PCTC Board Briefs

The PCTC 2009 Annual meeting was held at the Mt. Vernon Inn in Mt. Vernon, VA.

Officers' Reports

President John Cleland: We’ve had another wonderful year. You continued to represent the Potomac Cairn Terrier Club as enthusiastic sportsmen and women. Again, your hard work showed with success in and out of the show ring. You’ve supported all of our events, especially our Specialty. Thank you. The call went out asking you to volunteer, to get involved, and you did. I want to thank each and every one of you who has helped out in any way during the past year. This is your club and we need your hands and ideas. This club belongs to you. Your board is here to serve you, but we can’t unless you let us know what you want. Participation is what makes this club what it is today. Please take a minute and let us know what you would like to see the club do in the coming year and how you would like to volunteer. As always, I am honored to be your president and I am very proud indeed to be a member of the best club in the CTCA.

Secretary Peggy Slattery: The Annual minutes for 2008 were typed and presented in the June edition of Thistletalk. PCTC’s regular class judge for 2011 Richard Powell, has been contacted and has accepted the club’s invitation. Also, the 2011 Sweepstakes judge, Joyce Adams-Taylor, has accepted PCTC’s invitation. The Board met 4 times during the past year and the minutes have been distributed. A brief overview has been put in Thistletalk under Board Briefs. The Secretary keeps in touch with AKC and other Cairn club affiliates –such as CTCA. Letters were sent to all club members with the upcoming slate of officers with a notice that any additional nominees were to be sent to the Secretary for the club’s vote at the annual meeting. No additional names were received. I thank all of you for your support during this past year.

Treasurer Beth Koris: A copy of the financial report for 2008 may be obtained by contacting Beth Koris via e-mail or phone.

Committee Reports

Breeder Referral [Roberta Perry, Marsha Quinn]: The Breeder Referral committee provides information to people who are considering adding a Cairn terrier to their family. Conditions in the 2008 economy have been reflected in the number of contacts to our committee. This past year we received an average of 4 contacts per month. If you are a PCTC breeder, owner, or co-owner, you can ask to be put on the referral list when you have a Cairn available to place. Breeder Referral does not use Thistletalk litter announcements or second party information for their referral list. We encourage you to contact us directly if you have a Cairn needing placement.

Rescue [Lois Cleland, Veronica Hudak-Moe]: In 2008, 20 Cairns were fostered and placed. Eleven of the foster Cairns were between 4 months and 2 years old. Currently PCTC has 2 Cairns in foster homes. The rescue committee has met to discuss guidelines for future donations to other groups, outreach ideas and to review current rescue forms to determine if changes were needed. The one major thing that rescue is in dire need of is foster homes. Ann Gates, John & Lois Cleland, and I take on the bulk of the fostering and we could really use a few more homes to help out. Even if you’re willing to take a dog while a foster home goes on vacation would be greatly appreciated. If you have an interest in helping with rescue in any capacity please contact one of us.

Field Trial Committee [Veronica Hudak-Moe]: The club held 2 field trials in 2008, both of which were held at my home in Haymarket, VA. In May, there were 23 Cairns entered in the races and 11 in Go-to-ground. Photographer Jim Poor came and took portraits of many of the dogs that came that day. In November, there were 46 Cairns entered in the Races and 25 in Go-to-Ground. Thank you to everyone who helped out with the field trials planning and execution. Without you, the field trials cannot continue to be a success. We are always looking for volunteers. If you can help with anything, please let me know.

Field Trial Registrar [Judith Simmons]: PCTC held two trials in 2008. However, certificates were only awarded to dogs who earned them at the November 2nd trial. Two Working certificates were earned. One to Ch. Annwood Epitome, owned by Sherry Schenk and the other to Scotty of Sligachan, owned by Susan Hathaway. I also issued two Sporting certificates, both to Ch. Gremlins on the Rocks, owned by Lois and John Cleland. Judith presented the history of PCTC’s field trials, its beginning and how it has evolved to the present. John Cleland requested that Judith submit this outstanding history to Thistletalk.

Membership [Veronica Hudak-Moe]: Since the last annual meeting, we’ve had 2 new members. As of this writing, 3 applications are pending. We have 145 members in 105 households. Reed & Becky Sims were voted in as new members in 2008. Ten membership packets were sent in the last year.

Match Report [Diane Ondo]: There were two matches held during the last year. The entry for the summer match was 12 dogs. The entry for the winter match was 5. I would ask for volunteers to help coordinate the VA matches as it is more difficult for me to attend. Also, I would encourage all to participate.

Ways and Means [Mary & Stephen Sudkamp]: Sales continue to be strong. Ways and Means was present at the club’s specialty show, all field matches and trials. A detailed accounting is provided by the Treasurer in her report. The basket for the CTCA Specialty dinner was handled this year by Lois and John Cleland. Thank you Lois and John. Also, thank you to Sherry Schenk for bringing the Cairn Statues to the February match. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the club. Please keep supporting Ways and Means.

PCTC Specialty Weekend 2009 [Ann Gates]: Thanks to my wonderful team, we are on track for a wonderful weekend in April. Special thanks to Molly Wilder for doing the trophies for both the Specialty and Old Dominion. The brochures for the weekend have been mailed out. I encourage everyone to make hotel reservations early. Please makes plans to sign-up for the dinner and take advantage of our hospitality room hosted by Beverly Feldman and Trudi Graham. Also, please buy raffle tickets! The raffle and the auction at the dinner are two ways we off-set the cost of the Specialty. Everything is good to go! See you there.

Web Site [Veronica Hudak-Moe]: The web site will be having its 9th anniversary this June. In the last year, the Members Area was enhanced further. Members can still register and login to view an online members’ directory, update contact information, view old editions of the newsletter, and view and print various PCTC forms. In addition, members can view litter announcements, and committee members can have access to create mailing labels and general email lists for mass mailing. Currently in the works is a store front that will allow entry fees, annual dues, and more to be paid online via Google Checkout.

Specialty Judges Survey [Joe Vernuccio, Patty Dameron, Beverly Feldman]: In September 2008 the PCTC Board voted to revise the way judges are selected for the annual Specialty beginning in 2012. Accordingly, the PCTC judge’s selection committee was selected by the Board which consisted of Joe Vernuccio, Patty Dameron, and Beverly Feldman. They quickly followed the Board’s directive by sending out a formal plea to club members for judge’s nominations. Over 35 judge’s names were put forth by the membership for regular and sweepstakes classes. The committee was asked to definitely consider foreign judges as options to provide fresh opinions and because the club has not invited one in many years. In most cases, foreign breeder judges will not charge for their judging services so the cost to the club would be for travel and lodging. The committee received 57 ballots back and the following are the results: Regular 2012 classes: 1) Yvonne Catto (Scotland), (2) Chris Carter. The Sweepstakes 2012 classes: (1) DiAnn Flory, (2) Mary Ellen Barnes.

Selection of PCTC Fun Match Judges: Four names were presented for a vote for the spring and fall matches: Darlene Simpson, Roberta Perry, Ann Gates, and Dan Quinn. Dan Quinn and Ann Gates were selected by the membership vote. Ann Gates will be invited for the spring match, as Dan Quinn chose to judge the winter match.

Presentation of 2008 Annual Awards [Lois Cleland]: Twenty awards were presented for Conformation champions. Two awards were presented for Performance champions. Please refer to the list of Annual Awards for details.

Special Service Award: The 2008 award was presented to Ann Gates..

Presentation of the Annwood Cross Trainer Dog Trophy: This trophy was presented to Ann Armstrong Rogers (Bitsy) for her most outstanding multiple champion Ch. Annwood Delegate, JE CD, OA, OAJ, RA. Dusty earned a total of 12 titles in Conformation, Obedience, Earthdog, Agility, Rally and PCTC Field Trials.

Nominating Committee Report [Peggy Slattery, Darlene Simpson, Charmaine Fedick]: The new slate of officers is as follows: President-John Cleland, Vice President-Lydia Hutchinson, Secretary-Peggy Slattery, and Treasurer-Will Flory. Board of Directors: Lynda Hammel, Diane Ondo, and Jackie Sowards. There were no additional nominations. The Secretary cast a vote for approval of the nominated slate of officers. All present voted to affirm the presented slate of officers.

Old Business: No items were brought up for discussion.

New Business:
(1) Three new members were voted into membership. They were Karen Yu and Michele & Steve Engebretson;
(2) Judy Irby Wickham brought up PCTC’s voting for CTCA’s ballots and presented a motion that PCTC abstain its single club vote in all CTCA ballots. The motion failed to carry;
(3) After much discussion, Molly Wilder presented a motion that PCTC abstain its single club vote regarding the Cairn standard. The motion was carried by a majority. The meeting adjourned at 2:30 pm.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.