This new web page has been set up to provide information on GSCA elections and balloting, and to explain the e-balloting process.
Dear
GSCA Members:
The
Board is pleased to announce that a long overdue review and revision
of the GSCA Standing Rules has been completed, including a 30-day
period for Membership review and comment on the draft rules. The
purpose of this exercise was to update and amend the Standing Rules
including: aligning the rules with current practices; organizing them
into logical groupings; editing text for clarity; adding items that
were lacking; and deleting rules that were no longer relevant.
You
are now being asked to vote FOR or AGAINST each of the seven (7)
sections/categories of the revised Standing Rules:
Communications
General
-
Health
& Welfare
-
Trophies
& Awards
Sweepstakes
Specialties
-
Judging
The
following are links to two PDF files of the full text of the revised
Standing Rules in two views:
1. Standing Rules Proposed: View
2. Standing Rules – Current & Proposed – Track Changes: View
The
following are brief descriptions of each of the seven sections of the
proposed Standing Rules.
COMMUNICATIONS:
This
section combines four existing Standing Rules related to
communication.
COM1)
Maintains
existing Standing Rule pertaining to translating Pinscher/Schnauzer
Klub (PSK) notes and articles from German to English.
COM2)
Updates
the Standing Rule about establishing reciprocal membership between
the GSCA and PSK.
COM3)
Updates
the Standing Rule related to GSCA authored articles for national dog
magazines and online publications as educational resources.
COM4)
Updates
the Standing Rule related to GSCA publication, distribution, and
sales of educational pamphlets and booklets including, but not
limited to, general information, breed standard, grooming, etc.
GENERAL:
This
section includes three new Standing Rules.
GEN1) New Rule:
Creating Policies and Procedures by the Board or Committee Chairs to
set expectations for GSCA programs and activities
GEN2)
New
Rule:
Establishing
procedures for systematic review of the Standing Rules every third
year by a special Committee appointed by the Board. Any revisions to
the Standing Rules recommended by the Committee would be subject to
approval by the Board and Membership.
GEN3) New Rule:
Outlining
how Standing Rules revisions can be recommended by the Board and GSCA
Members for advancement to a Membership vote.
HEALTH
& WELFARE:
This
section revises text of three existing Standing Rules, adds two new
rules, and deletes a previous rule.
HW1)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding hip dysplasia that charged the
Editor of STEPS with publishing articles related to dysplasia. The
revised text identifies the GSCA as the advocate for encouraging
breeders to perform health testing to inform breeding decisions and
informing puppy buyers of best health testing practices they should
be aware of when searching for and selecting a breeder.
HW2)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule dealing with Orthopedic Foundation for
Animals (OFA) clearances to note that the GSCA only recognizes OFA
accepted health test results and certifications.
HW3)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule on disciplinary action that could be taken
against GSCA Members who place a dog they bred with a rescue
organization, or who take no action after being informed that a dog
they bred is in rescue.
HW4) New Rule:
Outlining
how the Club may provide financial support to rescue organizations.
HW5) New Rule:
Introducing
the newly established Welfare Assistance program to provide financial
support to help individual Giants and their owners. This rule
includes a general description of an application and review process
by which owners can receive assistance for their Giant in need of
veterinary care, medications, nutrition, housing, transportation,
etc.
Deleted
Rule:
Listing
litters of OFA cleared parents in STEPS.
TROPHIES
& AWARDS:
This
section revises text of five previous Standing Rules and adds one new
rule.
TA1)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding Trophies Committee duties and
Club provided keepsake trophies for National & Regional
Specialties; and Specialty Committee responsibilities for fund
raising and providing additional awards. Timelines for finalizing
trophy and donor lists prior to Premium List and Show catalog
deadlines are also described.
TA2)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule describing items (pins, clothing, etc.)
which cannot be used as trophies.
TA3)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule describing the Club sponsored Annual Awards
program.
TA4)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule describing the Club sponsored Combined
Awards (select parings of Conformation & Working titles) and the
Versality Program.
TA5)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding Club provided congratulatory
cards and pins to include all newly earned AKC titles.
TA6) New Rule:
Establishing
requirement to follow AKC Rosettes & Ribbons rules for all
Specialties.
SWEEPSTAKES:
This
section revises text of two previous Standing Rule regarding
Sweepstakes events at Specialties and adds one new rule.
SW1)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding Puppy Sweepstakes at National &
Regional Specialties including eligibility, classes offered, and who
may exhibit the puppy.
SW2)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding Veteran Sweepstakes at National &
Regional Specialties including eligibility, classes offered, and who
may exhibit the veteran.
SW3) New Rule:
Introducing
the new Breeders Sweepstake event for National Specialties; this
event is not recommended for Regional Specialties. Establishes
eligibility, classes offered, and who may exhibit the dog.
SPECIALTIES:
This
section revises text of seven previous Standing Rule regarding
Specialties and adds two new rules.
SP1)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding timelines for planning National
Specialties.
SP2)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule concerning National & Regional
Specialty funding and use of GSCA Specialty bank accounts and
accounting procedures. Requires Specialty Committees to balance
expenditures and fund raise, with the goal of breaking even or better
for each event.
SP3)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule requiring the National Specialty Committee
to offer at least one education session at Nationals and increases
Club funding to $500.
SP4)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding Veteran Dog and Bitch non-regular
class offerings at National & Regional Specialties.
SP5) New Rule:
Introducing
Awards of Merit that judges may give to dogs considered for Best of
Breed at National & Regional Specialties.
SP6) New Rule:
Divides
the Open Classes so that Black and Pepper & Salt are exhibited
separately at all Specialties. Further, the Club will request that
the Open class be divided by color for supported entries held in
conjunction with Specialties.
SP7)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule encouraging Specialty Committees to
consider hosting additional activities including AKC recognized
events (agility, tracking, herding, scent work, etc.), educational
demonstrations (search & rescue, drug detection, etc.), and
special attractions (e.g. Parade of Title Holders).
SP8)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule regarding procedures for hosting (chairing)
a GSCA Specialty.
SP9)
Updates
text of the Standing Rule pertaining to selling GSCA branded
merchandise in conjunction with Specialties.
JUDGING:
The
current Standing Rules for National and Regional judge selection and
requirements are included as sub-sections under the respective
Specialty headings. For this revision, Standing Rules pertaining to
Judging were separated and are being presented as a standalone
section. The proposed Judging Standing Rules include revised text of
eleven previous Standing Rules, adds two new rules, and deletes three
existing rules.
JG1)
Edits
text of a Standing Rule regarding appointing a Judges Nominating
Committee.
JG2) New Rule:
Defining three types of judges who can be considered for National
Specialties: AKC Licensed, Breeder/Exhibitor, and Foreign.
JG3) New Rule:
Establishing procedures and timelines for Members to recommend
Breeder/Exhibitors and Foreign judges for consideration by Judges
Nominating Committee, and timeline for Committee to review list of
eligible AKC licensed judges.
JG4)
Updates
Standing Rule for Members to nominate up to three judges for a
National Specialty within a 30-day time period beginning in March of
each year..
JG5)
Updates
Standing Rule describing eligibility requirements of AKC licensed
judges who can be nominated to judge a National Specialty. Set limits
on how often any individual can judge a National (10 years); and how
often Breeder/Exhibitors can be selected (not more than once every
three years). This rule also recommends selecting a Foreign judge
once every seven years.
JG6)
Updates
Standing Rule on Judge nominating procedures to include automatic
tallying of electronic ballots and designating member of the
Nominating Committee to receive and tally manually completed mail-in
ballots.
JG7)
Updates
Standing Rule regarding offering a National Specialty judging
assignment to the individual receiving the most nominations, and
procedures for offering to the assignment to subsequent individuals
should judge(s) decline the assignment. This rule also sets forth
the requirement that a Breeder/Exhibitor agree to fulfill all AKC
criteria to have a one-time permit to judge a National.
JG8)
Updates
text regarding hiring the National Specialty judge.
JG9)
Updates
Standing Rule for replacing National Specialty judge who cannot
fulfill the assignment after accepting it.
JG10)
Updates
Standing Rule regarding National Obedience judge to include Rally and
limit how often an individual can judge Obedience/Rally to once every
3 years.
JG11)
Updates
Standing Rule for selecting Regional Specialty conformation,
obedience, and rally judges.
JG12)
Updates
Standing Rule limiting a Regional Specialty conformation judge once
every 5 years only within the same region, rather than all regions.
JG13)
Updates
Standing Rule on selecting Sweepstakes judges to include both
National & Regional Specialties. Sets National Sweepstakes
judging limit of once every 5 years per individual; sets no
restriction on the frequency of Regional Sweepstakes judging.
Deleted
Rule:
Current
Rule 22, which is simply an introductory statement to actual rules.
Deleted Rule:
.
Current Rule 22-N3, which is simply an introductory statement to
Judges Nomination Committee duties.
Deleted Rule:
Current
Rule 22-N6, which set a five-year eligibility interval for National
Specialty Breed, Sweepstakes, and Obedience judging assignments. The
eligibility intervals are now being presented within the Standing
Rules specific to Breed, Sweepstakes, and Obedience/Rally judging
eligibility; there is no restriction on the frequency of Regional
Specialty Sweepstakes judging assignments.
If
you opted for e-balloting, you will be voting
through
surveymethods.com
and
should have received an e-mailing from “Howard Postovit GSCA
Elections <hrpostovit.gmail.com@surveys.surveymethods.com>"
announcing the voting. If you have not chosen e-balloting, you will
have received your ballot via USPS mail. If you have not received an
e-mail or paper ballot by December 7, 2023, contact Howard Postovit
at 541-786-5687, e-mail
hrpostovit@gmail.com
;
or Chris Reed at 979-824-2118, e-mail
chrisjreed@bellsouth.net