Standing Rules
NATIONAL SPECIALTY
All proceeds from fundraising at National
Specialties, whether the income be from sales of items or from specific
events, will go directly to the National Specialty treasury and not to
separate committees. Monies for specific ABA programs and committees
will be allocated by the ABA Board once the bills for the National
Specialty are paid, the ABA treasurer is in receipt of the profits, and
the books are closed on the event.
The National Specialty is the annual showcase for the Association and the breed. While it is desirable
for the National Specialty to be self-supporting, it is not to be regarded as a source of income for the
Association.
Challenge trophies shall not be accepted unless approved by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors.
The Treasurer shall procure and maintain sufficient insurance to cover damage or loss of all challenge
trophies.
The National Specialty activities and the Annual meeting are hosted by the American Bullmastiff
Association. The Board of Directors shall appoint, by majority vote, a National Specialty Chairperson.
The National Specialty Chairperson may appoint committee persons as Chairs of sub-committees such
as: hospitality/judges transportation, trophies, chief steward, grounds, obedience, annual meeting,
awards dinner, concessions, special events, etc.
ABA members who receive two verified complaints regarding damage to show sites, hotels or grounds shall
be subject to disciplinary action as provided by Article VI of the By Laws.
The National Specialty Chairperson shall cooperate with the Judges Education Committee in
scheduling Judges Education events.
The Second Vice-President of the Board of Directors is an ex-officio member of all National Specialty
Committees.
The National Specialty judges of the puppy and veterans sweepstakes.
The futurity and the regular
and non-regular conformation classes shall be nominated by the general membership three years
prior to the National Specialty. The resume of the nominees shall be obtained by the Secretary for
publication in the Newsletter prior to balloting. Election of these judges will be by ballot of
Association members. Members may nominate only one judge per category. All nominees for
Sweepstakes and Futurity judges for National Specialties will be required to
confirm in writing that if elected they will be available to fulfill the judging
assignment.
The obedience and agility judges shall be selected by the National Specialty Committee subject to the
approval of the Board of Directors.
To assist the Bulletin Editor, the Board of Directors may direct the National Specialty Chairperson to
provide the complete show reports including placings and pictures of the winners to the Editor for
inclusion in the Bulletin National Specialty report.
The Association will offer to pay travel expenses for Futurity and Sweepstakes National Specialty
judges.
The National Specialty Committee shall recognize the need for the exhibitors to maintain confidence
in the judging. Therefore, committee members in direct contact with the judge before judging is
completed, that is; hospitality/judges transportation shall not be eligible to enter or show dogs owned
or co-owned by these members. No officer, director or show committee member who has a dog
entered or plans to handle a dog in this show shall introduce himself to the judge until judging is
completed.
The Board of Directors considers the definition of a professional handler, for purposes of sweepstakes
and futurity as: anyone who has solicited dogs to handle for remuneration or advertised themselves
as professional handlers. Such individuals are eligible to handle only dogs bred by, owned, or co-owned
by such individual in the sweepstakes and/or futurity.
The show committee is responsible for all items connected with National Specialty and Annual
Meeting/Awards Banquet, excepting those items retained by the Board of Directors and listed in
these Standing Rules.
The show committee shall pay lodging for all National Specialty judges.
The ABA shall pay travel expenses and judging fees of conformation, obedience and agility National
Specialty judges.
The show committee shall inquire of the regular and non-regular conformation class judge and
obedience judge as to whether or not they desire the committee to make travel arrangements
including the payment of travel costs. The show committee shall make every attempt to contain
costs should the judge accept this arrangement.
The show committee shall arrange local transportation for all judges and issue a complimentary
invitation to the awards banquet for the judge and his/her spouse at least four weeks prior to the
banquet.
The show committee shall procure a meeting room at the host hotel for the use of the Board of
Directors for the duration of the National Specialty.
Any complimentary bedroom or suite offered by the host hotel shall be for the use of one of the
judges.
The show committee shall make every attempt to ensure that the judging experience of the
Association’s National Specialty is an enjoyable experience for the judge.
A final financial report listing sources of income and expenditures along with any monetary balance
shall be forwarded to the Treasurer within ninety days after the National Specialty.
The show committee shall furnish all judges with a complimentary copy video of their classes as a
keepsake. The breed, futurity and sweepstakes judges shall each receive a complimentary video of
their assignments. A complimentary copy of the entire National Specialty shall be sent to the
Archives Chairperson for a permanent record of the proceedings.
The National Specialty judges of the puppy and veterans sweepstakes, the futurity classes and the
regular and non-regular conformation classes shall not be eligible to again judge any of these same
categories for a period of ten years, however; they may judge any other category after a period of
five years.
Prior to Board Approval of a National Specialty the following items must be completed by the
prospective show chairmen:
1. Selection of a site with a tentative rate plan to include number of
nights, rates, deposits required, ballroom fees, number of dogs allowed per
room, estimated dinner costs, available RV parking, dog walking areas, receiving
fees, storage fees, cleaning fees, number of comp rooms to be issued and any
miscellaneous fees not included in the above.
2. Who will be the show superintendent and what is their fee schedule
3. A list of the committee chairs that are willing to serve in those
positions
4. A tentative budget compiling all of the above information Although not
listed above some arrangements will be necessary to hold a low cost dinner in
conjunction with the art auction and raffle for Friday evening.
Below are guidelines passed by the ABA Board of Directors at the November, 1990 meeting:
1. The site should incorporate both comfort and safety for dogs and exhibitors.
2. The cost of the National Specialty should not present a hardship to members of the ABA.
Reasonable rates should be negotiated with the hotels.
3. Each National Specialty should include an educational seminar or demonstration along with
regular classes, sweepstakes and obedience.
4. The inclusion of other events such as the banquet, parades, hospitality, auction, costume contest,
dances, flyball, etc., should be left to the discretion of the Chairperson and show committee.
5. Individuals or clubs interested in hosting a National Specialty should investigate future show sites
well in advance of ABA Board approval. Agreements can be made with hotels contingent upon
ABA Board approval. This would enable us to secure a site well in advance of the show date.
6. Timely invitations should be extended to all judges to attend our Awards Dinner when they agree
to accept judging and critique responsibilities.
7. Meals, rooms and transportation to and from the airport should be provided to all judges including
sweepstakes, futurity, obedience and junior showmanship.
8. The Awards Chairperson or his/her designee is responsible for the presentation of the awards at
the banquet.
9. The Show Chairperson should contact local shows and ask that bullmastiff classes be relinquished.
10. The National Specialty should be held in a location, which will promote maximum participation, by
all ABA members.
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