BCA Membership Information
_edited.jpg)
The Briard Club of America, Inc., founded in 1928, is a not-for-profit organization of about 500 members, united in their love for the Briard and dedicated to protecting the best interests of this ancient and unique breed of herding dog. The membership is varied–from those who have a Briard only for companionship, to those who also show–so the club serves all aspects of breed ownership.
Overview
The Briard Club of America is the official national representative of the Briard to the American Kennel Club. In addition to keeping the records pertinent to its function, the club maintains liaison with Briard clubs throughout the world; holds an annual specialty show; and publishes informative material on the Briard in addition to a club magazine, the DewClaw. Individual copies of educational materials are made available, without cost, to anyone requesting information on the breed. The DewClaw is sent to all members, and is also available to non-members for $45 per year for domestic, $55 for Canadian, and $60 per year for foreign. The club has also has a publication called MinutesPlus sent out monthly to help keep members better informed of club business and to encourage a healthy interchange within the club about various issues.
The Briard Club of America encourages the formation of local Briard specialty clubs to increase contact with new owners and to work for the best interests of the breed. Any local group will be granted BCA association provided that the local group is willing to abide by the objectives and rules of the BCA and the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club.
Membership Tiers
The BCA offers four types of membership to those in good standing with the American Kennel Club who subscribe to the purposes of the BCA and its code of ethics:
-
Individual membership — with voting privileges, the DewClaw, and other club publications;
-
Joint membership — two persons in the same household, giving a vote to each but only one copy of the club magazine and other publications;
-
Junior membership — for young people ages ten through seventeen. Junior members are not entitled to vote, sponsor new members, nor hold office, but they do receive the DewClaw and may serve on committees. They are also entitled to receive club awards for their achievements with their Briard. Junior membership automatically converted to individual (voting) membership when the junior reaches eighteen years of age.
-
Lifetime membership — for members who have belonged to the club for a minimum of 30 years and have met specific requirements for service to the club.
Application for membership is made on the forms (supplied in PDF below) supplied by the club, which must be filled out completely and signed by the applicant. The application is then endorsed by two voting members of the BCA who know the applicant. (The signatures of joint members–two persons in the same household–are considered as one endorsement for application purposes.) For applicants who live in areas where it is difficult to meet BCA members, sponsorship by members who have corresponded with the applicant may be accepted by the board. The application is then forwarded to the membership chair, together with dues for the current year. The names of new members are published by the club after the applications are processed by the board.
Those interested in BCA membership are strongly encouraged to subscribe to the DewClaw and attend BCA functions until they have become acquainted with potential sponsors. This will help to familiarize the applicant with the workings of the club, activities in the breed, and help the applicant to contact members in their own area.
Objectives of the club as stated in the BCA Constitution, Section 2:
​
-
To do all possible to bring the natural qualities of the Briard to perfection.
-
To encourage the organization of independent local Briard Specialty Clubs in those location where there are sufficient fanciers of the breed to meet the requirements of the American Kennel Club.
-
To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Briards shall be judged;
-
To do all in its power to protect and advance the interests of the breed and to encourage sportsmanlike competition at dog shows and obedience trials;
-
To conduct sanctioned matches and specialty shows and/or obedience trials under the rules of the American Kennel Club.
The membership application form must be printed and filled out. For more information, contact the membership chair:
Elise McMahon Membership Chair
125 E Chesnut Hill Rd.
Montague, MA 01353-9558
413-367-0094