Current USCA Helper policy discussion - Page 2

Sounds like nepotism.

If I was a young helper, I would get involved with the organization which I believe is the most progressive. I would place myself into the situations which will help me grow and allow me to help the breed[s] and sport. The ''cream will rise to the top'' and I will get the recognition I deserve. When I read the requirements for UScA helper program I see I could be doing club trials very quickly after I get my first classification. A few trials and a certain number of dogs and i can do regional events. One or two regionals should give me the required events and dogs to be able to do a national event. There are no world events on the horizon so I would have ample time to elevate myself to that level if i am able. I am certain that once I show off my skills I will be an asset to the region and National club so my ability and skills will be noticed and helpful. Get involved and evolved.

The policy has already changed, there was a vote on it a little bit ago. It was in order to include the WDA helpers that wanted to switch over. Basically, you get to keep your level of certification but you have to attend a helper seminar within a year or two of submitting to be a helper in USCA. Pretty standard as the rest of us have to go to helper seminars and get certified at various times depending on our level of certification. I should add...not sure what the requirements are for the various levels in WDA/GSDCA are/were, but I believe you have to meet the USCA requirements (basically number of dogs) in order to have that certification level.

Basically...a helper book is a helper book. Much like a score book. USCA still counts those dogs as dogs worked in trial.

The policies of the USCA are based on nepotism and ego driven me, me, me attitudes .. what the USCA does best. There is no cream in the USCA .. just crude oily politics and ego that floats on the surface of the USCA and fouls everything it touches. The only way anyone rises in the USCA is by drinking the Kool Aid and promoting ego and politics over fair play and honest sport. The USCA wants everyone to forget what they have done with their cheating at all levels and dishonest voting system.

BBBB; i guess you have put all of your intelect, energy, and skill elsewhere to help this great breed. God bless you!

I don’t think that the old policy was keeping people out, but I do think the board did the right thing by making exceptions for this situation. USCA puts on the most events in the United States and is the organization to be a part of if you do want to consistenly do trials and try to get your name out there. It would be much more difficult to do so as a member of the other organizations available in this country. The change was mainly done to ensure former GSDCA/WDA clubs have an easier time joining USCA and that their helpers feel accepted. It might affect already established helpers in USCA, but probably very unlikely to and also won’t be that big of a deal. More than likely helpers with more time in USCA are still going to be selected for bigger trials and I don’t think that’s unacceptable considering there are people that have invested a lot of years trying to get to a place and it wouldn’t be fair to take it away and give it to someone who has “just entered.” The helpers that get certified will be able to do their club trial, and just like the rest of us will try out for regionals, possibly get called to try out for national events. Try outs are held in front of everyone and the judge selects the helper based on the try out that day, so in a sense everyone is getting a fair shake. I’m sure we’ll hear about it when a former GSDCA/WDA helper gets passed over for a national trial and there will be all sorts of conspiracy theories…but at the same time we have to understand that the organization does have to be somewhat loyal to the people that were originally there. We’ll probably have a few issues crop up in the next few years, but moving forward everyone will just forget anything happened and it won’t matter at all. Most helpers have a fairly short run doing national trials these days, USCA has made an effort to bring up new helpers and give them a national stage to perform on. I believe this effort is very important for the future and growth of the sport.

Bavarian Wagon  was pretty close to what USCA has setup for helpers coming over from WDA. The process is as follows: 1) The helper needs to get a USCA helper book; this is pretty standard 2) Within the first year of coming over, the helper will need to attend a USCA helper seminar and classification. 3) Once the evaluation and classification have been done by a USCA teaching helper, they will need to submit their WDA helper book to USCA. at this time the committee will review the notes of the USCA teaching helper, number of dogs in the WDA book and decide if the level at which the helper came over is justified or if the helper needs to be re-classified at lower level based on the number of dogs in the book and notes of the teaching helper.

 

Before people get really bent out of shape about this, let me share a recent event. I recently meet a helper coming over from USCA who was/is classified as a "Regional-Nation" level helper in WDA (not sure even what a "Regional-National" level is). This helper has attended one WDA seminar, has 4 dogs in his WDA helper book and has only worked one club trial with judges marks as "sufficient".

I know another young helper who has achieved a National Level classification from DVG, and this helper has NEVER worked a trial therfore has 0 dogs in his helper book.

My question to the PBD, is do you honestly feel these helper should carry their current classified level over to USCA?

When it comes right down to it, it,s about the safety to the dog. I think USCA policy is fair and ir proper.

 surley you want your dogs to be caught and worked by proficient helpers? No wait, all you have ever shown us about your dogs is the constant whining about the organization. I forgot them Hard Rock candy dogs are for lookin at and nothing else.

Knowing that in "real life" even associate degrees ( think about a doctor of medicine ) are not acknowledged between some countries, Cutaway´s definition sounds more than fair to me.
In case this is the official status quo there is no reason for a good helper to be afraid.

Well, my definition of a 'nationals-level' helper would be someone who had worked their way up through the process--start out working club trial level, advance to working regional trial level, and have at least one national event under their belt...and be able to provide proof of such. I was under the impression the OP was referring to individuals who had actually worked above the club-trial level on more than a single occasion would be made to start at the bottom rung with the beginners.