Moving forward in 2024

Website

The site should be user friendly and divided into the main areas of interest like most other functional sites:
New or Prospective Dog Lover Resource Centre
Shows and Trials (exhibitors, clubs, foreign exhibitors and upcoming judges)
Breeders Services (incl Breed Standards, etc), Health study links, etc
Registration and Membership Services portal with complete records and retention plus direct link to chat aid;
Media and Policy advice
A translation page for foreign kennel clubs and judges, new Canadians and travellers reviewing our site. They are free and it is easy to do.

When one goes to the online portal

Like most things in this new decade why reinvent the wheel.
When you go to an online portal all your information should be there.
All applications should receive a single tracking reference number and be stored within an archive section of your portal. One number issued on each application only (not multiple).
When updates or information by the C.K.C. are warranted they are recorded on your ticket (just like support from any other professional organization) with a reference as to author.
There is portal access for every club and event secretary to be able to track progress in applications and changes with a single tracking number per application. The same would follow for discipline issues and any other activity where follow up or timeliness exists.

Results

For event results they can combine resources with professional entities like Canuck Dogs who do an excellent, timely and thorough job of reporting results and tabulating for a range of areas. They are faster than the C.K.C. has ever been even though they are non-profit.
The event secretary can enter the results into a secure event portal and in return the club pays a lower recording fee rate. The results are immediately transmitted to all interested parties following the event. This is done in the A.K.C. shows and full results are known by the next day. The data are transmitted and posted (eg. Canuck Dogs) and to C.K.C. Registration for updating the title qualifications. When title is completed an e-certificate is sent to the happy owner. No application by exhibitor and no additional cost.
Judges sheets and other supplies should be from 2020. We have photocopiers and data sticks. Why are judges pages in 4 page NCR forms from the 1970's? What year is this?
Simplicity. The only classes on the judges sheets are for those that receive an entry and only possible awards indicated. This means less errors. This is done in many jurisdictions. The event secretaries can produce this easily and quickly. A significant expense is eliminated for both production of supplies and shipping.
Removal of the non-member participation fee. Exhibitors are paying for this service by the recording fees that are submitted by clubs to the C.K.C. on behalf of the exhibitor. Why are we double charging the exhibitor?
Errors will occur. The exhibitor/owner will have the currently updated dog record on their portal (C.K.C.) and it will be on media (eg. Canuck Dog) allowing opportunity to report errors and investigation if necessary.

Judging and education options for new judges

How many Sanction Matches are in your area?
How many clubs are dropping Sweepstakes in your area?
The purpose of judge accreditation is to assess they can perform the abilities of the prescribed task. This is knowledge combined with experience and ability.
The current "program" is not addressing these requirements and needs to be revisited and assessed to meet quality and functional requirements.
Make judges education opportunities open to non-applicant judges. All education should be encouraged not just for aspiring judges.

Performance Events

I have a background in Obedience, Rally, Agility, Lure Coursing and CGN as well as Conformation.
I have also attended Retriever Trials, Pointing Trials, WC Trials, Schutzhund, French Ring Sport, and many other off-shoots of the same. Not just CKC but other registries as well.
I love all the dog events but non-conformation events often receive a short shift.
The obedience judging process needs to get onboard to maintain interest by members and potential participants.
Some provinces have less than 2 obedience judges. In others the numbers are dwindling fast from age or illness. The accreditation for obedience judges must change and reflect similar requirements as other events. The rate of new judges for obedience in our area is far slower than those judges ending their careers and it is only going to get worse. If clubs and exhibitors don't have more options, trials will be cancelled or entry fees will rise to cover the additional expense.

Proactive and Reactive Media advocate

Traditional media and social media is here to stay.
I do not mean the fluff pieces like we see now but an experienced person (contract or otherwise) who liaisons with media and social media. Who is available during business and non business hours to respond to important community events when they happen, not several days later.
They respond to interviews and present the C.K.C. policies and rationale. People might not always appreciate what our club does, because we have done a shameful job keeping up with the changes in the last decades.
The advocate is a resource person for those producing the content!!!
The advocate would also present to councils and committee in provinces or jurisdictions considering changes that affect purebred and all dog ownership and focus on responsible ownership.
The advocate is also dedicated to maintaining contact with veterinary organizations, shelters, training centres throughout the country.
Providing options that some may not have considered and also returning feedback to the Board of Directors about upcoming issues.
Being proactive in the exchange of information and solutions with all aspects of the Dog World to enhance the C.K.C.'s reputation!!!!

Paper withdrawal

All applications should be electronic.
This is the future and it is environmentally friendly at the same time. Storage or rent is a significant cost and to what benefit if portions are duplicated.
Show results, e-catalogues are submitted electronically.
Option for PDF entry forms and accompanying paperwork if necessary.
Correspondence with other entities or individuals should be electronic and I do not mean fax!!!
Websites of foreign registries and judge accreditation can be referred to instead of faxed responses.
The order desk should be focused on efficiency and necessity, not redundancy.

Getting to what the C.K.C. does best & avoid duplication

C.K.C. needs to focus on getting the correct awards on the correct dogs. Send title certificates (electronic perhaps) to owners without additional charge. They were already paid by recording fees.
When a C.G.N. judge awards a successful test to an exhibitor why does the exhibitor have to apply and pay for a certificate. Goofy. The judge awards the certificate. Results are sent to the C.K.C. just like others.

Fairness to clubs

There needs to be one recording fee for all events regardless of entry. It is not fair that the larger events subsidize the smaller ones. The all breed host club is usually paying the bulk of expenses!!!
Just to be clear, without the volunteers of clubs and their hard effort, there will be no C.K.C. Yet the clubs are treated as the cash cow. This needs to stop.

Priority Dates for club events

It maybe worked well 50 years ago but not today. The policy of locking a club into an arrangement for the next five years and you have to submit a year before that. Please tell me can you predict accurately 6 years away?? Who predicted Coid19 in 2013?
Clubs have many influences:

Availability and cost of venue.
Changes of competition. The example of a popular A.K.C. show appears on the same weekend 100 miles away that will affect the entry.
Cancellation influences.

There are many options for the Board to pursue that can balance certainty and flexibility. They are not mutually exclusive.

Resource partnerships

The recent partnership with Dogwellnet is a good example of what the C.K.C. can do with cooperation with other parties.
This can be expanded in a variety of ways through other international organizations, dog welfare organizations, legal information sites, and a variety of options that are growing every year.
We need to get ahead of the curve.........not sit and watch it bend.