CLUB HISTORYPerson(s) of the Year:2001: Mark Echterling, AWSA Rescue Chair (for his work on behalf of homeless and abused White Shepherds everywhere) 2000: Judy Huston, Health & Genetics Chair (for her dedication to the continuing health and welfare of the breed through her work on the breed genetic survey with Dr. Padgett) 1999: Julie Good, was given the honor due to starting the AWSA website, putting on the 1999 National with one heck of a raffle (LOL! And Maurice's help!) and promoting the breed through education and rescue work. 1998: Lynda Proulx (for her work as Conformation Chair and her all-round total dedication to the breed) Susan Ewart (for the wonderful shows she puts on, and especially, for this year's National) 1997: Jean Reeves (in honor of all her considerable hard work and progress with breed separation) 1996: Karen M. Carloni (for her work in founding and setting up the Club) National Best of Breed/ Best Opposite Sex/ Best Puppy and Best Altered in Breed winners: 2001: BB: Ch. Royal Von Tasz Classic (Breeder: Jean Reeves / Owner: Diana Updike) 2000: BB: AWSA / WSCC Ch. Braehead's Memento of Q, HC, CGC (Breeder / Owner: Susan Ewart) 1999: BB: AWSA / WSCC / U-GRCH / U-AG2 Crystal's Lady In Red HC, CGC, TDI, PDX, NA, TT 1998: BB: CR Ch. Hoofprint Gone With the Wind OVC (Breeder/Owner: Joanne Chanyi) 1997: BB, WD, BOW: Mansha’s Ajay Mountain Mist (Breeder/Owner: Sharon Mann) 1996 (First Annual AWSA National Specialty Show): A Brief History of the American White Shepherd Association: In late 1994, a member of a national organization for the white German Shepherd Dog in the United States wrote up a set of bylaws and, together with her friend and mentor, used them as the basis for the foundation of a brand new club: one that would put the best interests of the white-coated German Shepherd Dog ahead of any other concern. The club they conceived would be founded upon the tenets of a strict, mandatory club Code of Ethics. Borrowing heavily from the regulations and procedures of both the English Setter Association of America and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club USA, the two friends set about to turn their vision of the perfect dog club into reality. That was the beginning of the club we know today as the American White Shepherd Association (AWSA). In its initial stages, the Club was by invitation only. With a hand-picked founding membership consisting of twelve individual and two family memberships (for a total of seventeen Founding Club Members), the Club was officially launched in September of 1995 with the founding member approval of the Club Constitution, Bylaws and Code of Ethics. At that time, the Club was opened for membership to anyone willing to uphold the ideals upon which the Club was founded, including the Code of Ethics. Of the original 17 Founding Members, fourteen are still with the Club and remain as enthusiastic as ever about furthering the interests and protecting the future of the White Shepherd breed. Today, the American White Shepherd Association is a small but strong and viable club filled with bright, energetic members who all have the same vision for the breed. Recognition of the White Shepherd as an independent breed with all the rights and privileges normally afforded recognized pure breeds of dogs is the Club’s united purpose. As it was in its initial developmental stages, the Club remains a Code of Ethics organization. Potential members need not own a white German Shepherd Dog, but all are required to sign and abide by the Club Code of Ethics as a condition of membership in AWSA. This ensures all members of AWSA have one clear vision with which to carry the White Shepherd into the next century. The Club is dedicated to achieving full acceptance of the White Shepherd as a separate and distinct breed of dog through all the major kennel clubs and registries of the world. While the quest for recognition is an ongoing work in progress, AWSA remains totally devoted to the protection of the health, welfare, genetic worth and advancement of the natural abilities and attributes of the "total" White Shepherd Dog. This is the main purpose of the American White Shepherd Association. Regions and Regional Vice-presidents: AWSA operates on a
regional system and consists of nine (9) geographical regions that
include all fifty states and the country of Canada. Each national
Region is represented by an elected officer who is seated on the Board
of Directors and who directly represents the interests of the members
residing in his or her own Region. As each new Club member is approved,
that member is automatically assigned to a Region based on the member's
permanent place of residence. The nine national Regions of AWSA are
currently as follows:
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