The Kennel Club Breeds Liaison Council term of office from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018 has begun and there are still a number of breeds which do not have a representative. Therefore, elections are being held to fill these vacancies, the Kennel Club has announced.
The Breeds Liaison Council plays an important role in formulating Kennel Club policy and enhancing strategic objectives. Representatives should be actively involved in showing by way of competing, judging, organising or officiating at shows. A breed’s elected representative to the council will be responsible for representing the views of the breed, and for putting forward proposals on their behalf to enhance the future of breeds.
The representative will regularly canvas their breed clubs to gather views and ideas, and research their viability, through regional meetings or direct contact with clubs and societies and individuals at events. Group delegates then present proposals on behalf of the representatives to the Breeds Liaison Council meetings which are held twice a year.
To become a representative to the Breeds Liaison Council, a person must first be nominated by a registered breed club. All registered societies are encouraged to nominate representatives to ensure that their opinions are heard and that they can make a direct contribution to formulating policy in the future.
Breed clubs which have been registered at the Kennel Club for at least 12 months may submit nominations for breed representatives.
The breeds which do not have a representative at present are as follows:
Hound
Deerhound
Cirneco Dell’Etna
Gundog
German Longhaired Pointer
Large Munsterlander
Portuguese Pointer
Terrier
Skye Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Utility
Eurasier
Akita
Japanese Spitz
Working
Canadian Eskimo Dog
Leonberger
Bernese Mountain Dog
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greenland Dog
Portuguese Water Dog
Russian Black Terrier
Siberian Husky
Tibetan Mastiff
Pastoral
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Australian Cattle Dog
Beauceron
German Shepherd Dog
Maremma Sheepdog
Pyrenean Sheepdog (Long Hair)
Nominations for election to the Breeds Liaison Council must be received by 3rd October 2016. Nominations must be signed by an officer of the nominating club and submitted to the Canine Activities Department (Council elections), The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London, W1J 8AB. Please indicate clearly on the envelope that the nomination refers to the Breeds Liaison Council. Alternatively, nominations may be sent via email but these must be on the club’s headed paper and signed by the nominee.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Breeds Liaison Council proposals often result in fundamental changes in Kennel Club policy and the Kennel Club values the important work each of the various liaison councils undertake. Representatives have the opportunity to engage directly with those dedicated individuals involved in the hobby on a daily basis, so this sort of committee work can be very rewarding.”