Membership in the ABC
Revised as of June 29, 2026

Application Process for New Members

Applications may be downloaded from the website or an applicant may request a Membership Application Package from the Membership Chairperson.

The Membership Application Package shall include the Application, ABC Constitution and By-Laws and ABC Code of Ethics.

The Application requires the signatures of the Applicant as well as both Sponsors. The completed Application together with payment or proof of payment and the applicable registrations in one legible packet shall be submitted to the Membership Chairperson via mail or email to be received not later than December 31st.

Payment may be made by check in US funds or through PayPal in US funds. If paying though PayPal, proof of payment must accompany the application. PayPal payments should be made to app-fee@americanboxerclub.org.

Completed application packages received will be reviewed and verified through the Membership Committee. Applicants and Sponsors are encouraged to remit their completed membership application packages well in advance of the December 31st date as delays in the review and verification process could result in the application being processed in the next calendar year. Sponsors are reminded that they must be an ABC member for at least 2 years at the time of application in order to be eligible to sponsor an applicant, must know the applicant well, and may not sponsor more than 2 applicants in a year. Submission of a completed application package and dues does not mean acceptance of the application.

Membership Application         Constitution and Bylaws            Code of Ethics

Should you have any questions concerning the membership application process, please contact:

Jeri Poller – Membership Chairperson
6013 NW 23rd Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33496
Phone: 561-350-0889 Email: membership@americanboxerclub.org

MEMBERSHIP IN THE ABC
(The below information is an excerpt from the ABC Constitution & By-Laws)

BY-LAWS – ARTICLE I

SECTION 1 – CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP AND ELGIBILITY: There shall be individual members, member clubs, lifetime members, honorary members, and international affiliate members, all unlimited in number.

SECTION 2 – INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS: To be eligible to apply for individual membership, an applicant must live in the United States, its possessions or territories, or Canada and must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and be in good standing with AKC. An applicant must be an active member of an ABC member club or clubs, without lapses or gaps in such membership(s) and have held that membership for the three (3) consecutive years immediately preceding application or must have been a member of an AKC member or licensed all-breed conformation or performance club for the same period of time. This requirement is excused if (a) an applicant resides where no ABC member club or all-breed club or performance club holds its meetings within 100 miles of the applicant’s residence upon proof by applicant or (b) the applicant resides in Canada. The applicant shall display a sincere, continuing interest in bettering the breed, and agree not to exploit his or her membership in the ABC. The applicant, or some member of his or her immediate family, must have owned and kept in their household one or more AKC-registered or AKC ILP/PAL-listed Boxers over a continuous period of not less than five (5) years, been in good standing with the AKC, and must have exhibited one or more of these Boxers in at least five (5) AKC-sanctioned events during that interval. The applicant must be sponsored by two (2) individuals who have been members in good standing of the ABC for at least the preceding two (2) years who are not related to one another or to the applicant, and who are neither Officers nor Directors of the Club, nor members of the immediate families of an Officer or Director. No member may sponsor more than two (2) individuals for membership during any calendar year.

Applications for membership must be received by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee prior to January 1 of each year. The Chairperson shall refer such applications to the Membership Committee, and seek responses from the named sponsors. The Committee, after receipt of sponsors’ replies from the Chairperson, will review the applications and make recommendations in writing to the Chairperson not later than February 1. The Chairperson will forward the names, addresses and sponsors of each applicant to be considered for membership to the Board of Directors, along with the recommendation of the Membership Committee. The names of applicants receiving an assenting vote by two-thirds (2/3) or more of the members of the Board of Directors will be forwarded to the Secretary, who will send them to the membership by April 1. If dissenting letters are not received by the Secretary, the applicants shall be welcomed as new members at the Annual Meeting. If dissenting letters are received, approval of the application will be reconsidered by the Board of Directors at its next meeting. Approved applicants will become new members at the next membership meeting following their election to membership by the Board of Directors. Individuals whose applications are rejected may be presented by one of their sponsors at the Annual Meeting and the members may elect such an applicant to membership by an assenting vote of seventy-five percent (75%) or more of those present and in good standing.

Each applicant accepting membership in the ABC expressly agrees to be governed by all applicable Articles of these Bylaws and by the Code of Ethics of the Club, as approved by the Board of Directors and adopted by the membership.

SECTION 6 – INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATE MEMBERS: Individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age living outside the United States or Canada, in good standing with the American Kennel Club, and subscribing to the purposes of the American Boxer Club are eligible to apply for International Affiliate Membership. Such members are not eligible to vote or to serve as an ABC officer or director, but each shall receive all American Boxer Club Bulletins and pertinent announcements. Applications for such membership received by the Secretary before the first day of January will be approved or rejected by the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.