GSDCA-WDA BYLAW Change Proposal - Page 11

Mr. Payne--Once again I hear your frustrations and I agree with you.  The heart and soul of all working organizations will always be the members.  However, you acknowledge that you have gone before the Board with your concerns and "nothing was done as if it didn't matter."  Well, it obviously didn't matter.  Beaugsd echoed those same sentiments about the lack of shows and trials and about decisions being made by Board members without adequate experience or, worse yet , adequate interest in trialing and showing.  That and other issues is why the Concerned WDA Members are trying to bring about a positive change in the WDA.  But the only way that is going to happen is if this Board is dragged, kicking and screaming, into accepting the will of the membership, and the only way that can happen is if these 3 by law proposals are defeated.  Indeed, how many people show up at a meeting in order to have a quorum is, therefore, critical to making needed changes because if there is no quorum, than no motions can be passed for those needed changes.

The Board is elected to represent the members and the interests of the members and to promote the betterment of the breed, and not for what is in the interest or the betterment or self-serving interests of particular Board members  And, yet, for too long the Boards have been able to operate in an out-of control, self-serving manner because there were never enough WDA members present at the NASS Membership Meetings to pose questions as to what was going on or about any potential conflicts of interest, and, believe me, the Boards were well aware of this and counted on the lack of attendance not to be called to account to the members for things that the Board or individual Board members were doing or not doing.  It is time for this charade to end.

At the NASS 2011 Membership Meeting in October, the membership, thanks to a quorum of 50 members present, actually did override an illegal Board decision and forced the Board to folow its own By-Laws to rotate the site of the NASS each year by time zone rather than cater to the interests of a Board member to hold NASS 2012 in Region 1, which would have been the 3rd year in a row on the East coast.  And, as a result of the membership revolt, NASS 2012 will be held in Illinois.  That success was only possible because a quorum of 50 members attended that meeting , so, you see, numbers really do matter.  However, in its first meeting in January, 2012, the current Board blatantly and unapologetically defied the membership by voting to locate NASS 2013 back of the East coast to Region 1 Director Henkel, instead of in the West, where it should be located according to the By-Laws.

Therefore, again the current 3 By-Law Proposals are the Board's blatant and arrogant way to make certain that the voices of defiant, but well-intentioned WDA members are never successfully heard again!  It is this Board that is employing a "Power Play."  By proposing to raise the required Quorum to 200 members, this Board is trying to ensure that this Board and any future Board will never have to worry about Board decisions being overturned at future NASS Membership Meetings, and, furthermore, Director Henkel is not going to have to worry that any pesky members at the NASS 2012 Membership Meeting will overrule the Board so that NASS 2013 will be reassigned to the West Coast as it should be according to the By-Laws already in place.  Believe me, your questioning of (1) "how many people show up at a meeting;" (2) "who's voted in or appointed:" and (3) "how long one stays in office" are extremely important, and never before as critically important as now, and that is why I am respectfully asking you to reconsider your decision not to vote and to instead cast your ballot "against" all three of the By-Law Proposals.  The future of the WDA depends on the defeat of all three of them.

I also hope you can see that we are on your side and that all of us agree on more things than we disagree on.  Moreover, we need your help and the help of all WDA members to initiate change from the top down and those changes should include rules and regulations about trials, shows, betterment of the breed projects, and more attention to the local and regional levels, rather than just the national level, and more membership imput and communication, in addition to more respect for membership opinions and concerns.  It is time for your voice to be heard and reckoned with, along with our voices, because you, as we, speak for the vast majority of WDA members, who simply want what you want and what we want--to be able to train, trial, show, and enjoy and love our dogs, and to give all WDA members reasons to want to form clubs, to want to join clubs, and to want to work to promote more trials and shows, and to know our voices are being heard.  Nothing more; nothing less.
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Maligirl just posted:  "In both organizations very few if any of the board members are actively training and titling dogs in the sport of IPO, they don't feel the brunt of their decisions or lack of trials/training at the club levels like the members who are actively pursuing titles/training do and it's becoming apparant that they don't care - it seems to be all about "power" to them.  The few members in both organizations that are actively training somehow see to it that higher level  trials that they intend to compete in are held either at their home field or at least in their region - I guess that would be one incentive for higher level competitors to join the board (insert sarcasim here). " 
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WELL SAID AND SADLY SO TRUE, MALIGIRL!!

THERE IS STILL TIME FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT CAST YOUR BALLOT TO DO SO AND TO VOTE "NO" ON ALL THREE BY-LAW PROPOSALS.  HELP TAKE BACK YOUR ORGANIZATION!!  AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SAID YOU DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT, PLEASE CONTACT JOY SCHULTZ IMMEDIATELY TO GET ANOTHER ONE!

Openmind,
I swear I heard "America the Beautiful" playing as I read the last part of your post!  
Seriously, your posts are very entertaining but they also hit the nail on the head.
It is sad, but I have not renewed my membership to WDA because of politics like this.....I'm still trying to figure out what organization to join because they all seem to have their "quirks" for lack of a better word.
Someone, I forget who, told me they bypass the organizations here in favor of membership in the S.V.  uh yeah...no politics there!

You mentioned that this would have been the 3rd year in a row on the East coast.  How did it come to pass that it not only was held twice on the E.C. but also in the same exact location?

Bravo Openmind!

You certainly have a handle on the current affairs.

I do not believe anyone wants to rock the boat, only follow the by laws that were voted on by the membership.
When I attended NASS 2010 the membership voted to have NASS rotate by region: East, Midwest, West, Midwest and back to East. This was something I felt was fair to all exhibitors. Why was it held 2 years in a row on the East Coast is a mystery to me.
Everyone tends to forget the WDA exists because of the membership. We do the shows/trials, etc. and we deserve to be heard.

Recently George Collins passed away. He started the WDA and I am sure he is flipping over in his grave watching what has become of it. Please don't just complain, vote for what you beleive is right.
Do not let anyone intiimidate you.

 ~Pat

"At both organizations few if any of the board members are actively titling their dogs....". NONSENSE. All of the 10 member UScA board have titled multiple dogs; among them are National Champions, multiple times high level National competitors, Universal Siegers winners, and World qualifiers. MOST are working dogs today. All but Nancy are certified helpers and active with their clubs and 3 are SV designated judges.... They (the boards) are light years in accomplishment and on the field capability from one another.... Kevin Nance

Kevin, that is indeed impressive.  It's unfortunate that the WDA Board can't say the same thing.  I do think it's high time that the WDA clubs are required to actively participate in the organization.  In my area there are some very active clubs who hold multiple trials and shows on a yearly basis but if you look at the number of trials listed on the WDA site overall it's discouraging to see how few trials are being held nationwide.  Perhaps it's time for a change.
Judy

First just wanted to thank Openmind for the refreshing comments, not only are they fun to read, but they are extremely accurate and reflective of the current environment of the WDA Board.

Wonder if we could ask for a section on the WDA website that lists for each Board member the name of the dog, titles earned and when for each dog that they have personally titled.  It could be included in a bio section for each Board Member.

I think it would be a wonderfully enlightening section.............

Chris

Almost feels like a "Dog Club Spring", doesn't it?  The membership takes its club back.  Who knows this may be just the beginning with many more dog clubs to follow?   

Openmind for President!   

It is heart warming to read that there are others who care about the organization.
Thank you all for speaking up.
I will echo openmind and the others who encourage you to vote and speak out.

Whether it is help with trials, training new helpers, etc.; if you believe the board is not being responsive to your needs, tell them. Let them know what you need.

This organization exists because of the membership. It is our dues and fees which pay the bills.

I would like an explanation as to why this board had time to do all the work to have proposed by-law changes ready to submit to the membership but still HAS NOT approved the new breed survey rules. It is mid-April and the SV judges have been operating under thes new rules since January 1st yet we still do not know how to properly prepare our dogs for the new rules.

I am tired of hearing from this "new" board about how the "old" board blocked anything meaningful from being done. Half of this new board was part of that board and needs to also be held responsible for the stale mates of 2011. I listened in to the telphone meetings the last few months of 2011 and was apalled by the constant blocking by the same few board members of business as these same board members whined about not being able to accomplish anything.

There were bylaw revisions ready for board consideration in July 2011 by the "old" board (changes to the mission statement, changes to allow electronic voting, clarification of exactly which members have voting rights, etc.).  But the meeting never got that far.  A certain "new" member to that "old" board argued for more than an hour because he didn't like the Board adopted Minutes policy of April 2011.  Then that same member argued for another hour plus about whether or not to approve the April 2011 Minutes--a meeting which occurred when he was not a board member.
The obstructionist pattern, deliberately designed to muzzle the voice of the membership, continues.  Colorado law (where the WDA is incorporated as a nonprofit SOCIAL CLUB) allows any member to copy and use the member list for their interests as a member, and or to receive it electronically.  But the WDA will only provide names and addresses.  So, the WDA officialdom is allowed to communicate by telephone or email with the members.  But the Board will not allow members to communicate with each other on an equal basis.  What kind of SOCIAL CLUB does not want--or allows--its members to be in contact with each other?   
 

"Concentrated Power"--those words on an ad for a detergent have a positive connotation.  However, "Concentrated Power"--when used to describe the Boards or Officers of a "for profit" or a "non-profit" business or organization, usually has a negative connotation, along with conjuring up often unanswered questions as to why so much power and control need to be centralized among a chosen few.  Furthermore, "Concentrated Power"--tends to give the appearance of possible impropriety and a lack of openness whether existing or not, and it is also very difficult to maintain an efficient system of checks and balances within such confined parameters.  Thus, the Concentration of Power residing among a few elite members of any Board or organization is a path fraught with dangers and temptations.

Remember the vain Queen in Snow White and her "Magic Mirror" that told her whatever she wanted to hear?  Well, "mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most....{powerful}...of all," came to mind as I was reading a Facebook site to which I had been directed.  That site is clearly a scathing indictment of the collection of power that is relegated to a very few, elite members of the WDA Board.  Bear with me while I illuminate you in case you have not yet seen the Facebook posting.  As we embark upon our journey, let us imagine the tune of "Follow the Yellowbrook Road," complete with Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.

Now it seems there are 20 WDA Board members, but only 12 of them--or 60%--are members of a committee or----of multiple committees. Thus, that means that 8 Board members are NOT MEMBERS of any committees. It is no wonder there is such poor communication between the Board and the membership.  That forty percent of the Board probably does not know what is going on either!

Moving right along, I think to create the atmosphere for this next important segment, "The Entertainer" music from the movie "The Sting" is an appropriate selection.  First of all, take Ms Munsinger--oh, my yes, by all means, please take her......and get your calculators ready to add.  It seems Ms Munsinger is not only TREASURER, but Ms Munsinger is also the CHAIRPERSON OF EIGHT, that is right, EIGHT COMMITTEES; and Ms Munsinger is also a member of FOUR OTHER COMMITTEES; and........in addition, Ms Munsinger is also TRIAL SECRETARY FOR NASS 2012.  That Ms Munsinger sure must be some Energizer Bunny!  My goodness, surely even the Blessed Mother Theresa must have taken some time off to rest from her earthy labors.  Realistically though, how can "EB" or anyone else put in the time and efforts necessary to do an effective and responsible job on even one thing while involved in that many committees, events, and financial responsibilities, not to mention whatever life responsibilities she has outside the WDA.  There must be more hours in a day in the "Bunny World" than hours in the day of we mere mortals.  In fact, I wonder how does she even have time to talk to her "Magic Mirror?"

I find it even harder to understand why it would be necessary to give one person (or one Energizer Bunny) so much power, or, better yet, why one person would WANT so much power.  And after all, why are there 8 other Board members who are NOT on any committees?  Hello--has anyone on the Board heard of delegating duties and and shared responsibilities?  In fact, why then are those other 8 even on the Board--except maybe to be available to cast the votes they are told to cast or maybe to feel important or maybe to have their names in print or to have their photos published or maybe to be able to smooze with the judges in the rings at shows or .....maybe I just don't get it! However, if I were one of those 8 Board Members, I would be embarrassed, humiliated, and very angry at not being given any meaningful responsibility, recognition, or respect as a Board member.  I am, also, very curious as to why these 8 seemingly "rubber stamp" Board members never stand up to the sacred triumvirate?  They are supposed to be representing the members who elected them to the Board, not to be waiting for Mr. Yee, Ms Munsinger, and Mr. Henkel to tell them what to think or what to say or how to vote!  Being a member of any Board requires more than just taking a seat on the dais, and it is definitely not a task for the faint-hearted.  One must know the issues, must understand the interest and needs of the membership through experience, and must be willing to participate in the give and take of productive discussions in a fair and unbiased manner, even if those discussions become somewhat contentious at times, and one must be willing to give unselfishly of one's time and self.

Next we come to Mr. Henkel, who serves as REGION 1 DIRECTOR.  However, he is also CHAIRMAN OF FIVE COMMITTEES.  In addition, Mr. Henkel is also a member of FOUR COMMITTEES.  He is also one of the FACEBOOK MONITORS/CENSORERS, and he is also
CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012.  Is it any wonder that Mr. Henkel was able to successfully nominate his own region for the 2012 NASS even though it would have been the third time on the East coast?  And is it any wonder that Mr. Henkel was able to successfully nominate 3 of the 4 judges-primary and back up for NASS 2012?  And is it any wonder that Mr. Henkel has been able to persuade the Board to go against its own by-laws and let Region 1 have NASS 2013 next year instead of it being held in a western time zone where it should be?  Surprises, anyone?  I don't think so!

And next we have Ms Schultz, the long time WDA OFFICE MANAGER, whose election to REGION 2 DIRECTOR was most surely engineered by the powers who be. And Ms Schultz also sits on TWO COMMITTEES and Ms Schultz is also the EDITOR OF THE WDA MAGAZINE.  To my knowledge, Ms Schultz would be one of the members alluded to in previous postings as having no or little experience in trialing, training, or showing dogs on local, regional, or national levels.

It now seems very clear to me that the reason for all the calmness and harmony and "kumbaya feelings" and seeming lack of dissension among this Board is because basically President Yee--Mr. P.O.O.--has only to work with and to get the agreement of Ms. Munsinger--Ms EB--and Mr. Henkel and THINGS WILL GET DONE!!  Maybe NOt things in the best interests of the membership, but THINGS WILL GET DONE!!  This "Concentration of Power" sure makes Mr. P.O.O.'S job easier.

This information was compiled from the 2 Hundegrams received from the WDA in February, 2012, and if you were like me, you read it without really thinking about it.  Then someone, to whom we should all be very grateful, took the time to do a detailed analysis, and reading that analysis portrays a stark and upsetting picture of what is going on within the WDA Board.  And even more frightening is that they are not content with all the power and control they presently have.  That is why the Board has proposed the 3 By-Law Proposals to ensure that they and future Boards continue to keep all the "Concentrated Power and Control!"  There seems to be no limit to their feelings of entitlements.

So, in conclusion,  to the Board in a line borrowed from "Telltale Heart," I say "Dissemble no more...!"  To the rest of you, I again urge you to VOTE "NO" to all 3 By-Law Proposals.  I think it is time to reorganize this organization and to reinstitute integrity and the way to do it is through the BALLOT!! There is still time to send this Board a message and the time is NOW!