1. Membership packets are requested from the Recording Secretary anytime during year by any PWCCA Proposer and Endorser in good standing.
2. Completed applications and Proposer/Endorser statements are returned to Membership Chair by November 1, accompanied by appropriate application fees/dues.
3. As applications are received, Chair will review for completeness. If application is complete, check/money order is forwarded to PWCCA Treasurer with copy of first page of application. Letter of receipt is sent to applicant with copies to Proposer and Endorser. If application is unsigned, illegible, or items left blank, application and attachments are immediately returned to Proposer. Completeness of application is the responsibility of the Proposer.
4. By November 5th Membership Chair makes copies of all applications and attachments and forwards the copies to each member of Committee. For each application Chair will supply a MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHECKLIST.
5. Prior to December 15th Committee holds conference call for first review of applications. This first review deals with completeness of paperwork, business dealings (if any,) completion of individual MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHECKLIST.
6. By January 1st Chair submits a list of candidates, giving Proposer and Endorser names, and a brief synopsis for each candidate to Recording Secretary. A deadline for receipt of general membership letters will be included at the beginning of the text.
7. As letters of support and/or concern are received by Chair, copies are made and mailed to each Committee member. CONFIDENTIALITY OF WRITER AND CONTENT IS PARAMOUNT AND MUST BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES! Membership Committee conference calls may be made at any time to review letters received. Proposer is called regarding any concern of merit or application discrepancies. This call will be placed by the Committee Chair or one Committee member, as delegated by the Chair. Proposer’s responses will then be passed on to the Committee for further consideration. A personal interview with entire Membership Committee may be necessary.
8. Should questions not be answered or further investigation necessary, Proposer will be so advised.
9. Should Chair or Committee members receive phone calls in lieu of letters; callers will be told that everything must be in writing.
10. As soon as possible after the deadline for responses to applications (usually March 1) a conference call will be held by committee members for final review prior to presentation to the Board of Directors.
11. If a candidate is not recommended, Proposer will be called immediately and be given an opportunity to withdraw application.
12. Report is given to Board of Directors with recommendation of Committee at the spring meeting.
13. If a candidate’s name is not put forward by Board of Directors, Proposer is to be called immediately. Recording Secretary will follow up with a letter within 10 days.
14. Names of candidates accepted by the Board are mailed to the general membership for vote prior to the Annual Meeting in accordance with PWCCA By-Laws.
15. If a prospective member’s application is not approved by 75% of the general membership with two consecutive ballots, that applicant is required to observe a three year hiatus before re-applying.
THE PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI CLUB OF AMERICA
THE PROPOSAL AND ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP
That the PWCCA doesn’t take lightly its commitment to protect and advance the interests of the breed is evidenced by the nature of its Code of Ethics and its leadership in the fight against commercialization. If even one member should deviate from this commitment, the support and respect from the dog fancy and the general public is in jeopardy.
With these thoughts in mind, consider what it can mean to the Club and to the breed when any individual is accepted for membership. PWCCA membership is, in effect, bestowing our seal of approval on the individual’s stock and breeding activities. We encourage members to note their PWCCA affiliation in their advertisements. As soon as a candidate has passed the last hurdle en route to becoming a member, approval by the general membership, the individual’s name may be given to prospective buyers by the PWCCA. The buyer, in turn, has every right to expect that he/she will be able to purchase a healthy puppy of sound temperament and representative type from a breeder recommended by the PWCCA.
Every application that comes to the Membership Committee brings the inevitable questions: will the candidate be breeding Pembrokes worthy of the implied seal of approval and will he/she seriously endeavor to protect the breed from the harms of commercialism?
At best, the Membership Committee can act only on the impressions gleaned from the Proposer’s and Endorser’s questionnaires. Though the Committee assumes the responsibility of reviewing all paperwork, YOU, THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER, have the initial responsibility, obligation, duty, to know the individuals(s) you are proposing or endorsing for membership. Obviously, it is not expected that you must guarantee that the candidate(s) would never stray from the straight and narrow; however, it is expected that you will have more than just a casual how-do-you-do acquaintance with the candidate(s). Visit the candidate’s home. Find out what the candidate’s beliefs are concerning breeding, selling practices, terms, future breeding plans, etc. Be observant. Do the candidate’s deeds bear out his/her expressed opinions? Are his/her dogs kept in good condition and handled with consideration? It is extremely difficult for a Proposer or Endorser from out of the applicant’s area to have this kind of information.
The need to scrutinize every application more closely is ever increasing. The generic proposing and endorsing responses that could fit any applicant are no longer a sufficient recommendation to the PWCCA. The sincere, dedicated, anxious to serve the Club phrases take up necessary space in the questionnaire but dodge vital information. The exact information to be supplied will naturally vary for each candidate. If the person hasn’t the time, facilities, etc., for breeding and showing, say so. The individual simply may be interested in the breed and wishes to be affiliated with the Club so that interest can be put to good use.
The PWCCA is interested in new members who have already demonstrated an abiding interest in the welfare of the breed. The Membership Committee would like to feel confident that the candidate is more than merely a flash in the pan who, in a year or two, may move on to other interests to the detriment of his/her Corgis. If you, as a Proposer or Endorser, would describe the candidate as a new but enthusiastic Corgi owner of very limited experience, one who has indicated a desire to become more involved with the breed (in other words, a novice) you would be advised to postpone the application for a year or two. This will give the individual more time to become involved in local or regional Corgi clubs and more time to demonstrate the enduring nature of interest in furthering the breed.
THE PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.
(Information Sheet for Members Wishing to Propose/Endorse Candidates for Membership)
Listed below are the requirements of membership process of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America, Inc. The Membership Committee requests that you read these requirements carefully EACH time you consider proposing or endorsing a candidate for membership to ensure that you and your candidate meet these requirements. Failure to meet these conditions may result in the rejection or delay of the application and embarrassment for all concerned.
The PWCCA is interested in candidates for membership who have the experience and desire to protect and advance the interests of the breed; to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and performance trials; to accept the Standard of the Breed, as approved by the AKC, as the only standard of excellence by which Pembroke Welsh Corgis shall be judged; to conduct sanctioned and licensed specialty shows and performance trials under the rules of the AKC and to support fully the PWCCA Code of Ethics. To this end, the following requirements and membership process have been adopted:
REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES AT TIME OF APPLICATION:
1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi owner for at least the last 5 years.
2. Member of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club or any AKC dog club for at least the last 4 years.
3. Meaningful experience as an exhibitor, breeder and/or club member and worker for at least the last 4 years.
4. A demonstrable adherence to the breeding and selling practices as described in the PWCCA Code of Ethics.
5. Exhibition of good sportsmanship in all phases of dog activities.
6. Proposed/endorsed by two current PWCCA members who have known the candidate for at least the last 4 years.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSERS AND ENDORSERS:
1. Proposer or Endorser must live in candidate’s geographic region, unless candidate lives in Alaska, Hawaii or outside the United States.
2. Proposer or Endorser must have visited the candidate’s home within past 2 years. A request for waiver of this requirement may be addressed to the Membership Committee Chair; however, if a waiver is requested, Proposer shall furnish a written report of home visitation performed by another PWCCA member.
3. Proposer and Endorser shall have had ongoing interaction with candidate for at least the last 4 years.
4. Proposer and Endorser must be willing to share their knowledge as to how the candidate meets above listed Requirements for Candidates on a written questionnaire and in a telephone interview with a member of the Membership Committee should clarification or additional information be necessary.
5. Neither may propose nor endorse more than one application per year with the following exception: Proposer and Endorser may sponsor two candidates, if candidates are members of the same household. Each candidate must fill out a separate application, have same Proposer and Endorser, and submit a separate application fee.
6. Neither may propose nor endorse a candidate in his/her own immediate family nor anyone who lives in the same household.
7. Neither may propose nor endorse a candidate with who he/she or anyone in his/her household co-owns a dog.
8. Neither may propose nor endorse a candidate with whom he/she has had financial or business dealing (except stud services) 2 years prior to application deadline. This shall include but not be limited to employee/employer relationship and lease or exchange or purchase of purebred dogs.
9. Proposer and Endorser must come from different households.
10. Neither may propose nor endorse a candidate for a period of 4 years following his/her own acceptance into the PWCCA.
11. No member of the Membership Committee or any person in his/her household or immediate family may propose or endorse a candidate.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
1. A PWCCA member requests a membership application packet from the Recording Secretary.
2. Completed application and questionnaires are returned to the Membership Chair by November 1.
3. Incomplete or illegible application and/or questionnaires will be returned to Proposer. This may result in delay of processing.
4. In mid-January, names of candidates with brief synopses of activities are mailed to the PWCCA general membership for review.
5. Letters expressing support or concern for candidates are to be submitted to the Membership Chair by March 1. Proposer will be called regarding any questions during process.
6. Membership Committee gives its report to the PWCCA Board of Directors for vote at its spring meeting. Names of candidates accepted by the Board are forwarded to the general membership. Proposer will be called immediately when a candidate is not being put forward to membership. Recording Secretary will follow up with letter within 10 days.
7. Candidates’ names are mailed to the general membership for vote prior to the Annual Meeting in accordance with PWCCA By-laws.
8. Proposer, Endorser, or candidate may withdraw application at any time during process.
9. Candidates not approved by 75 percent of general membership with two consecutive ballots may not re-apply for three years.
