[PyrNet-L] GPCA Bulletin/Membership

["ARIEGE" <ARIEGE@xtra.co.nz>]

I have over the years read many copies of the Bulletin and found it to be a
most professional and interesting magazine for Pyr enthusiasts at all
levels.  I was not aware until recently of the criteria for joining the
Parent Club and I wonder if this is similar to  the criteria for joining the
New Zealand Kennel Club here.  To join NZKC here one must be a financial
member of  either an Allbreeds, Group, Specialist Breed, Obedience, Agility
Club first.( These Clubs must be assoc, affiliated or recognised by NZKC).
An application to join NZKC is then forwarded by the Sec of the above
mentioned Club(s) to the NZKC with the appropriate fee.  What these Clubs
must do is obviously "screen" all applicants first.  Let me assure you that
Jack the Ripper or the Boston Strangler could be a member as long as he paid
his fee!! How these clubs can appropriately screen people is beyond me and
what really needs screening apart from any previous convictions of cruelty
to animals or being expelled from one of these clubs previously or the
governing body (NZKC here)?  Unless you had "insider information" how would
you know who is suitable to be a member of any organisation?  Is this where
the knowing of 2 members of the Parent body comes into the equasion for x
amount of years?  If this is so then within that time frame of "serving an
apprenticeship" then hopefully any bad genes on the part of the future
applicant would make themselves known.  I see the good and the bad in this.
I see the "model applicant" losing the plot later on and I see the "bad egg"
turning over a new leaf . There is of course the "safe guarding" in the
power play to ensure all runs smoothly.  A new broom sweeps clean, we've all
heard this but how many new brooms does an organisation need over the years
if the format of that organisation is a successful one?  I say to the
newcomers, you have the chance to make the most of your regional clubs so
get in there, work hard, show your enthusiasm, be supportive, help others,
do rescue/rehoming.  This is what all the others before you have done .
Their success has not come overnight from sitting on their butts.  What I
admire most is hearing about all your regional clubs and the work you do at
all levels.  This is where it counts, out in the field ensuring the welfare
and well being of the Breed.  Coming from a country where the numbers are
small and any person showing an interest in the Breed is welcomed, there
have been hard lessons learnt over the years.  Looking back there were
memberships we should not have accepted but we live and learn and clean the
mess up once again.
Kind Regards, Jan,
Jan Chaplin Ariege-Roussillon Pyreneans. Visit my sites at
http://www.geocities.com/janellachaplin/ send a Pyr Posty
http://www.geocities.com/janellachaplin/cards.html  join here
http://www.egroups.com/group/CaninePostcardCollectors or visit here
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/PetsPl/pyreneanmountaindog/