Working Australian Shepherd Club of Upstate New York

Membership Application

Name(s) ___________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________________  State _______________  Zip __________________

Telephone _______________________  E-Mail Address ______________________________________

Are you a member of ASCA?  ________________ ASCA membership #___________________

Areas of interest (please circle)

Conformation     Obedience     Herding     Agility     Tracking     Flyball     Other ____________________

How many Aussies do you own? ______________ (Aussie ownership is not a requirement of membership)

Please give a brief description of your Aussies (name, age, color, sex, breeder, etc.) below: _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

What do you expect to get out of WASCUNY membership?  ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

What are you able to do for WASCUNY? (help at shows, make phone calls, collate and fold flyers, etc.) _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Please circle category for which you are applying

Types of Membership* - All active categories include newsletter subscription.

     Active initial single - 1 vote $19.00    

    Active initial family - 2 votes - $22.00    

     Active Junior (non-voting) - $5.00     

     Newsletter subscription only - $15.00     

I (we) hereby apply for membership in the Working Australian Shepherd Club of Upstate New York. Members and non-members participating in club activities agree to abide by and uphold the Constitution, Bylaws, Registry Rules, Policies, Procedures, Code of Ethics and Dispute Rules of both ASCA and WASCUNY.  I am (we are) in good standing with the Australian Shepherd Club of America, Inc.

Signature(s) __________________________________    ____________________________________

2 Sponsor Signatures ______________________________     ________________________________

(sponsor signatures not required for newsletter subscription only)

Date _______________

Make checks payable to WASCUNY and mail with application to:

Cheryl Brewer, Treasurer, 91 Elmer Dr., Pittsfield, MA  01201

Phone:  (413) 448-2795

Working Australian Shepherd Club of Upstate New York

WASCUNY was organized about 15 years ago by a handful of people who all owned a breed considered "rare" at the time -- the Australian Shepherd.  These women got together to train their dogs in obedience and to socialize with each other.

They soon found enough interest in the breed to affiliate themselves with the parent club of Aussies, the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).  At the time, the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not recognize the breed and would not allow Aussies to participate in any AKC activities.  With sanctioning by ASCA, the club was able to put on dog shows and trials in which the Aussies participated with great talent.  Some of the members do not show their dogs, but have joined for the friendship and camaraderie that a group with similar interests can offer.

The primary objective of WASCUNY and ASCA is to protect and advance the Australian Shepherd breed.  In service of this goal we:

  1. Encourage and promote the breeding of purebred Australian Shepherds in such a manner as to bring their natural qualities to the highest degree attainable;

  2. Strive to promote, educate and assist all owners of the breed to improve their knowledge of the breed and its history;

  3. Protect and advance the interest of the Australian Shepherd breed and to encourage ethical breeding practices and sportsmanlike competition at all dog shows and trials;

  4. Conduct conformation shows, obedience trials, stockdog trials, and other events in conformity with ASCA rules and regulations;

  5. Encourage all breeders to accept the ASCA breed standard as the only standard of excellence by which the breed shall be judged.

At present we have about 46 members, most of who help at the shows and trials that we sponsor each year.  Our July Sparkler Show, held at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds each year, is the biggest and most extensive ASCA show in New York State, offering breed, obedience and agility competition.  Our March Think Spring show, held in Queensbury, NY, and our October Leaf Peeper show, held in Cambridge, NY, offer breed classes for Aussies and obedience classes for all breeds.

We support ethical and humane breeding practices which include not allowing "backyard breeding", and insisting on hip, eye and congenital disease clearances before planned breeding. We support responsible ownership and kind and loving treatment of our animals.  We wish to educate those owners who desire more information on their Aussies and support our national rescue effort called Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline (ARPH).

*Definition of Membership Classifications:

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP gives you who meet eligibility requirements a vote in club activities and implies you will be available to contribute in some way for our events.  You may be able to help with paperwork, call judges, make travel or hotel arrangements for judges, help put up or take down show rings at our shows, be a conformation or obedience steward, transport judges or and from the airport, etc.  There are many jobs that help to create a successful club event and you don't need to know how - we will schedule you with an experienced person who will teach you.  All the show jobs are easily learned and will expand your knowledge of the Australian Shepherd and ASCA events.  Active membership receives the club newsletter, and show workers are guests of WASCUNY at our annual holiday party in December.

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP is open to anyone under age 18 and not living with a club member.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP shall be open to any person and the resident members of their immediate family household who meet eligibility requirements.  Voting memberships will be vested in members of the family who are 18 years of age or older and junior non-voting memberships shall be vested in members of the family who are younger than the age of 18.

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION MEMBERS shall be open to any person or organization in good standing with ASCA desiring membership for the sole purpose of receiving mailings from the Club.  This membership has no voting privileges.

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