ByLaws
Working Belgian Shepherd Club of America
By-Laws
Our Mission:
We are a grassroots community of passionate Belgian Shepherd enthusiasts, trainers, and breeders dedicated to preserving and advancing the working legacy of the breed. We recognize and support all four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd including the Belgian Malinois, Laekenois, Groenendael, and the Tervuren. Our mission is to build an inclusive, forward-thinking organization that values sportsmanship, collaboration, and high standards in training, breeding, and competition. By promoting positive growth, real-world working traits, and a welcoming environment for new and seasoned handlers alike, we aim to strengthen participation, support quality genetics, and celebrate the diverse capabilities of the Belgian Shepherd Dog in sport and service. Through transparency, education, and open dialogue, we are shaping a future where the working Belgian Shepherd thrives.
I. Organization name and Colors
The organization that encompasses the entirety of the United States of America
(USA) shall be known as the “Working Belgian Shepherd Club of America” – WBSCA. The
WBSCA colors shall be red, white and blue. The fiscal year will be calendar year ending
December 31 of each year.
II. Types of Membership: Full Individual, Family, Junior, Probationary
Full Individual: Full Individual members are members who have been approved by the
executive board and current on their membership dues. Voting rights granted for all General Board Meetings.
Family Membership: Membership granted to two (2) members in one household at a reduced
rate determined by the WBSCA Executive Board. Family members have all of the same
benefits of the Full Individual members. One vote for each adult family member granted.
Probationary Members: Probationary members are applicant members who have pending
membership approval of the WBSCA Executive Board. In certain instances, the WBSCA
Executive Board may, at their sole discretion and by majority vote, decline or postpone approval
of a probationary member’s application based on history of past behavior, perceived conduct
prejudicial to the best interests of the club, membership complaints, or any reason whatsoever
contrary to the mission of the organization. Any application fees will be immediately refunded in
the case of an unapproved application. Probationary membership applications may require up
30 days of probationary status pending approval. No person may join WBSCA if they have a criminal history of harming another person or animal.
Junior Membership: Any applicant 18 years of age and under will have free membership and
free trial entries at all WBSCA events. No voting rights granted.
III. Boards: Executive Board and General Board
There shall be an Executive Board made up of the President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Membership Chair, IGP Director Of Judges, and no less than three (3) and no more
than five (5) Directors at Large. The members of the Executive Board shall be made up of the
founding members (members at the time of establishment of these by-laws) until such time that
a vacancy occurs as a result of resignation (see Vacancies of the Executive Board). Beginning
in fall of 2026, there will be elections held every two years, in even years, for the Executive
Board positions.
The Executive Board is tasked with the daily operations of the organization and to effectively
plan, delegate, and implement the framework in which the organization operates. The positions
of the Executive Board are as follows:
A. President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the General Board and shall have the duties and authority normally associated with the office.
B. Vice President
The Vice President shall perform such duties as are assigned to him/her by the
President and shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.
C. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at the Executive Board and
General Board meeting(s) and distributing them to the membership within 30 days following
the Executive Board and/or General Board meeting(s).
D. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the organization. He/she shall be
responsible for the collection, custody and control of the funds of the WBSCA and shall
ensure that all funds are deposited into the WBSCA bank account in a timely manner. The
organization’s books shall, at all times, be open to inspection by the board and any full
member in good standing of WBSCA. The Treasurer shall provide a report at every
meeting detailing the condition of the organization’s finances and every item of receipt of
payment. Further, the Treasurer shall provide an annual report to be presented at the
General Board meeting.
E. Membership Chair
The Membership Chair shall be responsible for processing membership applications and
verifying membership status prior to meetings, participation in WBSCA events, and
requesting renewals.
F. Directors at Large
The Directors at Large are Executive Board positions held largely for advisory capacity
in conducting business and assisting the general duties of the Executive Board in a
broad-based capacity to facilitate the operations and achieve the goals of the organization.
G. IGP Director of Judges
The Director of Judges shall oversea the Judges’ Program. He/she shall be tasked
with the development and recruitment of new IGP judges, implementing criteria, overseeing
apprenticeships, creating consistency in scoring, staying apprised of the current international
rules, and making recommendations to the board for the acceptance of IGP judges.
The General Board shall be made up of the Executive Board and all Full Members.
IV. Vacancies of the Executive Board
In the event that an Executive Board position is vacated, the President must call
a General Membership meeting, either directly or by directing the Secretary, within 30 days to fill
a vacancy. If the President’s position is vacated, the Vice President shall assume the position of President until the next General Board meeting. A vacancy of the Treasurer’s position may be filled by the President appointing another member of the board to serve until the next General Board meeting. Nominations shall be solicited from the General Membership in good standing, and an election conducted from these nominations at the next General Membership meeting. The elected board member shall serve a two (2) year term, until the next regular scheduled election.
In all cases, in an effort to emphasize the working endeavor of the Belgian Shepherd Dog, the
Executive Board shall be comprised of full members in good standing who have met the
minimum training and/or titling requirements established by the WBSDA.
The minimum training and titling requirements for Executive Board members must have titled
at least one Belgian Shepherd dog of any coat variety to IGP 1 and one other dog, not breed
specific, to the highest level of their discipline. These requirements are the minimum
requirements established by the WBSCA and may increase in difficulty by the determination of
2/3 of the Executive Board. (Founding members are exempt from this requirement).
V. General Board Meetings
There shall be a minimum of one General Board Meeting held annually. The
meeting may occur remotely or at a scheduled national event at the discretion of 2/3 of the
Executive Board. Additionally, a General Board Meeting may be called at any time the
President deems it necessary or if requested by 2/3 of membership. All members must be notified at least 30 days prior to scheduled meeting.
to the meeting. Notification shall be by notification on the national club website and, if possible,
via official social media pages and/or email. Should the national club web server be
inaccessible, social media and/or email will be the preferred vehicle of communication. It is
each full member’s responsibility to provide up to date records of their email and contact information to the Membership Chair. Notifications shall include the date, time, location (online or physical address) and purpose of the meeting.
VI. Quorums
In order for General Board business to be conducted a quorum must be present.
A quorum shall be deemed to be present if at least 50% of the Executive Board and 50% of members in good standing at the time of the meeting are present.
In order for the Executive Board to conduct Executive Board business, a majority of the
Executive Board must be present.
VII. Hierarchy of Governing Authority
In the event of any conflict or ambiguity, the following order of authority shall apply:
Applicable federal, state, and local laws;
The organization’s current bylaws;
The organization’s current rules or policies;
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised (latest edition), as a guide for parliamentary procedure.
If conflicts occur, these by-laws will take precedence.
At all General Board Meetings the order of business, insofar as the character and nature of the
meeting permit, shall be as follows:
Roll call
Review of the Minutes
Report of the President
Report of the Treasurer
Report of the Committees
Election of the Members of the Board (when applicable)
Unfinished Business
New Business
Adjournment
In special instances and/or for special meetings not to include the annual General Board
Meeting, the normal order of business may be suspended after roll call by a motion and simple
majority vote of the Executive Board.
VIII. Voting
At all meetings of the General Board, voting rights shall be granted to all Full Members in good standing. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
IX. Nominations for Members of the Executive Board
Nominations for open positions on the Executive Board will be taken from the
floor at the annual General Board meeting.
X. Election of Members of the Executive Board
Election of Members of the Executive Board shall be held at the annual General
Membership meeting every even numbered year.
XI. Committees
Special committees may be appointed by the board to aid in particular projects
for the organization. The President or his/her appointed Member of the Executive Board shall
serve on each committee in an advisory capacity. The President, or the appointed Member of
the Executive Board, shall appoint a committee chair. The committee members should have
extensive or exemplary knowledge of or experience in the given committee.
XII. National Working Belgian Shepherd Championship
A. National Working Belgian Shepherd Schutzhund (IGP) Championship
The organization will hold a National Schutzhund (IGP) Championship on an annual basis.
The National Schutzhund (IGP) Champion will be the high scoring III level champion. There will also be a level I and level II if space allows and at the discretion of the host. Only the level III high scoring dog/handler team will be deemed the National Champion.
Any full member may bid to host the National Schutzhund Championship. In
the event that more than one member bids to host the championship, the General Board (Executive
Board and the Full Members in good standing) may vote to select a host by a simple
majority vote.
B. Annual Breed Test
The organization will hold an annual Breed Test which may coincide with the
National Schutzhund Championship at the discretion of the Executive Board.
XIII. Special and Emergency Meetings
The President shall have the authority to call a Special Meeting or an Emergency Meeting of the General Board as necessary. Notice of such meetings, including the purpose, date, time, and location, shall be provided to all General Board members in a timely manner. The notice period may be shortened in the case of an Emergency Meeting, provided that reasonable effort is made to inform all members. Minimum notice period (48 hours for special, 24 hours for emergency)
XIV. Treasury
A. Administration
The Treasury shall be maintained in a bank account approved by the Executive
Board and administered by the Treasurer. The President and one other board member will
also be authorized on the bank account. The Treasurer shall provide a report at the annual
General Board meeting.
B. Authorized Use of Funds
All expenses must be supported with receipts. No expense shall be paid in advance without a bill and prior authorization from the Executive Board as per the budget.
XV. Discipline
WBSCA Executive Board will handle all disciplinary actions. The Executive Board will take 30
calendar days to evaluate the claims and then send to the General Board to vote if the claims
are sustained. Claims must be submitted in writing. All disciplinary investigations shall remain confidential until a decision is reached.
XVI. Standing Rules
In addition to these by-laws, a list of standing rules will be maintained by the WBSCA. Standing
rules may not override or conflict with the by-laws of the WBSCA. Standing rules can be
enacted at any Executive Board meeting by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board or at
a General Membership meeting by a simple majority vote of members in good standing
plus, the Executive Board in attendance, provided there is a Quorum.
Addendum (Formative Stage Provision):
These bylaws are adopted as the initial governing rules as the WBSCA. The Board of Directors reserves the right to amend, revise, or restate these bylaws as necessary to ensure compliance with Maine law, IRS requirements, and the evolving needs of the organization during its formative stage. This provisional authority shall remain in effect until January 1, 2026, at which point amendments shall continue to follow the regular process set forth herein.