GSDCA Qualified Helper List - Page 2

How does this affect the UScA's JA ammendment?

Are UScA members allowed to be GSDCA members?

Sitasmom, I called the UScA office and asked if a person can be a UScA member and at the same time a member of the GSDCA and the answer was yes.  The person I spoke to verified that with another person in the office. 

Judy

@JudyK - That is fantastic news!!! I know that three weeks ago I called the Office, Spoke with Pam, and she said just the opposite, that the GSDCA is a competing organization (Both are GSD's breed clubs) and that one can not be part of UScA and another competing breed organization. We were checking because one of our club members who is a UScA remember also wanted to join the GSDCA so she could title in other non IPO sports

This matter of cross-over memberships or double memberships has been cause for concern for some time. In my opinion an individual can be a member of as many WUSV Clubs as that individual desires. The GSDCA or USCA can not deny membership to any individual who is a member of another club which is a credentialed member of the WUSV. The same is true as it relates to entering events. No WUSV club may deny an individual entry into any of its events if that person is a member of another WUSV member club. A member of the GSDCA may also be a fully credentialed member of the SV and the USCA. In like manner, a member of the USCA can be a fully credentialed member of the SV and the GSDCA.  Any member of a WUSV recognized club may enter any events sponsored by any other WUSV member club without restriction and without paying any additional fees.

This issue gets really cloudy when some other clubs which actually have no legitimate claim to WUSV membership come into consideration.   As I recall, one such club reportedly  began a clandestined movement several months ago through a series of planned constitutional manipulations to divest and separate itself of and from its affiliation with one of the two clubs in this country holding legitimate membership in the WUSV.  For most casual observers, that club moving for secession had its only claim for any credible and believable WUSV credentials in its then intact affiliation with the club from which it was reportedly seeking to secede. In time, that issue became even more than somewhat inflamed with parties on both sides claiming foul. Eventually, it seems that the club from which the lesser club sought disjunction finally chose the grant the supposed desires of the lesser club and to sever the long standing relationship it had with that lesser club. In reality, the lesser club's desire to be separated and free standing was decided and WUSV member gave the lesser club it freedom through a board membership vote.  Today, no one, at least no one I actually know,  can say whether that club which had enjoyed the benefits of its affiliation with one of the WUSV members in this country can assure its members of their acceptance at Trials, Shows or other WUSV sanctioned events.  

If some one has a legitimate and credible answer supported by reality and any form of documentation provided by the WUSV/SV, I would be most happy to hear or see it.

Cutaway, I wouldn't get too ecstatic yet.  I called well before 3 weeks ago so perhaps things have changed.  Let me check further and I'll post what I find out.  I think the only way to find out for sure is to go to Jim Alloway which is what I will do. 

Judy

 The USCA office was incorrect and had their information wrong (because of bylaw amendment last year). I proposed a bylaw amendment last year at the GBM to allow USCA members to also be members of GSDCA, unfortunately that amendment change was voted down by the membership. Thus a USCA member may not also be a member of GSDCA at this time.

Richard, your statement of "The GSDCA or USCA can not deny membership to any individual who is a member of another club which is a credentialed member of the WUSV."

 Is incorrect, the WUSV says nothing about who can join their member organizations. Both are private clubs and are fre to allow or disallow membership to anyone they want for any reason. The WUSV doesn't want to be invovled at all in the day to day business of the member clubs. Your statement "No WUSV club may deny an individual entry into any of its events if that person is a member of another WUSV member club" Is correct for the most part, an entry may not be denied strictly based on the organization the entrant belongs to. Indiviuals can be denied entry for reasons, as long as the reason is not solely that they are a GSDCA member. USCA absolutely allows all GSDCA members to enter our events, except IPO Regional and National championships (which WUSV agreed with). Example GSDCA member WINS USCA Seiger Show this year!

 The times are changing for the German Shepherd in America and relations between organizations are getting better and better. Hopefully someday soon members will be able to join what ever org they desire. 

  Frank

Thank you Frank for the clairification.  I did send Jim Alloway an email asking for an answer and never heard back.  Personally, I think the whole thing is retarded and in this day and age when we all should be working together there are still stupid road blocks that make no sense whatsoever.  

Judy

Judy

I suggest you do some research as to why USCA first enacted this amendment. The leadership of 2 of the orgs have changed and are getting along now, this amendment "may" become unnecessary. But to say it is "retarded" and it "makes no sense whatsoever" is just because you don't understand the way things were at the time and the history between the orgs when it was voted on by more than a 2-1 majority of the member clubs, not once, not twice, but now 3 times. Because it doesn't make sense to you now, doesn't mean it didn't make sense at the time. And statements like yours do nothing to help relations, they just stir up the emotions and make overcoming past emotions by both orgs members harder. It is these emotions that made the amendment modification I proposed last year fail, not the facts and possible furure, but the history between the orgs..... JMHO

   Frank

Frank you are correct and I should have clarified that it makes no sense right now when relations between at least two of the organizations are improving with a common goal to better the breed and put differences aside.  I just don't like to see walls erected that tend to divide people.  I do hope that your amendment passes and that everyone can work together. 

Judy

@Richard Medlen @JudyK, Frank is referring to this part of the UNITED SCHUTZHUND CLUBS OF AMERICA (USA) CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

SECTION 2. RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
e) USA members may not be members of, or be affiliated with, any competing German Shepherd Dog
organization in the United States.

When the WDA was operating FCI events (IPO, etc) on the behalf of the GSDCA, it could easily be argued that an individual GSDCA member, competing in AKC events, was not really participating in a "competing" GSD organization because the GSDCA did not directly offer trials and judges for FCI events such as schutzhund, HGH, etc.  However, now that the GSDCA is taking back the authority to offer FCI events, being a member of both USCA and the GSDCA can be more clearly interpreted as a no-go, whereas before, only being a WDA member was a clear cut violation (due to WDA offering the same trialing and showing events as USCA).

Now here are some other things to ponder...

USCA is a member of the AWDF and has agreed to certain defined objectives:

Article II. Objectives.

J. Is a responsible member of the international canine establishment,
supporting the Federation Cynologique Intenationale (FCI).

and in turn has agreed to withdraw from the AWDF if there is a rules conflict between organizations:

Article III. Membership in the Association.

C. Member clubs may affiliate with international associations.
a. If the rules and regulations of the AWDF and those of an
international affiliation conflict, the member club must
resolve the conflict immediately by withdrawing from either
the other organization or from the AWDF.
b. The Executive Committee may grant a time extension, not to
exceed one year, to allow the member club to resolve the
conflict or poll its members on what action to take.

As far as I know, the AWDF has not officially become a "contract partner" of FCI, but should they decide to do so, they will have to agree to the "Standing Orders" of FCI which state the following:

Article 5 - Members
The national canine organisations (FCI members and contract partners) and their
members are under a mutual obligation not to interfere in each other’s respective
cynological matters.

In English "cynological" means the study of matters related to canines or domestic dogs.  I would argue that denying membership to any individual who is a member of another club, such as the GSDCA, which is a credentialed member of the WUSV is "interfering" with an individual "members" ability to "study of matters related to canines or domestic dogs".

Also since the AKC (which the GSDCA is a member of) is now operating a PAC (political action committee), USCA's rule baring membership of GSDCA members, could be interpreted as political discrimination per FCI's bylaws:

Article 3 Non-discrimination and stance against racism
Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or groups of people on
account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason is
strictly prohibited within the FCI and punishable by suspension or expulsion.

Perhaps a tactfully written complaint sent to FCI could trigger written action, even if the two above items are stretching it.  FCI would then have to give an official statement, if a complaint were filled, to clarify their perspective.  They could choose to say that they are not involved with such, like the WUSV, or they could choose to make a hard line policy. 

So does anyone know if the AWDF has officially become a "contract partner" of FCI?  If so, I believe section 2(e) of the USCA bylaws could be a violation of FCI member and contract partner statutes.