GSDCA Message to it's Members - Page 2

bzcz,

Maybe it's not so much what you have as what you don't have. What you have is one organization who essentially hired another to represent it's intrest and responsibility to satisfy the requirements to be a WUSV member. The GSDCA had the WDA to fulfill it's obligations. The GSDCA retained the WUSV authority to allow the WDA access to it's WUSV/SV services. 

The WDA proceeded in a direction around 2012 to change what was a pretty user friendly functional club. This direction included two of many directions the GSDCA found intolerable. First was the WDA's obvious move to separate themselves from the GSDCA and acquire the WUSV affiliation. This began with the scorebook issue where the WUSV acknowledged the GSDCA and WDA were seperate organizations but requested that they be recognized as a WUSV organizations for the purpose of entry into USCA events with GSDCA scorebooks issued by the WDA. Shortly thereafter the WDA began aligning themselves directly with the WUSV. Their National Sieger Show was billed as a WUSV international event hosted by the WDA. Not the GSDCA and WDA co-host as was previously, but a WDA only event. The WDA was showing the community and the GSDCA the path they intended to proceed,,,,,, and it didn't include the organization they still relied upon to access their essential services. The next move was to discuss, propose, and to a large degree implement a separation from the GSDCA by removing a GSDCA board member from the WDA board and proposing changes to the bylaws that excluded the GSDCA 100% from the WDA. This can be read in the GSDCA message to their members.

The second intolerable action was where the WDA mismanaged the WUSV world event. Mismanaged you say? Pretty strong word. Let's examine the WDA whine as to why there was friction between the two organizations. The WDA had to rent vehicles. Yes; that's the straw that broke the camels back. We had to rent vehicles to get the judges back and forth, 7,000 dollars worth of vehicles. We had to pay for them and the mean GSDCA will not reimburse us. Whine, they are such bad people. Well.....It's not like you shouldn't have recognized that judges needed to go to where they were judging is it? What did you expect them to do? How did you expect them to get there since you're the expert we hired to run this thing? Why didn't you put a line item in the budget or make provisions from the beginning to get the judges to where they need to judge? Weren't you the ones that said we didn't know how to run the event? You can see some similar issues with the tracklayers and helpers.

The event came off OK to everyone's credit, but the WDA had a claim for reimbursement. it was a 25,000 claim for costs related to the one event. When the costs surfaced in the January's 2014 Treasurer's report. Turns out the WDA's 25,000 claim they were going to sue the GSDCA for included some 'extras' about 9,000 in items the WDA admits wasn't connected to the event and admits they are not entitled to. Bear in mind the GSDCA is still on the WDA board so this information is going right to the GSDCA. It's no secret. 

So, the GSDCA has now taken over the WUSV/SV services. That's what you have. The parent organization that now has on their website all of the SV services needed to make your German Shepherd SV compliant.

Here's what you don't have. You don't have an organization substituting the best interest of the German Shepherd comminity for the interests of a small group of people. You don't have rules being changed year after year to benefit the board members. You don't have an organization that ignores their own bylays and when someone mentions the breach, they ignore or justify. You don't have an organization that listens to no one but themselves.

Here's what the GSDCA has done for the FCI/SV or whatever you want to call it community. They have taken a portion of this community that at one time was strong. The German German Shepherd had a following. Clubs were active, events were plentiful, there was excitement, enthusiasm, and the German way of doing things was catching on,,,,,and given it a second chance, a breath of fresh air, an opportunity to expand.

Is it perfect? We don't even know what it is yet. So far it's encouraging. In any event is better than what was.

Dog1

All that sounds good, WDA is singing the same damn song!  Fact remains that the SV/WUSV has not publicly supported either organization.

Wallace,

I imagine the Captain of the Titannic told passengers to be calm, help was on the way, we have this under control.

Dog 1.  Problem is your only hearing one side of the story.  The one that is SCREAMING everything all over the internet.  That would be the GSDCA.

Funny you should mention the trucks and the tracklayers for the worlds.  I was the tracking coordinator for the worlds.  Little history lesson here.  I came on board after the tracking grounds were already selected personally by Frank Fasano(along with others).  The tracking grounds were a state park that is closed to motor vehicles.  The amount of ground that they had set aside at the park we used all of it on Friday for tracking at the Worlds.  I had to procure more ground from the Park for us to use before the event ever started.  I had to do this over the objections of Frank.  The tracking grounds were over two miles apart from end to end and the park allows NO motor vehicles on the grounds.  How are you going to get the dogs and competitors in and out of the grounds?  I was at the meeting out in Maryland with the Park where we got them to allow us to bring in a set number of trucks and gator type ATVs.  I was on several conference calls with Frank and Carmen Battaglia where it was discussed about putting these items in the budget.  They, Frank and Carmen, stated that they were in the budget.  I have an email between Frank and I discussing the rental of the trucks and he told me directly that Dan Yee was in charge of procuring these vehicles.  I also have an email from Frank that states I am authorized by GSDCA to fly out to the tracking fields in the weeks before the trial to map out all the tracks on the tracking grounds.  I flew out under my own dime.  Paid for my own Hotel, Paid for my own rental car.    GSDCA thru Frank and Mary Gattone told me that I would be reimbursed for those expenses.  For these and other expenses I have never received a dime in reimbursement from either GSDCA or WDA.  I'm out over 2k. 

I have the emails still where it states by GSDCA that I am authorized by them to do this.  Then after the show, they backed out and never reimbursed me.  Others are in for a whole lot more money than I am.  I just walked away from it figuring that was my contribution to the trial. 

You make a comment "you're the expert hired to run this thing"  Exactly who are you referring to that got paid?  Everyone was volunteers doing this in their spare time. You are correct that several things were missed in the beginning.  They didn't have provisions for having the judges or competitors and dogs being hauled around.  However I pointed this out to Carmen and Frank OVER  A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE the trial.  Carmen asked how that was all missed when we had the conference call.  I told him I didn't know how, but we know now that it has to be fixed.  I also emailed Frank about it.  You don't get to cry that you didn't know when you knew 18 months before the event. 

There is alot behind the scenes of every trial that gets a little hectic and nerve wracking as it comes together. As far as the rest of the expenses, I have no personal first hand knowledge of them so I can't comment.  But I can comment on the "straw that broke the camel's back".  GSDCA knew and agreed to the truck and gator rentals.  Why didn't they rent them then and control the costs if they were so worried about them?  They certainly had the opportunity to do so.  Instead of addressing it at the time, GSDCA hid it's true intentions and decided after the fact to not pay what they said they would.  What anyone decides to do about that is their own personal decision and they can't be faulted for how they handle that deception from GSDCA.

You end your post saying that, "what you have now is better than what you did have"  Really?  Based on what?  They have done nothing but sling mud publicly.  What are they doing now that is better for my dogs?  Following the GSDCA more closely (who has a breed standard that is against the WUSV standard?), or is it the backing out of prior committments that is better? or maybe just the screaming noise they are making on the internet?  They haven't hosted a single trial or event yet. 

Wallace has it right.  The WUSV will decide this as it does pretty much everything else in this country because we have shown ourselves incapable of the maturity needed to work together for our dogs.  We whine about the WUSV controlling everything in this country but at least they are about the dogs.  This is all a bunch of power struggle over spilt milk. 

The only thing the SV has said for sure is.  They have told USCA to stay out of it (not that USCA had any plans to get in it) and that they do not get involve in civil matters.

bzcz,

A good response and perspective. Thanks for shedding some first hand information. I also have some first hand information I base my thoughts and comments on starting around 2007. Been in this awhile myself.

As far as the charges for the Worlds, you point out some shortcomings. Let's take out everything about the Worlds. Forget about the gators, forget about the fields, etc. Let's look at published facts. Cut through any misunderstandings and get right to the core of this. The WDA admits, on paper, in their treasurer's report they are seeking 24,500 of which they recognize only 16,500 is legitimate. How do you get past that? Is that good business? Is that the way to get the money you are owed?

My background is Government and commercial construction contracting. When a contract is written, you hire the expert to perform. It's their job and responsibility to perform. If someone gets into what you were hired to do, shame on you for letting them influence your performance. If additional coast are incurred and you don't present your claim correctly, can't or will not provide the proper paperwork to get it processed, you don't get reimbursed. You loss could very well be similar to General contractors that fail to present their subcontractor's claims properly. Happens all the time. It's a part of doing business with reputable people.

Let's take a look at my statement where I said; "Is it perfect? We don't even know what it is yet. So far it's encouraging. In any event is better than what was." I'll stand by that statement after being a part of and then watching the current WDA board take control of a good organization and run it into the ground. All the incentives were removed from it over the past few years as they removed good people and chased many good people away. Need proof of what I'm saying, just look at the number of entries in their events ove the past three years and read the Treasurer's report. It's there in black and white.

Will the GSDCA be better? Let's make one simple comparison. How many of the current people named by the GSDCA are on the committee for self benefit? Give me what you think is a percentage. Then go look at what's left of the WDA and give me a percentage. I think that number will prove my point.

 

Dog1,

I haven't seen the treasurer's report that you are referring to and I'm not about to take it all at face value.  If you want to discuss it, then post it so we can all look at it and make informed comments and constructive comments.  On the face of it, it makes no sense for anyone to say you owe me 25k, of which only 16k is legitimate.  Need to see that in writing for myself. 

Your entire paragraphs 2 and 3 are all full of suppositions.  It does you no good to suppose and come up with theories on what YOU THINK might have happened.  If you know, then say so.  If you don't, then don't make excuses for those who failed to uphold their end of the bargain.  Doing business with reputable people means that when I fly out to Philly the weeks before the trial at Franks authorization and I have to use my credit card to pay for my hotel, even though the hotel has the GSDCA card on file, because my room hasn't been authorized for that weekend, it has nothing to do with "failing to submit my claim properly".  Again, don't pretend what you don't know and don't defend with your theories those who were responsible.

As regards to your last paragraph.  Even on this simple comparison, the new committee fails.  NONE of the current WDA board is paid.  At least three members of the new committee are getting paid by GSDCA to be on the committee.  I think that getting paid to be on a committee comes as close to defining self benefit as I can think of.  Score 0 - 3.

However, you missed one other criteria that I think is important.  Integrity.  You do what you say you are going to do.  Frank told me that Dan was responsible for procurring the vehicles for the tracking.  Means he knows about it and that it's going to cost money.  He knew, he should pay.  Simple Concept.  If you represent an organization and you say that you were going to do something, then you should do it.  Should we also talk on this open forum about the WUSV's threat to Sanction GSDCA when Frank turned the WUSV world's into a three day event instead of a four day event?

Integrity matters in anything that you do.  How is it going to be maintained on this new Paid committee?

bzcz,

 

I didn't mean to skirt your issues with my paragraph 2 and 3. I thought your points were well madeconcerning some of what went on prior and leading up to the event. No discussion was necessary. I'll be happy to address some of your points. Here's what you said:

The amount of ground that they had set aside at the park we used all of it on Friday for tracking at the Worlds. Looks like the WDA didn't have this part covered adequately. They are the experts that put this together. WDA serious shortcoming #1.

The tracking grounds were over two miles apart from end to end and the park allows NO motor vehicles on the grounds.  How are you going to get the dogs and competitors in and out of the grounds? Didn't anyone realize this in the beginning? The WDA should have worked this simple basic logistic out from the very beginning. WDA serious shortcoming #2.

I was on several conference calls with Frank and Carmen Battaglia where it was discussed about putting these items in the budget. By the time you got involved the budget was already set. Why is this being discussed now? Why didn't the WDA have these in the budget? Why are they being discussed between you and the GSDCA? Where's Dan? Why isn't he on the phone working this out?

 You are correct that several things were missed in the beginning.  They didn't have provisions for having the judges or competitors and dogs being hauled around.  Carmen asked how that was all missed when we had the conference call.  I told him I didn't know how, but we know now that it has to be fixed. There you have it, several things were missed. Need anyone say more? I think you have adequately shown through your own testimony here that the WDA came up short in many of it's responsibilities. I'll bet you can find more examples if you look a little harder. Now that this is behind us, my point being made, take it or leave it, let's move on. How do you get past the Treasurer's report? Check your e mail, I sent you a copy.

My count and your count differ. I'm looking at the people named as a part of the committee that I know to a degree. I haven't seen any of them; a) Bend or break rules to benefit another board member. b) Accept entries and deny those entered participation in an event they paid to enter. c) Made or changed rules during the course of the event to benefit a board member. d) Showed total regard for bylaws that were circumvented to benefit other members of the board. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

Integrity, you have to be kidding, right.

Curious-- how many "tracking coordinators" were there? You are the third person I have heard or read claim to have been "the" tracking coordinator AND also claim to have pointed out the same problems to TPTB.

Nia,

Ron Gordon was the first WDA tracking  coordinator. He was removed or left prior to me. I don't know cause I never asked.  Figured that it would be different stories depending on who was talking and it didn't really matter.  

The setup of the world's is that Herr Jurgen Ritzi is the WUSV tracking coordinator, Dean Wylie was the GSDCA tracking coordinator, and I was the WDA tracking coordinator.  We are supposed to have all worked together to manage the tracking. 

I refuse to get into the details but it didn't work that way.  What I say I did, I did.  You can ask the others for what they did.  Nia maybe you should ask your USCA president Jim Alloway.  He knows and can vouch for me since he was out at the world's asking me what flight was where since I was out there coordinating all the tracking. Lol

Always love how Nia dances right up to the line of calling someone a liar without going over, must be the lawyer in her.

Speaking of lawyering! Dog1, too dang funny!!  Your going to try and "lawyer" me when with words of testimony and all your nonsense.  Here's my advice to you.  Stick to what you know and quit speculating.  You only show your ignorance and bias.  First and only example I'm going to give ,because I have kids and dogs to play with, is your shortcoming number 1.  Again you have no idea what you are talking about.  By this time in the process, not only had Dan Yee signed off but so had Frank Fasano, as well as the GSDCA tracking chair Dean Wylie, as well as two officials from the WUSV who were flown here solely to inspect the tracking.  See there is nothing done at the world's that the WUSV doesn't check on.  How did they all miss it?  Don't know, don't care.  I'm not into blame gaming.  Fact is we needed better/more grounds.  I couldn't find better grounds and I tried. So we got more ground from the park.

This is not a WDA error.  It's a collective oops that all national events have happen somewhere. You obviously like to sit back and throw stones. Get off your butt and volunteer at these big events.  You'd be amazed how much last minute changes have to be implemented and how fast things can change from what you've been told or planned on.  I've been involved with hosting at least 4 national championships and I couldn't tell you how many regionals.  One of the National Championships was a USCA national that had over a 100 entries. We weren't expecting that large an entry and we had to scramble to adjust.  It happens and you deal with it.

Btw, in your lawyering, you have avoided all my questions and comments to you.  It's a nice diversion tactic.  It's also a sure sign of someone who's not actually having a discussion but someone who has an agenda.

You want to discuss, then answer the uncomfortable questions. Don't rotate to a different angle to push different points and divert the topic.  

I have not received any email with a treasurers report and I checked all my folders.  Email is mklevin@hughes.net.  If you want to discuss.  If you have an agenda and just want to twist words and force everyone to think your way, then save us both a bunch of time and don't bother. 

I'm off to park to play with my little rugrats and mutts.