Dear MCOA Members,

MCOA is currently in the midst of succession planning for some of our key roles. At this time the Board will be accepting letters of intent for the position of National Specialty Advisor and for a trainee to succeed this person.

The NSA, and trainee, are positions of great responsibility and require members who have the knowledge, skills, and background to act in an advisory capacity to specialty chairs year-round, as well as the time and financial means to commit to attending entire specialties. As with all of the positions held in MCOA, these are volunteer assignments and are not financially supported by the MCOA.

In brief, the NSA is an advisor to the national specialty committee. The NSA may assist regional clubs with locating hotels, negotiating hotel contracts, event planning and scheduling, AKC paperwork, etc. They are not the show chair but may serve in a non-conflicting capacity on the show committee. For example, Chuck Cuthbert, our current NSA, also the Chair of MCOA Awards and Trophies.

If you are interested in this exciting multi-year commitment, please send a letter of intent to the MCOA Board of Directors c/o tonihyland@sbcglobal.net no later than 5 p.m. PST Friday, November 11, 2011. Your letter of intent must include a detailed description of your:
„Ï Experience as a show chair or member of a show committee for specialties, single breed or all breed dog shows, matches and/or sweepstakes;
„Ï Experience in hotel/banquet contract negotiations and management;
„Ï Attendance history and level of active participation at past MCOA Specialties;
„Ï Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, with the MCOA Board, specialty committee, membership, hotel management and the public at large;
„Ï Ability to commit the time and financial resources to attend the entire specialty on a multi-year basis.

This is a great opportunity to get involved!

Sincerely,

Toni Hyland
MCOA President 

MCOA NATIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The NSA will coordinate a three to five year plan for host cities and hotel sites and will strive to ensure a proper geographic rotation of the shows within the United States. The NSA will act as the liaison between the show committee and the Board of Directors.
The general development of a National specialty can be brought about by a recognized Regional Club assuming the responsibility to sponsor/support that show. The NSA would then determine if the site and contract conditions would be acceptable and if so, the Regional Club would develop and submit a bid* to the BOD for approval. Also any group of MCOA members can locate a show site and request that the NSA determine if the site and contract conditions would meet our needs. If the site and contract conditions are favorable, they would then develop and present their bid* to the BOD.
The NSA's involvement in the development of the bid would be determined by those hosting the National Specialty. After the show site and contract have been negotiated, secured and approved by the BOD, the responsibilities of the NSA will be to act as a liaison between the Show Chair and the BOD and to advise any committee chair to the extent that they would need direction.
In the above sequence of development, the NSA's major responsibility would be to insure that the hotel site would be able to accommodate our mastiffs and members in a friendly manner and the physical space would meet the needs presented by our schedule, vendors, RV's and special events. Only after the BOD has reviewed and approved the contract would the Show Committee present the bid*

*A bid is composed of a list of Committee Chairs (all MCOA members).
A budget (to be modified if needed, by the BOD with the advice of the treasurer
and NSA).
A schedule of events (based on past specialties).
A contract with a superintendent.

Once the contract and bid are approved the NSA will: 1) Be sure that the appropriate judges have been contacted and contracts are signed and in place. 2) Insure that the AKC paperwork is submitted in a timely fashion. 3) Remind the show chair to check with AKC as to any conflicting shows in the area. 4) Aid in the development of the premium list……. If needed. 5) Advise when asked.