clubs are run has nothing to do with us.  This club has wonderful members who have expertise in the dog world, but to keep hearing, " our club does it that way", or "the clubs I belong to do it this way",  may not be applicable to ATFTC or meet its needs.  This is a young club and has growing pains, but it is growing, making a place in the dog world that is respectable, members producing some very great dogs, and achieving its purposes as set out in the Constitution. 

My question to those who complain, gripe, and never offer ways to make the changes they wish changed while the changes are in the process of being modified, but wait until those changes begin to take place and then have a problem with them, why not in a civil, non combative way help make things work and not spread non fact rumors among the members?  How this looks to many members  is sad and many say, "I don't want to be a part of a group that has nothing better to do, than perform this kind of behavior". Some  members are shaking their heads in utter disgust of the actions of several members of ATFTC.  I had calls wanting to file charges on some of them for causing this kind of discontent among the organization.  At this point the Board has not entertained such requests and have asked them to wait and let us attempt to get all the activities resolved.  They have agreed that this is the best avenue to pursue at this time. 

It was the hopes of this Board, most everyone, that we could be bring some camaraderie to the organization by moving ahead with projects that had been in the making for a long time, just not completed.  This we have been trying to do. But with every step forward we take, we are distracted by a small apparently  disgruntled group that do not want the organization to move ahead in the direction this Board is attempting to move. 

We talked about what the members wanted and that is where we have put our efforts.  They  include, but not limited to:

1. Completion of the Constitution and By Law revisions

2. Realign the committees to make them productive and successful

3. Complete the much needed Illustrated Standard

4. Get some procedures in place for operation of the club as a whole.

5. Create a Newsletter that the membership would look forward to receiving.

6. Inform the members of all activities of the Board

7. Get the Treasurer Bonded, 2 signatures on checks, and offer the membership written reports

8. Reduce the Board Teleconferences to quarterly instead of monthly for financial reasons.

9. Get in compliance with AKC in all areas

10. Get the yearly Awards on tract for the Nationals.

11. Get as many members involved as possible.

All of the above has been a work in progress and many have been completed.  We knew we would always have a few that would not like what we have accomplished, but our hopes was the majority would appreciate these endless efforts.  Mistakes, sure, we are humans, and that's what happens when the human element is involved.  Our philosophy is to continue the path we have taken,  correct the mistakes with future endeavors and attempt to get EVERYONE involved with a positive attitude to make success our end product. 

The committee relationship with the Board is our tool for meeting the needs of individuals via their input with the committees.  Quoting from the AKC Parent Club  materials, committees are appointed by the Board to help the board advance the work of the club.  The Board has the final authority to accept, in whole or in part, any committee recommendation.  Every committee is subject to the final authority of the board.  With this as our guideline, we had asked all committees to report to the Vice President with their reports at least 5 days prior to the Board meeting.  This way if any questions arose, we could go to the chairman's and get the answers of any questions we might have if any issue was on the agenda for discussion.  Most of the committee's complied, many did not respond.  One committee chair deliberately did not comply, but sent it directly to the Board instead of via the route they had been asked. 

This Board has been asked when any questions come directly to them, to refer the question to the committee chairman of the area of concern and if they did not get the answers they were looking for, to contact us again and we would get their answers.  This has worked in most cases, some cases it was ignored.  Working with the public, you need one person to get the answers to your questions, but when it becomes a three or more persons attempting to help you, the communication often breaks down.  Most people hear and read things, they way they want them to be, not how they were told or how it was written.

Example: the revision of the C/B/L's regarding dues, it was NEVER stated it would be $35 per year.  It states "WILL NOT EXCEED $35"   See the difference?   Yes, the Board added,  WILL NOT EXCEED $35 to the committees recommendation.  But that is not what went out on the chat lines.  AKC also states: "that the general management power generally gives the board wide discretion in deciding matters" and ". . the entire administrative authority of society is best left to the board between the society's meetings". 

The big bang about the Parliamentarian seems to be originating with one person, maybe two.  It was not left out as is being told.  It is true it was not as sent to us.  After reviewing that section, the conclusion was it was already addressed in Article X of the present C/B/L's.  In the sample from AKC it reads: Article X Parliamentary Authority-Section 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, New Revised, shall govern the club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any other special rules of order the club may adopt.  This board has learned what was sent to AKC and  what they   replied. AKC asked that suggested changes be sent back to them fore review and it did not happen.   The fallacy of the board was accepting what we had without checking with AKC to verify what the committee had sent us for accuracy.  Had the committee sent their revisions to us before submitting them to AKC, which is the proper procedure, maybe all of this could have been prevented. This board was attempting to complete the unfinished business that the membership had asked to be completed and begun by previous administrations. Any one wanting to see what AKC said, I will gladly forward it to you.  

To put into the C/B/L's guidelines of something that would only be used as a necessity, is not logical.  Should this organization address guidelines for unknown necessities,  a document would be created that no one would be comfortable attempting to enforce or monitor. As it stands now, and if a Parliamentarian is sought, those guidelines and purpose should be established at that time to meet the needs of the appointment.  The Parliamentarian that was brought aboard by the previous board, did not follow the ethical rules of accepting the position  by being a voting member of the Board.  At the time of appointment questions of ethics were raised and ignored by the parliamentarian and the board.  Nothing would ever had been said about this if the issue of placing such guidelines in the C/B/L's at this time had not been attempted to be justified. You can not wear two hats at the same time.  Conflict of interest comes into play.  Parliamentarians may be needed in the future and if at the time one is selected, such guidelines as are being attempted to be placed in the C/B/L's, can be put into place as policies if the Board finds such a need.

I feel sure these people who are creating this un rest are good people, could contribute, be helpful, and could be good working members, if their attitude could change and approach things positive instead of negative and help lead this club down the path of success   Each one of us need to encourage a change of direction and turn the negative into positive attitudes.  If there is an area that you are dedicated to changing, request to be put on that committee and work with that committee to achieve the changes that might improve the organizational structure. 

We need to turn to the Code of Ethics; Quoting AKC again, ". . .refrain from conduct injurious to the organization or it purposes". Code of Ethics should primarily be educational goals to strive for, rather than vehicles to exclude or expel  individuals from clubs.  Serious, documented, violations may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the club's bylaws. 

When you read the above, put your personal feeling aside, walk in the shoes of most of the board members  that are trying to do the best it can do for the complete membership, not individual whims and personal agendas and battles. 

Dr Roger S Pritchard, President

PS-REMINDER-April 1st is approaching-please get your award applications to Dianne so you will not be left out.