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Notice to Members March 31, 2026

Dear Member,

The WSSCA Board is taking steps to address the Club’s operating deficit—some of which require a membership vote.  Ballots will be sent out soon, but we wanted to give you a quick overview first and encourage you to vote.

It’s been nine years since dues were increased, and like everyone, we can’t escape inflation, particularly printing and postage. At the same time, investments in our website and new technology for member communications and financial tracking have strengthened the Club, but they have also added to our overall expenses.

The ballot will have details on the items to be voted on, but we wanted to highlight several items:

  • Changes to Bylaws and membership structure. The current “Single” and “Household” membership categories are consolidated into one Regular Membership. Each member would have one vote, with proposed dues of $60.

  • Annual Meeting Flexibility. The Revised Bylaws also include a change to the Annual Meeting language to give regional clubs more flexibility on the timing of the National Specialty.

  • Ramp Classification. We are seeking input from members to determine if there is support for a proposal to petition the AKC to classify Welsh Springer Spaniels as a “Ramp Mandatory” breed rather than “Ramp Optional” for conformation judging.

We are also updating how The Starter Barks is distributed. Printing and mailing costs have increased substantially, and many members now prefer reading publications electronically. Beginning in the Fall, the Starter Barks will be available to all members as an electronic publication. Those who prefer a printed copy will have the option to recieve one by paying the cost of printing and mailing.

We understand that some of these changes—especially to membership structure—may be difficult. These changes were not proposed lightly. However, we believe a structure where each member has one vote is fairer and more consistent. After careful review and with a clear understanding of our financial position, we believe these steps are necessary to put the Club on a stable financial footing and support its future.

Please contact us at wssca.board@gmail.com or Board members individually if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

WSSCA Board