MSDA Membership Application

Thank-you for your interest in becoming a member of the Maryland Sporting Dog Association. You can learn more about MSDA at our About Us page and throughout this website.

Volunteers, especially members, form the engine that powers MSDA so “to join is to volunteer”.

As for how membership works, dues are a nominal $10 per person per year but don’t start for new members until the January of the calendar year AFTER you join. Much more important, MSDA expects members to support the organization by volunteering at least once during the year, and our goal is 100% participation. Don’t panic – not everyone needs to be, or can be, a board member or an event chair; there are plenty of jobs with widely varying commitment levels and skill sets that need to be filled. Helping with registration or lunch for an activity, stewarding at obedience trials, staffing the club information table at Spring Event, “shagging” or marshaling at hunt tests and many more tasks all count for your volunteer work.

Once the member application is officially approved, everyone comes in initially as an Associate Member. If you volunteer during the year, you become a Voting Member for the following calendar year. 

You can always check our calendar page for a list of future and past events covering several years. The major events currently are Field Day at Rebel Ridge Farms, Spring and Fall Spaniel (all eligible flushing breeds, really) Hunt Tests also at Rebel Ridge, and Spring Event which includes three days of sporting dog conformation, all-breed obedience/rally and bird instinct clinics, and is held at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Other club activities might include smaller field training sessions, at least one seminar some time during the year, a summer pool party (with dogs welcome in the pool), and occasional other activities. The more social events are usually for members only, while all the major events and the seminars welcome non-members, though members are sometimes offered priority registration.

If you are interested in supporting MSDA as a member, please fill out the application below. Or, download the application as a PDF and return it by email or postal mail.

If you have any questions about MSDA membership, please email Admin@mdsportingdog.org.

After submitting or sending your application, we will email you to confirm receipt of your application, usually within a few days of its receipt. If you don’t receive that confirmation, please follow up by email to Admin@mdsportingdog.org.

Welcome!

    MARYLAND SPORTING DOG ASSOCIATION, INC.
    MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

    MSDA is a group of dog owners and friends working for the good of all dogs, but especially sporting dogs. We endeavor to rise above our human weaknesses for the sake of our canine companions and put our best efforts toward furthering the advancement of sporting breeds, to protect and advance the interests of sporting dogs and sporting dog activities, to conduct sporting dog events, and to encourage sportsmanlike behavior in all situations. By submitting this form, you affirm your support for this mission.
    All members are asked to volunteer at least once per year.

    Note: Each individual must submit their own application. Please do not write in two names on one form (e.g., "John and Mary Smith"). Members must be at least 18 years of age and have previously attended an MSDA event or meeting. If you have not yet attended, we will hold your application until you've been able to meet us.




    (Nearly all MSDA communications are sent via e-mail. You are “opting in” to receive e-mails from MSDA. We do not share members’ e-mail addresses with other organizations.)






    Interests:
    ConformationField WorkObedience and/or Rally

    Skills:
    BreederHandlerTrainer
    GunnerJudgeVeterinary

    WAIVER AND RELEASE: MARYLAND SPORTING DOG ASSOCIATION RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, INDEMNITY, AND PARENTAL CONSENT AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT")
    In consideration of participating in Maryland Sporting Dog Association ("MSDA") activities ("Activity"), I represent that I understand the nature of MSDA events and that I (and my minor child if a participant) am qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such Activity. I acknowledge that if I and/or my minor child believe event conditions are unsafe, I and/or my minor child will immediately discontinue participation in the Activity.
    I fully understand that MSDA events involve risks of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis and death, which may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, those of others participating in the Activity, the conditions in which the Activity takes place, or the negligence of the "Releasees" named below; and that there may be other risks either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I and/or my minor child incur as a result of my and/or my minor child's participation in the Activity.
    I understand that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. By attending an MSDA event I voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
    I hereby release, discharge, and covenant not to sue MSDA, Maryland Sporting Dog Association, Inc., Maryland Sporting Dog Association, LLC, their respective members, directors, agents, officers, volunteers, and employees, other participants, sponsors, advertisers, and the owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place (each considered one of the "Releasees" herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, and damages caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence or acts of the Releasees or others, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release, waiver of liability, and assumption of risk anyone including but not limited to myself or on my and/or my minor child's behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the Releasees from any loss, liability, damage, or cost including attorney's fees which any may incur as the result of such claim.
    I have read this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, INDEMNITY, AND PARENTAL CONSENT AGREEMENT, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this Agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
    I give my permission for photographs taken at the Activity in which my image, or the image of any of my minor children appears, to be used for promotional and/or advertising purposes without compensation to me or my minor children.

    To confirm that you support the mission of MSDA and accept the terms of the WAIVER AND RELEASE, check the box below and type your full name below.
    I accept*

    (The date and your IP address also will be recorded when you click "Submit".)