About Us

How did BCA Division 6 come to be?

And what is a councilor?

        Our present BCA organization came into being on February 13, 1950 with the signing of the new constitution and by-laws in New York. First the members of the bulldog club adopted the constitution, then had it approved by AKC on February 10, 1950, then on to become the official BCA governing document. In 1950 Division VI had five members which increased to 19 in 1951. C.D. Richardson was our first Division President and also our first Councilor. On December 30, 1951 our National Treasury had $39.46 in it. The National Specialty in 1951 had a total of 87 entries, 12 being specials. Quite a hange to the last National held in Plymouth MN with 572 entries including 101 specials. The Bulldog Club of America is the only AKC breed club set up with a club level, a division level and a national level for their governing body. This makes everyone able to participate in the organization if they are interested in doing so.

        Each club has their own constitution to govern their club and its member's vote for their officers and how their own club is run. The present division officers and board of governors are the nominating committee for the next division election. They are to select one person for each office. Next, each club in the division may, if they wish, nominate another member for each, or any, office. Then if a BCA member wishes, they can get their name placed on the ballet by getting a petition signed by 20% of the paid up members and turning it in to the division secretary. The person that gets the greatest number of votes for each office will have that office for the next two years. All BCA members are eligible for BCA offices in the Division they live in, and all resident Division members are mailed a ballet to vote. The National Councilors are elected at the same time as the Division Officers. Each Division gets one councilor for 50 members. 

    In 1950 there were only seven councilors as there were only seven divisions at that time, and no division had sufficient members for two councilors. Division VI has four councilors now and is one of the smaller divisions of BCA. If a BCA member or club has something they want changed, added or deleted from our National governing system they can contact a division officer or governor to get it put on the National Agenda. It will be discussed and voted on at the National Councilor meeting held yearly at the National Show. Some things pass and some do not, both at the division level and at the national level. The mission of all levels of BCA is to work for the good of the dogs, their breeders, owners and exhibitors in every possible way. One way this is done is by the National, Divisional and Club level of Specialty shows. This should teach us what a dog should look like when it fits our standard. Another is education on all levels, from our seminars, questions and answers meeting and mentoring at our National Show, to the local club educational programs.

         BCA also prints a number of educational leaflets for its members and others interested in learning about our breed. I got a BCA educational page on bulldogs sent out with my AKC registration papers. This is very good as it gets to bulldog owners that may have no contact with BCA. Another service is the Bulldogger on a National level, and the Division and Club Newsletters. Bulldog rescue also comes under the umbrella of BCA. The Charitable Fund, for the health of our bulldogs, is a program we should all be active in. Programs from different clubs and divisions vary according to their needs. These needs change over the years as circumstances, members and activities change. If you have any ideas for improvements be sure to let someone in the offices of BCA know.

Darlene Stuedemann