The Hiawatha Cocker Spaniel Club (HCSC) welcomes your interest as a prospective new member.

  HCSC is composed of members who love Cocker Spaniels.  Established in 1942, the purpose of the Club is to promote the best interests of quality Cocker Spaniels, in good health and as good companions.

Most club members compete with their dogs for either conformation or performance titles; but loving the Cocker Spaniel is another reason to join the Club.

  Some of the benefits of joining HCSC include education about health care, grooming, AKC competitions and ethical breeding practices of Cocker Spaniels.  HCSC sponsors various health clinics and seminars throughout the year.  Also, HCSC hosts two AKC sanctioned specialty shows (including breed and obedience classes) and an AKC sanctioned Match each year.  We are one of the few specialty clubs in the U.S. to offer obedience trials at these events.

  HCSC has monthly meetings, either hosted by a member or at a public meeting place.  Meeting attendance is not mandatory, but is encouraged as a way to meet other club members who love Cocker Spaniels, learn through educational programs and participate in social activities.

  Club membership dues are paid annually, in September.  The cost is $10.00 for a single membership or $15.00 for a family membership; plus an additional $5.00 for mailing surcharge.  Membership entitles you to monthly mailings, special events notices and quarterly newsletters.  A subscription to the quarterly newsletter, without membership, is $8.00 per year.

  We require participation in an HCSC event, such as a fun match, specialty show, ASC sponsored health clinic or a monthly meeting.  Other contacts with current members will be considered for membership approval.

   New membership applications are required to have the signatures of two current members, in good standing, of the HCSC.  Membership applications are subject to the approval of the HCSC Board of Directors.

  HCSC is a member of the American Spaniel Club (ASC).  As a member of HCSC, you are encouraged to follow the guidelines in the ASC Code of Ethics, a copy of which is enclosed for you to review.

  Additional information can be obtained by contacting the club president, Georgy Covey:

Please give a brief comment of why you would like to become an HCSC member:

_______________________________________________________________________________

  _______________________________________________________________________________

   What variety of cocker do you own?                  BLACK   ASCOB PARTI                   Male or Female

  What are your interests in joining the club?    Conformation    Obedience   Tracking   Field Work   Agility

  Please indicate below which HCSC activities you would like to participate in (committee chairs will contact you):

SPECIALTY SHOWS	FUN MATCHES	MEETINGS	FUNDRAISERS
o Hospitality	o Hospitality	o Hosting	o Committee Member
o Ring Steward	o Ring Steward	o Refreshments	o Raffles
o Clean-Up	o Clean-Up	o Annual Picnic	o Workshops & Clinics
o Set-Up	o Set-Up	o Programs
o After Show Picnic	o Assistant Show Chairperson

PUBLICITY	RESCUE	AWARDS BANQUET
o Mailings	o Evaluations	o Door Prizes
o Reporting Show Events	o Fostering	o Special Program
	o Transportation

  Name _________________________________        Telephone:  _______________________ (Home-Work)

Kennel Name _______________________________________________________________

  Address: ______________________________________                 Email:  ______________________

  City ___________________________________, State ______  Zip _____________________

  HCSC maintains a web site (hiawathacsc.com) that contains contact information on members.  Please check one of the following:

I have reviewed and agree to follow the membership guidelines:

  ________________________________________________            _______________________

Your Signature                                                                         Date

  SIGNATURES OF TWO CURRENT CLUB MEMBERS TO RECOMMEND YOU:

  ________________________________        __________________________________

Member Signature                                            Member Signature

Code of Ethics

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PREAMBLE

This Code of Ethics is established to set a standard of acceptable behavioral limits for American Spaniel Club members. The code is designed to protect the interest of the club and to protect and preserve our breeds. The American Spaniel Club expects adherence to the Code and blatant disregard for the standards set out in this Code will not be condoned. Members who violate their responsibilities will be removed from the Club to preserve the integrity of the club their breeds.

A. Members of the American Spaniel Club have an obligation to protect the interests of their breeds by conducting themselves in a manner designed to reflect credit on themselves, their breeds, and on the American Spaniel Club.

B. Members are expected to observe the highest standards of sportsmanship; conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect positively on the sport of showing dogs; and exhibit good will at all breed shows, obedience and field trials.

C. Members who contemplate breeding a litter, or who allow the use of their stud dog to the same end, shall direct their efforts toward producing dogs of exceptional quality, temperament and condition. Members are not to use their stud dogs on pet quality bitches, totally lacking in breed type.

D. Members shall not engage in false or misleading advertising or misrepresentation of their breeds, nor shall they malign their competition by making false or misleading statements regarding their competitors' dogs, breeding practice or person.

Breeders shall:

A. Be familiar with their breeds and standards, and breed only those specimens which conform to it.

B. Be familiar with A.K.C. rules concerning record keeping, registration, sale and transfer of dogs, and abide by these rules.

C. Use for breeding only those dogs which are healthy and free from serious congenital and hereditary defects characteristic of their breed or breeds.

D. Produce puppies only when the breeder has the time and facilities to provide adequate attention to physical and emotional development and retain or house only the number of dogs for which they have adequate facilities.

E. Refrain from further use of a bitch or stud that has become affected with or has produced any serious inherited defects detrimental to the animal’s well-being, such as blindness, deafness, lameness, or impairment of the vital functions, and who consistently produces like results with different mating partners.

F. Maintain the best possible standards of health for their animals and care of their kennels.

G. Breeders shall not breed bitches every season. (It is recommended a bitch not be bred more than four times during a lifetime).

H. Refrain from selling puppies to pet shops either outright or on consignment; refrain from supplying puppies for auctions, raffles, or other such enterprises; refrain from selling to persons whose intention to resell is known or suspected; refrain from breeding litters primarily for the pet market.

I. Limit the number of litters they breed, or co-breed, to average no more than four litters a year. (This, due to the extreme number of litters being produced and the large number of dogs ending up in animal shelters).

J. Refrain from selling puppies in litter lots and shall sell only quality dogs to foreign countries (not their cast-offs that they don’t want to be seen in the U.S.A.)

ASC Member

A. Judges shall be familiar with and abide by the A.K.C.’s published "Guidelines for Dog Show Judges", the A.S.C.’s By-Laws and Code of Ethics.

B. The A.K.C.’s published "Guidelines for Dog Show Judges", covers a wealth of material, but the three keys to excellence in judging are of vital importance.

These are:

1. Breed Knowledge

2. Impartiality

3. Procedure

C. Judges must avoid any appearance of wrong doing and not merely wrong doing itself. They should be highly circumspect in their conduct outside, as well as inside the show ring. A perfectly innocent action or discussion can be misconstrued even by experienced exhibitors.

D. Judges should approach all assignments with a positive attitude and be courteous and polite to the exhibitors.

Exhibitors/Handlers shall:

A. Act professionally at all times in caring for and exhibiting any dog in their charge.

B. Not engage in any questionable contact with judges prior to exhibiting under them.

C. Be familiar with and abide by the A.K.C.’s Rules and Regulations for Dog Shows, Obedience Trials, Field Trials and The Guidelines for Dog Show Judges.

D. Exhibit/handle only those dogs that conform as closely as possible to their respective breed standards.

A. The American Spaniel Club shall enforce Article VI of its By-Laws entitled "Discipline", should violations of its Code of Ethics be brought before its Board or Committee.

B. Article VI entitled "Discipline" addresses the areas of Suspension, Charges, Board Hearings and Expulsion. Each member is expected to be familiar with this very important By-law.

Upon acceptance as a member of the American Spaniel Club I will adhere to the best of my ability to the rules and guidelines set forth in the American Spaniel Club Code of Ethics.