PENNSYLVANIA BEAGLE GUNDOG ASSOCIATION, INC.
Minutes of the Meeting of the Officers and Official Delegates

1. The meeting of the Officers and Official Delegates was held on Saturday, January 15, 2005 at the Dunnstown Fire Hall, Dunnstown, PA. It was called to order at 11:20 a.m. by outgoing President Gary Slick. The following clubs were represented at this meeting: Conemaugh Valley, Eldred, Elizabethtown, Indiana, Jacobus, Lebanon, Lycoming, Lykens Valley, Mason-Dixon, Monroe, Northern Lancaster, Rainbow, Rayburn, Sharpsville, Susquehanna, Towanda, Tunkhannock, Webster, West Branch and York & Adams.

2. A MOTION was made by Stan Breon, 2nd by Charlie Flexer, to dispense with the reading of the minutes, since everyone had a copy either mailed or emailed to them. Motion was approved.

3. Officer’s Reports:

A. President: Gary Slick as outgoing President thanked everyone for their help. We had a few challenges but we made it through because of the support of the delegates. He has a feeling that we are going to be the best.

B. Scott Dennis took over as the New President. He promises to hold the respect of the position. With the big turnover in officers, a new President, new East Region Vice President and new West Region Vice President, he is optimistic about the energy and level of commitment that this group has shown over the years and he looks forward to working with them to improve an already great organization. Scott gave a review of the Championship trial events: there were 245 qualified hounds, 65 derbies, and 96 all-age hounds at the trials. Thanked Gary Slick for his time and effort and for sticking to his values.

C. East Region Vice President - Sam Lauchman introduced himself to everyone. He made sure that everyone knew that he was dedicated to this position. If anyone has any ideas, please see him.

D. Interim West Region Vice President - Cathy Stewart gave some background on herself. Thanked Tina for her help. She wants to help the Association in anyway she can.

E. Secretary - Virginia Conrad mentioned the sign in sheet and reminded everyone that if they are a new delegate or if they have an email address, to be sure to modify the sign up sheet. The minutes are now emailed; those clubs without an email address will receive the minutes snail mail.

F. Director of Communications - Tina Grim tries to get pictures from all over the state to put on the slide show and on the webpages. Communication is important and we must have an email contact if possible to keep in touch.

G. Treasurer’s Report - Dave Sharer gave his report as follows: The beginning balance was $2,381.25 with an income of $2,805.00 with bills paid of $1,392.38, leaving a balance of $3,793.87. Income was from Banquet $830.00, dues $250.00, all age qualifier $136.00, directories $25.00, run off shirts $72.00, run off entries $1,283.00, run off 50/50 $168.00, donation $41.00. Bills paid were Stineman’s awards $338.67, Piestrak’s Gun Shop $377.36, Mason’s Monogram shirts (run 0ff) $280.00, run off judges costs $316.35, Jeremy Tobin (dog food 2003 award) $80.00.

MOTION TO PAY CURRENT BILLS, made by Stan Breon, 2nd by Jared Shade. Motion was approved.

4. Committee Reports:

A. Pa. Federation of Sportsmen - Jeremy Valentine was present to give the delegates some background on this federation. They presently have 100,000 members in the state. They lobby for changes in our state laws regarding the conservation of hunting. It will cost approximately $1500.00 for the Association to join as a whole, with only one voting delegate.

B. Political Action - Sam Lauchman made the report about the cable restraint proposal that had preliminary approval. Formal letter to go out from the Association on January 17, 2005. MOTION for a letter to go out, made by Gary DeFoor, 2nd by John Yagielinskie. Motion approved.  John Gibble to represent us at the meeting.

C. Show Seminar - Cathy Stewart stated that there is a seminar on Saturday, February 26, 2005 at Pucketos Beagle Club. Invited those that have not attended to do so. Anyone interested could contact Virginia Conrad or Cathy about attending a seminar or holding one.

D. Hall of Fame Exhibit - The wall of fame was at this meeting for all to see. It will be at Lycoming Beagle Club for the all-age championship trial in 2005.

E. BAC: John Gibble stated that 2 items that are on the agenda are items that have failed before. The following issues were raised: (1) the NBQ 1/5 point: Do we lower the bar to finish the dogs or keep it the way it is? After much discussion, it was decided to not support the 1/5 point for NBQ;  (2) mixing of size classes: running 3 or 4 13” hounds with the 15" hounds of same sex, instead of mixing males and females in the same size class. We did not support this proposal; (3) eliminate one-time official measuring – we did not feel this should be eliminated, but rather AKC should more closely monitor the results to prevent impropriety.  Clubs need to report problems to AKC if they find hounds were clearly improperly measured.

F. NEBGF: John Gibble asked for another six months to work on this. They had a very successful F.C. Only Trial. Stan Breon has been working on prizes. Constitution and By-Laws will be mailed to the delegates. They want to add two new positions, Public Relations and Field Trial Secretary. Scott Dennis created a committee to investigate the future of the NEBGF. Stan Breon to chair.  Scott proposed a committee to propose other options instead of the NEBGF, no one was willing to serve on that committee.  If the PBGA splits from the NEBGF, we may not have a BAC voice.

G. Banquet: Tina Grim reported that there was a good turn out expected.

H. Directory: Tina still working on them, but expected them to be in the mail in a couple of weeks. Thanked everyone for their help.

I. Website: Tina reported that the website is the place to look for the latest on the trial dates and any changes. The minutes and running rules are accessible, and lots of other important PBGA information. She stated she tries to update the website a couple times a week. Clubs are encouraged to update any changes to the field trial schedule, so it is as accurate as possible. 

J. Running Rules: Cathy Stewart gave a report that she and Virginia Conrad were looking into a change that they felt would be beneficial to the Association. A proposal will be coming soon.

K. BY-LAW CHANGE: The Proposed By-Law change was about changing the duties of the West Region Vice-President and the East Region Vice-President. [refer to attached by-law change] Roll Call vote went as follows: Breakneck absent; Central absent; Conemaugh Valley yea; Eldred yea; Elizabethtown yea; Indiana County yea; Jacobus yea; Lebanon yea; Lycoming yea; Lykens Valley yea; Mason-Dixon yea; Monroe yea; Northern Lancaster yea; Oil Creek absent; Pucketos absent; Rainbow absent; Rayburn Twp. yea; Sharpsville yea; Susquehanna yea; Towanda yea; Tunkhannock yea; Webster yea; West Branch yea and York & Adams yea. Motion was approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Trial Schedule for 2005 – Clubs are not allowed to just change their trial dates, you must contact the appropriate executive officer in order to obtain another date.  Until notified otherwise, Tina will be the contact for changes in the field trial schedule.  Our running rules clearly spell out the proper steps, please refer to them.

B. Tri Tronics - Rick Merkel is working with Tri Tronics again.  Rick personally donated the collars that were given away to the consistency winners and to the club with the highest raffle sale.  Tri-Tronics donated the four-collar set that was raffled at the banquet (a $1000 value).

C. Raffle - Sam Lauchman suggested taking some of the money from the raffle and using it to upgrade the consistency awards.

D. Consistency - Hounds that place in the field must score 60 points or more.

E. Hall of Fame - Roger George, FC Blue Creek Ben and FC Tuscarora Danny Boy will be inducted at the banquet. Congratulations to all.

F. Hall of Fame Criteria - MOTION was made by Virginia Conrad, 2nd by Kevin McEwen, for the criteria to change to 20 first term, 20 points 2nd term, 20 points 3rd term until a cap of 60 points earned for Officers. This Motion was approved 12/5. The next MOTION was made by Tina Grim, 2nd by Terri Eutsey that the 1st hound be given 15 points and 10 points for each hound after getting their AKC Field Championship, no cap. Motion was approved. Motion made and seconded to change the points for show and field judging as follows:  field judging for 15 years or more, 35 pts; 10 years or more, 25; 5 years or more, 20 pts; show judging for 15 or more years, 25 pts; 10 years or more, 15 pts; 5 years or more, 10 pts.  These are not by-law changes only criteria changes. Hall of Fame Criteria Committee is Sam Lauchman, Tina Grim and John Gibble.

New Business:

A. Voting for Derby Judges occurred.  We need 8 people for field and 1 for show. Votes were counted by Virginia Conrad, Secretary and Dave Sharer, Treasurer. Sam Lauchman was given the list after counting.  High vote getters from the east for field judging: John Gibble, Todd Seitz, Gary Slick, Rick Merkel, Edgar Burdette; high vote getters from the west:  Herb Loper, Ed Sankey, George Prycl, Jim Roush, Chris Eutsey.  Show judge:  Robert Stola, Cathy Stewart.

B. Reminder that Glenn Spath is suspended from PBGA events until March 24, 2005 and that he is suspended from Office until October 15, 2005. Cathy Stewart was asked to fulfill this vacant office until March 24. 

Marshall Sparks is at the end of his suspension. He must re-apply to the PBGA and receive a 2/3 approval vote to be able to return to PBGA events.

C. Approval was given to the formation of a field trial schedule committee to help come up with ways to free up some dates on the schedule to allow for our future growth.  Tina asked for volunteers.

D. PA Sportsman: no support, each club should join on their own. If a club joins, then they can report back to the PBGA at the next meeting.

E. Jr. Handling Program: MOTION to donate $200.00 to the Jr. Handling Program made by Stan Breon, 2nd by Tina Grim. Approved.

MOTION TO ADJOURN: Made by Stan Breon, 2nd by Kevin McEwen. Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia R. Conrad, Secretary