THE ALLEGED PROS OF FCI MEMBERSHIP
(A Commentary on KUSA's 2003 Circular, re-sent to Clubs under cover of the President's letter of 19 February 2008)
Under cover of his letter of 19 February 2008 to “All Clubs”, the President provides clubs with a number of documents, including an old 2003 Circular allegedly listing the “Pros and cons of belonging to the FCI”. The headings, however, make no provision for “cons” but, instead, list the ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP and the DISADVANTAGES OF NOT BEING A MEMBER ! – a sort of heads, I win - tails, you lose. I can see no other reason for the inclusion of this very old document in the pack sent out by the President other than that KUSA still considers its content relevant.
The list of advantages (because there are seemingly no disadvantages ) is preceded by a number of so-called FACTS . It is, however, necessary to put these “FACTS” in the proper perspective:
FACT
There are ninety three (93) countries, or territories, worldwide that have national Canine Organizations. ONLY fourteen (14) are not members of the FCI. (Summary of Membership)
That might be so, but amongst the non-member countries and territories are the major Anglophone dog-showing countries – the UK, the USA and Canada – with which South Africa, as a fellow Anglophone country, has far more in common in terms of tradition and canine philosophy than with any European, South American and Asian country. As Associate Members, Australia and New Zealand , two other prominent Anglophone countries, have an arm's length relationship with the FCI and tolerate no interference in their internal affairs.
It should also be recognised that a sizable chunk of the 93 countries and territories which have “national Canine Organizations” are emerging registries and administrations. In its stated quest to increase its global reach, the FCI has been rather undiscerning in it membership admission policy. It should further be noted that, of the FCI's 84 affiliates (Full Members 56, Associate Members 21 & Contract Partners 7), almost 30% of Members have opted for Associate status.
FACT
The source of “FCI” breed standards is the country of the breed's origin, development or patronage (For example the Rhodesian Ridgeback Standard adopted by the FCI is one jointly written by KUSA and the Zimbabwe kennel Club).
In theory that is true. However, in contriving the standards of, say, British breeds to fit its so-called “ Jerusalem format” (a template for standards adopted by the FCI's General Assembly held in Jerusalem ), measurements and proportions are sometimes added willy-nilly, even if they don't appear in the original standard. At the informal gathering in G au teng on 16 February, attendants cited a number of examples of such tampering. The FCI, seemingly, also has no hesitation in changing descriptions to suit its preferred “nomenclature”, for instance, substituting words like “distinct” with “definite”, or vice versa.
Although the example of the Rhodesian Ridgeback standard having been developed in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Kennel Club was quoted back in 2003 when the Circular was issued, it's ironic that the ZKC is the very kennel club whose registry KUSA has subsequently been instructed to deny under orders from the FCI!
The FCI clearly stated in a letter dated 31 July 2003 that “ South Africa will be allowed to adjust and modify its Standards (to the FCI model) over a few years as this already applies to Australia . There is no time limit for a final and complete implementation of FCI Standards but we obviously look forward to it.”
Whichever way you look at the above, it is nothing more than a moratorium . At some stage in the future we'll have to adapt and accept “full parity” (as it has also been put) with the rules and regulations of the FCI, including “a final and complete implementation of FCI Standards”. This would all be fine if local breeders and exhibitors were prepared to convert their stock to fit the FCI ideal during the moratorium, but that's hardly going to happen. It will therefore always remain a problem deferred, with a sword of Damocles remaining over the heads of those who have bred and exhibited to The Kennel Club standards for decades. It is this moratorium, and the uncertainty of its sell-by date, that sparks a furious reaction every time there's real, or perceived, move on the part of KUSA towards conversion.
Breeders and exhibitors of affected breeds are clearly tired of remaining ever vigilant and watching KUSA's every move like a hawk. This makes for a relationship between members and the governing body rooted in suspicion and mistrust, promoting an unhealthy and adversarial dog-showing environment. Breeders and exhibitors seek the security of a “negotiated settlement” on breed standards which, as the FCI's Statutes are framed at present, can only be achieved under Associate Membership which allows for a “special agreement that specifies their (Associate Members') relations with the FCI.”
FACT
Any dog show in a country at which national awards can be gained are held under the Rules and Regulations of that country. Where awards at a Show are those offered by the FCI then their Regulations apply. However, it is more usual than unusual to find National Awards also being offered at a Show held under FCI Regulations than not.
National awards are indeed offered at CACIB shows in many FCI countries, but in breed it can obviously only work in countries where national awards are also offered under the ten group system, and where the same classes and age groupings are in force. When it was tried in South Africa to offer CCs at a CACIB show, apart from the entertainment it gave ringsiders, it resulted in a confusion which rivalled a veritable Babel of tongues. Having proved a monumental failure, the idea was eventually abandoned by KUSA.
It should be borne in mind that a number of our Working Disciplines are not recognised by the FCI – e.g. Carting, Jumping, Flyball, Classic Working Trials – so, conceivably, national awards for these disciplines cannot be on offer at shows held under FCI Regulations.
FACT
The Kennel Union has been a member of the F.C.I. for forty one (41) years, and a full member for the last ten (10).
Time has obviously moved on since the 2003 Circular and KUSA has been a Full Member of the FCI for the past fifteen (15) years.
The President then proceeds to list what he considers to be the ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP (Note: Not FULL MEMBERSHIP )
• If KUSA were not a member of the FCI another canine organization in South Africa could apply to be a member as only one (1) organization in each country can be a member (i.e. Full, Associate or Contract Partner). This would prejudice the whole of the Kennel Union including the registrations.
As an Associate Member KUSA would remain the only canine organisation recognised by the FCI and there would be no prejudice to it, or to its registrations.
• A Full Member has a vote at the General Assembly and can have a proxy vote for one Full Member.
Yes, as a Full Member KUSA currently has a 1/56 vote. The value of what amounts to no more than an “academic” vote should, however, be weighed up against domestic harmony and the interests of all the dog folk in South Africa .
• Full Members are able to be elected to the General Committee and the various Specialist Commissions (i.e. Committees).
These Specialist Commissions of the FCI are now called “Mandatory Commissions” – the Legal Commission, the Scientific Commission and the Standards Commission. Although, as an Associate Member, KUSA would not be able to be elected to them, it would be able to take part in all the FCI's Non-mandatory Commissions.
Again, this might be considered a small sacrifice in the interest of domestic unity and KUSA members' right to self-determination. After all, KUSA's primary responsibility is towards its local constituents – those who contribute membership fees to its coffers and who pay for all manner of services - not the FCI .
• If there is a dispute between members then the FCI will appoint an arbitration Commission to determine the matter.
Full and Associate Members are equally entitled to the FCI's Arbitration procedure should that ever be needed.
• As a member of a recognized International Sporting Body KUSA through the South African Sports Commission is in a position to apply for South African National Colours.
According to the February 2008 Dogs in Africa , KUSA has had “no contact with the Sports Council over the year in question, however we see that in the coming year this might well have to be re-opened.” Apart from the fact that the National Sports Council no longer exists (it was absorbed into the South African Sports Commission in 1999), KUSA relinquished its membership of the South African Sports Commission in August 2004. This point is therefore no longer relevant.
• KUSA registered dogs have the opportunity of participating in all manner of Events held under FCI Regulations and obtaining Championship status in them.
It doesn't matter whether KUSA is a Full, or Associate, Member, our dogs would be able to compete in any International Event held under FCI Regulations, as would be the dogs of non-member countries.
• KUSA judges are accepted throughout the FCI area.
Whether a Full, or Associate, Member, KUSA's judges are welcome in all FCI countries.
We then come to the President's DISADVANTAGES OF NOT BEING A MEMBER, in other words, further ADVANTAGES OF BEING A MEMBER!
• The possibility exists that our Registrations would not be acceptable and our dogs could neither be ex ported (sic) to or exhibited in FCI countries and that we could not import dogs from such countries (Article 8 (d) of the FCI).
The correct source is now Article 8 (4) of the FCI Standing Orders . Curious as this directive might be, it would not apply to either Full, or Associate Members, of the FCI.
The Article in question reads as follows: “In the case of dogs coming from countries which have no FCI member or contract partner or with which no agreement exists for the recognition of pedigrees, the members and contract partners as well as the breed clubs commissioned by them can, notwithstanding the above provision 2, register a dog with a non-recognised pedigree in an appendix to the studbook once this dog has been examined by a judge approved for the breed in question; its breeding, from the fourth generation, can be entered in the studbook. The same applies to dogs without any pedigree.”
• There are no other International Canine Organizations covering all breeds that KUSA could join and without being members of an International sports body KUSA could be forced out of the South African Sports Commission.
As mentioned above, KUSA relinquished its membership of the South African Sports Commission in 2004.
• If we leave the FCI and the Sports Commission KUSA may have Tax Issues as Dog sport may not be recognized as a Public Benefit Organisation and all clubs could be forced to pay Tax and submit annual returns.
It has subsequently been established that being a Public Benefit Organisation has no bearing on tax liability. In any event, KUSA is no longer a member of the South African Sports Commission.
• KUSA has to pay FCI an annual Subscription, but this also applies to any International Sports body and has to pay to FCI a fee for each dog entered in a local FCI show. KUSA must hold a minimum of 1 CACIB show a year.
How this is deemed to be an Advantage of Membership is not quite clear. As an Associate, KUSA will also have to pay a Subscription, but a substantially deduced one – 400 Euros, as opposed to 900 Euros for Full Membership.
The latest version of the FCI Statutes (Article 9 (b)) requires Full Members as well as Associate Members to also hold one CACIB show per year. It would be interesting to see how Australia and New Zealand will deal with this new regulation, and one might assume that they'll negotiate to be excluded from this obligation.
• KUSA would not receive information on matters such as Judges who are banned, updates of Breed Standards already adopted, changes to Discipline rules, etc.
Full members as well as Associate Members, and also Contract Partners, have access to this information.
(History of FCI Membership)
Gérard Robinson
