YTCA Dissolving???
 

I was alerted earlier today that there was concern that YTCA had come apart at the seams, with discord and arguing among all the board members, resulting in the board walking away, members not renewing, and the apparent dissolution of the YTCA. I went straight to the President of our mother club, spoke with the President, and got the following response:

"Judy
The original website for ytca.org is being redone and we have a temporary website up until the new one is completed. If you type in ytca.org it will take you to the temporary site.
The club is not dissolving. A few members of the Board had their terms due for renewal and decided not to run again. Two of the Board had expired terms and could not run again. We have some excellent candidates on the slate and running from the floor so your vote is certainly important.
There has been a lot of negativity posted from some of the members toward the Board and other members and we are all trying to have everyone settle down and remember why they joined this club in the first place.
We all love this Breed and should put aside any differences and work to improve the health of our dogs and our education to the public.
Rest assured everyone cares deeply about the Club and it's future.
Thank you for writing
Cheryl Rangel, President"

So, apparently the mother club is still intact, and is nominating and voting new members to sit on the board....the website is under design and will reopen with improvements. All is well!

The website really needed some updating anyway. We always send newbies to look at the YTCA site and I've never liked how it looked like no one had touched it since the early 90s. Well that's my take anyway, from a non breeder or exhibitor.

I agree. When I was first looking into seriously getting a Yorkie and went there I took one look at it and passed over it, thinking it was just an old site I stumbled across. I couldn't believe it was an actual club's website! I'm glad to hear that they're finally updating that.

Having to work directly with Boards myself, I do not envy what they're going through. As she said, many times board members forget why they joined and why they're really there. I hope they get everything resolved smoothly and positive vibes are heading to them.

They needed an face lift for sure. Thanks for the info Judy.

I found that the local ytca chapters are better suited for referrals. I got my baby through a local chapter ytca v.p. All the officers of the local ytca get together & know each other. They refer to one another when they don't have pups but another member does.

Thanks for the updated info.

New members of the YTCA Board of Directors
 

Thanks for posting YTCA president, Cheryl Rangel's comments and the status of YTCA. I was not too concerned over the website other than it is best to have the new site ready before the old one is taken down. I think that sent a confusing message to the Yorkie world and caused much speculation - accurate or not. She did not mention the status of YTCA's non-profit corporation status with the Secretary of State. I wonder if that and the other administrative issues they were dealing with have been resolved.

All clubs go through changes so this is not unusual. That is the way the club grows and how they address the new challenges of a breed. Change is not always accepted in a positive manner by all those concerned. Again, not unusual for a club going through growth. For many years YTCA has been very good for the Yorkie. I hope they get all these current issues resolved so they can use the efforts of the board and membership to focus on the breed.

Of all the breeds I have owned I believe the Yorkie is the one breed that needs and benefits the most from a strong parent club. The genetics, health and breeding to the standard to name a few are all challenges with this breed. The parent club needs to present a confident united front to address these challenges.

I wish the best to the new members of the YTCA board.

YTCA Rearranging
 

Dear Yorkie Lovers,
I feel sure the caring members of the YTCA will be able to get all their issues resolved. When I read your emails, I thought to myself, ahhhh, yes, the issues of trying to get everyone to get along and to agree with each other! There has to be a fair amount of give and take on association and club matters, no matter what type of organization. By now, I am 63 and have been in Va State Garden Club, Va District 6 of the DAR, American Peony Society, Augusta Co. Teachers Assoc., the Church's Council of Elders, and our local Retired Teachers Association. There Always comes a time or issue when some members may only see things One way, and not want to "give an inch" on a proposition. It does make it very hard for those members who are really trying to keep their group viable and just want a reasonable agreement. I was on the Board of Officers of one of the groups that I listed up above. We had a Very strong-minded President who had gotten our Society up & running, but after running things for 3 terms, Board Meetings with her in charge became very unpleasant for all the other officers. Finally, when some of our Board threatened to Quit, she stopped trying to run-over all the other officers' opinions, and after a few months of "quibbling" with the newly elected president, she settled down and took a back-seat. We finally found a "computer person" (who was recommended by the local Staples Store) to set-up our new website, but we all chipped-in on the reasonable fee, and now there is a very nice website. So, do not give up, I'm sure those members who love the YTCA will get rtheir issues settled and also find someone to do a nice website!

Great post!
 

Thanks for posting this. I understand the YTCA is working very hard to overcome some difficulties and wish them success in coming back better and stronger than they were before all this. The new web site is up and looking great, and I've noticed lately that AKC includes a YTCA brochure with Yorkshire Terrier registration certificates. We're in an overall challenging era in the pure bred dog fancy and I'm told it's not just YTCA trying to regroup. :)

New member today!!
 

Have enjoyed reading your stories and heart felt messages. I have had yorkies now for about 28 yrs. Totally intoxicating their ferver and energy can raise the roof with their charm and comfort your grieving broken heart with their kisses. Each little one being so different yet bringing the yorkie heritage to life with his or her on personality.I can say I have had some good experiences as I have searched for my little ones. Met some very nice people who loved these little ones and strived to represent the breed as close to standard as possible.
I have never bred or shown them but have always been blessed to have acquired extremely nice quality little guys including a most wonderful little cripple boy full of life anyway. Have gone to many shows and enjoyed watching the moves and confirmation of them. We had a german shepherd that was being shown so we always followed the yorkies too. Looking forward to sharing and learning from all of you who love these little ones soooo much.

It has been quite a while since I first responded! So!
 

My response to this issue, as you all have read earlier, was quite some time ago.
I have noticed that our Yorkie Talk Web Site has continued to be full of new questions and stories from members both recently enrolled as well as from those who have apparently been with our website for quite some time. As long as all of us who love our little Yorkshire Terriors continue to take an active, caring, and interested role in our breed, our Yorkie Talk Website as well as the YTC of the United States should continue to survive. Afterall, the Yorkshire Terrior is One of THE Most Popular Dog Breeds in our nation! If our organization is having difficulties, perhaps it is time for some new members who love it to step forward and keep the organization going. It may be time for the older membership and officers to actively encourage new members' viewpoints and harness their energy, ideas, and fresh resources. Yorkshire Terriors are here to stay; it is up to those people who love the breed to make certain that the Yorkshire Terrior Club opens its doors to include both the older members as well as new younger owners! To survive ANY organization must aggressively work to include All owners of a great breed to have a voice in its Association and a role in its leadership. No dog association (or any organization) can survive and go forward if it only clings to old rules which only seek "like-minded members" who cannot embrace all owners' concerns. Otherwise, ANY association becomes a "bastion of the old guard" and it will lose the interest of more and more new owners! Why should new owners see any reason to join if they feel they are not actively welcomed and their opinions are not heard or valued.
This Is True Of Any and All Organizations!! -- YipYap

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...62286460,d.aWc
found on internet

Wow . .

Many, many things that start out with the best of intentions, ends up on the skids or under the table. Such a shame.....I am sorry, but examples like this are why I do not ever put my full faith behind any club, or registery, etc....It seems that whenever people, money and power are mixed together, nothing good eventually comes from it.

My sentiments,
 

exactly. Thank you for expressing so well.

Sigh, I read the article which Magicgenie posted. Yes, a Very similar problem happened with our local 'club'; the old president set up our first 'website', and when she could not get a group of new officers to do what she wanted, she refused to turn over the website for the new president to use! The poor new 2nd president (who was our first 'newly elected president' in 6 years) had been 'fully endorsed' by this old president. However, when all the new officers did not agree with the old president at board meetings, she acted as if everyone was "turning against traditional ideas". Finally, the top state organization had to step in and tell our 1st president that her old website HAD to be closed. The new officers had given up and had written to State Office asking permission to begin a 'new website', just so they could conduct business! Now, the club is rolling along just fine, but the old president stopped coming to the meetings. It was a rough first year for the 2nd president to go through, but with the support of other officers, things are going smoothly now. It seems like some people who start organizations just cannot step down and let others take over. Hope things will finally be reorganized smoothly for the future YTCA.-- Yipyap

I heard about this a few day's ago from someone who used to be a YTCA Member. Yes I agree with Yorkiemom1 not everything is as people state it is. Lot's of stuff goes on behind scenes that people don't know about.

It sounds like some house cleaning needs to be done. Politics and egos are getting in the way.

Yorkievile300
 

Was this the original president involved with Judy Marksbury nighmare, and the changing of the format of yorkiefourm.com.
I felt so sorry for Judy, she did everything in the contract to satisfy Yorkieville200. I hope that chapter in their lives are over,

What does this have to do w/ anything in this thread, and why are you bringing it up again if it was such a nightmare? If someone is asking you post this for them, I wish you'd said no. And btw, this was equally a nightmare for the BUYERS in this situation. They lost a small fortune as the breeder wouldn't refund the deposit even though Max had an eye issue that needed surgery - surgery that the breeder publicly disclosed here, to all. Instead, the buyers were given a partial refund and they suffered the monetary loss, even though they were sold a sick dog. The breeders I've spoken with would've offered a full refund to these buyers, without question.

Thanks for the update.
I am new here. I think that people are getting to self centered. Stop and think why they started this web site in the place and what is for???

I'm just seeing this now, but I want to point out that in any organization there are people that do things wrong and that many can find fault with. There are no organizations filled with people who are perfect. Pointing out that some members of an organization are flawed and coming to the conclusion that the organization is flawed is so illogical, that it screams of jealousy. Not everyone can belong to the YTCA, they try hard to filter people, but people join for the wrong reasons, and the ones who can't get in are often jealous and decide like the fox, that the grapes were sour.

The YTCA is similar to Yorkietalk in that it's a group of people who have one thing in common a love for Yorkies, but look how much we disagree on, does that mean Yorkietalk should disband? Both organizations go through hiccups and the sum of the whole is greater than the parts.

Nancy, this thread is a bit old, but from what I hear from people on the inside, the YTCA is still a pretty unhappy outfit. They're so very political that I'm not convinced it's passion for the breed that's driving them. Some seem much more interested in stroking their own egos, or get a directory listing.
I know some members very well though we have few in my region. I withdrew my application some time back when the membership committee expressed concern that I associate with some breeders of Parti color Yorkhsire Terriers, and that I sometimes don't dock tails. These seemed such trivial things over which to discard a potential member who was actually willing and eager to substantively contribute to the club's objectives.
I don't understand their hatred of Parti breeders. As far as I can tell the Parti cloloring is a natural phenomenon within the breed. Some of my friends breed for Parti color and I'm not willing to disown my friends for sake of a club membership. As for the tail docking, that's just pitiful.
In any case, objections to a membership application are supposed to be made in writing and forwarded to the applicant so that he/she can face their accuser, so to speak. These objections were made on the sly and I gather I wasn't supposed to know about them. Presumably it was an attempt to intimidate my sponsors into withdrawing their support. I chose to withdraw instead, feeling this was kind of creepy.
My thoughts about YTCA members: Some are very upstanding and will knock themselves out to do right by the breed. Several have admitted to me they don't participate in anything the club does and only belong for the directory listing. I know at least one who capitalizes big time on that listing to charge premium prices for mediocre dogs. She has no champions, nobody who would sell her a decent dog, participates in nothing, just pays her $25 member dues every year so that people can find her listing and feel they're getting the best.:)

Obviously, you don't care that much about standard, you feel like a breeder can pick and choose what traits they like and what they don't like. I believe quite the opposite, if you decide to breed, you should pick a breed where you like the standard and will defend it. Once you start breeding anything you want, you may have a purebred on paper, but you really don't have a purebred. A purebred is more than just a bloodline, in my opinion. How many threads here have we seen, "Is my dog a Yorkie?" I see some countries such as Canada that are so against this indiscriminate breeding, that they don't even want to register dogs who don't look like standard. I'd hate to see that happen here, but I really believe in the standard and understand it's importance.

As I said before not every breeder in the YTCA is a good one and it's hard to get a bad one out of the group, a actual buyer has to do the complaining, not just other members. Look at the AKC, not every breeder with the AKC is a good one, some are there, just to sell puppies, but it's still the best registry there is. I recommend the YTCA to members here because you can usually find one in every state, and you can visit the home and see the breeding dogs in person. I know you've said before you don't like this idea either, but I really think it's important that people see the breeding conditions for themselves before they buy a dog. It's the very least we can do.

Nancy, why do you think I don't breed to the standard? I do, 100% breed to the standard. What are you talking about?
People come to my home to see my puppies and their parents. I do limit visitors to those who are actively looking for a puppy, however. There have been times people wanted to visit to prepare for a possible purchase at some undetermined future time. I can't entertain that. This is my home, after all, and I can't open it up for window shopping. Really, be fair.

I didn't say, that you don't breed to standard, I have no idea about your breeding program or your dogs, I said you don't care for standard, because you seem to be in favor of breeders breeding for the Parti color. I disagree that the parti color is a natural phenomenon of the breed, since they can all be traced to one kennel, but even if it were, breeding to standard is all about breeding out what is considered a flaw, not breeding for that flaw. Also, breeding to standard does involve docking the tail and I think that it's still much safer to dock then not dock, especially on those dogs with finer bone structure.

I'm sorry if I was wrong about you not allowing people to come to your home and visit your breeding dogs, I could have sworn that you said would not allow this and stood up for breeders who said that they wouldn't do it. I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear you say this, and I totally agree, that when and or even if you see someone is entirely up to you. I just think it's important that a breeder allow it, if a relationship has been established and the breeder is trusting enough to place a puppy in someone's hands, they should be trusting enough to allow them in their house. I'm am genuinely sorry for that mistake.

I'm chiming in here to say that actual buyers cannot complain to the YTCA. According to the bylaws I reviewed, the process is brought by one board member complaining to the club about a particular breeder. It's not an effective process for buyers in my view.

:thumbup:

Thanks for clarifying, Nancy. I do care a great deal for the standard but I'm not convinced the Partis have no place in the breed. Enough people like them that maybe a small space should be set aside for them. I don't want to argue for or against. I want to be neutral and not have to throw away some friends I really like a lot because I don't understand their choice of Yorkie color. Heck, I don't even like Partis myself, never saw one I would say is pretty, but to each his own.
As for the tail docking, you do understand that's not a breeding issue but rather a matter of surgically lopping off a puppy's tail. Over the years I've imported many fine European bred Yorkies and become accustomed to seeing the full tail. Whimsically, and not always wisely as an exhibitor, I sometimes choose to leave the full tail on a puppy.
I do have show dogs and do dock the tails of any dogs being shown in the US, as per the custom in this country.
Cathy, I didn't know breeder complaints did not go directly to someone in the club.
I wonder how helpful it would be to go to the AKC with things we think the YTCA could be doing better.

Don't know how much of all of this you want to make public, so I'm not sure how to answer this. Lets's just say, the members have strict rules on gossiping and needed a pet buyers sworn affidavit on certain facts. If the pet buyer refuses to do this, nothing can be done. It could have been effective.