The Progressive Birmingham and District GSD Association? - Page 1

OK, so some clubs are going to sign up to the KC undertaking and in future those clubs are going to have to go crawling on their hands and knees to the KC for permission to run any event outside of KC rules (and specifically those held under WUSV rules). Well, these reactionary clubs cannot complain if members leave and set up alternative progressive clubs to replace them.

If any club signs up to the KC tyranny then one obvious answer is for people who do not want to sign up to that tyranny (and its lack of any credible standards for the GSD breed) to set up new clubs free from KC control which can actively promote the world recognised WUSV standards for the breed. So, rest in peace Birmingham and District GSD Association and welcome to the Progressive Birmingham and District GSD Association.

Even if these new associations start out small in number and membership they will grow because what they stand for is world recognized standards versus no standard worth talking about. The Birmingham and District GSD Association has made a mistake but it has also presented those who care about the breed with an opportunity which should not be missed.

Peterlee
Your sentiments are great and a new club would get my support
BUT I believe MO and Shirley should be given the opportunity to fight for a club they have worked to keep alive
for many years for as long as they wish and they have my FULL support
BUT when and if they wish to set up another club I shall be one of there first members.

Bernard

Bernard - I agree with you.  This is a decision for Mo and Shirley. But as I understand their post Mo, Shirley and Zep have resigned from the Birmingham GSD Association in protest against what happened at their AGM. After such a long association with the club I am sure they did not take that decision lightly. But if any people could make a success of a new 'Progressive' club Mo, Shirley and Zep can. If they want to set up a new club I am sure they will find support and it will inspire others to do the same. We don't have to roll over.

Peterlee
I am in total agreement
The unfortunate thing is it may happen at other clubs
or is it a blessing in disguise

We could not continue on the committee of this association if they are prepared to be bullied by the KC in this way and not stand up for what is right for the breed.

However, if we could get enough support to get the decision reversed and put the breed's interests in front of the bank balance then maybe all our years of support would not be wasted?

We won't hover for long - if the support isn't out there then we will stand by our objections to the KC undertaking and our belief that we can only get the KC to progress true GSD health matters by standing up to them on this cynical farce in the name of health.

Shirley

Shirley – We are in your hands and that of Mo and Zep on this, you know that. If 50 members paid up and willing to attend an SGM in person is feasible then you can count me in to pay my sub.

There are two things I think worth mentioning though.

(1) This problem is not only going to affect Birmingham and District GSD Association. Other GSD Associations are going to sign up to the KC tyranny too. We need a strategy to deal with this globally and not just in Birmingham. The obvious way to do that is for the dissentient voices who do not want to sign up to the KC tyranny and who want proper WUSV standards for the breed to say, ‘OK, the case for proper breed standards is unanswerable. If you do not agree then we are going to set up our own alternative and parallel progressive club. People can chose whether they want progress or the dead hand of the KC’. This strategy can deal with any area which says yes to the KC tyranny.

(2) If you adopt a strategy of recruiting members to attend an SGM this strategy is open to the backwoodsmen too. You have been outflanked once. It can happen again. It cannot happen in a parallel club the aim of which is to progressively adopt WUSV standards.

Hey Mo and Shirley
Why not start up a  Birmingham German Shepherd Dog Club in parallel to the Association one, you can do all the same things, obedience, shows etc, you have the contacts for the venue;s etc and the no how. Without both of you and Zep on the committee is there any Breed people left on the BDGSDA anyway? If not, who would be running their breed shows for them and without breed shows how could they feasibly remain a GSD Association??? Wouldnt that be a contradiction in terms even possibly a against the clubs constitution and wouldnt they have an obligation to the Breed Members of the club to provide something for the membership they pay? If this club is now only going to be run by Obedience people are they up to the job of providing what is needed on the breed side?? Just a few thoughts which you might be able to use to your advantage. I am sure Peterlee might be able to advise you further on this train of thought.
All the best
Sue

I'm with you on this, Sue. I don't think there will ever be a better opportunity to set up a parallel club with the people who have the skill to run it. And the model can be rolled out elsewhere as and when needed.....

Oh, and another thing. What happened at BDGSDA illustrates perfectly the dangers of being bushwhacked. It looks to me that we need to know:-

(1) Which clubs have already voted and what the outcome was.
(2) Which clubs have yet to vote and when and how they will vote.

If we are being asked to pay subscriptions to clubs and to turn up and vote then let’s make sure that those subscriptions and attendances count to the max. And we need to know in advance rather than after the event so that support can be properly mobilised and sent where it will make a difference.

If the no vote can be carried at any particular club then setting up an alternative progressive club becomes an unnecessary option for that club. The alternative progressive clubs are only needed in those areas that vote yes to the KC tyranny. But we need the details of when and where votes have or will take place in order to plan this properly.

The answer is not is setting up more clubs but to proceed, as has been suggested in so many other threads, with the setting up of one club along the lines of the SV.  Unfortunately, the latter is impossible because of lack of funding, lack of numbers and, most importantly, there is no clear choice of leadership in the breed to take it on despite many people who puffed up their chests to take the breed down this route and now have vanished into the background.

Mackenzie