2019 Annual Meeting Highlights
Executive Council Changes/Updates
Effective upon the completion of the 2019 Annual Meeting, Steve Greger resigned as the NAVHDA Secretary.
In preparation for Steve’s resignation, Angie Coenen was voted in by a unanimous vote of the Executive Council to replace Steve as the Secretary. Angie’s term will last through the 2019 calendar year.
During this conversation, Steve Greger was asked to leave the EC meeting. At that point the following was discussed and voted upon. Motion 19-8 That the NAVHDA EC re-establish the existing Director of Information Services and to fill that position with Steve Greger as a full member of the EC. This motion passed. The Director of Information Services position was vacated upon the retirement of Jim Applegate. Steve’s responsibilities as the Director of Information Services will focus on managing the organization’s IT resources, processes, and procedures.
2019 is an election year. The EC has submitted the following individuals as its chosen candidates for the upcoming election:
Any member in good standing is eligible to run for any of these four offices. If you are interested, please contact the Central Office to ensure you follow the correct protocol for qualifying to be on the ballot.
Chapter Relations
In light of feedback received via the recent member surveys, the EC has agreed to create a committee to develop a process for welcoming newly sanctioned chapters. This committee will focus on providing new chapters (or existing chapters needing assistance) with guidance on establishing the chapter’s organization. This guidance will focus on organization of the chapter, insurance, by-laws, training days, etc. The committee will also investigate the re-establishment of a “new chapter clinic” to assist with these issues.
Also related to feedback we received from the member survey, the EC has agreed to pursue a new program where the parent organization will sponsor, in some way, some guidance to chapters who need help with training issues. This may include how to organize a training day, assistance with training techniques, etc. Note that the program is merely an idea at this point. The Judging and Testing Committee has been given the task to develop this new program.
Newly appointed Judges, Senior Judges, and Handler’s Clinic Leaders
Motions submitted by NAVHDA Chapters
Submitted by Chesapeake, Potomac, and Missouri Uplands Chapters.
Motion to hold a public drawing/lottery the evening before the Invitational for field brace mate selection or, to the degree such a drawing/lottery is already public, to ensure that all handlers are aware of the time and location for the drawing. The technology or software of choice for this drawing can be that of the NAVHDA office. Invitational handlers and the public shall be allowed to attend. An evening drawing will eliminate the perceived notion of handlers training together prior to the event.
Submitted by Potomac, Missouri Uplands, Keystone, and OK NAVHDA Chapters.
Motion to change the NAVHDA Utility Score Card classification for search to a 4 in order to earn a Prize I for the NAVHDA Utility Test.
Submitted by the N. Michigan Chapter
Every member (life, renewal, and new) receive a NAVHDA window decal free of charge and mailed out automatically each year.
Note: subsequent to the delegates meeting the EC presented and passed the following motion: Motion 19-21 – That the EC provide 10 stickers, free of charge, to each sanctioned chapter for use as they see fit. This applies to the 2019 calendar year only.
Submitted by the Wisconsin River Chapter
The Wisconsin River chapter makes a motion that NAVHDA disclose a copy of the new insurance policy. Additionally, NAVHDA will put together a plan to allow chapters to opt out of NAVHDA’s policy or being required to pay premium, provided proof of insurance listing NAVHDA International as an additional insured is provided annually.
Submitted by the Potomac Chapter
Miscellaneous motions or actions taken by the EC
The following Motion (19-18) was discussed and passed by the EC: That the Registry committee develop a policy no later than April 1, 2019, that requires submission of DNA for both Sire and Dam before a litter may be registered with NAVHDA.
** 2/12/2019: The following Amendment to Motion 19-18 has been proposed and will be voted on by the EC within the next few weeks.
• Amended Motion 19-18: The incoming NAVHDA Registrar is charged to identify and offer an evaluation of the pros and cons of a policy that requires submission of DNA for both Sire and Dam before a litter may be registered with NAVHDA.
Regarding the idea of hiring a professional Executive Director for NAVHDA, the EC discussed and passed the following motion. Motion 19-20 – That within the next 24 months (no later than 2021), the EC will officially review the financial stability of the organization and the ability to hire and sustain an Executive Director, who would report to the EC, to lead the Central Office.
The EC has agreed that the organization’s IT infrastructure needs to be modernized. With this in mind, the EC agreed to move our IT infrastructure and operations to a cloud-based system. As Director of Information Services, Steve Greger will be leading this effort and will be recruiting several ad hoc committees to assist with the move.
Motion 19-3 – Rick Holt, 2nd Chip Bonde – That the NAVHDA EC approve the creation of an operating reserve fund to be calculated as 50% of the NAVHDA operating budget. Passed.