Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club
Of Southern California
General Meeting
September 21, 2012
The meeting was held at the historic Mission Inn in Riverside, California
The meeting was called to order at 2:15 p.m.
Roll Call:
A quorum was present. Attending were Michael DeCarlo, Jeanine Flavell, Caroline Goldberg, Barbara Goldie, Vickie Gosnell, Miriam Kahan, Connie Koehler, Ann Leigh, Bonney Snyder, Jill Steging, Steve Steging, and Beverly Streicher, (all regular members): Jon Apogee, Conrad Vibrant and Laura Vibrant (associate members). Kay Baird was a guest, attending her first meeting.
Minutes of the July meeting:
Approved as submitted.
Report of the President:
Karla Cohen and Merrillee Ford have announced their retirement as Great Western Co-chairs. Connie thanked them for the wonderful work that they did; their efforts had a great deal to do with making Great Western the exceptional, destination show it is.
Report of the Secretary:
I have received the initial paperwork from the AKC for permission to hold Great Western in June 2013. Karla filled out the rest of the necessary paper work at a Great Western meeting. John Lowe has contacted me to clarify on which days our local and the national clubs would support the Desert Empire Shows in January 2013.
Report of the Treasurer:
Vickie completed the filing process with H & R Block for the club’s taxes for 2011. The amount of the return covered the costs of the $ 10.00 filling fee and the $300.00 bill, so ultimately the expense and gain washed out each other.
| Category | Beginning Balance | Income | Expenses | Ending Balance |
| Rescue | $27,685.00 | $0.00 | $ 425.80 | $27,259.21 |
| General Fund | $ 8,037.46 | $157.00 | $1678.00 | $6,516.46 |
| Cash Box | $250.00 | $250.00 | ||
| Total | $35,972.47 | $157.00 | $2103.80 | $34,025.67 |
Rescue Report:
Beverly reported a quiet month. One potential rescue may be pending with Lois Conway, who contacted the club for help with a friend’s Wheaten. Jackie Whitham sent Jeanine the names and completed applications from two or three rescue families interested in accepting the offered one-year membership in the SCWTCSC.
Unfinished Business
Jon reported that the website is now averaging 225 hits a day. The website has become a fabulous tool for national, and even international, exposure. Jon said that he sees himself as the equivalent of a good mechanic, but that we, the club members, own the car. He encouraged us to feel free to use it. The membership password this year is 20scwt12.
Beverly requested Jon’s help cleaning up the rescue section, eliminating duplicate information, and ridding the space of unwanted questions and posts. Caroline Goldberg asked if it was possible for us to eliminate the pop ups advertising Wheaten puppies for sale which are displayed when our website is googled. Jon explained that the advertising space belongs to Google instead of us, so that it is out of our control.
Most of the infrastructure is now in place to launch the online boutique, and membership dues can be paid using PayPal from a computer or a smart phone.
In an effort to raise money for the SCWTCSC, it was suggested that we add a market section to the website where dog related items may be bought and sold. The seller could pay for their ads, and the buyers for their purchases, with PayPal. There would need to be a disclaimer in this section that the SCWTCSC does not guarantee the quality or condition of the goods offered for sale, and that all possible contracts exist solely between the buyer and seller. Also, that nothing which is alive may be offered for sale. After some discussion, the members present reached a consensus that access to the section be restricted to members during the initial trial phase.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to go forward with the online sales section, initially for members only, but eventually to be opened up to non-members as well. An amendment was made, seconded, and passed that for the first six months there would be no charge, afterward there would be a $10.00 fee or a donation required.
Website
Jon Apogee reported that our club website averages 200 visits a day. There have been an astonishing 41,000 hits so far this year. The breeders and rescue sections are the two areas most visited.
Getting everything up online for the Great Western Specialty presented great challenges. However, getting the website infrastructure ready for Great Western boosted the website closer to completion in other areas. The website is now ready for shopping at the online boutique, a timely advantage to the club with the beginning of holiday shopping fast approaching. It is now possible to renew club membership online at only an addition charge of .51 cents. Jon is currently developing an App to take credit card payments from smart phones.
Jon sent out a survey to those who made use of the online options this year, soliciting their opinion of the changes that had come into effect. The survey was limited to ten questions, and had a very high percentage of responses. The results will be posted online soon.
Connie suggested adding an additional $40. to the postcard budget for next year to purchase a larger sized postcard, such as that used by Northern California for their specialty. The larger format would allow space for larger print and a bolder, easier to read design.
The “back door” into the website has been closed. Now that the website is secure, the minutes of the General Meetings will be posted once more, as will financial information, and the 2012 Membership Directory.
Ways and Means Committee:
Ann and Bonney presented the fleece vests the club will be selling online. The vests will first be offered in winter white, forest green, and navy blue, and sold for $40.00 plus tax, shipping and handling. Ann has chosen Desert Ark to partner with because of the high quality of their goods, and well as their willingness to be flexible with short runs in a variety of colors. Our cost for the vests will be $19.00 per unit. Desert Ark does have a large selection of colors. Ann confirmed that custom orders in any choice of color would be possible, but that there would be a surcharge. The vest would need to be paid for in advance as well, and would not be returnable.
Ann passed around the salt and peppershakers, and the cup that are decorated with images of Wheatens by Darcie Olsen. Ann also presented the hand towels that will have the Wheaten logo in the center, and sell for $16.00 plus tax, shipping and handling. Jill suggested using Uline featherweight plastic envelops to minimize shipping costs. They can be purchased in all sizes, but would obviously only be used with soft goods.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to order vests for a limited inventory not to exceed a total dollar amount of $360.00.
Membership
There have been two membership requests from rescue families, and one associate request. Jackie Whitham is having difficulties with a couple of email addresses. Laura Virant has agreed to discuss with Jackie what her duties involve. We are now approaching 130 regular and associate members, up from 100 members last year.
Fun Day
There have been last minute problems associated with the location of Fun Day this year. Arcadia Park was unable to accommodate us; the entire park is booked all weekend. After calling a number of parks several months ago, Connie made a reservation at Brookside Park in Pasadena for Sunday, October 21. Earlier this month, significant problems began to arise with our reservations. Connie discovered that we had been assigned the sunny Ball Park area of the park instead of one of the shady areas, and that the park will charge us a per tent fee to create our own shade. The amount to rent the park, plus the tent fees, would cost the club almost $800.00, and was deemed prohibitive. Connie, Bonney, and Beverly were reluctant to cancel Fun Day; doubling up with Los Encinos All Breed Club offered the best last minute option. They have booked Gabrielino Park in Lake View Terrace for their B-Match on October 21. They have offered to share their space for $125.00, inviting us to participate in their B-Match, and to coordinate for no cost with their CGC tester.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to piggyback with Los Encinos for our Fun Day on October 21.
Karla and Hunter Gill will run Wheaten games, for which there will be a $5.00 entry fee. Beverly was not able to book an animal communicator, instead she has arranged a special event, people will demonstrate dancing with your dog. The only cost will be their lunches. Instead of caterers, this year the lunch will be potluck, participants will be asked to bring a dish that will feed 10 people. Dave Gosnell and Jeanine will take candid photographs.
Annual Holiday and Installation Dinner and Club Meeting
The dinner is scheduled for December 2, 2012.
SCWTCSC Slate of Officers and Directors for 2012
Jeanine will email the result of the Nominating Committee’s deliberations by October 1, 2012.
Nominations for Great Western 2014
The judges nominated for Great Western in two years are: Connie Clark, Sharon Cook, Anne Katona, Beth Sweigart, Virginia Latham Smith, Christine Erickson, and Karen Wilson.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to close the nominating process.
Nominations for Great Western 2013 Sweepstakes Judge
Club members discussed changing the Standing Rule adopted July 14, 2007 and amended July 13, 2008, which addressed the SCWTCSC’s requirements for regular and sweepstakes judges assigned to officiate at Great Western. The requirements for the two categories were separated, regular AKC judges and sweepstakes judges to each be held to customary AKC standards.
The nominees for sweepstakes judge 2013 are: Tami Herzog, Anna Marzolino, Jeri Voyles, and Jana Carraway.
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed. The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
Jeanine Flavell
Secretary
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of Southern California