President’s Annual Report for 2002

During the past year, the AGSDCF Foundation published three ads for our cookbook generating additional sales. Sales at Regional Specialties and Futurity weekend shows have been continued. To date over $14,500 has been received in the sale of cookbooks. As this project was totally funded by donations, the entire sale receipts are used for the health research grants of the German Shepherd Dog.

In December of 2001, the AGSDCF Inc. donated Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to the AKC-CHF. This amount was matched by the AKC-CHF to total of One Hundred Thousand dollars ($100,000) in research funds to be committed to the health needs of the German Shepherd Dog. The donated fund is presently being held in an interest accumulating Donor Advised Fund until an appropriate research proposal is submitted and approved. Due to the 9/11 attacks almost 50% fewer proposals were received by the AKC-CHF for research grants for the fall date. At present no grant proposal received by the AKC-CHF has met with the required health research criteria for Foundation funding. The AKC-CHF will advise the AGSDCF Inc. if an appropriate research proposal is received. The Foundation supported grant #1632 on DM with Dr. Joan Coates received a no cost to donor extension with a report due shortly. The Foundation goal was to fund research to locate a marker for DM with Dr. Joan Coates. In genetic research the identification of markers, such as the one that will identify DM, will be on very closely related sites called candidate genes on the chromosome across different breeds. While a cure may not be an immediate reality a genetic identification of the marker and subsequent DNA testing will allow us to eliminate this disease from our breeding programs.

At the Benefit Party in Lake St. Louis on Friday evening, the Cliff Recognition Sculpture will be on display. The purpose of this sculpture is to raise funds by the Foundation for research. Your dog’s name may be inscribed on the sculpture for a designated cost. As requested by Don Cliff this dog does not require any titles, simply your best friend and life long companion.

The Foundation held an electronic meeting on June 19. A new AGSDCF logo and organization colors of black and metallic gold were approved. A committee was set up to present recommendations for a Treasurer at the October Meeting. Members of the committee Gene Tenges, Peter Cacioppo, and Susan Godek welcome any suggestions from the Board. As no research grant specific to the German Shepherd was received this spring by the AKC-CHF, Ginny Altman was asked to research and report on the results of the many research programs being conducted on Degenerative Myelopathy throughout the country as well as any other area of disease research relative to the problems within our breed.

The Foundation will recognize the past donors as well as Heritage Society members in the Annual Report. These donors will be divided into categories and will be cumulative. Peter Cacioppo, our fund raising and structured gift ambassador, has made significant progress in our will and legacy contributions.

The AGSDCF Brochure will be included in the parent club dues notices. Foundation information in available on our page at the GSDCA web site at http://www.gsdca.org. You may also order our cookbook during the year for friends and family. With an all out effort, another $6,000.00 could easily be raised for our health needs.

The Foundation and GSDCA are jointly planning a health survey of our breed. Scootie Sherlock and I are requesting information, input, and suggestions on the most current prevalent diseases affecting our breed. Perianal Fistulas, Degenerative Myelopathy, Hypothyroidism, and Pancreatic Insufficiency are currently heading our list of diseases to consider when focusing the funding of our research grants.