Membership FAQ

The Havanese Club of America (HCA) Membership Committee has prepared the following information for new applicants to become more familiar with the HCA application process.

The most important criteria for membership in the Havanese Club of America is for the applicant to have demonstrated an understanding of and a commitment to the objectives of the club as outlined in Section 2 of its Constitution. Therefore, the Membership Committee will place emphasis on the following areas when considering applications for membership in the Havanese Club of America.

a) proven action to protect and advance the breed,
b) active participation in local and/or national breed clubs,
c) understanding and acceptance of the breed standard, and
d) history of sportsmanship and conduct as it pertains to the HCA Code of Ethics.

Past experience (includes competition, breeding, rescue, club involvement, etc.) with Havanese and/or other breeds.
History of active involvement in local and/or national breed clubs. This includes holding office, participating on committees, supporting Club activities such as Specialties, Nationals, fund-raising activities, etc.
Previous experience in the HCA or local Havanese club at the volunteer level.
A history of commitment to excellence in breeding to the Breed Standard.
Proven ability to work well with others.
Health testing of breeding stock for applicants who either currently breed or plan to breed. CAER Eye Certification testing should be performed annually. OFA Hips and OFA Patellas are also recommended for breeding stock. Click here for more information and associated links. You may want to visit the CHIC and OFA websites to learn more about health testing. We consider health testing to be of paramount importance for HCA member’s as it is a key action members can perform to protect and advance the breed. The more testing performed, the more weight it carries.

Sponsors must be a HCA Member in good standing for 2 years following the initial membership approval in order to sponsor an applicant.
Each HCA Member may sponsor up to 4 applicants per calendar year. The sponsorship is counted against the year in which the Endorsement Form is signed. Whether or not the applicant is accepted has no bearing on the number of sponsorships per member.
Sponsors of new applicants are expected to know the applicant well and to truly believe the prospective member will be an asset to the Havanese Club of America. Membership in the Havanese Club of America is a privilege and we expect all HCA members to serve the Club (and by doing so, serve the welfare of the breed) in whatever capacity they feel best suited. Whether it is serving as a volunteer on a committee, contributing to fund-raising activities, or volunteering to help at an HCA-sponsored event. We expect our members to support our club.
Sponsors should make prospective members aware that this is an active club. We give priority consideration to applicants who already have a track record of serving a local or national breed club or all-breed club and who express a sincere desire to become active in the HCA.
Sponsors must realize that the applicants they sponsor will have voting rights in the Havanese Club of America and as such, must possess the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions.
Sponsors must be fully committed to supporting any applicant they recommend. Therefore, Sponsors should be more than passing acquaintances of the applicant -- sponsorship should not be taken lightly.
Sponsors are responsible for submitting Endorsement Forms to the HCA Recording Secretary in a timely manner.

You do NOT have to belong to the Havanese Club of America to:

Attend or enter HCA-sponsored events and shows. These are open to anyone who wishes to attend!
Volunteer to serve on HCA committees. The committees are open to all who wish to serve!
Qualify for all AKC titles and awards.

You must belong to the Havanese Club of America to:

Hold an HCA Office or Chair position
Have HCA voting rights (applies to Regular and Household members only)
Be eligible for HCA titles and awards

The Havanese Club of America is an AKC-approved parent breed club and exists to protect and advance the interests of the Havanese breed, according to its Constitution, By-Laws, and Code of Ethics.

If you want to socialize with other Havanese owners and attend social functions such as Fun Days or Picnics, you might want to consider joining a local/regional Havanese club. Local clubs are starting up all over the United States. The HCA website has a listing of local Havanese Clubs. Membership at the local level for a few years is an excellent way to make friends, learn how a breed club functions, become more familiar with the Havanese breed standard and continue your Havanese education. The smaller local clubs usually offer more in the way of person-to-person contact and more opportunities for social functions. Please take some time to consider the benefits of membership in your local or regional Havanese club.

Applicants interested in becoming a HCA member can easily review the membership process and download the application and sponsor forms by clicking on Membership on the home page. Any questions may be directed to the Membership Committee Chair.

Applicants should submit the completed application to the Membership Committee within 90 days of receipt.
Applicants must own or co-own an AKC registered Havanese. This includes both individuals applying for a Household Membership. A copy of the AKC registration for one Havanese owned or co-owned by each applicant is required.
Applicants must have two sponsors (not residing in the same household) who have been HCA members for at least two years following the date of membership approval.
Sponsors may not be closely related (includes spouse, mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparents or grandchildren) to the applicant or to each other.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their sponsors complete the appropriate Endorsement Form and submit them promptly to the HCA Recording Secretary.
Any misrepresentation of facts on the application form will be grounds for immediate rejection.

Havanese Club of America!

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