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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > GSDCA-WDA BYLAW Change Proposal (189 replies)
GSDCA-WDA BYLAW Change Proposal by grshep9 on 13 March 2012 - 02:04 |
| The GSDCA-WDA board is currently reviewing some bylaw changes and are planning on sending them out to the membership for a vote. The first proposal will limit a member from serving as an officer or director for a period of 24 months if they have resigned or been removed. (The WDA has had an issue with resignations and removals as of late, but this proposal seems too restrictrive as there are many reasons why someone may resign such as having to care for a family member or health issues. Once the issue is resolved the member should be able to serve immediately and not have to wait for the 24 month period to end. Additionaly, dependent on timing, the member could be kept from serving for nearly 48 months based on when an election where to take place.) The second proposal regards the secretary position. It basically states the secretaries duties. It also states that this position is appointed vs. an elected position (This seems to be a fair proposal, however the total number of appointed positions and total number of elected positions need to remain the same so that if a previously elected position is now appointed, then an appointed needs to change to be an elected.) The third proposal regards the number of members that make up quorum at the annual membership meeting. The proposal states that a quorum would be 200 members or 20% of total membership, whichever is less. (This proposal looks to be fair on the surface, however the annual membership meeting takes place at NASS. While NASS is the largest event where members participate, members who do not participate in NASS do not attend the meeting due to many reason such as travel expenses, no interest in the annual meeting, don't do conformation, etc. And if your are not at the meeting, you cannot participate. The actual total number of GSDCA-WDA voting members at NASS is averaging less than 150. In fact this past year's annual membership meeting was the first meeting with a quorum present in many years, and that was using the current number of 50 to have a quorum. This is the only time membership gets a direct say in what happen in the orginization.) |
by SitasMom on 13 March 2012 - 02:30 |
| interesting........ |
by judron55 on 13 March 2012 - 11:08 |
| If you want to have a say...guess you'd better get to NASS! |
judron55 by grshep9 on 14 March 2012 - 01:26 |
| All WDA members... You will receive a mailing to vote on the each bylaw. Vote "NO" the proposals that you do not agree with. |
by grshep9 on 15 March 2012 - 01:26 |
| bumping post... WDA member will want to know the facts about proposal. Proposals will limit the membership vote... be informed. |
by openmind on 19 March 2012 - 00:14 |
| Watch for the WDA ballot and vote no to all 3 proposals. This ballot is brought to you by the "members have spoken" winners of the last election--except they don't seem to be listening to the members. Last October at the membership meeting at NASS, the membership successfully voted to force the Board to abide by its own rules and therefore to start rotating NASS by time zones. NASS was held in 2010 and 2011 in Virginia and John Henkel successfully submitted to have it held in Region 1-Connecticut in 2012. Thanks to Pat Beaucham and Irene Clute of Region 5, a vote was taken and passed by the members present to force the Board to follow the rules and rotate the 2012 NASS to the Midwest--Itaska, Illinois by O'Hare. Why is this important now you ask? Well, the first order of business of the newly elected Board was to ignore the wishes of the membership from the 2011 NASS membership meeting to follow the rules and rotate by time zones and instead in January at their first meeting they awarded the 2013 NASS back to John Henkel in Region 1, which would then be followed by the 2014 NASS in California. Now you say well the membership can simply override this decision again at the NASS 2012 membership meeting. That is where the ballot comes into play. Presently a quorum at a membership meeting consists of 50 members. However, a quorum of 50 is seldom met. People come to NASS and like to connect with old friends over dinner and or drinks, etc. The new Board now is proposing to make the quorum 200 or 20% of the total membership. If that passes, the membership will have no control or voice with this Board or future Boards. I have sent several emails trying to get the exact number of WDA members and have not been able to. I have been given ranges from 1200 to 1500. 20% of either of those would be more than 200 members and a quorum would be impossible. However, the new number for a quorum would certainly prevent the members from overriding the Board's decision to disregard its own rules and have the 2013 NASS back on the east coast. And most of the first meeting was held in executive session and therefore the minutes were sent only to directors and the WDA Office. Lots of secrets it seems. In addition, the new Board has set up a Facebook site which many of us have followed with interest. It seems that there is no such recognition of the loyal opposition. Instead if anyone posts something perceived as critical to the Board's way of thinking, the postings are simply removed by the 2 Board members who monitor the site.This has happened several times. Also new to this new Board is that the conference calls are now conducted by the Board members dialing into one number while the lowly members dial into another where they obviously cannot speak and no agenda is given for the calls. The one this week was a disaster with little or nothing being accomplished. For the other 2 propositions on the ballot, I refer you back to the initial post on this thread. I would also suggest that if you did not read the thread started by Markopolo after NASS 2011, you look it up and read it. It is called The Politics at NASS 2011 and really gives you a picture of all the politics in play. Some people said politics will always exist and nothing can be done about them. However, the ballot you are about to receive in the mail is your opportunity to stand up and be heard figuratively speaking. |
by Alamance on 19 March 2012 - 19:14 |
| >>>>>Also new to this new Board is that the conference calls are now conducted by the Board members dialing into one number while the lowly members dial into another where they obviously cannot speak and no agenda is given for the calls.<<<<<< When were the "lowly" members notified of all these Board Conference calls? Were these calls secret executive calls? How did you find out that there were two phone numbers?? Did you find out at the Big meeting in January? Did you know that to be a Board member you have to have been a member of GSDCA for two years? To get approved as a GSDCA member, you have to have the approval of two current members and the time for approval is not short. Oh, now to be a member of WDA, one has to have the approval of two members. What if you do not know anyone in either GSDCA or WDA? No membership. One cannot run for president unless one is a Board member. Then there is the nominating committee. Lots of rules there and I think only one person per position???? So, if you want to run, you have to have a petition and I think it has to be presented on the floor of the meeting. Now with there not being a quorum, no meeting and no peition??? Wow. With just a few Board positions, it would not be easy to get on the Board. With the mess in USCA a lot of people went to WDA. Now with this mess, maybe they will go back to USCA. One knew that as a "lowly" member of USCA, one could not vote. But what do you now have with WDA? USCA dues are say $100. With WDA it is say $50/55 and membership in GSDCA say at $60, WDA costs more. If you like WDA, but not GSDCA, you are stuck. If you complain, you are thrown out of either or both. Both groups say if you complain, you have to go to arbitration in the middle of the country and that is far too costly, so you are out of luck. I am totally confused about all those Board Conference calls. And btw, if you are forced to resign or are thrown out, who is going to dare sign your membership application?????? Good luck. I am not a member, so maybe that is why I am confused, but seems the folks above are also confused about what is going on. Better read the rules just to know what is there currently. |
by openmind on 19 March 2012 - 22:57 |
| And things continue to get more interesting. My ballot arrived Saturday, along with a return envelope. My name and return address are on the envelope and the instructions state that my signature is to be written under the return address. Then the ballot is to be mailed to....where else...........The WDA Office, in other words to Joy Schultz, who is now a Director on the WDA Board. Why are the ballots not being directed to an outside source to be counted anonymously instead of to a Director? I do not know Joy Schutlz but I'm sure she is a nice lady. However, there does seem to be a glaring conflict of interest here. Now the Board can not only check off the ballots as they come in but they can also keep track of how members voted. That is not right!! |
by JudyK on 19 March 2012 - 23:01 |
| It seems that there is no such recognition of the loyal opposition. Instead if anyone posts something perceived as critical to the Board's way of thinking, the postings are simply removed by the 2 Board members who monitor the site.This has happened several times It happened to me when I said that in my opinion raising the quorum was a means to silence the voice of the people and the strength of the WDA has always resided in the power of the membership. My post was removed as "abusive". No one bothered to ask me why I thought the way I did, they just removed my post. Judy |
by SitasMom on 19 March 2012 - 23:01 |
If this type of behavior from the powers that be keeps up, I'm switching to UScA..... JA amendment and all! |
by gck on 19 March 2012 - 23:30 |
| Well said, Openmind. I join you in urging WDA members to vote NO to all three proposals. The membership voted in 2010 to make the Secretary position an elected one. 200 members voted in support of the amendment and only 23 members voted against it. What has changed, less than 2 years later? The GSDCA elects their Secretary, with no apparent issues. I'm not sure about how the UScA handles its electied vs. appointed positions. Does anyone know the SV governing practices? Are all officer positions elected, or are some appointed? The proposed quorum change, if passed, will destroy the member's rights to check and balance the board. The board exists to serve the membership. Did anyone on the Board solicit member input before drafting such kingdom building amendments? Did the regional directors communicate with their constituents? WDA members, please vote NO to the proposed bylaw changes. Gayle |
by Smiley on 20 March 2012 - 01:26 |
| I am a GSDCA member and I want to join the WDA. Do I REALLY need two names of "sponsors" for the WDA? I received two sponsors for my GSDCA membership already. I don't know anybody in the WDA as I am new to the ScH/Breed survey world. What should I do? |
Smiley by grshep9 on 20 March 2012 - 02:03 |
| All, The agenda for the last meeting was posted on the "official GSDCA-WDA" facebook group page on March 14 at 8:22PM The agenda was posted the night prior to the meeting. I guess if you are not on facebook you don't need to know. It never did make it to the GSDCA-WDA web page. Is 24 hours enough time to prepare for a meeting where you are discussing and voting on issues affecting the breed and the membership? As the board frequently tells us, they are volunteers and have other businesses and resposibilities. A number is provided for guest members to call in and listen to the meeting. The board has stated they will allow the membership to speak at the end of the meeting. This past meeting was running long, so they adjoruned the meeting and apologized to the guests. The membership should be heard before they vote on items. I have been told time and again to contact my RD to get information. In my region very little information is provided. I contacted a GD in my region and was he stated that he would provide me an update of membership issues. Has not happened yet. In the letter from Mr. Yee that came with the ballot the proposed bylaw amendments "were thoroughly discussed by the full board and were unanimously approved." It sound like a bunch of like-minded individuals with a hidden agenda. I am also aware one board member had health issues and did not participate so the full board did not unanimously approve. Only those present approved. The bylaws are to "promote harmony and stability" Again, don't go against the board, they all agree with each other - harmony. How about conflict of interest? The ballot gets returned to the office secretary, who just happens to be region 2 director, and is working in harmony with the rest of the board. How about the one biggest showline breeders in the US, region 1 director, helping pick judges for the NASS and voting for or against?. Could not the names of the available judges be put in a hat and randomly be drawn? Where are the minutes for last April and July meetings? HARMONY and STABILITY... ha |
by gck on 20 March 2012 - 03:27 |
| Smiley, you need two names because the bylaws say you do. As recently as July 2011, the WDA membership application forms did not comply with this bylaw requirement. Then a membership application was challenged, and the legal ramifications of the disconnect were made apparent. The Board found it easier to change the membership application form than to change the bylaws. Please contact Board members. I'm sure that some of them will be happy to endorse you as a new member. |
by grshep9 on 20 March 2012 - 03:53 |
| Or Smiley can find a local WDA club and meet the members. They should be able to help him with two names. |
by Smiley on 20 March 2012 - 12:37 |
| Ok, thanks. There are no active WDA clubs in my area that I can join (except for the one where the lady was charged with animal cruelty or whatever- no thanks) and that is still in another state. One club said they are not accepting new members. Another one said they are not really a training club or anything and I am not sure how many members they really have if any. The other ones listed on the site are inactive. Huge bummer. I was hoping to do a WDA conformation show this year and also submit hips and elbows for the A stamp program. If anyone feels like sponsoring me so I can join the Big WDA club please let me know! I am already a new GSDCA member (I joined 6/11). Thanks, Sara |
by Blitzen on 20 March 2012 - 12:39 |
| I will be voting "no" to all three. |
Blitzen by Smiley on 20 March 2012 - 12:42 |
A forum member has graciously offered to sponsor me which was so kind of them!! I need one more!! Anyone? Please PM if you are interested in helping me out!!  Thanks, Sara |
by Blitzen on 20 March 2012 - 12:43 |
| PM me for my mailing address. I will be a sponsor. http://http.gsdca-wda.org/forms/membership-application-renewal-rev.pdf |
by Smiley on 20 March 2012 - 12:48 |
| Thank you!!! You guys are THE best!!!! Sara |
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