American Bully Kennel Club P.O. BOX 2677 Spotsylvania, VA 22553 www.theabkcdogs.org HOW TO BECOME AN ABKC REPRESENTATIVE Information and Guidelines There is a growing interest amongst the community in becoming an ABKC Representative. Being an ABKC Representative means being part of a team that takes great pride and respect in the bully breed, the bully community and the ABKC registry. If you are interested in becoming an ABKC Representative, please read the following information and guidelines. What does an ABKC Representative do? An ABKC Representative provides knowledge and understanding of the ABKC policies, rules, and regulations to the public, especially during ABKC events. ABKC show hosts are required to have an ABKC Representative at their event. Recording the show results, completing the paperwork, and sending the results in the proper format to the ABKC office within 10 days -- this is the most important part of an ABKC Representative's job. The ABKC Representative's responsibilities and guidelines include: 1. An ABKC Representative must dress appropriately and represent the ABKC wearing at least one of the following: an ABKC polo, ABKC professional printed shirt, or a pin or name tag that defines that you as the ABKC Representative for that event. 2. Coordinate with the show host as to what times you are expected to arrive the day of the event. 3. Understand the show start time the host has set (in order to apply the on time fee if necessary) and the flow of the show. 4. Provide the judge’s books (where the results are recorded) for each show at the event. 5. Bring an "Emergency Material Kit" stocked with registration forms, index cards, pens, sharpies, rubber bands and any other registration emergency materials that may be needed (in which a fee will apply to the host if they are needed) -- all fees are spelled out on the Rep/Judge/Host Agreement form and the Show Host Packet. Helping show patrons understand and correctly complete their show entry forms and double checking the ABKC papers or Bully ID’s to ensure accuracy. 6. 7. Measuring any dog (with a wicket provided by the show host and if necessary, the help and reassurance of a judge if the measurement is close) that may be questionable by an ABKC Judge or requested by the show patron to identify what class the dog should compete in. 8. Answering all questions that may be asked by a show host or a show patron pertaining to the ABKC policies, rules, and regulations. An ABKC Representative is required to be in the show ring at all times to record the judge’s results and to check the dogs in. This ensures the results are being recorded accurately so when it is time to do the paperwork there are no questions or concerns. Therefore, if a host is having more than two show rings running at one time, the host is responsible for hiring two different ABKC Representatives, unless otherwise approved by the ABKC office. In these cases, there should be one rep hired to rep the show and to complete the paperwork and one rep to assist. The "main" rep chosen will be the one to do the paperwork, they will be paid the $150 per show and $50 each show because of doing the paperwork. The rep hired to "assist" with recording the results in the other show ring running at the same time, should only be paid $100 for their fee and $50 each additional show they record results for. An ABKC Representative is not required to do pre-registration, be the only individual at the registration table the day of the event, ring steward (i.e. hand out the ribbons and/or trophies), or "MC" during the show, but you should know how and should be able to assist the show host and their team, if needed. With the exception of pre-registration, these duties should not be offered to the host by the rep at any time. Additional set charges will apply to the show host when these things are needed in case of an emergency -- for example, if the day of the event, the expected host's staff does not show up. (The host is responsible for providing enough staff to perform these duties). Pre-registration may be requested by the host to the rep and/or offered to the host by the rep prior to the show, but all other services are set for “a just in case of emergency” the day of the event – all fees are spelled out on the Rep/Judge/Host Agreement form and the Show Host Packet. 9. 10. 11. If an individual is an ABKC Representative and an ABKC Judge, only one duty is allowed to be performed at the event. This individual may not perform both duties at one event. How to Become an ABKC Representative Information and Guidelines 1 of 2 American Bully Kennel Club P.O. BOX 2677 Spotsylvania, VA 22553 www.theabkcdogs.org HOW TO BECOME AN ABKC REPRESENTATIVE Information and Guidelines 12. 13. 14. An "on time" fee will be applied and must paid to the ABKC Representative to send to the ABKC office if a show is not started on time. This fee is $50 for every 30 minutes late from the show start time the host promoted, with the host given a 30 minute buffer. It is the ABKC Representative's responsibility to let the show host know what time they will have to stop registration for each show in order to transfer the entries into the judges books, if the show host disagrees with that time and does not allow enough time for this transfer to occur, in order to start the show on time, the fee will be applied to them - all fees are spelled out on the Rep/Judge/Host Agreement form and Show Host Packet. – Please review and understand all fees listed on the Rep/Judge/Host Agreement form. An ABKC Representative is responsible for completing an evaluation form evaluating the show host and the show overall and sending the completed evaluation form to the office at the time they send their paperwork into the office. No drug, alcohol consumption, or foul language is permitted at any time while performing these duties. 15. The ABKC Representative is responsible for receiving the Temporary Tickets from the ABKC office as well as keeping track of how many were sold. At the end of the event, the ABKC Representative must coordinate with the show host to review how many Temporary Tickets were sold and the fee due to ABKC. The ABKC Representative must obtain this amount from the show host and send this payment within 10 days from the date of the event by money order to the ABKC. The ABKC Representative is also responsible for sending the unused Temporary tickets back to the ABKC office. 16. The most important responsibility for an ABKC Representative is to complete and return the show results, for the show that they were representing, within 10 days of the show (not 10 business days, 10 calendar days). This means that, once the show has concluded, the ABKC Representative must take home all of the show entry forms and the judge’s books (with the recorded results). There are two types of show results that must be completed – You MUST record the results using a computer with Excel for one format and Notepad ONLY for the other (any other format is unacceptable, you must have Microsoft Excel and Notepad: one is an office use form in Excel (Full Results) which includes all of the dog's and owner's information which should be physically mailed to the ABKC office; the second is a simple Notepad (Website/Email Results) form which should be emailed to the ABKC office that includes just the dog's name which will be available on the ABKC's website for all to view. • 17. The Website/Email results in Notepad format ONLY with the winning dog’s names should be emailed to [email protected] within (10) ten days from the date of the show. The Full Results using Microsoft Excel ONLY printed and physically mailed via US mail, Fed Ex, or UPS to the ABKC (address in upper right hand corner) within (10) ten days of the show (along with the remaining ABKC temporary tickets and money generated from the temporary tickets in the form of a money order). This Excel template can be downloaded from the ABKC website. If results are not received within (10) ten calendar days of the show, the ABKC office will enforce the following disciplinary actions; first time late you will receive a warning, the second time could result in possible suspension, and the third time retraining may be required or you may be ineligible to be an ABKC Representative at future events. You will learn more about this once you complete the ABKC Representative program and are ready to take the “Mock Test” with one of the Training Reps. Last but not least, once you complete the ABKC Apprenticeship Program, the Mock Test with one of the Training Reps, and the P hone Quiz with one of the Training Reps, you will be required to sign an agreement between you and the ABKC, outlining the rules and regulations to become an official ABKC Representative and to remain an ABKC Representative. In order to properly understand all of these responsibilities, anyone that is interested in becoming an ABKC Representative must go through an apprenticeship. This apprenticeship includes following, observing, and being trained by two different approved ABKC Representatives at a minimum of three separate shows. Your final training must be under one of the Training ABKC Representatives or by someone directed by them. Please complete the "ABKC Representative Application" form, scan, and send it to the ABKC Rep Info email address -- [email protected]. Once this is received, you will be contacted by one of the Training ABKC Representatives to help choose the events you may apprentice at. Once that is decided, they will send the "ABKC Representative Apprenticeship Program Tracker" which you will utilize and complete during your training. You will also receive guidelines that will be utilized throughout the course of your training. Please follow these instructions if you wish to become an ABKC Representative. We appreciate your interest in becoming a part of the ABKC team. GOOD LUCK! How to Become an ABKC Representative Information and Guidelines 2 of 2 American Bully Kennel Club P.O. BOX 2677 Spotsylvania, VA 22553 ABKC REPRESENTATIVE APPLICATION If you are interested in becoming an ABKC Representative, please complete this form, scan, and send it via email it to [email protected]. Once we receive this form, we will contact you via phone or email about choosing the events to apprentice at with an approved ABKC Representative to train you and send you the proper forms to be completed to track your training progress. Name: Date: Mailing Address: Telephone Number: Email Address: 1. How many ABKC shows have you attended? __________________________________________ 2. Are you familiar with how an ABKC show is administered? __________________________________ 3. Please remember, in order to complete your ABKC Representative Apprenticeship, you must be willing to travel to shows at your expense, are you willing and able to do this? _______________________________________ 4. Why are you interested in becoming an ABKC Representative? Please list any and all additional information and or experience you may have with the ABKC registry in general.