Committee Purpose:  The Executive Committee is responsible for providing leadership to the Board as a whole and acting quickly on behalf of the Board in cases of urgency, as permitted by the APDT Bylaws.

Role and Deliverables:  Deliverables vary depending on circumstances.  Examples of roles that the Executive Committee may take on include but are not limited to:

1. Implementing policies. Once the full Board has approved a policy, the Executive Committee may be the body to implement the new policy.
2. Acting as a liaison with the Executive Director. The Executive Committee may provide feedback and support to the Executive Director and take the lead in performing the Executive Director’s annual evaluation.
3. Helping develop a strategic plan.  The Executive Committee may initiate the organization’s strategic planning process.
4. Reviewing Bylaws. The Executive Committee may initiate a review of the organization’s bylaws or analyze proposed revisions of the bylaws.
5. Taking emergency action.  The Executive Committee may take urgent action on behalf of the Board in the event of an emergency.
6. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Committee should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.

Committee Purpose:  Develop strategies to attract new members and retain existing ones. Develop strategies to enhance inclusivity and diversity in our membership and stakeholders. Communicate with membership to assess their needs and concerns for the board to address through strategic planning. Develop strategy for new partnership ideas and member benefits to add member value.

Role and Deliverables:  The Membership Committee is responsible for:

1. First Deliverable.  Creating and developing new and dynamic member benefits for all members and stakeholders
2. Second Deliverable.  Communicate with membership through data collection and analysis.
3. Third Deliverable.  Develop retention and growth strategies to create a robust and diverse membership.

Advisory Panel Purpose:  The Education Advisory Panel provides guidance and recommendations to improve, upgrade, and innovate the educational offerings of APDT. The Panel serves as industry experts in education and certification matters.  

Role and Deliverables:  The Education Advisory Panel is responsible for:

1. Review APDT education offerings.  Periodic (annual) review of current educational offerings to scrub for out of date/less relevant content focus to ensure our education remains current and innovative and ensure that current offerings are tailored to the needs of a diverse audience.
2. Review APDT’s Body of Knowledge.  Establish cadence and criteria of ongoing review for APDT’s Body of Knowledge.
3. Review APDT’s Certification Matrix.  Establish cadence and criteria of ongoing review for APDT’s Certification Matrix.
4. Review and enhance C.L.A.S.S.  Review, update, and promote the C.L.A.S.S. program and accompanying materials.
5. Develop trainer roadmaps. Develop membership path roadmaps for professional dog trainers and partner level engagements in varying levels, including a new trainer roadmap and a roadmap for crossover trainers.
6. Serve as thought leaders in the field.  Provide recommendations to the Board and/or the Director of Education on education topics as needed.
7. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Panel should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.
8. Project Group Selection and Accountability: Operate as a project management group for several project groups to accommodate the volume of ongoing work. Selection of participants are the purview of the EAP and length of engagement is to be determined by the scope of each project.

Committee Purpose: To review and analyze financial data, investment performance and the annual budgeting process.  To ensure the organization’s financial viability, investment performance, and budget metrics are meeting expectations, and to enable the Board to effectively discharge their fiduciary duties. Role and Deliverables:

1. Reports to the Board:  Review monthly financial statements and give monthly reports to the Board.
2. Investments: Review quarterly investment statements and related benchmarks and give quarterly reports to the Board.
3. Budgets:  Work with the AI CFO, AI Finance Team and Executive Director on preparing the annual budget for approval by the Board of directors.
4. Tax filings: Ensure timely tax filings that those filings are shared with and reviewed by the Board.
5. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Committee should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.

Committee Purpose:  To ensure that APDT’s members are being held to APDT’s standards of conduct and professionalism. Role and Deliverables:  The Independent Review Panel is responsible for:

1. Evaluating complaints against members.  The Independent Review Panel’s main purpose is to evaluate complaints against APDT members for violations of APDT’s Code of Professional Ethics, Standards of Practice, APDT standards, determine if there is a violation of APDT policy, and if so, recommend what action the APDT Board should take against the member.  If a complaint involves a non-member (e.g., unauthorized use of APDT’s logo), the Independent Review Board will bring that to the attention of the Executive Director, who will take the appropriate action through that established process.
2. Recommending revisions to the Board regarding the complaint process and procedures.  As the Independent Review Panel evaluates complaints, it may identify and implement independently if appropriate, or propose revisions to the APDT Board, to improve and strengthen the complaint process and procedures.  APDT policies.
3. Recommending revisions to the Board regarding APDT’s standards.  As the Independent Review Board evaluates complaints, it may identify and propose revisions to the APDT Board to improve and strengthen APDT’s policies.
4. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The IRP should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.

Committee Purpose:  The Legislative Task Force monitors legislation impacting training, advocates for legislation that will advance dog training and the training profession, drafts and revises relevant position statements for review by the Board, and watches for opportunities to advocate for training and trainers and to engage the membership to do the same. Role and Deliverables:  The Legislative Task Force is responsible for:

1. Monitoring legislation that impacts trainers and training and advocating for legislation that will advance training and the profession.  The Legislative Task Force monitors legislation, regulations, and policies that may impact APDT and its members advocates for legislation that will advance the profession.  The Legislative Task Force will work together with the APDT representative on the Alliance for Professionalism in Dog Training on licensing legislation and advocacy.
2. Drafting and revising relevant position statements for review by the Board.  The Legislative Task Force is often asked to take a first cut at drafting and revising position statements that touch on the training profession and related topics.
3. Looks for opportunities to advocate for trainers and humane training and to engage the membership to do the same. The Legislative Task Force brainstorms ways to advocate for trainers and humane training, and to engage APDT members to serve as advocates.
4. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Task Force should coordinate with other committees and task forces and the APDT representative on the Alliance for Professionalism in Dog Training as appropriate.

Committee Purpose:  To effectuate APDT’s nominations process for Trustees and to assist the Executive Director and staff with a call for volunteers. Role and Deliverables:  The Nominations Committee is responsible for:

1. Evaluate the needs of the APDT Board of Trustees.  The Committee will evaluate how many open APDT Board member positions there will be each year and what skill set the current Board has and needs to fill.
2. Evaluate the nominees for APDT Trustees.  The Committee will interview and evaluate nominees for APDT Trustees.
3. Evaluate the needs of the APDT Committees and task force / work groups.  The Committee will evaluate how many open volunteer member positions there will be each year and what skill set the committees need to fill. Through the call for volunteers, candidates may be shared with appropriate selection bodies within the Board and Committees.
4. Present a slate of recommended nominees for APDT Trustees to the Board.  After evaluating the nominees, the Committee will present to the Board a slate of recommended nominees for the open Trustee positions on the Board.
5. Assist with recruiting for the Board and for volunteers.  The Committee will work with the Executive Director, staff, and the Board to recruit new Board members and other volunteers through a dedicated Call for Volunteers Campaign.
6. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Committee should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.

Standards Project Group Purpose:  Develop organizational standards for the APDT membership are bound to, and partners aspire to, based on our organizational core values, mission and vision statements, scientific research in the industry, and mental and physical welfare of the learner, both canine and human.  Work with other organizations and leaders on minimum standards for the industry. Role and Deliverables:  The Standards Project Group is responsible for:

1. APDT Standards.  Creating and continually developing new comprehensive standards for APDT members to attest to.
2. Ongoing Review.  Ongoing review of standards to grow and evolve with the APDT, the training industry, and scientific research.
3. Industry Thought Leadership.  Consulting with other organizations and leaders to remain at the forefront of minimum standards for the industry, and particularly regarding the Joint Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
4. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Project Group should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.

Committee Purpose:  The Governance Committee is responsible for monitoring compliance of the organization and its members. Role and Deliverables:  The Governance Committee is responsible for:

1. Overall health and effectiveness of the Board and the Organization.  The Governance Committee ensures that the Board and organization are working smoothly and in accordance with the bylaws and relevant policies.
2. Self-assessment. This committee ensures that the Board and its members undertake an evaluation process each year to monitor the Board and members, and to implement any changes needed.  The committee also conducts exit interviews with Board members and officers who are rolling off.
3. Succession planning.  The Governance Committee enforces term limits and attendance policies, works together with the Nominations Committee, and engages in succession planning to ensure a smooth transition with Board officers and members.
4. Oversight of the Nominations Committee. The Governance Committee oversees the Nominations Committee and ensures that the nominations process complies with the bylaws.
5. Monitoring policy, legislation and regulations that impact the organization and its members.  The Governance Committee monitors legislation, regulation, and policy that may impact the organization and its members.  This includes the Legislative Task Force and the APDT representative on the Alliance for Professionalism in Dog Training.
6. Coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate:  The Committee should coordinate with other committees and task forces as appropriate.