commitment to AAC members

It is Dec 23rd and the new board starts in 9 days.
I would like to thank everyone who voted in this election.
The members were loud and clear at the need for more communication. I think I can guarantee that this will happen from every provincial rep as well as the executive directors.
We have not had the results of the by-law vote yet so the description of the recording/secretary duties may change radically.
That being said the reason I wanted to stand for this position was to ensure that the communication with the members was a priority of the AAC. Regardless of the outcome of the by-law vote I look forward to working with all the Directors, Heather Taylor our FSO and Blanche Cooper our AAC Administrator.
I am committed to providing the members with individual voice on this blog.
I understand that many are reluctant to post and give their opinion publicly. Please email any ideas, questions, and grievances that you have to your rep as well as myself.
I will post your idea or suggestion on my blog without using your name etc. Let others see and comment on your ideas.
Below recent suggestions I have received from members.
　
BoD agenda sent to all members prior to BoD meetings
　
The tallying of the votes for the proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws should have been carried out by volunteers from the general membership, and not by two people so closely connected to the Executive that was in office at the time of the vote.
I am concerned about the lack of specifications for jumps and jump standards in the AAC rulebook.
　
Have just been watching the Spruce Meadows Speed Jumping Equestrian event. Came up another idea for running the Nationals. Instead of changing the yps calcs for the sct, make the Standard and the jumpers a time plus faults competition. Keep the two rounds of each.
　
I would like to suggest that instead of stipulating exactly which games are required for the ATCh, that handlers be allowed to earn the necessary Q's in ANY three Games.
Bring back the Real Team Runs, baton exchange, reduce the cost, and bring back Team as an Optional Game requirement for the ATCH. Team has training skills too. Let our dogs shine in the areas that they excel, rather than penalize them for having a little difficulty with a compulsory Game requirement.
　
I can suck it up when my small dog has to run a large dog type course, and would surely appreciate courses designed for small dogs. Certainly makes for more challenges, and less running between the obstacles. Great idea! [This in reference to suggestion I made regarding small and large dog courses at the Nationals and Regional levels.]
To motivate handlers to go for speed, I think there should be yps statistics kept for the Challenge class. There could be two types of recognition.[on the AAC stat list]
The Speed category would be the fastest average yps of the Q’ing runs - no distinction for Vet, Special or Regular or jump height, just as all the other stats are now kept.
　
Many others have been expressed on the Bark list and include but not limited to:
Members only site on the web site
BoD minutes to be sent to all members either by email, on member’s only web site or by snail mail.
Many others that you can view and comment on at Rob Chipman’s blog , http://theaacblog.robchipman.net/?p=1 including blogs by Rob Struthers, and Seanna O’Neil
Send your comments on how you feel about all the suggestions and your ideas and I will post them here for others to consider and respond.
Jane
willieone@sympatico.ca