ASSA Membership Policy & Privileges
New Membership Contact: Diane Ambrose | Current Membership Contact: Merrylee Malanowski
Please send all changes to your contact info to ASSA Treasurer Merrylee Malanowski.
As the AKC parent club of the Shetland Sheepdog, ASSA membership consists of both member clubs and individual members.
The American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA) By-Laws define five (5) types of membership ASSA By-Laws Article I, Section 1):
Individual Membership – Open to all persons eighteen (18) years of age and over who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the objectives of this Association.
Foreign Membership – Open to individuals residing in foreign countries. This class of membership shall be non-voting and non-office holding. Foreign members who have continuous membership prior to 1984 shall have voting privileges.
Associate Membership – Open to persons thirteen (13) years of age and over who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the objectives of this Association. This class of membership shall be non-voting and non-office holding.
Life Membership – Open to any Individual Member of the Association nominated by the Association's Life Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. This class of membership shall be exempt from payment of dues and shall retain all voting and office holding privileges.
ASSA Member Club Membership – Open to local Shetland Sheepdog clubs holding licensed specialties or sanctioned "A" matches approved by The American Kennel Club
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
Individual Membership is open to all persons eighteen (18) years of age and over who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club (AKC) and subscribe to the objectives of this Association. United States citizens and permanent legal residents of the United States qualify for Individual Membership, which includes voting rights and the right to hold office.
Applicants must have owned and exhibited a Shetland Sheepdog in AKC Member or licensed shows in conformation and/or performance events in the United States for a minimum of five (5) years, not necessarily over a continuous period. The applicant must have obtained at least one (1) of the following AKC Championship titles on an AKC Registered Shetland Sheepdog owned or co-owned by the applicant at the time of title.
Champion of Record (CH)
Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)
Rally Champion (RACH)
Master Agility Champion (MACH)
Preferred Agility Champion (PACH)
Herding Champion (HC)
Champion Tracker (CT)
Applicants must have the written endorsement of two (2) ASSA members in good standing with ASSA. Sponsors must have known the applicant for a minimum of one (1) year. At least one (1) Sponsor must reside in the applicant’s geographic area (same state or adjoining state). At least one (1) Sponsor must have personally inspected the quarters where the applicant maintains his/her dogs.
FOREIGN MEMBERSHIP
Foreign Membership is open to individuals residing in foreign countries who are eighteen (18) years of age and over, in good standing with the American Kennel Club, and subscribe to the objectives of ASSA. This class of membership shall be non-voting and non-office holding.
Applicants must have owned and exhibited a Shetland Sheepdog in conformation and/or performance events under a recognized registry in their country of residence for a minimum of five (5) years, not necessarily over a continuous period. Exhibition at AKC events and AKC title achievement are not required; however, the applicant is encouraged to provide a list of titles earned in their country and/or the United States.
Applicants must have the written endorsement of two (2) ASSA members in good standing with ASSA. Sponsors may be either two (2) Individual Members or one (1) Individual Member and one (1) Foreign Member. Sponsors must have known the applicant for a minimum of one (1) year, but do not need to live in the applicant’s geographic area or inspect the quarters where the applicant maintains his/her dogs.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Associate Membership is open to persons thirteen (13) years of age and over who are in good standing with The American Kennel Club, and who subscribe to the objectives of this Association. United States citizens and permanent legal residents of the United States qualify for Associate Membership. This class of membership shall be non-voting and non-office holding.
Applicants must have owned and exhibited a Shetland Sheepdog in AKC Member or licensed shows in conformation, Junior Showmanship, or performance events in the United States for a minimum of two (2) years, not necessarily over a continuous period. The applicant must have obtained at least one (1) AKC title in any venue or 2-point conformation win on an AKC Registered Shetland Sheepdog owned or co-owned by the applicant. Applicants under the age of 19 may qualify by having been awarded Best Junior Handler at any ASSA National or by qualifying to compete in Junior Showmanship at Westminster Kennel Club Show and/or AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Show in place of the AKC title or 2-point conformation win.
Applicants must have the written endorsement of one (1) ASSA Individual Member in good standing with ASSA. The Sponsor must have known the applicant for a minimum of one (1) year, reside in the applicant’s geographic area (same state or adjoining state), and personally inspect the quarters where the applicant maintains his/her dogs.
TRANSITION FROM ASSOCIATE TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
Associate Members in good standing with ASSA may transition to Individual Membership once they fulfill Individual Membership requirements that include eighteen (18) years of age and over; owned and exhibited a Shetland Sheepdog in AKC Member or licensed shows in conformation and/or performance events in the United States for a minimum of five (5) years; and obtained at least one (1) AKC Championship title on an AKC Registered Shetland Sheepdog owned or co-owned by the member at the time of title.
Written endorsement from one Sponsor is required for Associate Membership. For transition to Individual Membership, an Associate Member must obtain written endorsement from a second Sponsor who is an Individual Member in good standing with ASSA. The second Sponsor must have known the applicant for a minimum of one (1) year and reside in the applicant’s geographic area (same state or adjoining state). The second Sponsor is not required to inspect the quarters where the applicant maintains his/her dogs.
MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES
The following table summarizes privileges Individual, Foreign, and Associate Members have as members of ASSA.
| Membership Privilege | Individual | Foreign | Associate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hold Office, eg, Officer, Regional Director, Director At Large | √ | ||
| Vote for Officers/Directors | √ | ||
| Nominate National Specialty Futurity & Conformation Judges | √ | ||
| Vote for National Specialty Futurity and Conformation Judges | √ | ||
| Vote on Amendments to ASSA By-Laws | √ | ||
| Vote on Changes to Shetland Sheepdog Standard | √ | ||
| Attend ASSA Annual Meeting | √ | √ | √ |
| Vote at ASSA Annual Meeting | √ | ||
| Chair ASSA Committee | √ | ||
| Serve on ASSA Committee | √ | √ | √ |
| Sponsor Applicants for Individual and/or Foreign Membership | √ 2/year | √ 2/year | |
| Sponsor Applicants for Associate Membership | √ 1/year | ||
| Nominate Litter for ASSA Futurity | √ | √ | |
| Access to ASSA Website Members Only Section | √ | √ | √ |
| Participate in ASSA Member Yahoo Group Lists | √ | √ | √ |
| Access ASSA Bulletin Board electronically on ASSA Website | √ | √ | √ |
| Subscribe to paper copy of ASSA Bulletin Board ($20 per year) | √ | √ | √ |
| Receive ASSA Spoon Awards for AKC Championship Titles | √ | √ | |
| Receive ASSA Achievement Award Pins | √ | √ | |
| Receive ASSA Certificate Awards | √ | √ | √ |
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life Membership is the highest honor the ASSA can bestow on a member. Life Membership requires Individual Membership in ASSA for at least 25 years; significant service contributions to the organization; success as a breeder and/or exhibitor; sportsmanlike conduct at all times in their relationships with fellow members, exhibitors, and judges; and continued interest, loyalty, and support to ASSA and the breed. Candidates are nominated by the Life Membership Committee and approved by the Board Of Directors. Life Members are exempt from annual dues and retain all voting, office-holding, and other privileges of ASSA.
ASSA MEMBER CLUB MEMBERSHIP
ASSA Member Club Membership is open to local Shetland Sheepdog clubs that hold licensed specialties or sanctioned "A" matches approved by The American Kennel Club. Approximately 70 ASSA Member Clubs across the country sponsor AKC matches, specialty shows, and obedience, rally, agility, herding, and tracking trials; as well as educational events for members and the general public. ASSA Member Clubs are open to all. You do not have to be an ASSA Member to join an ASSA Member Club. Membership in a local club can also be an important first step in readying yourself for ASSA membership.
A local club interested in becoming an ASSA Member Club is required to hold sanctioned “A” matches approved by the AKC. To hold licensed specialties, the club must join ASSA as a Member Club. For details on club application procedures, see ASSA By-Laws Article 1, Sections 1b and 3b. ASSA Member Club annual dues are $50.