USA bylaw change - Page 3

"Tess I think you can belong to USA regardless of what organization the club belongs to."

I meant that USA clubs have to have all members of that club also be members of USA, right?  So there are USA members out there today who belong to USA member clubs and to GSDCA and/or WDA.  These people are screwed: they cannot stay a member of USA if they stay a member of the other organizations.

 And since the USA club has to have all it's members also be members of USA, the club has to say either Member, get out; Member, give up your GSDCA or WDA (or whatever) membership and stay with us; or else Member, stay with us and keep whatever memberships you want because our club is leaving USA.

u dont have to be a member of USCA to be a member of a club.  IF the club said you did, then you would.  we have had anywhere from 5-20 members at any given time.  while you are ENCOURAGED to be a usca member, we do not require it.  why would my bulldog/dobie/rottie friends need to join a gsd club?   

to be a usca club, you must have 5 members that are usca members.  this is also a benefit to joining wda.  you need not be a member to play locally, only if you want to compete at the higher levels.

i would agree that usca will not feel the full effects of the bylaw change for at least a full year.  as many have said,  they are not going to quit,  they just wont renew.  and yes you have to sign a paper that says you wont join a competing club (read as GSDCA).  i talked to one person who already had to do so. 

last weekend we had our regional conformation show.  from talking to several people, it seems that you will see more dogs co-owned.  one owner stays usca, one wda.  that in turn allows them to show at both clubs. 

all this because usca thinks the akc  wants to take over schutzhund, and then put it out of business.  

john

"to be a usca club, you must have 5 members that are usca members."

That's good to know.  The club I know DOES require that all club members be members of USA, and I thought that was because USA said it must be so.   Actually, I was specifically told that by the Club treasurer.

Yep, John's right, I'm a member of the same club. Also the treasurer. Only 5 members must be USA to be a USA club. We have some that are and some that are not. In the past we suggest it, then it's up to the member. 
Cathy 

It,s dancing around in the grey area, any member that is on the club roster sent to USA must be a USA member, if they are a USA full member club, if there not USA members but the club has over 5 members that are as stated above it,s like the militarys don,t ask and don,t tell.  

I,m sure it works well for Eric because he won,t have to worry about that BOI if he and Gary get into it again...

We will have to just wait and see where this all ends, I have my own agenda and I,ll wait and see where it leads me I will still train and work my dogs the same way there is no effect for me from this game of politics...at this time.

 

 

 

 

"any member that is on the club roster sent to USA must be a USA member, if they are a USA full member club"

Ok, that's totally different than having to only have 5 members be USA members.

Abbi'sMom and jletcher - is your club then not a "full member club"?

I think clarification is needed on some of the above comments before anyone pins their future on them.

In Rules and Regulations for USA there was a 2002 bylaw amendment requiring a complete membership list of club members, I do not think it means just the 5 required members to form a club, but one would need to ask for clarification:

2002 GBM–Gadsden (Club Membership List Requirement)

A complete and current membership list including full addresses must be included with the club’s annual

dues. This information will be sent to the USA Office for verification. Clubs that fail to submit both annual

dues and membership lists will not be granted trial authorizations by the Regional Director. Should club lists

and dues not be submitted by the due date, any previously approved trial authorizations will be recalled. Trial

authorizations will be restored when dues and membership lists are submitted and approved. Bylaw amendment.

Regarding co-ownership , in order to particpate in aUSA  koerung or show, you must register your dog with USA - to register, you must be a USA member, which would preclude you from being a member of GSDCA and/or WDA and the registration membership requirement would negate any co-owner not being a member as allowed in the particpation of a breed survey. 

1.  Anyone wishing to register a kennel, litter or individually register a dog must be a member of the
USA and must conform to USA rules and regulations.

1994 GBM–Madison (Conformation Show Registration Requirements)
Motion that all dogs shown in USA conformation shows be registered with the SV/USA Breed Registry or
must apply for registration with USA at the show, to become effective July 1995.

PREREQUISITES FOR BREED SURVEY PARTICIPATION
3.1. USA Registration
Dogs must be registered with USA if the owner resides in the United States.
3.2. USA Membership
Owners of the dogs must be current members of USA if residing in the United States. If the dog is
co-owned, the signature-authorized owner must be a current USA member.

Again, I would ask for written clarification from the USA office on these items before making any decisions on members of USA clubs not being USA members beyond the required amount to form and then also on the particpation by co-owned dogs with a co-owner being a member of WDA or GSDCA.

Regarding why other members of a USA club with other breeds should be a member, it was not incorporated as a GSD club or GSD breed Club.  Until recently, except at the GSD USA national championsip, all breeds could compete.

USA has many members that are alternate breeds from GSD's.  Originally it was about Schutzhund, note the name of the club.  In the Melloy (sp?) presidency years was when the breed registry came about.  Only a few years ago was there a new rule that got rid of the section in the magazine which featured other breeds. I don't beleive currently you can advertise anything but a GSD in it now.

USA was original incorporation in California in 1978 http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowAllList?QueryCorpNumber=C0900061 . 14 years ago In 1995 USA incorporation was in Missouri and that filing states in Exhibit B (see full creation filing at http://www.sos.mo.gov/imaging/23430844.pdf  )  Shows an interesting list of people, interesting history of who was involved at the time - just 14 years ago.

5.  The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized are: For social and recreational purposes of having its members promote, qualify and license local dog clubs and conduct Schutzhund trials, German Shepherd Dog Breed Surveys, tracking tests for the FH (Fahrtenhundfurfung) degree, endurance tests for the AD (Ausdauerprufung) award and all other legal powers permitted General Not for Profit Corporations.

There is no mention of German Sheperds breed specific other than breed surveys and all the other are performance tests are not breed specific. 

Here is excerpt from the UScA by-laws.  The complete by-laws can be found on the UScA website:


A club may become affiliated with USA provided that the club:

(ii) Requires all members of the club to become full members of USA.
 
Rhonda

I pulled the quotes in mine above from the USA Rules and Regulations - I did not look at the By-Laws.  Oops!

USA Rules and Regulations http://germanshepherddog.com/members/rules.htm

USA By-Laws (no current board meeting updates)  http://germanshepherddog.com/members/by_laws.htm