Another form of Nazism - Page 5

Agenda and Proposed Amendments are now on the USA website:

http://www.germanshepherddog.com/

Unfortunate title for this thread notwithstanding, the "Johannes Amendment"  is a terrible idea. I think that this issue is important enough that I am contacting many of my sport friends to urge active opposition to this amendment.

1) It is unAmerican. While this sort of association is not exactly what Thomas Jefferson meant by "freedom of association" the amendment clearly violates the spirit of what we, as Americans, have always believed was a fundamental right. The arrogance required to tell us how, and with whom, we can enjoy our hobby takes my breath away. In addition, the reason offered for the amendment is specious and illogical.

2) It is very, very bad business. USCA offers people who enjoy competing at Regional and National schutzhund trials events that the WDA does not offer. However, for a very large number of members who are interested primarily in conformation, or only want to title their pets at their own club, WDA offers everything they want or need. I suggest that passage of this amendment will drive many of those members, particularly the conformation people, their dues and their considerable registration fees out of USCA.  I suspect that the leadership of WDA is anxiously hoping USCA will pass this and shoot itself in the foot (again).

3) At our Regional meeting our RD pointed with pride at the several members of our Region competing at the WUSV. Several of those members qualified through WDA.

4) My club members, none of whom belong to WDA (most are not training GSDs), were appalled by this amendment.

This amendment makes it seem as if USCA is trying to grow by bullying the competition rather than by offering better events and services. Never in history has this strategy succeeded over the long term. I have been a member of USA since 1990. Since then almost 30,000 people have joined USCA. I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, that our current membership is under 4,000 members. Now a significant number of those who joined and quit doubtless found that schutzhund was not what they expected, and there's nothing USA could have done about that. However, I believe that there is a big group who would still be involved if the organization were doing a better job of supporting the sport and the breed at the grassroots level.

I am not carrying water for WDA. I may well agree with the authors of this amendment about many of the people in charge in WDA, but this rule will make USCA look like a childish bully with no concept how to grow an organization.

If this ammendment goes thru I,ll drop my USA membership and go DVG as I,ve already sent dues for the SV2000, This is bad politics of the worst kind!. USA will lose alot on this one.

As a member of USA for over 20 years, and an active competitor in both USA and WDA events, I find this proposal VERY disturbing! My first thought upon learning of it was
"HOW DARE ANYONE try to tell me what GSD organizations I can belong to?!"

SS

Is there anyone on here who supports this amendment and would care to give us reasons?

I agree Calvin - the delegate letters are due AFTER we find out how important the vote is for this rediculous bylaw amendment.  Our RD had the final wording in hand and passed it on to us (USA club contacts in this region) on the DAY BEFORE delegate letters were DUE. 

I will have to hope that noone is in favor of this, and that the EB doesn't find a way to pass it regardless of the GBM vote.  My tiny club doesn't have anyone going to Nationals this year and we can't afford to send someone halfway across the country just for the meeting.

I think there should be a way for clubs to vote via e-ballot.

molly