usrconline.org

[dmcmahan]

Candidates interested in running for President must declare their intent to run and their qualifications for the position. Declaration and discussion for potential candidates will be open from April 25th to May 2nd .

All discussion must be fundamentally courteous and orderly. Any member who fails or refuses to engage in discussion or debate in an orderly and courteous manner may be ejected from the electronic meeting by order of the President or by a vote of the Board of Directors.

Eligibility
A candidate for President must have knowledge and/or experience with the USRC’s structure, Bylaws, policies, programs, rules and parliamentary procedure. A candidate must have management and leadership skills.

A candidate must be a full member of the USRC, must be over twenty-one (21) years of age, must never have been removed from any previously held position in the USRC before the end of their term, and must not be under current disciplinary action. All candidates must possess integrity and must fully prescribe to the USRC’s purpose and objectives. A candidate must have reliable access to email. A candidate must have experience in conformation shows, schutzhund trials, and training Rottweilers

[dmcmahan]

I am currently the USRC Secretary and have served as the USRC Secretary in prior years. I have also previously served 5+ years on the AWMA Executive Board and served as Delegate to the AWDF for USRC. During my time as USRC Secretary I have caught up the position from previous secretaries, catching up ballot posting and meeting minutes. I have worked recently to keep the USRC Facebook page and USRC Forum active and up to date with information. I have helped co-host both the 2018 AWDF Championship, the 2018, 2022 and 2024 USRC National Championships.

I have been involved in purebred dog sport since 1997 and got my first Rottweiler in 2001. I have been active in showing/training and competing with Rottweilers in AKC Conformation, Junior Showmanship (before I turned 18 ), Sieger Shows, Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondioring, Dock Diving, Rally, AKC Obedience, NASDA, Fastcat, etc. I have titled three dogs to IPO3, two to IPO1, two to French Ring Brevet, and one to FR1/MR1 in addition to many other at BH or lower level titles in AKC. I have competed at several Regional and National Level events including taking 4th place at the 2018 USRC National IPO Championship. I currently breed working Rottweilers under the kennel name 'vom Bosen Blick' Rottweilers in Southern California.

[smorgart]

Hello Dana- since I see you running for Secretary again- What changes/improvements would you like to see in USRC? Also, what improvements do you think you have helped with in the past as Secretary?
_________________
Skip Morgart

USRC Select '07, 8x V1
(V1 at 2006 Canadian Nationals, 2007 USRC Sieger Nationals, and 2008 USRC Sieger Nationals) Redwood Krest's Shane BH, AD,OB1,SchH/VPG3, IPO3, BST
OFA Hips Good, Elbows Clear, Heart,
Eyes Cert

[dmcmahan]

I think the USRC is on a good trajectory at this point when viewing it from where it was previously. The improvements I have contributed to are listed above in my bio. I will be happy if the EB continues to work together as we have in recent years, with professionalism and putting the breed and club first. I don't think our EB or club is perfect but these are *volunteer* positions and we are all doing the best we can.

[dmcmahan]

I would just like to take a moment to address something that seems to be pointed at Michelle or the current EB.


Over 10 years ago I was on the USRC executive board at one of its most toxic times. The infighting on the board made it a thing of dread of log in and see what everyone was fighting about that day. The taxes have been a mess predating 2013. Multiple treasurers have dropped the ball on sorting it because it's pretty hard to figure out where things went wrong when the mess started a decade before you. Ive seen multiple presidents try and straighten out the mess. Wayne, Brandon, Chuck, David, etc have all tried and with a lot more info than we have had in recent years because the paper trail starts to go fuzzy after while. Paperwork got "sent to CPAs" years ago and was never seen again. Bank accounts were closed. Yahoo Groups had hosted all the prior EB discussions was wiped away so all that history was lost. We also have finite resources meaning if it's going to take thousands of dollars to fix the tax situation, its money the club simply doesn't have.

When Michelle came on as President I feel she did and exceptional job with the newsletter and Facebook page. The newsletter has gone by the wayside as I feel most newsletters have..... even the USCA and AWMA have ceased them as communication methods for the membership because the MEMBERSHIP DOESN'T READ THEM. Nobody reads email newsletters. We have done a pretty good job of keep the Facebook and forum updated as much as is necessary. There aren't many day to day happenings when your club isn't filled with toxic people slinging BOIs and lawsuit threats at each other.

We have maintained the important parts of the club which is approving memberships, approving clubs, and hosting the national events that select the IFR team. We maintain a voice on the AWDF. The EB members get votes back on ballots within a day or two, when previous EB's failed to respond after 2 weeks on certain ballots. I feel the board all comes from a place of putting the Rottweiler and the USRC first. I have never seen fighting, egos, petty name calling, or general garbage spewing that is so common on other breed clubs Executive Boards or the previous USRC Executive Board. I have to believe we are doing some things right.

While I do believe at some point the taxes and incorporation stuff needs sorted, I'm also not arrogant to think if 4-5 people previous to us couldn't figure it out it might be something bigger than a *volunteer* position can figure out. It probably needs an actual CPA, or a lawyer and again I don't know that the club can afford either.

Financial Statements for 2023 and 2024 were shared when requested. I do not have access to the website to upload things there and that is another mess that eventually needs sorted. The website is archaic. It needs completely replaced. We are lucky to have Liz Crawley still able to navigate the backend as we need. Again, the USRC has finite resources and the EB has limited time. We all are busy keeping our lives afloat, our dogs all regularly show or trial and we have helped host the USRC Nationals more times than not in recent years.


I'm sorry if the membership feels out of the loop but don't see any messages on the USRC FB messenger that have gone unanswered and nothing sent to my secretary email has gone unanswered. Michelle goes out of her way to communicate when we have answers to things. I'm unsure where this narrative of bringing respect back to the USRC has come from but having hosted the last USRC Nationals we got nothing but positive feedback from those attending. The USRC will never return to the size it was before unless we have another surge in breed popularity which I would pray against for the sake of our breed. USRC at its largest was also at its worst .... again, some of you are quick to forget the volatile nature of the club back in its "heyday". Sure the bank about was flush but with the proceeds from sieger shows filled by puppy millers who exploited our breed and left a mess for the shelters to clean up.


All that to say is whatever happens with this election, I am really proud of the current board I have been privileged to serve with. Michelle, Marlene, Lucy, and Denise have been amazing behind the scenes.
_________________
- Dana McMahan (Williams) -
Ciro von der Kleinbrucke, BH, BST, Fr Ring Brevet, FR1, MR1, SPr1, TR1, CGC
Adonis vom Bosen Blick, BH
Malachai du Ciel Rouge, BH, IPO3
Brazen vom Bösen Blick, BH

[mplatt]

The USRC Board has been absolutely transparent with members and answers questions when asked. That in itself is uncommon and I believe many of us have been a part of boards that have had underhanded dealings go on and know the detriment of that.

I personally often field questions from members and non-members via messages, text, phone calls, and email. I am easily accessible and more than willing to help others to the best of my ability. I do not shy away from questions and do address them. I also listen to members' needs and have proposed, and the board has passed, suggestions brought up by members. It is a club focused on the needs and betterment of the breed and on the members' needs.

We have made changes to move with the times and offer more opportunities for the dogs and handlers. In the past 6 years, myself and the board have created a Youth Handler Program, a Championship Award Program, and modernized the working class to accept other working titles that include combined bitework and obedience, such as French and Mondio Ring, PSA, and American Schutzhund. The Veterans' class has been modified to allow veterans to go on and compete for higher awards. We now offer other appealing awards to better match the international world and bring USRC more current without sacrificing the grit and focus on the working dog aspect of the breed. Many many things both large and small have been done over the past 6 years due to this board.

In addition to what has already been mentioned by Dana and above, board members also have duties both nationally and internationally. We fight to protect the club and ensure that it stays relevant. I personally have fought and succeeded in it being clear, regardless of what RKNA continues to do, USRC being the only Rottweiler Club in the USRC that can hold working trials that are recognized the world over due to our affiliation with AWDF and IFR. No other club in the USA will accept titles awarded at other Rottweiler clubs. This is as it should be due to FCI affiliation. I have also secured our first IFR Regional and I take an active role in our international connection. Marlene serves as the AWDF Rep and maintains our important connection with them.

There is considerable work that goes on in the running of the club that most are not aware of; not the work or the time involved. As mentioned, we also have families, actively work and show our dogs, and have job requirements to fulfill. Unfortunately, there is a woeful number of people who will step up and volunteer for committees or follow through with help. That was the demise of the newsletter that I kept up for two years. I reached out to members for assistance in keeping it up through writing articles, etc. In the end it fell on me and as a person who generally has a 6:30AM-6:30/7PM work day, I could not keep it up.

Are there things that can be done better? Yup. More hands make lighter work. Have we done a pretty damn good job? Hell yes.
_________________
Michelle Platt
USRC NW Region Sieger RKNA CH Multi V-1 rated Wu-Tang's Axel CGC, FDC, RN, TDI, CDX, BH, SE, BST, ZTP, multiple x's IPO 3
USRC NW Region Open Select (2x's) multi V-1 Rated Wu-Tang's Nadia CGC, FDC, BN, RN, BH, BST, IPO V