Standing Rules

These Standing Rules have been established by the Club to ensure consistent practices over time regardless of the individuals serving as officers, directors, committee chairs, or specialty chairs. Adherence to these rules is mandatory. Any changes to these rules are subject to approval of membership. Under no circumstances may any Standing Rule be written or interpreted in a way as to supersede the letter or intent of the Constitution and Bylaws.

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Category I – Communications

COM-1 This Club shall sponsor translations into English of excerpts and articles from the Pinscher/Schnauzer Klub’s Standard Buch and their other publications with the express permission of the PSK. Permission was granted by the Board of Directors and PSK President Herr Borner.

COM-2 The Club shall establish a reciprocal membership with PSK so that both Clubs would be able to exchange information, publications, standards, and ideas for the mutual benefit of both parties and the Breed.

COM-3 The Club shall author articles to appear in national dog magazines and in various online publications as educational resources about the breed and the Club.

COM-4 The Club shall publish educational materials in the form of pamphlets and booklets on various subjects including grooming, breed standard, etc. and make these available for sale to interested persons.

Category II – General

GEN-1 Policies and Procedures may be created by the Board and/or committee chairs to set expectations for club programs and activities. Once established and approved by a majority vote of the Board, the policies and procedures will remain in effect until modified or deleted by another majority vote of the Board. Under no circumstances may any policy or procedure so established supersede the letter or intent of the Standing Rules, Constitution, or Bylaws.

GEN-2 The Standing Rules shall be reviewed during the second quarter of every third year by a special committee appointed by the Board. If no revisions are needed, the committee will document that the review took place via a report to the Board. If revisions are necessary, the committee will submit their findings to the Board for review and then oversee the process for approval of the changes by a majority vote of membership.

GEN-3 Revisions to Standing Rules may be recommended by majority vote of the Board or by petition signed by 20% of club members. In either case, the proposed changes must be submitted to membership votes with a simple majority of the votes cast being necessary for approval.

Revisions to Standing Rules may also be recommended at the annual membership meeting provided a quorum is present. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary for approval.

Category III – Health & Welfare

HW-1 Breed Health is a subject of continuing concern for members of the Club. The Club will encourage all breeders to perform health testing as defined by the Canine Health Information Center breed-specific requirements and recommendations and to use this information when making breeding decisions. The Club will advocate to puppy buyers that they should consider health testing practices when selecting a breeder.

HW-2 The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) online database will be considered the official repository for health testing information. Health test results and certifications that are not accepted by OFA will be not be recognized by the Club.

HW-3 Any club member who places a dog they bred through a rescue organization, or after being notified of the situation, fails to intervene when a dog they bred is placed with a rescue organization may be subject to disciplinary action per Article VI of the Bylaws.

HW-4 The Club does not participate directly in Rescue nor does it endorse any particular rescue groups including breed-specific organizations. The Club may elect to support them in special situations subject to a majority approval by the Board.

HW-5 The Club is honored to help individual Giants and their owners through its Welfare Assistance program.

The Welfare Assistance Committee will review requests and recommend financial grants to qualified applicants with a Giant in need (health/medical, nutritional/food, housing, and/or transport, etc.). All purebred Giants are eligible, but priority will always be given to senior dogs. Final approval of recommendations by the committee will be made by the Board.

The total amount of grants awarded annually will be based on the return on investment of the associated Club assets. Changes to this annual distribution or to the maximum value of individual grants may be recommended by the Committee and are subject to approval by the Board. Any residual from the annual distribution once all grants are paid will be added to the general fund.

Category IV – Trophies & Awards

TA-1 Through the Trophy Committee, the Club will provide significant keepsake trophies for Conformation, Obedience, and Rally for the National Specialty and for the first (based on date of approval by the Board) Regional Specialty in each region per year. Club sponsored trophies will not be provided for additional Regional Specialties in the same region in a given year. If a region does not host a specialty, trophies allocated for that region in that year will remain in the inventory to be managed by the Committee.

The Committee will be responsible for all aspects of the multi-year club sponsored trophy program and will, with Board approval, establish the criteria by which these trophies will be awarded. Criteria may include the type of Specialty event, size of entry, minimum threshold on score, and/or limitations to specific classes and/or placements.

Club sponsored trophies from specialties in the past are not to be used as raffle or auction items.

Each Specialty Committee will be required to solicit both in kind and monetary donations for additional trophies to cover other placements and events as well as to help offset the cost to the Club for those listed above. A list of all trophies will be prepared and submitted to the Specialty Show Chair no later than two (2) weeks prior to the deadline for submission of the premium list. A complete list of trophy sponsorships and donations will be prepared and submitted to the Specialty Fundraising Chair no later than two (2) weeks prior to the deadline for the show catalog.

TA-2 Pins, tie tacks, clothing, caps, and other personal items are not to be used as trophies.

TA-3 The Club shall support the Annual Awards program which is available to all members in good standing. All awards for the previous calendar year will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet during each National Specialty event.

All aspects of the awards process including the associated tabulation rules are administered by the Awards Committee. Any changes to the Awards program are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

TA-4 The Club shall support special recognition of Giants excelling in two or more events through the Combined Awards (select pairs of Conformation and Working titles) and the Versatility Program.

The Combined Awards recognized by the Club are defined by the Awards Program and administered by the Awards Committee as part of the Annual Awards Program. All changes are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

TA-5 A congratulatory card and a small token of recognition will be sent to all owners who earned a new AKC recognized title on their Giant during the year provided they are members in good standing at the time the title was awarded.

All aspects of the program are administered by the Congratulatory Chair. Any changes are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

TA-6 All rules applying to Rosettes and Ribbons from the AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows (Chapter 5 - Ribbons, Prizes and Trophies) must be followed for all Specialties.

Size and design minimum requirements for rosettes and colors for special prizes are available in the GSCA Specialty Guidelines. All Rosettes and Ribbons awarded at Specialties must meet or exceed these requirements.

Category V – Sweepstakes

SW-1 A Puppy Sweepstakes event must be held at each National Specialty and may be held at Regional Specialties.

Dogs shown in Puppy Sweepstakes must also be entered in one of the regular classes.

AKC champions of record are not eligible to compete.

The following classes will be provided for both dogs and bitches:

• Puppy – 6 Months & Under 9 Months

• Puppy – 9 Months & Under 12 Months

• Junior – 12 Months & Under 18 Months

• Open – 18 Months & Under 24 Months

The winners from all classes will compete for Best Puppy in Sweeps and Best of Opposite.

The owners or members of their household, breeder, or owner of the Stud Dog must exhibit the puppy at the class level. No one else may exhibit in the class unless they satisfy one of the aforementioned qualifications. Accommodations will be made for exhibitors with disabilities per the process and rules established by AKC.

If an individual wins more than one class, he/she may enlist help from others to exhibit multiple dogs in Best in Puppy Sweepstakes.

SW-2 A Veterans Sweepstakes event must be held at each National Specialty and may be held at Regional Specialties.

Dogs shown in Veterans Sweepstakes do not have to be entered in one of the regular classes.

All dogs including AKC champions of record are eligible to compete.

Neutered dogs & spayed bitches may be entered in Veterans Sweepstakes.

The following classes will be provided for both dogs and bitches:

• 7 Years & Under 9 Years

• 9 Years & Under 11 Years

• 11 Years & Over

The winners from all classes will compete for Best Veteran in Sweeps and Best of Opposite.

There are no restrictions on who may exhibit a dog in Veterans Sweepstakes.

SW-3 A Breeders Sweepstakes event may be held at National Specialties but is not recommended for Regional Specialties.

All dogs including AKC champions of record are eligible to compete.

The following classes will be provided for both dogs and bitches:

• Puppy – 6 Months & Under 9 Months

• Puppy – 9 Months & Under 12 Months

• Junior – 12 Months & Under 18 Months

• Open – 18 Months & Over

The winners from all classes will compete for Best in Breeders Sweeps and Best of Opposite.

Only the breeder of record may exhibit the dog at the class level. If an individual wins more than one class, he/she may enlist help from others to exhibit multiple dogs in Best in Breeder Sweepstakes.

Accommodations will be made for exhibitors with disabilities per the process and rules established by AKC.

Category VI – Specialties

SP-1 Planning for the National Specialty should begin at least three (3) years in advance of the event regardless of whether it is held as a Designated Specialty in conjunction with an all-breed show or specialty club or as an independent specialty.

SP-2 All transactions associated with National and Regional Specialties will take place through the GSCA Specialty accounts. The net proceeds from each Specialty will be retained in the GSCA Specialty savings account for use as seed money for future events. If the year-end balance of the GSCA Specialty savings account exceeds a preset limit defined by the Club’s accounting practices, the excess will be transferred to the GSCA General account. The GSCA Specialty account will be replenished from the GSCA General account if balance is below a predetermined minimum.

Every Special Committee is obligated to closely manage their spending and balance it against their fund-raising efforts. After all financial items are reconciled, every Specialty event is expected to break even or better.

SP-3 Each National Specialty must offer one or more educational sessions. The Club must provide up to $500.00 to cover expenses associated with this activity. Specialty committees may allocate more to educational activities provided the additional costs are offset by associated fundraising efforts.

SP-4 The Giant Schnauzer will become a Veteran at seven (7) years of age and eligible for the Veterans Class at all AKC licensed dog shows.

Non-regular classes for Veteran Dogs and Veteran Bitches shall be offered at National and Regional Specialties.

Neutered dogs and spayed bitches may be entered and compete for Best of Breed at Independent Specialties as there is no competition beyond the breed level. At Designated Specialties, neutered dogs and spayed bitches may not be entered.

SP-5 At National and Regional Specialties, the judge may at his/her discretion give Awards of Merit (AOM) to those dogs that were in final consideration for Best of Breed and that were not winners of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite, Select Dog, or Select Bitch. The number of Awards of Merit is determined by the total number competing in Best of Breed as follows:

• 1 AOM – 6-8 in Best of Breed

• 2 AOM – 9-11 in Best of Breed

• 3 AOM – 12-15 in Best of Breed

• 4 AOM – 16 & over in Best of Breed

A rosette offered by the Giant Schnauzer Club of America will be given to commemorate each AOM.

SP-6 The Open classes for Dogs and Bitches will be divided by color so that Black and Pepper & Salt are exhibited separately at all National and Regional Specialties.

The Club will request that the Open class be divided by color for all supported entries and other shows held in conjunction with Specialties and supports that this division be offered at all conformation shows.

As allowed by AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows, the Bred-by-Exhibitor classes for Dogs and Bitches will be divided by age so that Puppies (6 Months & Under 12 Months) and Adults (12 Months & over) are exhibited separately at all National and Regional Specialties.

SP-7 The Club shall encourage hosting additional activities at National and Regional Specialties to the extent possible as dictated by location, facility, time, and financial constraints.

The host region and specialty committee are responsible for planning and conducting these activities. These may include AKC recognized trials (Agility, Tracking, Herding, Scent Work, Fast CAT, etc.), evaluations such as Canine Good Citizen and Temperament Testing, and various demonstrations (Search and Rescue, etc.) for educational purposes.

Any Special Attractions (Parade of Titleholders, Parade of Rescues, etc.) that are offered will require an application and must be included in the Premium List.

SP-8 Anyone wishing to host a GSCA Specialty must obtain a current, approved copy of the GSCA Specialty Guidelines from the Specialty Show Coordinating Committee prior to applying to the Board for the event.

Based on the location where the Specialty is being proposed, the associated Regional Director will help the applicants understand the scope and expectations of hosting a Specialty event and will guide them in preparing a suitable proposal for the Board.

SP-9 The Club may sell, with Board approval, GSCA branded merchandise featuring the club logo and other Giant themed items via an online store on an ongoing basis. Proceeds from merchandise sold in conjunction with specialty events should be used to offset specialty show expenses. Examples may include but are not limited mugs, decals, tie tacks/pins, medallions, posters, and clothing.

Category VII – Judging

JG-1 The GSCA President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a Judges Nominating Committee for the purpose of selecting National Specialty conformation judges. The Committee shall be comprised of three members in good standing. The Committee shall be a standing committee and shall be reappointed at the beginning of each new term.

JG-2 Three types of judges will be considered for the GSCA National Specialty as follows:

• AKC Licensed – a judge approved by AKC to judge the breed (may or may not be a breeder, GSCA club member, or a foreign resident)

• Breeder/Exhibitor – a breeder/exhibitor who is NOT licensed by AKC to judge Giants

• Foreign – a judge residing outside the United States capable of judging Giants (may or may not have an AKC License, be a breeder, or be a member of GSCA)

JG-3 Before the end of January of each year, the Judges Nominating Committee will notify members via the newsletter and email/e-blast that recommendations for Breeder/Exhibitor judges and Foreign judges will be accepted during the month of February. The committee will review submissions to ensure that the individuals are qualified to judge a national and then will contact each to confirm their willingness and desire to be added to the ballot.

During January and February, the committee will also review the list of AKC Licensed judges to determine which ones meet the eligibility requirements and will make all necessary additions and deletions to the list of judges on the ballot.

JG-4 During March of each year, an announcement will be made via the newsletter and email/e-blast that balloting for National Specialty conformation judges will be open for a period of 30 days.

Each member can vote for up to three individuals as the National Specialty Judge. Ballots shall be sent anonymously via an electronic ballot to members who have opted to vote electronically or via USPS mailing to members who have opted out of electronic voting from the Judges Nominating Committee.

JG-5 Eligibility for nomination of AKC Licensed conformation judges is based upon the following general criteria:

• Judges should have been originally licensed for working breeds but those with backgrounds in other breeds, particularly herding and terriers, may be considered.

• Judges must have previously judged at least a 3-point major entry of Giant Schnauzers.

• Judges must have been involved with Giant Schnauzers through judging, handling or breeding for at least five (5) years.

Breeder/Exhibitor judges will not be selected by the Club more often than once every three (3) years.

A Foreign judge should be selected by the Club at least once every seven (7) years. The committee will coordinate with the GSCA Board to ensure this.

No individual may judge a National Specialty more often than once every ten (10) years.

JG-6 Electronic ballots will be automatically tallied by the service used for e-balloting. Ballots completed manually shall be returned by mail to a designated member of the Committee for tallying. The entire Judges Nominating Committee will confer to identify the person who has received the most votes.

JG-7 The Judges Nominating Committee shall contact the person with the most votes to offer them the assignment and advise them of the date and show site.

If this person is a Breeder/Exhibitor, they will also be asked if they are willing and able to fulfill all criteria set forth by AKC to have the one-time permit to judge the National Specialty. If they decline, the person having the next largest number of votes will be asked to judge.

If any person declines to accept the offer, contact will be made with subsequent individuals in descending order of votes until the assignment is accepted. Each will be given a period of fourteen (14) calendar days to respond. If they do not respond within that 14-day period, the next person that received the most votes will be notified and offered the assignment.

JG-8 The person receiving the most votes and who accepts the assignment shall be hired as the judge for the next National Specialty.

JG-9 If a judge cannot fulfill their assignment after accepting it, an alternate shall be chosen in descending order of preference based on the number of votes received as described above.

Depending on how much time remains before the show when a cancellation occurs, the Show Chair may select, subject to Board approval, the most qualified judge from those available.

JG-10 Selection of Obedience/Rally judges for National Specialties shall be left to the authority of the Regional Director and their Show Chairperson and Show Committee. Final selection will be subject to the GSCA Board of Directors approval.

A judge shall be permitted to judge Obedience/Rally at a National Specialty once every three (3) years.

JG-11 Selection of judges for Regional Specialties, whether held in conjunction with an all-breed show or specialty club or as an independent specialty, will be left to the authority of the Regional Director and their Show Chairperson and Show Committee. This includes judges for conformation, obedience, and rally. Preference shall be given to individuals that either have a background in the breed (breeding, showing, etc.) or have indicated an interest in judging the breed. Final selection will be subject to the GSCA Board of Directors approval.

JG-12 A judge shall be permitted to judge Conformation at a Regional Specialty in the same region once every five (5) years.

JG-13 Selection of the Sweepstakes judges for National and Regional Specialties shall be left to the authority of the Regional Director and their Show Chairperson and Show Committee. Final selection will be subject to the GSCA Board of Directors approval.

A judge shall be permitted to judge Sweepstakes events at a National Specialty once every five (5) years.

There are no restrictions on the frequency of judging Sweepstakes events at Regional Specialties.

Approved by vote of membership concluded on January 4, 2024