The 1998 specialty show committee was thanked for a great show weekend and a lovely hotel. Special thanks were extended to Pam Leichtnam, Paul & Ardietta Thompson and the many others who worked so hard on this specialty show.

Minutes of the 1997 Annual Meeting. A motion was made by Shen Smith, 2^nd by Nancy Reimer to approve the minutes of the last annual meeting. MOTION CARRIED.

Annual Versatility Award Winner for this year is Dual Ch. Svershin Sergei, CD, JC owned by Brenda Wendt, Terry Beamer and Pat Hardy. Sergei obtained his companion dog, field championship and his conformation titles in 1997, thus making him the high scoring dog for this year. On a further note, Sergei was the 1996 winner also. This puts him in the unique place of being the 1^st award recipient and also winning the AVA two years in a row.

BCOA Annual Award Winners

Top Conformation Borzoi for 1997 was BIS, BISS Am/Can Ch. Raynbo’s Tstorm Front, Owned by Ronnie & Jennifer Zucker.
Top Best of Opposite Sex Borzoi for 1997 was Ch Rancho Gabriel Magic Vixen, CDX, JC owned by Christa Cordtz.
Top Obedience Borzoi – Ch. Konstantin’s Gallant Finney, CD owned by Karen Haberkorn & P Pempek
Top AKC Lure Courser – FC Tamarzi Tahoe Fallon, SC owned by Steve & K.C. Artley
Top ASFA Lure Courser – FC Niteshade’s Phenanthrene of Ryhka, LCM, SC owned by Diana Darling & P. Anuta
Top Open Field Courser – FC Mayberry’s Aurium of Ryhka, LCCM4, Can FChX, CC, CM, ORC, SC, CGC owned by Diana Darling & P. Anuta
Top Junior Handler – Wyatt Delfino
Breeder of the 1997 Top BCOA Conformation dog – Ronnie & Jennifer Zucker

Coming Specialty Regional Rotations:  2000 – Region Five, 2001 – Region One, 2002 – Region Four, 2003 – Region Two, 2004 – Region Six, 2005 – Region Three and 2006 – Region Five.

Regional Governors were introduced to the membership. All governors were present except Kalen Dumke.

Visualization of the Standard – copies are being mailed to all licensed judges. A sincere thank you was extended to all the committee members who worked on this project. Cookbooks – a sincere thank you was extended to Kitty Rogers for her sacrifices and hard work on this lovely issue. Ring Banners – A thank you was extended to Angela San Paolo and Jessisca Baker for completing the Borzoi club ring banners. Aristocrat – Borzoi Connection – A thank you was extended to Shen Smith, Barbara O’Neill and Helen Lee for undertaking this project in-conjunction with all the Borzoi clubs across the US & Canada. Coverlet – Fund Raising – A thank you was extended to Sharon Robinson & Ardietta Thompson for the lovely Borzoi coverlet. Signs – A thank you was extended to Ardietta Thompson for the BOB signs. Coursing Pamphlet – A thank you was extended to Kathleen Kapaun and her committee for the completion of the coursing pamphlet. Health Committee – A thank you was extended to Lou Avant, DVM for the construction of the emergency kit for the nationals. Guidelines & Mentor Program – A thank you was extended to Marilyn Polsfuss for the creation of the guidelines and mentor application for the JEC program.

Constitution & By-Laws. Levels of club membership were discussed. With a decision that BCOA only needed five or six levels of membership – Single, Household, Life, Junior and Foreign. Associate membership was discussed in regard to having new members become associate members for a period of three years prior to becoming full members but this was not favored by the majority in attendance. Discussion of new members and foreign members resulted in a suggestion from Chris Neale to make the foreign members non-voting to reduce the number needed for a quorum. Discussion regarding our Canadian members resulted in a consensus that Canada was not a foreign country. Nancy Reimer indicated that it is the responsibility of the member sponsors to mentor new applicants as to thee need to vote on important BCOA issues. A motion was then made by Alice Reese, 2^nd by Amy Sorbie that we propose that foreign memberships would hold no voting rights thus not be counted in a quorum with a "grandfather clause" for existing foreign memberships. MOTION CARRIED. A motion was made by Alice Reese, 2^nd by Amy Sorbie that if a member did not respond on two consecutive ballots then that member would be placed in an "inactive" file and be taken off the voting roles. MOTION CARRIED. A motion was made by Shen Smith, 2^nd by Pat Murphy that Marilyn Polsfuss be appointed to compile these suggestions and votes of the membership into an amendment proposal for the membership to vote on. MOTION CARRIED.

Centennial Show – 2003 – Joe Rogers reported that he is currently looking for a suitable site which meets the BCOA requirements of 12,000 SF and 90’ of width to host the event. BCOA Rescue – Barbara Skinner reported that there were approx. 150 dogs that passed through the various rescue units in1998.

BCOA Club Standing Rules.
NATIONAL JUDGES. A motion was made by Chris Neale, 2^nd by Leslie Carroll that the BCOA National Specialty judges as selected by the membership may not currently hold, nor accept judging assignments for Borzoi six (6) months prior to the BCOA National Specialty show. This standing rule will not include group judging assignments. MOTION CARRIED. BCOA JUDGING SCHEDULE. Discussion of weekend judging for BCOA specialties resulted in a motion by Pat Murphy, 2^nd by Marilyn Polsfuss that the breed judging would be held on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Sunday being reserved as a "travel day" for members and guests. MOTION CARRIED. AGILITY EVENT. A motion was made by Prudence Hlatky, 2^nd by K.C. Artley that BCOA hold Agility with the BCOA national starting in 1999. MOTION CARRIED. BCOA Membership Application Forms – A motion was made by Nancy Reimer, 2^nd by Helen Lee that membership application sponsors must not reside within the same household. MOTION CARRIED.

As there was no other business at this time, a motion was made by Fred Edlin, MD, 2^nd by Leslie Carroll to adjourn. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Shen B. Smith
Recording Secretary