USA Memberships - Page 1

I keep reading this, so I guess I'll ask.  Why are so many people leaving or have left USA ??   Are most of them just walking away from the sport or going to other clubs like WDA?   Do you think  the recent changes in the SV will have any impact on these clubs?

I venture to say that it is partly because of the weak economy, followed by allegations  (by me as well) of weak governance by the U.S.c.A. board in several matters. I have been a member for many years, and this past twelve (12) months seem to have more topics of controversy than during the preceeding years combined.

There are been allegations of favouritism, allegations of weak yet unlustly awarded performance at field events (captured on video for proof) and allegations of unsportsmanlike conduct by some members (again supported by videotape) without any sanctions towards the (alleged) offending members.

Do I need to say more about it? I think not.  I will remain a member because I support the core initiatives of the organization and do not involve myself in any of the alleged shenanigans. I do hope we can elect new officers who can return the organization to the proud position it once held.

Just my opinions here,

Bob-O

I wonder if this is like one of those urban myths.  I've heard it repeated as if it were gospel on certain message boards by certain disgruntled individuals but these same people never bother to advise where they get their information or actually provide facts that back it up.   I think you will find most people retain membership in more than one organization.  The thing is, UScA provides the wwwaaaaaaayyyy overwhelming majority of schutzhund trials in the USA.  I have on more than one occasion suggested if they want to walk away from the organization then perhaps they should really "pull out " and  never trial in a UScA trial either!!!!   If people are unhappy with the organization, (and there is NO perfect organization), they have a far better chance to effect positive change by working within the organization. 

Bob,  I agree with a lot of what you said, and if the numbers are going down, there can be logical explanations, I just have never found any proof of the claim, I don't know how the people who make this claim would be privy to information no one else has.  Also, I hate to say it, but it sure seems like a lot of times,  this claim is made by people who have an axe to grind.

Maybe it is a myth, I have no facts to back up my question, perhaps I should have worded it differently. I have just been reading thru the messages on here ,and on other sites about issues.  Could be that all the happy people just dont post about it.  And I sure didn't intend on starting a pissing match here, so lets be cool!

No, I think it's a valid question, and I'm glad you started this thread.  I've always been very curious as to the validity of the statement.

I think that Randall did a good job when he decided to tackle USA Membership as his personal mission.  USA added 12 clubs, and lost 10 if I am not mistaken.  The organization is perhaps growing, but not exponentially.  Not enough good helpers to go around to form new clubs.  I hope that with the USA Helper program we'll see more guys stepping up and getting trained and classified.

I'm afraid that with high gas prices, some of the folks who have been driving 2-3 hours to get their dogs worked might not be able to afford it anymore.  I know it would cost me $50 at least to drive to the nearest club.

I also think a lot of folks will have a keen eye on the outcome of the elections this fall so perhaps we ought to table this thread until then?

Yvette

 These are the types of discussions that need to go on before the election, There are questions i,d liked ansered before I vote not afterwards.    

All good points. I maintain membership in both organizations, but don't belong to a local UScA club, thus have no vote in what goes on in that org.

I think economics has a lot to do with membership and participation in the sport in general these days, especially the costs of travel and training towards titles and ratings. I know I would be at/in a lot more events if gas was cheaper! We don't have enough events under either organization, largely due to the expense of hosting an event, especially when we have to earn a BH under an SV Judge in order to get the Korung later. Without the BH and later the Korung, one should not breed their dog.  Regardless of which organization a club belongs to, IMO that one SV rule is the most damaging to the sport in this country! Any judge, USA or SV, is perfectly capable of evaluating dogs' temperament for the BH tests. I just wish the SV could be persuaded to change that rule. Our little 5 member club can't afford to bring over an SV judge, but most of the members intend to persue the Korung. We can't see hosting an event that doesn't further that end, bringing in a domestic judge only to have to repeat the BH titles, so not only have we not "held up our end" thus far by offering events for titles to our region, but have to spend the money we might have used for our own event to travel to other, richer clubs' events to title our dogs.

The cost of this sport has gone up so high a lot of good people and clubs have simply been forced out. Anyone seen the price of a set of blinds lately? Its more than doubled in the last ten years, not including shipping!

SS

BTW. The reason I don't belong to a local UScA has nothing to do with the organization itself. No local club would have me when I moved out here 9 years ago, or even since. I started a WDA club because it was a lot cheaper than starting UScA club and becasue the regional WDA officers and member clubs were so supportive of our forming a new club, while the NE UScA regional director was... not. That simple...

SS