Wednesday, October 21, 2009
More on the Bylaws amendment from those in the know.
The following are the text of two messages from members of the Executive Board in support of the bylaws amendment restricting USA members from being (for all intents and purposes) members of WDA or even GSDCA. The first is from Johannes Grewe, and the second is from USA National Breed Warden Tim Burke. I hope that you find them enlightening.
First, from Johannes Grewe:
First of all let me clarify that these proposed by-law changes has the support of the Executive Officers and Directors at Large of USCA. In addition the Executive Board had been consulted and it was evident that the majority of the EB agreed to the proposed by-law changes.
When one studies the history of USCA as I have for many years it becomes very obvious that these proposed by-law changes are long overdue.
One needs to know that USCA is the organization that has brought the true German Shepherd Dog to the US against the will of the long time existing German Shepherd Dog organization within the American Kennel Club.
One also needs to know that USCA is not affiliated within the World Kennel Club and perhaps will never become a member of the World Kennel Club (FCI).
This factor makes USCA very fragile and we have enough tasks at hand keeping us accepted internationally.
Without the late WUSV President Peter Messler most likely we would not even be a member of the World Union of German Shepherd Dogs, WUSV.
The AKC German Shepherd Dog Club, GSDCA has opposed the membership of USCA in the WUSV.
I hope we all agree that the AKC and the GSDCA do not like the true German Shepherd Dog and would wish that this subject would never have risen.
The attempt of establishing a working dog program by the AKC was never been fully sanctioned by either organization AKC or GSDCA. Only some members who hate USCA and the entire Schutzhund movement in the US were behind the WDS program. The newly discussed program of listing Schutzhund Titles in the AKC pedigree does not promise to bring any progress to the true German Shepherd Dog.
The AKC and GSDCA dog is a completely different dog than the true German Shepherd Dog promoted by the SV and internationally by the WUSV. The dog is different in structure and different in temperament.
The AKC and GSDCA dog is very different to the USCA promoted dog.
Membership in both organizations creates a conflict of interest.
The Working Dog Association, WDA as I have recently learned from the WDA President is a separate organization from the GSDCA. However, it has been since the beginning and still is very strongly affiliated with the GSDCA. It seems to me that when ever it is necessary to point out that this affiliation is strongly established.
The WDA was formed by GSDCA President George Collins, Dr. David Landau, Dr. Alden Denman and others all from the GSDCA with the attempt to destroy USCA. I have witnessed George Collins and Dr. Landau several times in WUSV meetings doing everything they can against USCA.
Over the years WDA has been growing mostly with the help of USCA members. I assume that approximately 50% of their members are also USCA members. So, they slowly got stronger and today control the Show-Situation and we just watching this happen and keep watching them get stronger on the Schutzhund site too.
Several months ago we were consulted by the WDA President and started talking of forming an alliance to find common grounds for a friendly merger between our two organizations. I was a member of the USCA committee and attended the only one conference call we had. Everything seemed to be good. Later we learned that the WDA also had conversations with the GSDCA behind our back and signed a written agreement with the GSDCA.
Without the GSDCA the WDA is more than fragile; it is an organization not accepted anywhere and therefore needs the GSDCA. Without the GSDCA the SV will not release any judges to the WDA.
So here we are. I hope we all agree that the GSDCA is so different from us that a membership in both organizations creates a conflict of interest. You can only support either the true German Shepherd Dog or the creature established by the GSDCA. One should only support one or the other.
The WDA is the GSDCA-WDA and that should explain it all.
Thank you for your attention.
Johannes Grewe
When one studies the history of USCA as I have for many years it becomes very obvious that these proposed by-law changes are long overdue.
One needs to know that USCA is the organization that has brought the true German Shepherd Dog to the US against the will of the long time existing German Shepherd Dog organization within the American Kennel Club.
One also needs to know that USCA is not affiliated within the World Kennel Club and perhaps will never become a member of the World Kennel Club (FCI).
This factor makes USCA very fragile and we have enough tasks at hand keeping us accepted internationally.
Without the late WUSV President Peter Messler most likely we would not even be a member of the World Union of German Shepherd Dogs, WUSV.
The AKC German Shepherd Dog Club, GSDCA has opposed the membership of USCA in the WUSV.
I hope we all agree that the AKC and the GSDCA do not like the true German Shepherd Dog and would wish that this subject would never have risen.
The attempt of establishing a working dog program by the AKC was never been fully sanctioned by either organization AKC or GSDCA. Only some members who hate USCA and the entire Schutzhund movement in the US were behind the WDS program. The newly discussed program of listing Schutzhund Titles in the AKC pedigree does not promise to bring any progress to the true German Shepherd Dog.
The AKC and GSDCA dog is a completely different dog than the true German Shepherd Dog promoted by the SV and internationally by the WUSV. The dog is different in structure and different in temperament.
The AKC and GSDCA dog is very different to the USCA promoted dog.
Membership in both organizations creates a conflict of interest.
The Working Dog Association, WDA as I have recently learned from the WDA President is a separate organization from the GSDCA. However, it has been since the beginning and still is very strongly affiliated with the GSDCA. It seems to me that when ever it is necessary to point out that this affiliation is strongly established.
The WDA was formed by GSDCA President George Collins, Dr. David Landau, Dr. Alden Denman and others all from the GSDCA with the attempt to destroy USCA. I have witnessed George Collins and Dr. Landau several times in WUSV meetings doing everything they can against USCA.
Over the years WDA has been growing mostly with the help of USCA members. I assume that approximately 50% of their members are also USCA members. So, they slowly got stronger and today control the Show-Situation and we just watching this happen and keep watching them get stronger on the Schutzhund site too.
Several months ago we were consulted by the WDA President and started talking of forming an alliance to find common grounds for a friendly merger between our two organizations. I was a member of the USCA committee and attended the only one conference call we had. Everything seemed to be good. Later we learned that the WDA also had conversations with the GSDCA behind our back and signed a written agreement with the GSDCA.
Without the GSDCA the WDA is more than fragile; it is an organization not accepted anywhere and therefore needs the GSDCA. Without the GSDCA the SV will not release any judges to the WDA.
So here we are. I hope we all agree that the GSDCA is so different from us that a membership in both organizations creates a conflict of interest. You can only support either the true German Shepherd Dog or the creature established by the GSDCA. One should only support one or the other.
The WDA is the GSDCA-WDA and that should explain it all.
Thank you for your attention.
Johannes Grewe
From Tim Burke
Hello,
The proposed by-law changes state nothing about where you can show or trial. That may also be discussed but it is a separate issue from what Johannes has stated in his proposed bylaw. I do know that to show at the WDA Sieger show you must be a WDA member.
I must admit that I had the same initial feeling that many have expressed “I live in America so don’t tell me what I can and can’t do!”. But after thinking it through and hearing some of the reasons for this proposal I can understand why this discussion needs to take place. I would like to point out why there are reasons to at least consider why this has been raised and ask that you evaluate the pros and cons of both sides and make an informed decision based on facts and not passionate internet rants.
Let’s consider for a moment what might happen in a typical competitive business situation. Two businesses are in competition with each other, both offer a similar product and both compete for the same customer. One business is older, more established, and much larger than the other. In business, several scenarios could play out. A friendly merger could take place, the assets, employees, and customers of the smaller business are merged with the larger one creating a homogenous company. If a friendly merger is not able to take place than the merger (consolidation) could take the form of a forced buyout. This is especially prevalent for publicly traded companies. And lastly, if the larger company is unable to complete the merger with either of the first two scenarios then it may try to force the smaller business out completely.
USA and WDA attempted to find common ground several months ago with the end goal being a “friendly” merger. Unfortunately the WDA is also tied into GSDCA and was simultaneously negotiating with them to improve that relationship. Many on the EB feel that we extended our trust to the WDA leadership and that our trust was violated.
From a breed standpoint the WDA is a small thorn in our side because they have different rules than us. They are very tightly tied to what they perceive the SV rules to be and do not have any separate considerations for our country. I think that most would agree that the rules for Germany do not always work well here in a country that is physically far larger and with far fewer participants in Schutzhund than Germany. We continue to be the only country in the world that is unwilling to embrace our own system and to stand up for ourselves. Some make the argument that the WDA has some credibility because they are an offspring of the GSDCA and therefore of the AKC. But I would like to point out some arguments against that. First ask yourself, if the AKC/GSDCA are tied so tightly to the WDA then why a separate program (Working Dog) for them instead of adopting the WDA and Schutzhund as the mainstream? Secondly, it is very unlikely that the AKC/GSDCA will ever adopt Schutzhund and the international (WUSV) breed standard. They are too firmly entrenched in their current way of doing things, the dogs are not genetically capable of doing the sport, and the handlers are also not capable. Please do not take the previous statement as without exception, because there are dogs and handlers that could do the sport but they are a minority. The last thing that an old school GSDCA person wants is a red and black, Schutzhund titled, German shepherd showing up at one of their specialty shows.
It will also be argued that we have too few trials and shows now and that we would be shutting down an alternative for our members. Well if WDA no longer exists, is the expectation that the WDA clubs and members would cease trialing and showing their dogs? I don’t think that is likely and I would expect that those who wish to trial and show will continue to do so, just with USA.
I am sure that there will be much discussion about this and I encourage you to ask questions, and evaluate the information for yourself. If the leadership within both WDA and USA have recognized that our breed is better served with one strong organization (as an alternative to GSDCA) than the question perhaps is not if, but of when?
Please have fun with your dogs and the sport, at the end of the day that is what really matters the most.
Tim
The proposed by-law changes state nothing about where you can show or trial. That may also be discussed but it is a separate issue from what Johannes has stated in his proposed bylaw. I do know that to show at the WDA Sieger show you must be a WDA member.
I must admit that I had the same initial feeling that many have expressed “I live in America so don’t tell me what I can and can’t do!”. But after thinking it through and hearing some of the reasons for this proposal I can understand why this discussion needs to take place. I would like to point out why there are reasons to at least consider why this has been raised and ask that you evaluate the pros and cons of both sides and make an informed decision based on facts and not passionate internet rants.
Let’s consider for a moment what might happen in a typical competitive business situation. Two businesses are in competition with each other, both offer a similar product and both compete for the same customer. One business is older, more established, and much larger than the other. In business, several scenarios could play out. A friendly merger could take place, the assets, employees, and customers of the smaller business are merged with the larger one creating a homogenous company. If a friendly merger is not able to take place than the merger (consolidation) could take the form of a forced buyout. This is especially prevalent for publicly traded companies. And lastly, if the larger company is unable to complete the merger with either of the first two scenarios then it may try to force the smaller business out completely.
USA and WDA attempted to find common ground several months ago with the end goal being a “friendly” merger. Unfortunately the WDA is also tied into GSDCA and was simultaneously negotiating with them to improve that relationship. Many on the EB feel that we extended our trust to the WDA leadership and that our trust was violated.
From a breed standpoint the WDA is a small thorn in our side because they have different rules than us. They are very tightly tied to what they perceive the SV rules to be and do not have any separate considerations for our country. I think that most would agree that the rules for Germany do not always work well here in a country that is physically far larger and with far fewer participants in Schutzhund than Germany. We continue to be the only country in the world that is unwilling to embrace our own system and to stand up for ourselves. Some make the argument that the WDA has some credibility because they are an offspring of the GSDCA and therefore of the AKC. But I would like to point out some arguments against that. First ask yourself, if the AKC/GSDCA are tied so tightly to the WDA then why a separate program (Working Dog) for them instead of adopting the WDA and Schutzhund as the mainstream? Secondly, it is very unlikely that the AKC/GSDCA will ever adopt Schutzhund and the international (WUSV) breed standard. They are too firmly entrenched in their current way of doing things, the dogs are not genetically capable of doing the sport, and the handlers are also not capable. Please do not take the previous statement as without exception, because there are dogs and handlers that could do the sport but they are a minority. The last thing that an old school GSDCA person wants is a red and black, Schutzhund titled, German shepherd showing up at one of their specialty shows.
It will also be argued that we have too few trials and shows now and that we would be shutting down an alternative for our members. Well if WDA no longer exists, is the expectation that the WDA clubs and members would cease trialing and showing their dogs? I don’t think that is likely and I would expect that those who wish to trial and show will continue to do so, just with USA.
I am sure that there will be much discussion about this and I encourage you to ask questions, and evaluate the information for yourself. If the leadership within both WDA and USA have recognized that our breed is better served with one strong organization (as an alternative to GSDCA) than the question perhaps is not if, but of when?
Please have fun with your dogs and the sport, at the end of the day that is what really matters the most.
Tim
Friday, October 2, 2009
Regional business of several kinds
Happy Thursday everyone,
There are several things afoot that you need to be aware of. The General Board meeting is coming in just over a month and that means busy…
Thanks for sitting thru a long email. I hope training is going well for everyone and that at the very least, you’re enjoying each others’ company.
Yours in the sport,
Warren Jones
PNW RD
There are several things afoot that you need to be aware of. The General Board meeting is coming in just over a month and that means busy…
- If you or any member of your club is planning on attending the National Championship in Davenport, IA, IT IS IMPERATIVE that you get a delegate letter sent in. According to all the rules, that letter must be RECEIVED by Sara Wallick by October 5, 2009. As you will see below, there are several issues confronting us that your participation is vital to. The instructions and forms are available at http://www.germanshepherddog.com/members/forms/index.htm. If your club cannot send a delegate, but is willing to trust someone outside the club who is going to the meeting, consider making them a club member, and submit a revised club membership form along with your delegate letter. I’ll probably catch some flak for that suggestion, as it does violate the spirit if not the letter of the law.
- The only trophy left on the nationals web site is for high scoring Pacific Northwest dog.I have convinced my wife to sponsor the trophy in the name of her business, K9FUNdamentals. I would have suggested the Regional Fund sponsor it, but that requires a full vote, and I wanted that hole plugged fast – it is embarrassing that ours was the last region to get our trophy sponsored. If you have a problem with this, please contact me privately.
- At an Executive Board conference call on Sept. 28, a variety of items were discussed. Among them…
- Please be sure that, if you schedule an SV judge, you allow LOTS of time to get the paperwork done. The hangup is not Stephanie Dunion – she gets stuff turned around pretty quick. It’s on the SV end. In addition, be very careful to ensure that any FCI judge you might wish to use also is properly documented. There was a recent case with an SV judge attempting to over-book a trip to the states by doing the excess trials under an FCI license that now appears to be invalid. Check with Nathaniel Roque, our new DOJ, if there is a question.
- No bids have been submitted for the Working Dog Championships in 2010, and only one bid has been received for the Nationals next fall; that is from a club that has never even hosted a Regional, as far as they (WC/NE committee) can tell. Experienced clubs are needed to host these events; if none come forward, there is talk of the National Organization picking a location and running everything from the top. I’m not sure how that works, but it’s probably similar to the way the Sieger show is run.
- A number of bylaws changes were discussed, and I will get you the final proposed changes as soon as they are complete. I can fill you in on the gist of a couple of them, however. Keep in mind these are PROPOSEDbylaws changes – they’ll get voted on at the GBM:
- Article IV, Section 2 would be amended to prohibit any USA member from being a member of any competing German Shepherd organization in the US. Several other sections of the bylaws require modification to fit with this change. The clear and intentional ramification of this is that you cannot be a member of USA and a member of either WDA or GSDCA at the same time. I am fully aware that this will be a real problem for a number of folks, and even at least one club in our region. I plan on taking my cue on this vote from the clubs and individual members in the region, so I look forward to hearing from you on this. Please help out all of us, though, and refrain from sending hot-tempered responses to everyone on this mailing list. If you want to send them to me, that’s fine.
- A couple of other changes, definitely for the better in my opinion – a forming club can go straight to full status (no affiliation trial) if they’ve been an AWDF-member club for 4 years and hosted trials;
- the annual trial requirement would be changed to say “any USA-sponsored event” – i.e., a helper seminar and classification, etc.;
- Club dues would be due June 1 everywhere for every club – after 60 days you drop to affiliate status;
- the Executive Board will shrink by 1 or 2 members.
- Article IV, Section 2 would be amended to prohibit any USA member from being a member of any competing German Shepherd organization in the US. Several other sections of the bylaws require modification to fit with this change. The clear and intentional ramification of this is that you cannot be a member of USA and a member of either WDA or GSDCA at the same time. I am fully aware that this will be a real problem for a number of folks, and even at least one club in our region. I plan on taking my cue on this vote from the clubs and individual members in the region, so I look forward to hearing from you on this. Please help out all of us, though, and refrain from sending hot-tempered responses to everyone on this mailing list. If you want to send them to me, that’s fine.
Thanks for sitting thru a long email. I hope training is going well for everyone and that at the very least, you’re enjoying each others’ company.
Yours in the sport,
Warren Jones
PNW RD
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