Members
On Sept. 9, 2025, Delegates vote on an AKC bylaw change extending board term hiatus to four years. Power, limits, and trust are on the line.
Pat Cruz
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This motion by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, to increase the time off the Board after two terms, was proposed to the Board six months ago. The Board refused to endorse this motion or discuss compromise. With their refusal, the Motion becomes a Demand, a Read this past June, followed by a Vote on September 9th, 2025. Six times in many years past, AKC’s Boards have pushed for removal of the current one-year hiatus. All six times the Delegates defeated the motion, thereby preserving term limits with the provision that a termed-out Director may only run again after a one-year hiatus out of office.
It is not unusual for termed-out members of the Board to be reelected after their one-year hiatus, creating career Board members, some sitting more than 20 years. It has become a “musical chairs-revolving door” scenario for some who navigated the one-year wait, quietly campaigning during their one-year off the Board to be reelected. Often, they are nominated by the committee selected by trusted allies on the Board. Term limits? A position on the AKC Board is not a position for life!
Discussion among Delegates has been four-year hiatus favorable. The Board and their supporters may have appeared to have co-opted the AKC for personal benefit, acting as a group with the power to do as they please in recent years. Not for Profit professionals point out why term limits and time away from the Board benefits an organization because:
It will encourage new talent and diversification, new ideas and perspectives in decision making, continually cultivating new leaders, ensuring the Board remains effective and relevant while providing opportunities for other talented Delegates enlarging the circle of dedicated volunteers.
It will encourage long-term focus success rather than short-term fixes, leading to better governance and organizational health; helping to maintain the trust in AKC’s mission, tradition, legacy, and culture.
It will prevent the perpetual concentration of power within a small group of people, eliminating a static, self-serving Board membership and negative dynamics that can trickle down, adversely affecting programs, initiatives, and financial health. And, it will prevent the advantages that recent incumbent office holders wield when time comes to be reseated as a member of the Board.
It will NOT wipe away an entire Board; there are always three remaining Classes of elected Board members to provide continuity and stable Board structure.
There are sections of the Disclosure Statement for Directors, Officers, and Key Employees, signed by all Board members, specifically, Conflict of Interest instructions that are inviolate and must be followed when it comes to financial dealings with sitting Board members. Clearly stated, “there can be no financial or measurable gain for any member of the Board or their families.” This applies to all AKC affiliates – ReUnite, Humane Fund, and others within all our sports.
In my opinion, some indiscretions have been allowed by members of our Board. Should we ignore the blatant optics of using a Board member’s personnel recruiting firm to hire an Officer and “only taking 20% of our normal fee” (personally quoted to me by same Board member), resulting in the personal enrichment from AKC for this Board member’s company? How about ignoring AKC’s Code of Sportsmanship and Civility*, whereby “the sportsman exhibitor declines to enter or exhibit under a judge where it might reasonably appear that the judge’s placements could be based on something other than the merits of the dogs” and then see a Board member award a Group First to one Board member’s dog and a Best in Show, in the past, to another Board member’s dog? Did the sportsmen, Board members in question, “decline to exploit any position of authority or recognition for personal advantage?” *August, 2025
I hope this shakes you up. We have term limits with no teeth—it does not do the job it was intended to do. Sadly, it will continue unless you vote along with the DPCA and others to amend the Charter and Bylaws of the American Kennel Club, Inc. Article VII, Section 1, changing the one-year off the Board to four-years off the Board after two terms.
This is a decision that should not be taken lightly. It will have an effect on Board elections and AKC officers’ elections going forward in the very near future. Perhaps, even resulting in the hire of a termed-out Board member, making clear the rationale for the major changes in the Executive Office earlier this year. Thank you for taking time to consider this important vote on September 9th.
Respectfully, Pat Cruz, Delegate – Heart of the Plains KC 2006–present; Delegate – Santa Cruz KC 1989-1992
AKC Board Member 2012-2020, Vice Chair AKC Board 2019-2020; Member Afghan Hound Club of America, 1978-present; Owner Handler Association of America, 1969-present; Dog Writers Association of America 1971-present; Knickerbocker Bull Terrier Club, 1973-78, 2020-present.
One of the 31 original members of ADSJ and member of DJAA – more than 20 years each.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
