Motions

This fixed schedule motion has been submitted via email to the ASCA Board of Directors for their consideration. Discussion will continue through July 19, voting will be open from July 20-26, and results will be posted on July 27.

If you have any comments on this motion, please submit them to asca.execsec@gmail.com by July 19 in order for them to be considered by the Board.

​BD.26.37 Motion to Establish a Member Comment Period for Committee Motions Prior to Board Consideration

Motion by Klein to establish a member feedback period for committee motions prior to submission to the Board of Directors, allowing committees the opportunity to consider member feedback before Board consideration. Second by McLellan.

Current Wording:

6.5       Processing of Motions

Processing of the motions may be done either randomly, as they come in, or by a fixed schedule (set dates). This is to be decided by the Chair and Committee after the Chair elections.

6.5.1    FIXED SCHEDULE

A.         Motions with seconds are due to the Chair by the first of each month. If a motion comes in after the first it will be held over till the first of the next month before it is stated by the Chair. Motions that come in after the first of the month may be discussed by the Committee, but the official comment period will not start until after the Chair states the motion on the first.

B.         The comment period is from the second through the eighth of each month.

C.        The voting period is from the ninth through the fifteenth of each month.

D.        Vote results will be reported to the Committee and Board Liaison as soon as the deadline is reached.

6.5.2    RANDOM SCHEDULE

A.         As motions with seconds come in for consideration, the Chair will immediately distribute the motions to the Committee and the Board Liaison.

B.         The Chair will set a 7-day deadline with a due date for receipt of comments back from the Committee. All comments are to be distributed to the Committee and the Board Liaison.

C.        A 7-day voting period with a stated due date will be set at the end of the comment period. If the Committee is working on one topic at a time during the 7-day voting period, another motion can be distributed and discussed.

D.        Vote results will be reported to the Committee and Board Liaison as soon as the deadline is reached.

Proposed Wording:

6.5       Processing of Motions

Processing of the motions may be done either randomly, as they come in, or by a fixed schedule (set dates). This is to be decided by the Chair and Committee after the Chair elections.

6.5.1    FIXED SCHEDULE

A.         Motions with seconds are due to the Chair by the first of each month. If a motion comes in after the first it will be held over till the first of the next month before it is stated by the Chair. Motions that come in after the first of the month may be discussed by the Committee, but the official comment period will not start until after the Chair states the motion on the first.

B.         The comment period is from the second through the eighth of each month.

C.        The voting period is from the ninth through the fifteenth of each month.

D.        Vote results will be reported to the Committee and Board Liaison as soon as the deadline is reached.

E.         Board Liaison will forward the motions to the Executive Secretary to be posted to the membership for comment from the sixteenth to the twenty-fifth of each month.

F.         If the Committee decides no changes are warranted based on the comments from the membership, then the motion will be forwarded to the Board from the first to the tenth of the next month as per the Policy Book.

G.        If the Committee decides changes are warranted based on the comments from the membership, then the motion will be revised and the Fixed Schedule timeline as above in A, B, C, and D should be followed.

6.5.2    RANDOM SCHEDULE

A.         As motions with seconds come in for consideration, the Chair will immediately distribute the motions to the Committee and the Board Liaison.

B.         The Chair will set a 7-day deadline with a due date for receipt of comments back from the Committee. All comments are to be distributed to the Committee and the Board Liaison.

C.        A 7-day voting period with a stated due date will be set at the end of the comment period. If the Committee is working on one topic at a time during the 7-day voting period, another motion can be distributed and discussed.

D.        Vote results will be reported to the Committee and Board Liaison as soon as the deadline is reached.

E.         At the end of the 7-day voting period, the Board Liaison will forward the motion to the Executive Secretary to be posted to the membership for a 10-day comment period.

F.         If the Committee decides no changes are warranted based on the comments from the membership, then the motion will be forwarded to the Board from the first to the tenth of the next month as per the Policy Book.

G.        If the Committee decides changes are warranted based on the comments from the membership, then the motion will be revised and the Random Schedule timeline as above in A, B, C, and D should be followed.

Comments/Rationale: This change provides members with an opportunity to offer feedback on committee motions before Board consideration, allowing committees to refine proposals based on member input when appropriate.

Affected: Committees, Members.

Effective Date: September 1, 2026.

This fixed schedule motion has been submitted via email to the ASCA Board of Directors for their consideration. Discussion will continue through July 19, voting will be open from July 20-26, and results will be posted on July 27.

If you have any comments on this motion, please submit them to asca.execsec@gmail.com by July 19 in order for them to be considered by the Board.

​OB.26.03 Graduate Open Scent Discrimination Clarification

Motion by Liaison McCabe to approve the following recommendation from the Obedience Committee.

Committee Recommendation: Graduate Open Scent Discrimination Clarification

Motion by Laurie Rubin to modify the Graduate Open Scent Discrimination to make it clearer for judges and competitors. Second by Sandy Walroth.

Results of Committee Vote: Approved: 8. Disapproved: None. Abstained: None. Non-Voting: None.

Current Wording:

10.6 Scent Discrimination Performance and Scoring

This exercise will be performed and scored the same as in the Utility Scent Discrimination exercise except as stated in this section. The handler will present two sets of articles, each comprised of either two, three, or four identical objects made of either wood, leather, or metal. Only one article will be retrieved. It is the handler’s discretion as to which type of article is retrieved.

…

Proposed Wording:

10.6 Scent Discrimination Performance and Scoring

This exercise will be performed and scored the same as in the Utility Scent Discrimination exercise except as stated in this section. The handler will present two equal sets of articles, each comprised of either two, three, or four identical objects made of either wood, leather, or metal. It is the handler’s choice whether to present a total of four, six, or eight articles. Only one article will be retrieved. It is the handler’s discretion as to which type of article is retrieved.

…

Comments/Rationale: Some judges and handlers were confused by the wording for the Scent Discrimination exercise of the Graduate Open Optional Titling class. We think the added wording will make this exercise clearer.

Affected: Judges and exhibitors.

Effective Date: June 1, 2027.

This fixed schedule motion has been submitted via email to the ASCA Board of Directors for their consideration. Discussion will continue through July 19, voting will be open from July 20-26, and results will be posted on July 27.

If you have any comments on this motion, please submit them to asca.execsec@gmail.com by July 19 in order for them to be considered by the Board.

​OB.26.04 No Changes to Sanctioned Events 7 Days Prior to Event

Motion by Liaison McCabe to approve the following recommendation from the Obedience Committee.

Committee Recommendation: No Changes to Sanctioned Events 7 Days Prior to Event

Motion by Betsy Coleman to change the rulebook in Section 1.1.2 which says, “Once an event has been sanctioned  by the ASCA Business Office, additional classes may not be added to the event.” Second by Marilyn Cherry.

Results of Committee Vote: Approved: 8. Disapproved: None. Abstained: None. Non-Voting: None.

Current Wording:

1.1.2 Sanction Request

…

ASCA Affiliate Clubs that meet the requirements of ASCA and wish to hold an Obedience Trial, at which qualifying scores toward an obedience title may be awarded, must apply to ASCA on the form provided for permission to hold such trial. This application must be submitted and postmarked or electronically received no later than 60 days prior to the event. A sanctioning fee (see Schedule of Fees) per trial shall be submitted with the application along with a copy of the premium. Once an event has been sanctioned by the ASCA Business Office, additional classes may not be added to the event.

Proposed Wording:

1.1.2 Sanction Request

…

ASCA Affiliate Clubs that meet the requirements of ASCA and wish to hold an Obedience Trial, at which qualifying scores toward an obedience title may be awarded, must apply to ASCA on the form provided for permission to hold such trial. This application must be submitted and postmarked or electronically received no later than 60 days prior to the event. A sanctioning fee (see Schedule of Fees) per trial shall be submitted with the application along with a copy of the premium. Once an event has been sanctioned by the ASCA Business Office, additional classes may not be added to the event within 7 days of the event.

Comments/Rationale: Jaime Pearce from the business office contacted the committee chair to ask for this to be changed. She believes this rule was put in place a long time ago, when everything was still done analog, and packets were sent out physically to every club and a last minute addition of classes made it extremely difficult for all the books to be sent over. Now all of the books are available on the website along with the worksheets and the only thing that needs to be changed is the premium. Jaime explained she feels badly turning clubs down when they have interest in adding classes, which could draw more entries, when it’s a simple matter of uploading a new premium.

Affected: Clubs and the Business Office.

Effective Date: June 1, 2027.