Dachshund Club of America Winter 2021 Newsletter

The

Outstanding

Dachshund Club of America

Sportsmanship Award

In 2006, the American Kennel Club (AKC) Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Program was established to provide each member club with an AKC Sportsmanship Medallion to award to one of its own members on a yearly basis. In 2017, the Dachshund Club of America (DCA) Outstanding Sportsmanship Award was established and incorporated into DCA’s Standing Rules. Jerry Cerasini was the creator of the DCA Sportsmanship Award and solicited Janet Schwalbe, Randy Eltringham and Denny Van Hook to assist him in creating a process by which this award could be given on an annual basis.

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Basic Award Principles

The established DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award honors those individuals who deserve special recognition for:

• Making a difference in the sport of purebred dachshunds

• Embodying the AKC Code of Sportsmanship

• Being an active and valued member of DCA

DCA’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award is based on these principles and additional criteria that the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award committee believes are important for creating and maintaining a strong culture of good sportsmanship within the dachshund community.

Presentation of an annual DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award trophy in conjunction with the AKC Sportsmanship Award Medallion at the DCA Annual Awards Banquet shall be solely at DCA’s discretion.

Award Criteria

Nominees for the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award must meet the shared values outlined in the AKC Code of Sportsmanship:

• Sportsmen respect the history, traditions, and integrity of the sport of purebred dogs.

• Sportsmen commit themselves to values of fair play, honesty, courtesy, and vigorous competition, as well as winning and losing with grace.

• Sportsmen refuse to compromise their commitment and obligation to the sport of purebred dogs by injecting personal advantage or consideration into their decisions for behavior.

• The Sportsman Judge judges only on the merits of the dogs and considers no other factors.

• 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

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something other than the merits of the dogs.

• The Sportsman Exhibitor refuses to compromise the impartiality of a judge.

• The Sportsman respects the AKC bylaws, rules, regulations, and policies governing the sport of purebred dogs.

• Sportsmen find that vigorous competition and civility are not inconsistent and are able to appreciate the merit of their competition and the effort of competitors.

• Sportsmen welcome, encourage and support newcomers to the sport.

• Sportsmen will deal fairly with all those who trade with them.

• Sportsmen are willing to share honest and open appraisals of both the strengths and weaknesses of their breeding stock.

• Sportsmen spurn any opportunity to take personal advantage of positions offered or bestowed upon them.

• Sportsmen always consider as paramount the welfare of their dog.

• Sportsmen refuse to embarrass the sport, the American Kennel Club, or themselves while taking part in the sport.

Examples of Outstanding Sportsmanship include:

(but are not limited to):

• Spearheading a successful canine program that benefits dachshunds

• Making a major contribution to the breed

• Organizing a successful fund-raising program related to the health and welfare of dachshunds

• Organizing or participating in dachshund rescue activities

• Chairing a committee related to dachshund activities, initiatives, or events

• Being a show or event chairperson or secretary

• As a leader, being inclusive of current and new club members

• Being a consistent available ‘worker bee’ whenever and wherever help is needed

• Showing selfless acts of kindness,

fairness, civility, and honesty

• Facilitating clear communications that strengthen relationships, build strong teamwork, and share news and information upon which good leadership decisions can be made

• Encouraging and fostering local dachshund clubs and building working relationships for the betterment of the breed and participating individuals and organizations

• Being responsible and respectful for breeding, training, trialing, and showing according to established AKC and DCA standards for dachshunds

Nomination Process

(1) DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award nominations must be submitted by a DCA Member in good standing as validated by DCA’s Membership Chairperson. (2) The Nomination Package shall include: a. A write up consisting of 300-500 words describing the actions and activities of the nominee that make him or her deserving of this honor. This description should also include how the nominee has exemplified outstanding sportsmanship (not limited to the past 12 months). This write up shall be submitted on the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Nomination Form. Use continuation pages if needed. b. Name and contact information (email; mailing address; phone) of the nominee and the person making the nomination. i. The annual DCA Membership Roster (mailed annually to all DCA members) provides names and contact information for potentially eligible nominees. ii. Please notify the DCA Membership Chairperson if DCA member contact information is incorrect. iii. Each nominee’s length of DCA membership and good standing status shall be verified by the DCA Membership Chairperson once nominations are received.

c. A request will be made of the final award winner to submit a photo that will be used to officially announce and promote the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. (3) Nomination packages must be: a. Postmarked or submitted by email no later than February 1 of each year. b. Sent to the Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee (as listed in the DCA Membership Roster).

Open Nomination Period and Process

To be considered for the award to be presented annually, nominations must be received by February 1, of the following year, after which nominations will be closed for selection purposes. A nomination reminder card shall be mailed to DCA members annually as part of the general DCA membership renewal packet.

Once nomination packages are received as described above, the Chairperson and members of the Sportsmanship Committee shall begin the award selection process.

The Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee shall prepare a list of nominees who meet the announced submission deadline. In early February, this list shall be forwarded to the DCA Membership Chairperson who shall verify the length of DCA membership and good standing status for each nominee and the person submitting each nomination package.

Those who are deemed eligible for nomination shall be so indicated. The list shall then be returned to the Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee for distribution of eligible nomination packages to committee members for further evaluation and voting purposes.

Nomination packages shall be evaluated by the Sportsmanship Committee during the month of February for the prior calendar year award competition.

Selection and Announcement Processes

The current Sportsmanship Committee consists of 3 DCA Board Members and one non-Board Member. These individuals will be responsible for recommending to the DCA Board of Directors (for approval) a minimum of five additional DCA Members in good standing with two alternates all of whom are not DCA Board members, to serve one-year terms of service on the DCA Sportsmanship Committee. The committee chair will contact these additional individuals to verify their willingness to serve on the DCA Sportsmanship Committee.

The Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee shall be appointed by the DCA Board of Directors each year.

Selection Process

The Chairperson and members of the Sportsmanship Committee shall review and evaluate nomination packages, vote, and select a final annual award winner, using established award criteria as described above.

The Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee shall not vote. If there is a tie, the Chairperson will cast the tie breaking vote.

Should an eligible Sportsmanship Committee member be nominated, the Chairperson shall ask that individual to recuse him or herself from award evaluation and voting processes.

Once an award selection is made, the Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee shall notify DCA’s President and Corresponding Secretary of the name and contact information of the award recipient to facilitate DCA Annual Awards Banquet planning and subsequent award announcements and promotions.

The DCA Corresponding Secretary shall work with the Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee to notify AKC of the winner and request that the AKC Sportsmanship Award medallion be mailed to the Chairperson of the DCA Sportsmanship Committee for

presentation at the DCA Annual Awards Banquet.

Announcement Processes

The Chairperson of the Sportsmanship Committee shall:

• Request a photograph from the award recipient (digital format preferred) that can be used to publicize the award and recognize the annual award recipient in such venues as the DCA website, DCA Facebook Page and in the DCA Newsletter.

• Suggest the award winner attend the DCA Annual Awards Banquet so the award can be presented in person.

• If the winner is unable to attend the banquet, the award will be announced at the banquet and the DCA trophy and AKC medallion will be mailed to the recipient.

• Additional public announcements and press releases shall be made at the discretion of DCA. Examples include announcements and promotions of the award and annual recipients at field trials, earthdog tests, agility trials, obedience and rally trials, conformation shows, etc.

DCA Trophy and AKC Award Medallion Integration

Funding for award related costs which support an annual presentation of the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award shall be provided as part of the annual DCA budget.

A prototype award, designed and donated by Jerry Cerasini, is available for presentation at the annual DCA Awards Banquet for 2023, 2024 and 2025, after which time the award design will be re-evaluated for long term production purposes.

The AKC Sportsmanship Medallion is provided upon request on an annual basis to DCA at no cost.

As described above, the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and the AKC Sportsmanship Medallion shall be presented annually to the DCA award recipient at the DCA Awards Banquet.

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Dachshund Club of America

Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Nomination Form

Please use this form to submit your nominee for the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. Attach a continuation sheet if necessary. This information will be used by DCA’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Committee to select and recognize the final award winner. Current DCA officers and members of the DCA Board of Directors are not eligible for award nomination. Once they are no longer serving in these leadership roles, they may be nominated.

Name of Person Being Nominated: __________________________________________________________________________________ Please print (or type) name

Nominee Contact Information (email, phone, mailing address):_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please print (or type) name

In the space below, please print, or type an explanation in 300-500 words, why you feel your nominee is deserving of this honor. Be sure to provide details about your nominee’s outstanding sportsmanship actions and contributions. The DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award utilizes examples and the AKC Code of Sportsmanship as a helpful guide for describing the type of actions the nominee may exhibit. Nominations must be received no later than February 1, of each year, to be eligible for the current award year. Any nominations received after February 1 will be considered for the following award year. The winner of the DCA Outstanding Sportsmanship Award will be announced at the DCA Annual Awards Banquet.

Person Submitting This Nomination:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please print (or type) name

Contact Information (email, phone, mailing address):_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please print (or type) name

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Attach a continuation sheet if needed

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Dachshund Club of America Winter 2021