CLUB HISTORY

The Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club, Inc. was founded on June 24, 1985, as an organized all breed dog club in the Harford and Cecil County, Maryland territory.

History suggest that a small group of dog enthusiast in Harford County Maryland got together at the home of Mike and Renee Hodge in Whiteford, Maryland to form what we know today as the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club. Present that evening was Ann M Schultz, a current and founding member. To raise money to grow our club in our early years, our founding members conducted regular conformation and obedience classes in the parking lot of St. Mary’s Church in Bel Air.

Upon formal incorporation on April 13, 1988 three founding members, Renee Hodge, Barbara Compton, and Victoria Emmel were legally named as our first directors until the annual meeting or until their successors were chosen. The Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club’s Articles of Incorporation were prepared by the law office of John K. Kelly, Bel Air, MD. John and his wife Kathy were also active in dogs, showing their Boston Terriers at the time. Although NEMKC was incorporated as a nonprofit it took several years for our club to realize that we needed a formal Internal Revenue Service exception. Our Internal Revenue Service exemption was officially signed on April 24, 2003 by Lois G. Lerner, Exempt Organizations Rulings and Agreements

The NEMKC was recognized as an American Kennel Club Member Club on March 13, 2012.

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Here are some of the key milestones for the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club.
Monday	June 24, 1985	Founded / Established
Wednesday	April 13, 1988	Formally Incorporated
Friday	February 1, 1992	NEMKC accepted as an AKC Licensed All Breed Club for Conformation & Obedience
Friday	April 24, 2003	Received Internal Revenue Status as a 501C4 non-profit
Wednesday	December 1, 2004	NEMKC accepted and licensed to do Rally
Tuesday	April 5, 2011	NEMKC members voted unanimously to support the application to become an AKC Member Club
Tuesday	March 13, 2012	NEMKC officially elected as a member of the American Kennel Club
Tuesday	April 17, 2012	AKC approved our first AKC Delegate Steve Skolnick
Friday	February 13, 2015	AKC approved Joyce Engle as our new Delegate
	April 2017	Club approved to hold Scent Work
Monday	April 9, 2018	NEMKC By-Laws updated and approved by AKC BOD
Saturday	September 29, 2018	NEMKC holds it's first Scent Work Trial.

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Present and Past Presidents of our Club

2018-2021	Debbie Heydt
2017-2018	Betty Cox
2014 – 2016	Debbie Heydt
2012 – April to December	Bobbie Compton
2012 -   March 2013	Mary Lou Olszewski
2010 – 2011	Ann M. Schultz
2008 – 2009	Joan Taylor
2006 – 2007	Bobbi Compton
2004 – 2005	Juanita Burkart
2002 – 2003	Bobbi Compton
2001	Joe Alluisi
1999 – 2000	Joan Taylor
1998	Chuck Burkart
1996 – 1997	Naomi Engers
1985 – 1995	Renee Hodge