NASS Entry form releases - concerns - Page 1

Having just read the extensive (ultra) fine print in the mandatory release clauses attached to the NASS entry form, I have serious concerns about the scope of these requirements. Please note that the national WDA database expressly includes credit card information. The generic "among other things" that "may be considered personal" is an awfully broad concession to require of participants in all events.

Question: Who, specifically, will be the keeper of this database, and who will have authorized access to the information?

I also have major concerns about signing away a blanket "Image Release" for my dogs. From deep personal experience, not all dog photographers are created equal. And not all dog photographers are unbiased in how they might choose to present individual dogs and/or participants. There are shameless "groupies" out there (with personal agendas), and there are those who try to photograph with a comprehensive eye.

Owners are always charged with presenting their dogs in the best possible public manner--and that surely includes approving (or not) what photos might be published--especially if we are talking about a proposed hard-bound coffee-table-type book. Candid, "au naturel" photos are interesting--even treasured-- mementos of actual conditions the day of the event (witness the current UScA magazine 2209 Sieger Show photos). Formal print presentation of the dog for all eternity, however, requires a different standard.

The current NASS release forms allow the unnamed "Contractor" full, unlimited use of photos to be published however and whenever, that "Contractor" might decide. Color me cynical, but I will not release that power to an unknown commodity. Surely, the membership deserves to know who this "Contractor" might be, before granting that person control to use those images in whatever manner, present and future--"including media not yet created"--to endure even after the Owner might be dead.

In short, for personal and economic reasons, I have been sitting on the fence about making the considerable commitment to attending the 2009 NASS. With the required release statements as they stand, I cannot, in good conscience, complete an entry form. The "Image Release" requirements alone, for me personally, are a total deal breaker.

I look forward to more information and discussion. I'm disappointed that these major new "fine-print" agenda items were not clearly advertised--and emphasized--in advance. Mea culpa for not reading the fine print before this late date.

Gayle Kirkwood

All very valid concerns. I think it has been shown over and over on this board how some delight in posting bad pictures of good dogs.
Just from a "business" standpoint, this can be very bad for a breeder who has the misfortune of having such a picture fall into the hands of some of these nut cases.

Also, there can be no excuse or valid reason for a dog club to retain credit card info past collecting their fees.

Thanks for bringing this up. The WDA president is usually pretty open to answering membership concerns. If you hear from him, please keep us posted.

Personally, I am very pleased with the leadership and direction of the WDA. But they are elected and in the end, this is usually a very effective way for the membership to address issues such as this (if enough feel strongly about it).

Rik