“I am committed to creating a vibrant, progressive, engaging and meaningful Dogs Victoria where members are valued and served. My vision is for a Management Committee that works together to identify and create better ways to serve members, achieve our objectives, to ensure the long term viability and sustainability of our organization, and to always act in a way that encourages and facilitates as much member and club involvement as possible and genuinely respect their input.“
I am always keen to hear from other members, and my basic aims as your representative is to help deliver better leadership and governance of Dogs Victoria and the Management Committee. This includes:
I encourage you to support my nomination to the Dogs Victoria Management Committee and would appreciate you giving me your number 1 vote. Encouraging others to do the same would also be very helpful for my campaign.
“If you don’t vote for change, you’ll get more of the same.”
Governance and Management
Significantly better decision making based on professional, expert, independent advice and good governance. I still have concerns about the Finance Committee regarding possible Conflicts of Interest and am keen to ensure the Finance Committee can provide genuinely independent and impartial advice to the Management Committee. My view is that the organisation requires a dedicated Finance Manager with high level advice being requested from Accountants.
Improved Leadership which clearly understand separation of powers and what is expected of the role they hold. Personal opinions and vendettas have no place in these roles.
Improved communication between the Dogs Victoria administration and Management Committee with members and clubs.
Improved openness, transparency and accountability. These are not just “buzz words” but important values that underpin the work of the Management Committee and the way it relates to members. Meetings (including the Annual General Meetings) should be open to members and live-streamed and available as a podcast. Any decisions must be documented in minutes that are detailed and released to members. Information must also be provided in formats that are accessible to members, including good, “old-fashioned” print if requested. Obviously proper in-camera items would remain confidential and not live streamed. There should be up to 20 chairs available to Dogs Victoria Members to observe Management Committee meetings.
VCA need to introduce a Quality Management System, quintessentially a system where VCA Policies, Processes and Procedures are documented and are utilised as the basis of the operational management of VCA. A QMS System can be audited to see its effectiveness and to ensure that VCA is following its documented processes and associated reports being provided to members. This would provide members with reassurance that the VCA is functioning well.
Safety of Children, Dogs Victoria should have implemented the Victorian Government’s Child Safe Standards into our management systems and provided training and awareness to all Dogs Victoria Members and affiliate entities. This requirement should have been implemented by 01 July 2022, Dogs Victoria was granted an extension until 01 January 2023, however we still have not embedded these Child Safe Standards into our management system and provided awareness to all members and affiliates, which is of a huge concern. I will continue to follow this up as I take the safety of children seriously. Children are our future and they should be nourished and protected so that the have the very best experience and get to enjoy the hobby and sport and the love of pure bred dogs as we all do.
Relationship with Members, Partners and Stakeholders
Building relationships with key stakeholders and partners. I will work with the Management Committee to improve relationships with all levels of government to ensure the interests of Dogs Victoria members and clubs are supported, and that Dogs Victoria is recognized as the preeminent body for dogs in Victoria. As the level of government closest to the community, collaborations with councils can particularly help increase awareness of Dogs Victoria and our clubs, and therefore memberships and sponsorships.
We need to engage with and correct misinformation put out by some in the animal rights movement. We see daily stories about breeding of purebred dogs, with a recent spotlight on what has happened in Norway and other countries within Europe. We need to address this in a professional and controlled manner. Those that lead us seem to think that just stating “we have a code of ethics” and “it’s not us it’s those evil backyard breeders” just doesn’t cut it anymore. If one believes all our members are doing the right thing then one is sadly delusional. We are only as good as the weakest/unethical breeder. To address the concerns of Animal Rights activists, we need a scientific, considered and diplomatic approach. When it comes to health and wellbeing of our breeds there are some testing that is conducted for certain breeds such as GSD, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers and Labradors (i.e. hip x-rays). I believe we need a new approach. For breeding, Parental DNA testing must be mandatory for all breeds and subsequent litters also tested so that we have a database, the DNA record needs to be placed on the individual dogs pedigree. We also need to look at testing for other breeds, especially brachycephalic breeds (my breed Pekingese being one of these) as they are an easy target for Animal Rights activists. We need respiratory testing, eye testing/scoring and other suitable tests so that a dog can be given an overall score for its suitability for breeding. The Kennel Club UK, NZ Kennel Club and others have developed such programs that we should look at and implement similar. This will place us in a stronger position to scientifically argue that we as an organisation are ensuring the health of pure bred dogs breed by ANKC Registered Breeders.
Provision of assistance and advice regarding planning requirements. As part of its services to members, Dogs Victoria should be proactive and helpful regarding planning rules, so it should urgently establish a taskforce to collaborate and assist members with planning applications and issues.
I still would like to see VCA Ambassadors at VCA events, the purpose of these Ambassadors is to assist the general public when they visit such events, so that they can be advised of how the event works, ie conformation, about the 7 groups, breeds, classes and if they are interested in certain breeds they can introduce breeders etc. They will also be able to promote VCA and what we are about with the view of them becoming members of our organisation. The Ambassadors can also advise visitors of our library and the Canine Museum Foundation & Trust’s Canine Museum at KCC Park, both world class resources we have available to us.
I would like to see VCA Mentors to assist new exhibitors at VCA events, these VCA Mentors can assist with introducing the new exhibitor to the ring steward or event organiser so that their introduction is a good and happy experience and that they return.
Services and Support for Members
As our membership is aging, speaking with older members, some do not drive, or don’t like driving long distances so I would like to see a bus service for members so that they can be included in some of our country shows and shows at KCC or Bulla. The bus can also act as a promotional vehicle with specific sign writing and carry the VCA promotional gazebo for display at shows and events. The funding for such a bus would be from a combination of government grants, corporate partnership and sponsors not from revenue raised from members.
Camping Facilities at KCC Park, I am raising a motion at the March 2023 Management Committee Meeting for a feasibility study into a dedicated Camping Area and Facilities at KCC Park with a mixture of fenced powered sites, standard powered site, cabins and a communal shower/toilet block with ensuite style bathrooms and a common room with basic kitchen and sitting and dining areas with a TV and BBQ. I really want to encourage a community atmosphere like many members tell me existed many years ago. A dedicated camping area and facilities at KCC Park has been talked about for years, it’s time for action. If my motion is successful I will nominate myself as the Chair for this feasibility study to ensure it actually done and tabled at Management Committee.
Many members have approached me with complaints about their interaction with Dogs Victoria administration team. I have raised at Management Committee many times about the need for a communication policy and processes (for both administrative personnel and members alike) and the need for all personnel to be provided with conflict management training amongst other training. We should invest in our people so that they are well equipped to provide a high level of customer service.
Grants, Sponsorships and Partnerships
I am keen to see Dogs Victoria work harder to successfully achieve more funding from local, state and federal governments, in addition to sponsorships and partnerships with philanthropic institutions and reputable and ethical businesses. Dogs Victoria should also be seeking funding from the state government’s sports and recreation budgets, in recognition of the role we play promoting active participation from our diverse membership of various ages and abilities.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for sponsorships and corporate partnerships is the lack of proper Management Systems at Dogs Victoria. Potential partners and sponsors would need to feel that Dogs Victoria had the proper documented processes and procedures in place with quality controls and measures embedded to ensure Dogs Victoria provides quality services and that their monetary contribution to Dogs Victoria will be utilised appropriately.
I opposed the excessive increase in fees for the services Dogs Victoria provides to members. We find ourselves in hard time with the cost of living expense really starting to bite into family budget bottom lines. We are seeing the effects at Conformation Shows, not as many exhibitors and those that once entered numerous dogs are now reducing entries. It is unrealistic for Dogs Victoria to believe members can pay for everything, hence the need for a serious drive to look at other income streams.
Promotion and Education
We need to promote what Dogs Victoria is about. We need to ensure the future of Pure Bred Dogs is assured and that we can attract new members to our organisation. We have a great story and history to tell, we just need to speak up!
The VCA website is very much outdated. I have throughout my term on Management Committee requested updates on when our new website will be live. I am still waiting. This needs to be addressed ASAP. The website needs to have an educational and promotional edge. We need to educate the public, governments and especially animal rights activists. If we look at the American Kennel Club website as an example, it is very informative about the different breeds, about health and wellbeing as well as being promotional with video links to recent shows and events. We can do so much better and it really isn’t that difficult, we just need leadership with the will to do it.
I would also like to see a VCA App for smartphones which would be a modern way to communicate. I would like to see more videos of dog shows and events. We have many members that livestream parts of shows, which is great for members that cannot attend the show. I really want to see this on a much larger scale. We also need to promote the amazing resources that are the Library and the Canine Museum Foundation & Trust’s, Canine Museum as these resources are world class and not many people know about them.
Regional / Country shows and events need to be promoted and supported. Many members of the public visit these shows and therefore this is an excellent opportunity for Dogs Victoria to support regional communities, promote not only pure bred dogs, but becoming a member of Dogs Victoria, and getting involved in what we do. VCA Ambassadors could also assist here.
KCC Park Transformation
I have investigated the removal of the PFAS contamination from KCC Park. This contamination must be removed from KCC Park at no cost to members. Once removed, I would like to see consultation with members about the beautification of KCC Park with mass planting of trees and garden beds making KCC Park a pristine world class facility. Such beautification will assist in marketing KCC Park for additional income streams.
The Future
It’s time for Dogs Victoria to be run like a professional, successful business and not just a dog club. A fresh outlook is needed and I am willing to continue to volunteer my experience, passion and enthusiasm for our dog loving community.
Vote 1 – Jake Milford for the Dogs Victoria Management Committee
Authorised by J Milford, 24B Mervin Street, Bentleigh East VIC 3165
