Schutzhund USA proposed bylaw Change - Page 1

www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/339561.html

This post is on the General Topic.  I thought that I would forward to the German Shepherd people.

This is the letter from Lyle Roetemeyer:

The Proposed Amendment Related to USA Membership and Membership in Competing German Shepherd Dog Organizations

Recently there has been a lot of discussion amongst our membership and on the chat lists regarding some of the proposed by-law changes. We have anxious members worried about the future of our organization and the German shepherd dog breed. The issue is complicated because it involves numerous factors related to the international scene that most are unaware of. Many who criticize this proposed amendment do so because they focus on the perception that an alternative path for monetary gain and glory would be closed to them. They harp on this, intent on raising opposition and discord, all the while abandoning their loyalty to the betterment of the German shepherd dog and the organization that has truly effected the breed's betterment over the past thirty three years in the US and internationally. Moreover and unfortunately, many of our members are being misled and misguided by those that have a clear conflict of interest.

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America continues to be a full member of the WUSV. The AWDF also received a letter last year, from the FCI, granting continued participation as a guest in their FCI Working Championships. While we are not members of the FCI, neither is the AKC or any of its breed clubs. Our events continue to be internationally recognized. Just recently, the SV awarded eleven of our senior judges with SV foreign judge licenses. This is an epochal accomplishment and evinces the respect our organization has attained internationally. We also have four of our USA Judges that are FCI recognized. This is another strong indication of the international acceptance of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

History has shown that the GSDCA has, on more than one occasion, attempted to hinder with the United Schutzhund Clubs of America's international recognition within the WUSV. Those attempts were unsuccessful. History also shows that without the United Schutzhund Clubs of America, the development of the German shepherd dog in the United States as a working dog with adherence to the FCI standard would be very minimal, if even existent.

On several occasions, I initiated discussions with the leadership of the WDA and the GSDCA in attempting to establish clear communication and cooperation amongst our organizations. I envisioned our organizations working together and sharing ideas for the betterment of the breed. This past May, the President of the WDA and I agreed to work on a plan for a merger of our organizations. It was agreed, that since the United Schutzhund Clubs of America held a seat as a full member of the WUSV and the WDA did not, that I would work on the development of proposed by-law changes to merge both organizations. I was excited about the future of the German shepherd dog in this country and was preparing the necessary by-law changes to make this happen at our General Board Meeting this November. Just a few weeks later, the WDA signed a contract with the GSDCA. Unbeknownst to me, the President of the WDA also purportedly had a meeting with the AKC to promote WDA self interests while I was working on the necessary changes to effect a merger between our organizations. This is not the first time in the history of our organizational relationship that we have been misguided by WDA leadership. Although I was cautioned by several members, I maintained a cautious optimism that the current group was different. Certainly it would have been in all of our best interests to work together as separate

Continuation of Lyle's letter:


On several occasions, I initiated discussions with the leadership of the WDA and the GSDCA in attempting to establish clear communication and cooperation amongst our organizations. I envisioned our organizations working together and sharing ideas for the betterment of the breed. This past May, the President of the WDA and I agreed to work on a plan for a merger of our organizations. It was agreed, that since the United Schutzhund Clubs of America held a seat as a full member of the WUSV and the WDA did not, that I would work on the development of proposed by-law changes to merge both organizations. I was excited about the future of the German shepherd dog in this country and was preparing the necessary by-law changes to make this happen at our General Board Meeting this November. Just a few weeks later, the WDA signed a contract with the GSDCA. Unbeknownst to me, the President of the WDA also purportedly had a meeting with the AKC to promote WDA self interests while I was working on the necessary changes to effect a merger between our organizations. This is not the first time in the history of our organizational relationship that we have been misguided by WDA leadership. Although I was cautioned by several members, I maintained a cautious optimism that the current group was different. Certainly it would have been in all of our best interests to work together as separate organizations aligning with a common goal: "To protect and preserve the working German shepherd dog represented by the FCI standard". While the optimism I once maintained about this possibility has all but dissipated; I still hold to the hope that the GSDCA and WDA will work honestly with the United Schutzhund Clubs of America for the betterment of the German shepherd dog through adherence to the FCI standards for structure, health and temperament.

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America should not change our stance on this position because the GSDCA has now decided to suddenly develop a stronger relationship with the WDA. Those organizations are placing their hopes that such an alliance will lead them to host a successful 2013 WUSV Championship. However,there has been no abandonment of the GSDCA's love affair with "their American Shepherd". Obviously, just look at the picture on the front page of their website.

It is time that our membership faces the issue of the huge conflict of interest that exists from belonging to both organizations. Belonging to an organization(GSDCA-WDA), whose idea of the German shepherd dog is so totally out of line with the FCI standard, hinders our ability to protect the WORKING heritage and FCI standard of the German shepherd dog in the United States. Please go beyond the rhetoric and determine the true motivations of those that voice self-centered indignation of the proposed by-law amendment by saying, "Organizations be damned, I just want to show my dog!!!!" Please also read between the lines and question the accuracy and truthfulness of those who are trying to rally your support by saying "Don't let them tell you what to do! Show them you will not be told what to do!" As was pointed out to me by one of our members, in order to represent the WDA as a member of the WUSV team, membership in the GSDCA is a requirement. I ask you who is telling whom what to do? All we are doing is asking you to make a choice, the right choice.

Thank you very much for your attention to this letter. I hope it provides further information to justify the amendment and to rally your support in favor of it.

Yours in the sport and for the betterment of the breed,

Lyle Roetemeyer

If this amendment is passed USA will loose all members in good standing from the Alpha K9 Schutzhund Club ( Northeastern Region) and we will be a Club from the past.

My believe is that USA no longer needs USA. I think that it is dirty business ethics on how it all was done.
This should be a nation wide member vote and not at a meeting where it is not possible to have THE PEOPLE MEMBERS the guy and woman that simply train their dogs for fun, they talk about purity in dog sports. It is MAFIA @ work.
and it makes me sick.

This is America { Thank God } My choice has been made, My DIGNITY is all i need.

Carlos Rojas & Ai Yoshino Rojas
ALPHA K9 SCHUTZHUND CLUB
North East Region

Member of
USA
WDA
GSDCA
DVG
UDC
DPCA
AKC
DPCA
SV
and i think many more, Because i can.

This post is on the General Topic. I thought that I would forward to the German Shepherd people




For those of you who may not know. The president of USA has written a response and I must say it is compelling and well thought out. He presented a lot of accusation and they my very well be fact? However, at the end of his response he wrote "We are ASKING you to make a choice" My response to that is, they should ask and not force us to choose. The Berlin wall was not built to keep people out, it was built to keep people in. That's what this by-law change will do. One last question how will this by-law change deal with the Life Time Members?

If we are truly the best then lead by example not by force. Also, USA, GSDCA, GSDCA-WDA, is not a breed registry nor will they ever be recognized as such. People choose to breed according to the FCI standard because the want to. Someone told me once that "What you eat, don't make me shit" How the GSDCA breed their dogs has nothing to do with the way USA conduct their business. The President also said read between the lines, I have, and this is only about the WUSV Team People. Wake Up.

Wallace Payne

I let my UScA membership expire because I don't have a dog to work right now. I will have a litter very soon and will be back at it. The ONLY reason I ever had a UScA membership is that's all we have in this area as clubs. As I understand it, I don't HAVE to belong to any mother club to train. I just may keep it this way.  I don't particularly like the direction EITHER is moving in.

We have been members of UScA for 17 years now and our membership is up for renewal this month! We will wait for the outcome of this! This is very sad!
Chris

We will also be waiting on renewel of ours......I hope for a positive outcome.
Robin

I recall a few years ago when USA attempted a similar position. The result was a spanking by the SV and the WDA became immensely more popular. I'm sure the WDA will benefit from USA's loss of memory on the subject.

I'm sure the President's letter is referring to the recent SV stance regarding the RSV2000. Has anyone from USA talked with the SV about the outcome of that announcement? The one SV judge I discussed the situation with said the SV lost quite a few members to the RSV since they were forced to decide. Fortunately the acceptance of longcoats back into the breed made up for some of the losses.

Perhaps USA will again follow the SV example and replace those members lost this round by including the coated German Shepherd in their events.

 The WDA will suckle from what ever tit the GSDCA exposes to it. The GSDCA indorses the AKC standard of the German Shepherd dog. I,ll support neither lets hope USA can present a much better alternative if this voting goes for the worst.

Bob,
Are you able to get in touch with Jeff G.?
This should have already been decided.
The meeting was scheduled for this morning.