Showsight January 2021

LINES FROM LINDA CANDID CANDIDATES: PART TWO AKC BOARD CANDIDATES QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE CLASS OF 2025

BY LINDA AYERS TURNER KNORR

I n last month’s issue, I introduced you to the six candidates seeking to be elected to a seat for our American Kennel Club Board of Directors. On March 9, the four individuals who will be voted in by the AKC Delegate Body will begin terms for the Class of 2025. I presented the candidates with only five questions known to be foremost on the minds of the fancy. These five questions were not addressed or answered by previous questionnaires: 1. The pandemic has changed the world of dogs. What is your vision for the future of AKC in this new world? 2. The AKC laid off a large number of employees. Even today, it can be difficult to receive a timely response to club and exhibitor questions. What are the plans for returning to proper staffing levels, and what can the AKC do to offset the inevi- table loss of dog/sport knowledge that will occur as staff members leave? 3. The LINK collar and the doggie day care business were controversial and losing business ventures. The AKC has not been transparent with the delegates regarding these activities. (1) What are the lessons learned? (2) What are the AKC’s plans to invest in the future of its mission-driven activities? 4. The AKC Museum of the Dog appears to be an expensive and little-used facility, located in a city going through a major transformation. How much does the muse- um cost the AKC annually? And, what is the future for the museum as you see it? 5. If you have previously served on the Board, what do you enjoy the most about this position and what do you enjoy the least? For the one new Candidate, what do you look forward to the most about having the opportunity to serve on the Board? Dr. Gregory Paveza, AKC Delegate for the Elm City Kennel Club in New Hav- en, Connecticut, immediately responded to my invitation to participate, respond- ing with his answers to the questionnaire. With disappointment on behalf of members of the sport, I received the follow- ing email signed by the other five candidates: “Dear Linda, We are in receipt of your questions, and, collectively have decided to respect- fully decline to answer them, as well as such requests from any other dog press publications. As current and former AKC Board members, our fiduciary responsibility is to our Delegates, their respective clubs, and the AKC. The appropriate venue for candidates to inform the Delegate body is through our answers to the Nominating Committee’s questions (their questions were well-thought-out, penetrating, and covered a wide range of topics), the Q and A at the December Delegate Meeting, the Special Election Edition of Perspectives (the Delegates’ Newsletter), and any other communications we may send. The Delegates are free to share all of the informa- tion they receive from the candidates with their clubs. We look forward to a bright 2021 with COVID coming to an end and a return to normalcy.” Rita Biddle, Dominic Carota, Pat Cruz, Tom Davies, and Tom Powers.

84 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2021

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