BEARDING THE BCCA BOARD
The Bearded Collie Club Board holes up in its den as members challenge violation of Club Bylaws re: the BCCA President’s AKC Suspension.
November 7, 2011 | Susan Lybrand, BCCA President, forged her co-owner’s signature on a registration application. AKC suspended Lybrand but contrary to the BCCA Bylaws, the declined to remove her and Lybrand refused to resign.
TheDogPress agreed to cover this story because it contrasts so vividly with AKC’s position on The Davino Case {ref 1} while reflecting the stance of other dog club boards which have so little regard for their Bylaws and the members they were elected to represent. The ongoing problem in the Toy Fox Terrier Club is but a recent example. {ref 2}
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November 10, 2011 at 1:19 pm
I have been a BCCA member for 24 years and have served as health chair 1 term and a member of that committee at other times, and now am chair of the herding committee and a member of the standing rules committee. I believe that any club’s officers and directors, and committee members are there to serve in the best interest of the breed, and that they are expected to do so with honesty and integrity on all matters related to club operations.
At the August 8-9 AKC board of directors meeting, the following occurred: “There was a motion by Dr. Garvin, seconded
by Dr. Battaglia, and it was VOTED (affirmative: Dr. Garvin, Dr. Battaglia, Dr. Newman, Dr. Smith, Mr. Menaker, Mr. Kalter, Dr.
Davies, Mr. Goodman, Ms. Scully, Mr. Amen, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Ashby; opposed: Mr.Gladstone) to define “good standing” as a
person who has not had any AKC privileges suspended. This clarification will be added in italics to the first sentence of ARTICLE VI, SECTION 5, of the AKC Bylaws.” Copied directly from the AKC secretary’s pages for September 2011.
Given the timing of the AKC redefinition of in good standing with the AKC on Aug 8-9 and the AKC suspension of Ms. Lybrand on Aug 11, and regardless of whether the initial executive committee group was aware of the Aug 8-9 action (they should have known as the committee by bylaw is comprised of the president, vice president, recording secretary, and 1 other member of the board), logic would have it that technically Ms. Lybrand met the criteria for suspension per the BCCA bylaws.
So, it is my belief that it is time to get on with business, for the board to recognize the timing of these events, and to act according to the BCCA bylaws.
November 10, 2011 at 9:10 am
I just wanted to make a small correction to this article.
The co-owner’s signatures were falsified on
multiple individual dog registrations from two separate litters.
November 10, 2011 at 5:59 am
No club is perfect but this is outrageous. What have dog people turned in to? I am in another club but we are all watching this to see what is going to happen. We are looking hard at our own club officers to.
November 9, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Many members of the club feel betrayed by Ms. Lybrand. I, for one, signed her petition to run on an alternate slate because I was concerned about some evidence of ill will toward our fabulous Rescue program on the part of the slated presidential candidate. I also voted for her. Now I find out that all along she knew she was being investigated and obviously knew what she had done. I’m shocked and appalled by the cover-up and blind support being given by board members that I always thought of as upstanding people. This issue is going to irreparably damage our club and many, many relationships. Yet this woman will not do the right thing. the VP wrote ad nauseum about Susan’s love for the breed and concern for the club. Yet in her selfish need for power, she refuses to do the right thing. I don’t know where we are with this whole “stepping aside” thing, but I do not believe it is proper or allowable per AKC Rules. You don’t get to step aside and come back. So let’s she what she does. Disgusting.
November 9, 2011 at 5:19 pm
I have been a very active member in good standing of the BCCA for 13 years, having served the past fours years on the Board of Directors. When Ms. Lybrand became president, I composed the following letter and sent it to my fellow members. “It is with mixed emotions that I compose this message. I have struggled with my decision for several weeks, not to mention finding the right words to express myself. The ethical, moral and philosophical differences between myself and the President elect are too disparate to allow me to continue to effectively work for the BCCA. Therefore, after June 30, 2011, I am resigning from the health committee, the historical committee and Bagpipes
contributor.” I was publicely chastised by Ms. Lybrand for maligning her. I find it ironic Ms. Lybrand advertises that she is a Breeder of Merit.