AKC Parent Club Governance

1. AKC Parent Club Governance J. Charles Garvin, M.D. July 22, 2007

2. AKC Parent Club Governance • The Role of a Parent Club • Characteristics of a Successful Parent Club • Leadership Requirements • Conflict Management • Crisis Management

3. 1. The Role of a Parent Club • What it is • What it does • Why it is necessary

4. AKC Statements • National specialty clubs (also called parent clubs) represent the fanciers of a single breed.

5. AKC Statements Every effective dog club • Is composed of members who love purebred dogs and their sport and can work together to serve the best interest of the dogs and the sport • Operates under an approved constitution and bylaws spelling out the orderly and democratic conduct of club business.

6. Member Club Requirements (1949) • The club will consist of a representative group…who have come together because of their common interest in dogs and dog events… • Adequate protection of the individual against disciplinary measures

7. Member Club Requirements (1949) • Assurance that club affairs cannot be arbitrarily managed for a few against the wishes of the members • Not a group of people who have only a casual interest and have been banded together by ambitious people and used as scenery.

8. AKC Statements • National specialty clubs (also called parent clubs) represent the fanciers of a single breed.

9. AKC Statements Every effective dog club • Is composed of members who love purebred dogs and their sport and can work together to serve the best interest of the dogs and the sport • Operates under an approved constitution and bylaws spelling out the orderly and democratic conduct of club business.

10. Member Club Requirements (1949) • The club will consist of a representative group…who have come together because of their common interest in dogs and dog events… • Adequate protection of the individual against disciplinary measures

11. Member Club Requirements (1949) • Assurance that club affairs cannot be arbitrarily managed for a few against the wishes of the members • Not a group of people who have only a casual interest and have been banded together by ambitious people and used as scenery.

12. Represents Work Together Bylaws Orderly Democratic Common Interests Representative Protection Not Arbitrarily Managed for a Few 2. Characteristics of a Successful Parent Club

13. Represent the fanciers of that breed • Provide a voice for the fanciers • Ideas • Opinions • Priorities • Provide input to AKC • Essential foundation of AKC as a Club of Clubs • Represent AKC to the fanciers of that breed

14. Work Together • Members mutual agree to the structure and implementation of the club governance • Club’s power to govern derives from the consent of the governed.

15. Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. • U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776

16. Bylaws • A law or rule governing the internal affairs of an organization. • Inherent agreement of the members of the organization: the club will operate by the rules, rather than the whims of any individual, regardless of his or her title • Rule of Law versus Rule of Man

17. Bylaws The Magna Carta (1215) established the principle that no one, not even the king, is above the law.

18. Orderly • Roberts Rules – Parliamentary Procedure • Concepts more important than details • A set of rules for conduct at meetings • Allows every member to be heard • Makes decisions without confusion • Resolves conflicts • Protects rights of members • Will of majority • Rights of minority

19. Democratic • Operates as a representative democracy • Defined set of voters • Represent the broad fancy of that breed • Direct • Popular assembly • Membership wide ballot • Indirect • Board of Directors

20. Democratic • American Kennel Club • Board of Directors • Delegates • Member clubs • Parent Club • Board of Directors • Members • Fancy

21. Common Interests • Conflicts are inherent in our sport • Bench vs. field • Conformation vs. performance • Agility vs. Obedience • My breed vs. your breed • My type vs. your type • My dog vs. your dog • My opinions vs. your opinions • My faction vs. your faction

22. Common Interests • Love of the dog • Value of Pure-Bred Dog • Special love for the particular breed • Willingness to invest – to work for the benefit of that breed • Time, talent, energy, resources • Willingness to put the best interest of the breed, the sport, the club and AKC above any personal interests.

23. Representative • In order to properly represent the fanciers of the breed, the parent club must be representative of the fanciers of that breed. • Not excessively exclusive • The more exclusive and restrictive, the less democratic and less representative

24. Representative • If there is a question of how does the fancy feel about an issue, can the club give a legitimate answer? • I think • I think they think • The board voted • IF the board is representative • The members voted • IF the membership is representative

25. Protection • Adequate protection of the individual against disciplinary measures • Bill of Rights • Due Process • Laws and proceedings must be FAIR • Rules apply to all members equally • According to Rule of Law (not of man) • Procedures previously agreed to

26. Protection • Club Constitution and Bylaws should provide that the accused is entitled to: • Fair hearing • Impartial jurors/judges • Know the charges • Be present at the hearing • Be allowed to speak in own defense • Present witnesses • AKC willing and able to help

27. Not for a few… • Club affairs cannot be arbitrarily managed for a few against the wishes of the members • No monarchs, dictators, emperors, kings, czars, or equivalent • Appropriate checks and balances in your clubs organization.

28. Not for a few… • James Surowiecki : “Under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them.”

29. Not for a few… • The better the voting process, the more valid and reliable the result. • The more well informed independent minds involved in the decision, the better quality the decision The Wisdom of Crowds , James Surkowiecki, 2004

30. 3. Leadership Requirements • Credibility • Integrity • Delegation • Humility

31. Credibility • Trustworthy • Tell the truth • Say what you mean • Do what you say you will do • Expertise • Know the breed • Know the club • Know the territory • History of Success

32. Credibility Who would you rather have lead your club?

33. Credibility Baghdad Bob Walter Cronkite

34. Integrity • Firm adherence to a code of moral values • Always try to do right, even in tough circumstances • Consistency, predictability

35. Integrity Who would you rather have lead your club?

36. Integrity Abe Lincoln Enron Executives

37. Delegation • Club Leader cannot do everything! • Classic management dilemma • How much to delegate • Authority • Autonomy • Accountability • Willingness to let others decide and act • Tolerance for imperfection

38. Delegation • Organizational Structure • Dalmatian Club of America • 950 members • 1 President • 9 Board members • 35 Committees and study groups • 130 Committee members • Board Liaison

39. Delegation • Board Liaison – each board member is assigned to 3 to 5 committees • Works with each committee chair • Reports to the President • Encourages timely, relevant reports • At board meetings, presents the reports and advocates for their committees • Facilitates dialog between the committees and the board

40. Delegation Jim Collins, 2001 Studies and explains the traits of leaders who transform good organizations into great ones

41. Delegation "We expected that good-to-great leaders would begin by setting a new vision and strategy" "We found instead that they first got the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seat—and then they figured out where to drive it." Jim Collins, “Good to Great” 2001

42. Humility • Importance for success • Rare trait in our world of competitive dog sports • Requires a willingness and desire to improve – both you and your club • Better with help of others • Better next year

43. Humility • David Packard, Founder HP “You shouldn't gloat about anything you've done; you ought to keep going and find something better to do.” • Patrick Daniel, CEO Enbridge “I have learned through the lives of great leaders, that greatness comes from humility and being at times, self-effacing.” Good to Great, Jim Collins, 2001

44. Humility Who would you rather have lead your club?

45. Humility Trump Gandhi

46. 4. Conflict Management

47. Conflicts are Inherent in our Sport

48. Regardless of the type of club or governance system of the club

49. Conflict is Always Present • Not necessarily a bad thing • Better to embrace conflict and manage it, rather than avoid it. • Shows that members are engaged • Many other important issues can be uncovered • A well debated and discussed decision is • A better decision • Better accepted by the members

50. Many Ways to Manage Conflicts • My example – Dalmatian Club of America We have had experience in many areas of conflict: • Disney Effect • Backcross Project • Euthanasia Policy • Blue Eyes • Sweepstakes Elimination • Indoor vs. Outdoor Specialty