Greetings!
Our Board of Directors met January 31- February 2 in Cleveland, Ohio. We arrived early and participated in a Strategic Planning session on Friday. Rich Mastin and Mary Auth did a great job developing an agenda and keeping us on track. Saturday and Sunday were the official business meetings and Kathy Black has shared her notes via a CFA-News announcement so you have read the highlights. Secretary Rachel Anger is working on the transcript and it will be posted to the CFA website in the near future.
February 7 – 9 were the dates of the Super Pet Expo in Edison, New Jersey. CFA had a large booth at this well-attended event. Jo Ann Miksa-Blackwell coordinated it and she has an article elsewhere in this newsletter about this exciting event. Members of the Garden State Cat Club helped staff the booth and brought Pet Me Cats. The manager of the Pet Expo commented that our booth was one of the star attractions and he offered us additional space next year. We love sharing our hobby with the large number of visitors to events like this. Thank you Jo Ann and everyone who pitched in to make it such a success.
Have you seen our updated website? Our webmistress, Kathy Durdick, put in countless hours creating a new look and greatly improved navigation. For many months Kathy had to maintain two separate sites when she made updates or changes (the old site and the site under construction). Fortunately, those days are behind her. It may take a few visits to figure out where everything is now, but it’s there. If you have questions, contact Kathy at
webmaster@cfa.org. The site is making use of WordPress which makes it fairly simple for many people to edit pages without having a lot of technical knowledge. In due time, the plan is to turn over some pages to the responsible party. For example, the Legislative Committee should be able to edit the Legislative pages on the site.
The Democrats and Republicans are not the only ones in the midst of campaigning. We are having elections this Spring for various CFA positions: 4 Officers, 9 Regional Directors, 2 ID Reps. When I last checked only four of those positions had competition (President, Regional Directors 6,7,9). Deadline for declaring is March 15th. Check the
website to keep up-to-date on declared candidates. Some have links to a campaign flyer.
I hope to see many of you at upcoming shows.
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Allene Tartaglia, CFA Executive Director
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Has your club paid their dues and submitted a membership list yet? How about filing a delegate form and paying the delegate fee? Here are the links to check on these items. Lists are in region/location order and then alphabetically within location.
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The CFA International Show ballots for judges will be sent via email to club secretaries within the week. An individualized link specific to the club will be included to vote online. The judge panel will be comprised of 16 judges - 13 with the highest overall number of votes, plus the highest vote recipient from region 8, region 9 and the International Division. Each club selects only 10 judges on the ballot. The deadline for voting is Monday, April 13, 2020.
Be sure to check out the new face of C
FA’s website . Information regarding the website are contained elsewhere in this CFA Newsletter. Kudos to CFA’s webmistress,
Kathy Durdick, for making this a reality.
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Kathy Durdick
webmaster
The New CFA Website is Live!
Phase 1 is now complete – this consisted mainly of getting converted to more modern and flexible content management system (WordPress for those that care about details), as well as a refresh of the design and some big interface improvements to various sections. Phase 2 will be coming in the future months, which will involve input from a graphic design firm to unify the look of ALL communication channels: print, social media, the web, etc.
The event calendar now lists everything in a single place – cat shows, clerking schools, judging schools, the Annual, etc. You can filter the list by type of event, the region, the country, the state, or any combination of those.
The detailed show listings have also enhanced– the top section is more spectator focused, with information on location, hours, admission prices, link to facebook event, etc. (Clubs/entry clerks/etc – help me out here, and please send me these details to webmaster@cfa.org, and save me some searching around the internet! ) The bottom section is exhibitor focused with details about judges, entry clerk, links to show fliers and breed summaries, etc
As a temporary upgrade, until this system is rewritten, there is an improved user search function now, with easy to use drop-down menus to filter breeders. The links still lead to the existing listings managed with your secure.cfa account, but this will be more user-friendly for visitors.
Grand and Breed Winner/National Winner Photo Galleries
Instead of multiple pages with photos separated by show season, the photos are now on a single page – searchable via show season, or cat color, or cat name, etc.
There has been some re-organization as well, to try and streamline the menu– with over 1,000 pages on the site, that’s a chore! There is now a good search function, but if you have problems finding something, feel free to drop me a note to ask. Email to
webmaster@cfa.org is the best method to reach me – please don’t rely on posting something to Facebook, and hoping I may stumble across it.
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Dan Beaudry
CFA Clerking Program Chair
Hi everyone! As required by current CFA Clerking Program rules, the biannual testing period is about to begin. All licensed clerks, master clerks, and master clerk instructors are required by current program rules to receive a passing score on the latest version of the test, which will be published sometime between mid-April and mid-May. The test this year will once again focus on show mechanics, as well as emphasize any show rule changes for the 2020-21 show season which directly impact the role of clerking.
Currently licensed clerks WHO HAVE PAID THE BIANNUAL CLERKING DUES OF $20 will automatically receive the link to the Online Clerking Test 2020 when it becomes available. This fee requirement is waived for judges who also hold a current Master Clerk or Master Clerk Instructor license; you may request a link to the test by emailing
clerks@cfa.org
Dues may be paid at
http://catalog.cfa.org/fees.shtml#clerking If you do not know your clerking number please contact
SDent@cfa.org and obtain this number BEFORE paying your clerking dues; this will ensure your payment is posted to the correct account. Please keep this number in a safe place for future reference (eg. Cell phone, archived email, on the back of a hard copy of your cattery registration, etc)
Any questions regarding the test or any other aspect of the Clerking Program may best be directed to
clerks@cfa.org Questions regarding your individual file should also be sent to
SDent@cfa.org
Thank you for all you do to help CFA’s clubs produce fantastic cat shows each and every week!!
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Monte Phillips
CFA Show Rules Chair
At the February Board meeting, several rules were revised, and other changes came about that will affect show rules with the establishment of new divisions and color classes for various breeds. Specifically -
Show Rule 6.11 and the associated National Awards section in
Article XXXVI was revised concerning those cats who change color or tabby pattern during their show career in one category (kitten, championship, premiership). For example, if a championship cat is shown for a while as a red, but then is changed to a red tabby; or a premiership cat is shown for a while as a brown mackerel tabby, but then is changed to a brown spotted tabby. In the past, all points as a red or brown mackerel tabby were lost, and the cat started over as an open as a red tabby or brown spotted tabby. Effective May 1st, that will no longer be the case. If the cat had already earned its champion title, it will keep that title AND all of the grand/regional points it earned in its prior color or tabby pattern when it moves to its new color or tabby pattern and continue on as if all the points were earned in the new color or tabby pattern. No loss of points or titles for a cat that changes its color or tabby pattern. The cat will still need to be re-registered under the "new" color or tabby pattern, to actually get the associated awards/titles earned.
Show Rule 8.05 and 8.06 were revised to allow individuals and catteries to sponsor ring awards/rosettes. Current show rules prohibit such sponsorships, and those individuals and clubs who are doing them are doing so in violation of show rules. This prohibition has been in the show rules for decades. Both of these rules were changed, effective May 1st, to allow individuals and catteries to sponsor awards/rosettes at rings PROVIDED, there can be no signage in the show hall that would be visible to any judges that would identify those individuals/catteries making such donations. Such sponsorships can be identified in the show catalog, and on signage in the facility that would not normally be visible to any of the judges at the show. There is one exception to the signage requirement. If the individual/cattery has NO cats being exhibited at the show, the signage restriction does not apply.
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Melanie Morgan
CFA Judging Program Committee Chair
Judging Program Committee changes and advancements from the February 1, CFA Board Meeting
Medical Leave of Absence approved for Becky Orlando from February 1 – May 1, 2020. We wish Becky a speedy recovery.
New Acceptances
Applicant Yi Chang accepted as first specialty LH trainee.
Applicant Laura Gregory accepted as first specialty LH trainee
Applicant Pam DeGolyer accepted as second specialty SH trainee
Welcome, Yi and Laura, and congratulations to all three!
Advancements
Pam DeGolyer to Approved LH, 1st specialty
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Carol Krzanowski
CFA Club Membership Committee Chair
The following club was accepted at the February 1-2, 2020 Board meeting:
Knight’s of Cat’s - International Division - Asia; Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Also, at this meeting the Board approved two club name changes, both from the International Division - Asia and both effective immediately:
1. Anshan Asia Cat Club changed the name to Yan Huang Cat Club
2. Pearl River Cat Club changed the name to Hua Xia Cat Club
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Desiree Bobby, Director of Marketing
Kathy Black, Marketing Committee Chairperson
Mike Altschul, Marketing & Facebook Coordinator
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Beth Deal and her Ocicat with a
group of admiring girls at a show
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By working with the CFA Marketing Committee, Clubs in many regions are doubling, tripling and quadrupling gate at their shows, witnessing increased spectator enthusiasm, and converting many guests to exhibitors. These fantastic results are impacting the very core of many clubs. Many are reporting that the additional show revenue is helping them grow their club and enabling them to produce more shows as well.
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The Marketing Committee helps clubs “PROMOTE, EDUCATE and ENGAGE” by using pre, during, and post-show marketing techniques. We start by targeting people who never knew there was such a thing as a cat show. Our Facebook Event promotional techniques include the advertising of shows to tens of thousands of cat lovers near the venue and also helps guests understand what a cat show is about. As a result of this, cat loving fans arrive educated and excited.This gives the show an entirely new aura that you can see and feel.
Advertising before the show is only the first step. To be successful, shows are also implementing best practices at the door and inside the show hall.
Some of these include:
1. Take credit cards at the door and often online.
Younger people do not carry cash. Charge a reasonable ticket price for 2020, not $5 or $6 but about what a movie ticket costs in your market. That pricing usually is in the $7 to $13 range. We are competing for their entertainment dollar. If we charge too little, the idea of visiting your show can be quickly dismissed.
2. Provide Spectator Guides at the door.
It is critical that the new Spectator Guide be given out to our new guests to not only help them understand what is going on at the show but to have something to take home. These guides can be downloaded and printed directly
from our website
3. Ensure the audience feels included, both physically and psychologically.
Once spectators arrive at the show hall, they want to be part of the event and not just see cats being judged and rows of exhibitors. For some, watching cats being judged is like watching paint dry. They crave engagement which they can attain by participating in contests, touching friendly Ambassador Cats, cheering on cats in Agility, and, of course, talking about all things cat with friendly feline experts; our resident exhibitors.
4. Have “NewBee” coordinators and individual show mentors available to help new exhibitors.
Many clubs are seeing four to six first-time newbie exhibitors per show now as a result of a fun time they had as a spectator at a previous event and it’s our duty to make them feel safe and be successful. Holding their hand during their first show is critical because if left alone, unchaperoned newbies may have a bad experience and may go away forever.
Most clubs do not have the resources necessary to implement all the tactics required to double, triple and quadruple growth. The Marketing Committee’s show support group is small but we are happy to support shows one by one, on a first come, first serve basis. Feel free to reach out to request our services or some guidance.
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Jo Ann Miksa-Blackwell
Director of Development
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Brenda Flahault and Nancy Durett greeting Expo attendees
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The three-day Super Pet Expo event in Edison, New Jersey, held on February 7-9, 2020, was a huge success with nearly 20,000 attendees! Special thanks to Brenda Flahault, Garden State Cat Club members, Sue Robbins, and Rich and Molly Nolte. Their teamwork and dedication to the mission of CFA resulted in an event that touched people in amazing ways.
This year, the CFA booth, a 40’ x 86’ extravaganza with beautiful banners, a Razer Blade computer displaying video on an HD Predator monitor, new pop-up foldable lecterns, and directors’ chairs, presented a very professional production to expo visitors.
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The creative layout of the booth gave it flow and rhythm that proved irresistible to expo attendees. The booth was easily accessible from all directions for the thousands of visitors who enjoy the atmosphere, experienced pedigreed Pet Me Cats, and played with Blaze, CFA’s first Grand HHP. Amazingly, the Pet Me Cats seemed happy with all the gentle petting they received during the expo.
The Agility Area was turned into a “fun run-play area” managed by Molly Nolte, a talented, outgoing 8-year old who shared her passion and love of cats with expo attendees.
Interactive activities included the distribution of calendars, coloring books, and cat ears, as well as educational conversations that brought many expo visitors back to the booth several times for more fun. Garden State Cat Club members shared information about CFA cat shows and distributed cards promoting their upcoming show.
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Molly Nolte at the Agility Ring
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Rich Nolte
(right) was incredible in his ability to talk with people, capture video and photos, and post them on social media. He was unstoppable. Thank you so much, Rich!
While we guarded the booth for safety, several very gentle dogs and a smiling pig wearing cat ears
(left) enjoyed strolls through the booth.
The volunteer team working at the CFA booth moved mountains with their collective cheerful energy, engaging the public and drawing them to CFA and the Cat Fancy with friendly, non-stop enthusiasm for the love of all cats.
In Brenda Flahault's words, “Peoples' eyes really sparkle when they hear that they can touch the cats, and when they do, the warm cat and human bond is so obvious. Many were amazed that they could actually show their cats, and we explained how to learn more about that. Of course, we also distributed all your gorgeous new literature and the great calendars and two types of coloring books, promoting CFA and the Cat Fancy. They all were such a hit. We got such a happy and grateful reaction from the public, and I think everyone felt ownership and pride in it!”
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Special thanks to Garden State Cat Club members and friends for all their help!
PET ME CATS:
Geri Fellerman, Himalayan Persian
Susan Baxter, American Curl
Kate Preston, Lion Cut Persian
Diane Quass-Lopez, Exotic Shorthair
Liz Blanc, British Short Hair
Diane Bove, Selkirk Rex
Sue Robbins: Blaze, First HHP Grand & National Winner
MEET AND GREET:
Brenda Flahault, Nancy Durett, and Hal Casey
Rich and Molly Nolte, who also acted as enthusiastic Play Agility "magnets"
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Mary Kolencik
CFA Awards Chair
A reminder - as not everyone remembers - the numbers required for a class to award a Top 15 has changed. The current numbers are:
Championship - 85
Premiership - 50
Kittens - 75
HHP - 30
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The February issue of Cat Talk should be arriving in mailboxes any day now. It's our 10th Anniversary issue!! It's hard to believe, isn't it, that Cat Talk is celebrating this milestone! I'm sending out a big "THANK YOU" to all of our loyal readers! (and to Puff, our cover kitty who patiently allows his mother to dress him up funny!)
This issue includes another installment of "My First Cat" with reader's stories about their first pet or show cat. Laurie Coughlan is coordinating that series and if you have a story to share, please
let her know.
Have you ever gone on a trip and unexpectedly discovered a cat with you? or perhaps the wrong cat decided to take another's place? June's theme is "Vacation" with stories about traveling with cats, and we're including a piece about stowaway cats. Ann Strople is compiling these stories and you can send her yours at
ann.strople@att.net
Check your subscription notices! Because
Cat Talk began publication with its February issue, many subscriptions renew with the February and April issues - and we don't want you to miss anything!
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Did you know you can advertise your cattery and its accomplishments in
Cat Talk?
Did you know readers from all over the world can subscribe to
Cat Talk online via
Magzter and the
Kindle Newsstand ?
Did you know vendors and small cat-related businesses can take advantage of special advertising pricing?
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Teresa Keiger
CFA NewBee Program Chair
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The growth of the CFA NewBee program has just been amazing over the past several months! So many new exhibitors have been discovering CFA. A large portion of that increase is due in a large part to all of the efforts of each region's
NewBee Coordinator. They serve as both guide and intermediary between the new exhibitor and the world of the show hall. They reach out to the new exhibitor (ideally) before and during the show to make certain that they are prepared to have a good experience at the show. Various shows/show managers have also made great efforts to ensure that they reach out to new exhibitors.
However, there is one speed bump in the way of success. We have heard from new exhibitors that they feel abandoned. They checked the "I'm a new exhibitor box" on the entry form, but nothing happened and no one reached out to them. Or they just didn't know to check that box. Or the NewBee Coordinator was never told about them. Or lots of other possibilities. It's tough, and not every club has the same show production structure as another.
We're working on a way that entry clerks can easily email a "NewBee Guide" to any exhibitor who indicates that they are new. This guide will give them tips to prepare for the show, addresses of all regional coordinators, and links to the NewBee website. We would also like to ask that whoever is benching a show to place these new exhibitors with some thoughtful experienced exhibitors who can help them during those first few shows. So clubs please - check to see who your new folks are at your next show. And if nothing else, let your region's NewBee Coordinator know about your new exhibitors.
Exhibitors - please remember that some of your fellow exhibitors are brand new. They have not had the years of perfecting their grooming routine as you have. They're not sure where the litter is. But a kind word can make them come back, again and again; an unkind word can mean that CFA loses a potential exhibitor. We were ALL brand new once.
Kathi Hoos has been instrumental in having the "Show Mentors" reaching out in the show hall. This group is part of the CFA Mentor Program, and their aim is to reach out to ALL exhibitors - new and experienced - who might need a hand in the show hall.
Have suggestions on how to better reach our new exhibitors? Let us know!! Contact Teresa at
tkeiger@cfa.org.
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Legislation – What’s Hot . . . . . . .
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Kelly S. Crouch, CFA Legislative Information Liaison
Florida Pet Store Bans, Preemption, and Hobby Breeders; New Hampshire’s Pet Vendor Definition in the News Again
Florida
Pet stores in Florida seeking legislation that would give them access to legal sources of animals to purchase for resale without running afoul of local prohibitions have, perhaps inadvertently, brought fanciers into the debate and potentially subject to unnecessary regulation. In the introduced versions of companion bills, Senate Bill 1698 and House Bill 1237, hobby breeders are defined as “an establishment that: (a) sells no more than four puppies or adult dogs and no more than four kittens or adult cats in any calendar year: or (b) keeps, houses, and maintains in any location no more than three intact adult female dogs, one intact male adult dog, three intact female cats, and one intact male adult cat.” Both subsections create problems for the small scale home breeder. While cat litters average three to four offspring, a single litter may produce five or six kittens. Even twelve kittens in a single litter are known to happen. However, under subsection (a), a hobby breeder would only be able to sell up to four of the kittens. Also, this section in effect unreasonably restricts the number of litters the hobby breeder may have, thereby putting the reproductive health of all the females in the breeder’s possession at risk. In subsection (b), the limits on adult males and females maintained falls below the minimum necessary for closed catteries to maintain genetic diversity. Under the proposed bills, all pet stores located in the state would also be limited to sourcing cats and dogs from authorized sources, including hobby breeders and adhere to the other licensing, standards, and record-keeping mandates of the legislation. As is often the case with companion bills, they can progress at different speeds if at all. House Bill 1237 by Representative Brian Avila (R-111), is still in its original form. However, S.B. 1698, by Senator Manny Diaz (R-36), has been significantly amended although neither bill has been heard in committee. In the Senate Committee on Innovation, Industry, and Technology Amendment 706506 filed on January 31, 2020, everything after the enacting clause was deleted and replaced with new language. In this amendment, the pet store regulation provisions remained, and hobby breeders were removed. However, cat fanciers that are licensed as a Class A animal dealers by the United States Department of Agriculture may qualify to be a source for licensed pet stores under the amendment. If a cat fancier is unfamiliar with the USDA APHIS Pet Dealer exemptions, the
Hobby Dealer Exemption Flowchart available on the CFA Legislative Group Blog will help with your analysis.
New Hampshire
Representative Howard Pearl (R-26) introduced House Bill 1630-FN on January 6, 2020, that would once again amend the definition of pet vendor. Fanciers may recall the legislative maneuverings relating to the definition of pet vendor from 2019 when legislators succeeded in expanding the definition of pet vendor by including the language in the budget bill H.B. 4 after efforts through regular procedural channels failed. With the budget bill, the Pet Vendor definition decreased the threshold for licensing to anyone who “transfers 25 or more dogs, 25 or more cats, 30 or more ferrets, or 50 or more birds customarily used as household pets, with or without a fee or donation required, and whether or not a physical facility is owned by the licensee in New Hampshire, between July 1 and June 30 of each year.” Representative Pearl’s bill would raise the threshold to 35 for dogs and 50 for cats. Pet Vendor also includes transferors of other live animals as described in the rules promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture. See more on the history of the 2019 legislation in the October 2019 What’s Hot article available
here .
Recent CFA Legislative Group Blog Posts:
What’s Hot…………Anticipating Future Legislation
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Julie Legred - Executive Director, Winn Feline Foundation
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A list of Winn's January Honor Donors is available
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO ADVANCE CAT HEALTHCARE
Clinical study on feline genetics and diabetes Anivive Lifesciences, a pet pharmaceutical company, is partnering with cat owners to study feline genetics and diabetes. Your participation in this study is an opportunity to support scientific exploration of the genes thought to be involved with diabetes. This information will help researchers develop new diagnostic tests, suggest possible preventative measures and explore new treatments for this common feline disease. For more details on how to enroll your diabetic cat into this clinical study visit
www.AniviveTrial.com/CatDNA
Winn Feline Foundation Research Grant Updates:
MT14-005 Prospective comparison of two treatment options for cytauxzoonosis.
MT17-017 Quantification and evaluation of long-term cortisol in the hair and nails of cats using novel, noninvasive measures of chronic stress in cats.
Winn Feline Foundation & the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
Offer Two Scholarships for 2020
Winn Feline Foundation (Winn) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are pleased to announce two scholarships for third- or fourth-year veterinary students enrolled in accredited veterinary colleges or schools in the United States or Canada. The $2,500 awards are based upon academic achievement, financial need, leadership, and dedication to and excellence in the study of feline medicine, health, and welfare.
The Boards of Directors of both the AAFP and Winn are thrilled to offer these scholarships to support future veterinarians and continue to advance feline medicine. These two leading feline-dedicated organizations are offering one $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest in feline practice and the second $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest in clinical scientific research.
All applications will be reviewed, selected, and approved by the AAFP and Winn. In addition to a short application form, interested students will also be required to answer two essay questions asking for the applicant to explain his/her specific interest and background in feline health and welfare, and to describe plans for future participation in feline medicine.
All completed applications with accompanying supplementary documents must be received no later than March 20, 2020. The winning recipient will be notified of their award on or before April 15, 2020.
Applications and instructions are available on Winn’s website:
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Planned Giving
by George Eigenhauser
As tax filing season begins many taxpayers plan to take charitable deductions. But not all donations are the same. Here are some quick rules for taking a charitable deduction on your 2019 tax return.
- Depending on your income, tax status, and other available deductions you MAY do better taking the standard deductions.
- You may NOT deduct a pledge to make a donation at a future date until it is made. A post-dated check is not a current donation either. However, a check mailed in December with the current date is deductible even if not received or cashed until the following year. Credit card donations can be claimed for the tax-year in which they were completed regardless of when you pay your bill.
- You may NOT deduct charitable “gifts” that benefit you with something of equal value in exchange for your contribution. For example, if you “donate” $10.00 to receive an $8.00 coffee mug, your donation would be $2.00.
- You may NOT deduct direct donations to individuals or families. If you wish to help people impacted by a disaster please make sure that your assistance is given through a qualified 501(c)(3) organization (such as the Red Cross or local charitable organizations) so your gift will be deductible.
- You may NOT deduct monetary donations without documentation, such as a receipt or cancelled check. For donations in excess of $250.00 a cancelled check alone is not enough.
- You may NOT deduct non-cash donations, such as a car, unless you have appropriate documentation. The records required vary according to the size of the non-cash donation.
- You may NOT deduct the value of your time and effort supporting a charity. However, certain out of pocket expenses paid by you may qualify.
- You may NOT take a charitable deduction unless the organization is qualified to receive tax-deductible donations. Many organizations, such as political, social, or civic groups, may be tax exempt but you can not deduct donations to them. You can search for the status of charitable organizations by name or EIN (their tax ID number) on the IRS web site. Donations to the Winn Feline Foundation (EIN 23-7138699) are fully tax deductible.
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Our friends at Motel 6 would like CFA to continue to receive the 10% discount at participating locations by using the new updated reservation code of CPOAPHHT. There is a dedicated reservation site for CFA at
www.motel6.com/en/cp/cfa.html
or you may call 800-466-8356.
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Code:
1000026977
or call 877-999-3223 and ask for the discount code CFA CAT FANCIERS ASSOCIATION
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Sharon Roy - Regional Director
Many thanks to Garden State Cat Club, Jo Ann Miksa-Blackwell, and Rich Nolte for participating in the Pet Expo last weekend in New Jersey. From all reports, it was a great success and we're looking forward to next year.
Enjoy these photos from the event.
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Even the dogs got in on the act!
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Two upcoming shows
National Norwegian Forest Cat show in Oaks Pa. It will this year feature a Tonkinese Breed Summit.
Empire returns the following week with a 1 day show in Hammonton NJ.
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Terri Zittel - Regional Secretary
We had a really nice Seattle Cat Club/Valley Cat Fanciers show in Longview, WA on the first. The theme was “Celebrate the Holidays” and each ring was decorated as a different holiday. The club goes all out to encourage new exhibitors with a welcome package. This has been very successful each year.
This weekend is the annual two day show in Santa Rosa, CA. Again, this is an event you don’t want to miss.
March brings us the Tails and No Tales Cat Club show in San Jose, CA on the 7th and 8th.
Idaho Cat Fanciers has their annual two day show in Boise, ID on March 21st and 22nd.
Our Regional Show and Banquet will be held in Longview, WA on June 13th. This is a one day show followed by the banquet in the same facility. We did this for the first time last year and it was highly successful. Wonderful banquet room and the food was really outstanding.
This year’s Annual is in Spokane, WA on the following weekend. We are really looking forward to the event. We haven’t had a show in Spokane for many many years so it will be an experience for all of us.
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In closing, GP Quailridge’s Mona-Lisa, a beautiful Seal Point Birman spay earned her Grand Premier of Distinction in Marilee Griswold ’s ring. As my grandmother used to say “pretty is as pretty does” and that description fits. Mona-Lisa to a T. She was bred by Phil & Pam Soth and is owned and shown by Pat Landers and her daughter Leann Krainick. Congratulations!
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Leesa Altschul, Regional Secretary
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We had our “Winter Festival” show by Ozark Cat Fanciers on January 18 and 19 in Mesquite, Texas. We had gorgeous weather that weekend. Crystal Wood created the beautiful rosettes for the show, and they were extra special. There were special rosettes made for each new Grand Champion at the show too. All five were utilized, with at least two additional new Grands, totalling at least seven new Grand Champions who wanted one of her special rosettes.
We had four New Bees at our show, with five cats: two Birmans, two HHPs, and a Siamese. One of the HHPs (Barach) was blind, but he did so well that he even earned a Best HHP in Beverly Wood’s ring. That made his owner, Anne, so excited. Anne went on to win a lot on the great raffle table on Sunday. Needless to say, she had a fantastic experience and is looking forward to future shows. All four New Bees had great mentors at the show, who helped them out throughout the weekend. We had returning New Bees at the show, and that was awesome to see!
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We had a variety of vendors at the show. They had plenty of items for cats and owners too.
The raffle was very successful. Cheryl Dorrell and Carol Booth did a fantastic job preparing and manning the table. There were so many special items and donations for the raffle. Everyone had good chances of winning items – and they did too.
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Brian Pearson presided over the costume contest on Saturday, and it was a real treat to watch. We had a full audience of spectators and exhibitors there. What a crowd! And the cages were completely full of kitties in costumes. The top three winners were awarded rosettes and gift cards. The top winner was “The Beane,” with his Christmas tree-themed ensemble.
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We had exhibitors from the North, South, East, and West.
Our highest-scoring Premiership cat was from the East Coast, GC, GP RW Ghattas Criola of Paradiso, shown by Michael Piziali. Best Cat in Premiership by Judge Liz Watson, with Pam Bassett.
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The club hading New Bees at the show too. The raffle was a huge hit with many spectators participating in it.
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On February 1 and 2, Wichita Cat Fancy had their “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” show in Wichita, Kansas. They had beautiful themed rosettes and special rosettes for new Grand Champions.
The show had great gate with the help of Facebook advertising.
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There were three New Bees, with two HHPs and two Ocicats at the show. All three had wonderful show mentors for the weekend. There were returning New Bees such as Rebecca Emilie Koester, with her Norwegian Forest Cat, PR LostWoods Galveston, entertaining the crowds. Galveston was a very popular cat at the show.
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Another popular cat at the show was Becky Galloway’s Maine Coon, GC GP RW AC Purrtigers Roland. Roland enjoyed the overwhelming attention he got by the spectators!
There were several rescue groups in attendance, and they adopted out lots of fur babies.
The show had costume contests on both days. Jim Dinesen and Carla Bizzell judged the contests, which thrilled the crowds both days!
On Super Bowl Sunday there was a sea of red apparel to support their home team – the Kansas City Chiefs ‒ who played later in the day and won.
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BUY AN ANNUAL PIN!
We are selling the 2021 Annual pins for $20. To purchase, see Traci Whittenberg or Beth Grant-Field. The pin design is a cat in space to represent our Houston Annual. They are very popular and everyone wants one!
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Gulf Shore Region 2021 Annual T-Shirts. As one of the fundraisers for the 2021 Annual, we will be selling T-shirts with our Annual theme on the front. The logo will be in full color on a quality navy T-shirt. Shirts are only $20 for S, M, L, XL, 2X and 3X.
The next show they will be available at is the December 7
th
Orange, Texas, Brazos Valley Cat Club. . We are not able to ship them.
To reserve your size, place your order via PayPal (send money via “Friends and Family” option) to CFAGSR@hotmail.com. (or you can pay at the show.) List your size and quantity in the PayPal comment section. Get yours before they are all gone!
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WE NEED YOU! if you have any fundraising ideas and/or wish to serve on a committee for ideas for the 2021 Annual, please contact
Traci Whittenberg (our Annual Chair).
Upcoming Shows
- February 22 & 23: TX, Orange. Wildcatters Cat Club
- March 21: LA, Gonzales. Greater Baton Rouge Cat Club.
- April 11: CO, Loveland. Foot of the Rockies Cat Club.
- April 18 & 19 TX, Mesquite. North Texas Cat Club
- June 13 &14: TX, Mesquite. Gulf Shore Region (Awards Banquet)
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John Colilla - Regional Director
Our region is very active in social media with a Facebook page as well being a member of Pinterest. Please stop by and check out what is going on in our region on our
Facebook and
Pinterest pages.
GLR is having a raffle for 2 pieces of Waterford Crystal for our 2022 Annual. Tickets are $5 each and we will sell only 200 tickets. Winner announced after the sale of 200.
The 2022 CFA Annual will be held in Louisville, KY and the Great Lakes Region is looking forward to many of you joining us for this event!!
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Upcoming Shows
Be sure to mark your calendar with our upcoming shows:
- Mar 7 - 8 - BROCKPORT, NY GENESEE CAT FANCIERS CLUB
- Apr 4 - 5 - MANSFIELD , OHIO MID-OHIO CAT FANCIERS
- Apr 11 - TAYLOR, MICHIGAN JUST CAT-IN AROUND CF
- Apr 18 - 19 - HAMILTON, OHIO CINCINNATI CAT CLUB
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Howard Webster - Regional Director
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We had a great show in San Diego in January and I asked the club to give us a report. They have worked very hard to make this a show that reaches out to many new spectators, and they got them!
The line coming in was non-stop until about 2 PM on Saturday. This was done with Facebook, newspapers, television spots, and rescue groups. This is what clubs have to do to make it these days. With the dwindling exhibitor base, we need to reach out and excite new people, make them welcome and mentor them in CFA.
There were 5 shows in the country that weekend. We have to have shows that the exhibitor base will support, and then advertise the hell out of it. Have special events, like the Stuffed Animal Contest, Agility, breed seminars, Pet Me cats, and many other things going on that will excite the children and the parents that bring them.
When you tie this with top 15 in every category, CH,PR, Kittens, and HHPs, you get happy exhibitors, as well. Nobody wants to go the a show to be fodder for just the National winners, where there is 18 "have to" cats in a top ten final.
What would happen if everyone but the campaigners showed up? The shows would fail and there would be no points for the winners. Clubs need to start thinking about that when they plan a show and pick their judges. We all need to plan better and appeal to more exhibitors. Our hobby depends on it.
Below is the report from The San Diego Cat Club.
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Over the past few years, we have been “fine tuning” a variety of marketing efforts.
We targeted a unique group of diverse cat enthusiasts and utilized a variety of channels targeting mobile, tablet, and computer users. We used social media, email blasts, and strategic digital ad placements. We also performed the traditional approach using tv and newspaper ads, plus attended a couple of television-marketing spots.
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All of this high-technology approach, while still focused on traditional, afforded the SDCC Show with spectacular results.
First, our specific marketing efforts these past few years had generated a year-after-year increase of 15% in gate; however, this year we saw a 42% increase over last year.
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Second, the results for the gate over the past few years brought increased numbers and a wide diversity (families, families with children, and an older crowd group as well) of attendees. But this year the gate consisted of many more single people in their 20s and 30s and those who came to the show were saying that they had never been to a cat show and were ”having a ball”.
Last, SDCC plans to improve its marketing efforts even more and generate a prestigious show so that the exhibitors can enjoy sharing the love they have of their breed and educating cat fanciers of all ages.
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Mary Auth - Regional Director
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A picture tells a thousand words and we had two unusual shows with themes since the last newsletter – see the photos below.
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The Saintly City Cat Club Show in St. Paul Minnesota is always part of the Winter Carnival, where the cat King and Queen of the carnival is presented at the show. Of course, it’s a cat – and awarded to the highest scoring male and female Household Pets. Spirit Walker William, a long-hair shaded cream cameo got the King honors.
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Each year a club member crafts the crowns and capes for the winning Household Pets.
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What a show be without a large orange cat? Pictured here with Show Manager Linda Mae Baker, and Maine Coon exhibitor who traveled all the way for southeastern Indiana, Janet Marr. Under the costume is Angie, Bobbie Weihrauch’s daughter.
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Coming on the heels of the Iowa Caucus, Hawkeye State Cat Club’s theme was naturally Iowa CLAWcus. The club carried the theme throughout and exhibitors really were engage. Here is Lisa Morgan (left), Miss Iowa and Mary Reiss (right) all three sporting crowns.
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Hawkeye State: Club treasurer Mary Jane Tesdall is an equal opportunity voter. We know that Mary Jane went to her caucus, because she suspended her entry clerk duties while she went to her caucus.
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Nancy Petersen was in the red/white/blue spirit with her little, tiny hat
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Activities for the kids in the lobby of the show included face painting, coloring books and a puzzle.
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An extensive raffle was featured at the show.
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Kenny Currle, Regional Director
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Region 7 has been so busy the past few weeks!
Both Birmingham Feline Fanciers and Star City/Central Carolina Cat Fanciers had very successful shows the last weekend of January in Birmingham, AL and Roanoke, VA respectively. Teresa Keiger taught a clerking school the Friday prior to the Roanoke show, and it was well-attended.
The following weekend brought us Pawprints in the Sand/Chamberlin on the Bay's traditional show in Newport News, VA. They ran such a successful Facebook campaign that the show hall was packed with spectators, many who were first-time cat show attendees.
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Clubs who are successfully using social media and other forms of show promotion are experiencing huge increases in their gate. Also, some of these shows have said that they have attendees who come year after year to their shows - so that's an even better return on the investment of advertising!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The CFA Southern Region Awards Show and Banquet will be held June 13-14, 2020 in Jacksonville, FL
Upcoming Shows in the Southern Region
- February 29-March1 - Atlanta Phoenix - Marietta, GA (new date!)
- March 14 - Crab and Mallet CC - Timonium, MD
- March 21-22 - Coastal Paws CC - Raleigh, NC
- March 28-29 - Tennessee Valley Cat Fanciers - Knoxville, TN
- April 4-5 - Ocicats International - Griffin, GA (new date!)
So we welcome y'all to come on down South!
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Michael Schleissner, Regional Director
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Frederic Goedert (far left) with Fabrice Calmès, Patrick Leterrier, and Bernard Comte
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CFA Europe improving on working together with other associations
On Thursday 30th of January, a meeting was appointed in between LOOF President Fabrice Calmès and their shows Chairmen Bernard Comte and with the CFA Representative Frederic Goedert.
After the success of the first in-conjunction show in France on December 7 & 8, 2019 in La Seyne sur Mer near Toulon, it was important to clear the different process of organizing such shows in the future for our mutual benefits. Some points had to be organized as many exhibitors are using the opportunities of these shows to try a different or a new system for showing their cats.
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During this successful first edition of such an in-conjunction show, more than 300 cats joined the event on both sides and more than 100 cats tried CFA for the first time with a record number of TRN issued for that event.
The synchronization of such events while some cats are showing in both system is a challenge for the sponsoring clubs and has to meet the show rules of both association.
Great CFA judges like Diana Rothermel, Teresa Keiger and Lorraine Rivard challenged that special trial and achieved their duties on time with a spectacular panache meanwhile all these new bee's cats were competing together with the finest CFA cats from Italy and France of course but also from Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands and also Monaco.
Two LOOF judges and one RUI Judge completed this panel with dedication and discerning their best cats among two Top 15 in Kittens and in Championship!
Now we are working together in order to organize a better knowledge of each other so we could let our judges be trained and ready to officiate in each other's system in the future. Plans are set to develop more shows in the future on this basics and another event will soon bring the two association for the Khao Manee Cat Club show in warm Provence area of Orange on April 11-12 where a high count is expected with a 8 rings show. Soon translations of our standards and show rules should definitively help the French speaking exhibitors to go deeper in our system and make our association grow by the way.
Thank you Frederic Goedert for taking the part of CFA Europe.
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First Show of a Newly-accepted CFA Club in Europe
American Shorthair Lovers of Europe, a new CFA club in Europe, together with a well established club Cat-H-Art as additional sponsor, will be the 2nd CFA show in Perpignan, France. This year on a different date Feb. 29 and March 1st. 6 CFA Judges only. This show will be a 6 Super Specialty in Championship and Kittens. That means 10 Shorthairs and 10 Longhairs finals for each judge combined in an AB Final from their Top 10.
It will be an outstanding occasion to grand your cats and place your new kitties. Premiers are also welcome in regular 6 AB.
With its southern feel and spicy accent, Perpignan faces Spain and the East, with an eye on the past and a smile for the future...
This show will take place together with a Pet Fair held by the Animaliades attracting more than 20 000 visitors last year.
Miscellaneous classes are expected to present all the 3 Newest Breeds in CFA with more than 15 Khao Manees, Lykois and Toybobs in various pattern. Another event not to be missed!
It looks like a promising way to go.
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Upcoming Shows in Region 9 Europe
February/22&23
Bulgaria's Cat Fanciers
Sofia / Bulgaria
6 AB
February/29 & March/01
American Shorthair Lovers of Europe
Perpignon / France
6 SSP in CH+Kit; 6 AB Prem.
March/07&08
Chatte Noir Cat Club
Moscow / Russia
2 AB+3SSP+1LH/SH SP in CH
4 AB+1SSP+1LH/SH-SP in Kit.
5 AB+1 LH/SH-SP in Prem.
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The CFA International Division awards banquet is scheduled for August 15, 2020. The location will be disclosed when plans are finalized.
Don’t forget the CFA Asia World show in Kuala Lumpur the weekend of August 29-30. This show will have up to top 5 breed awards like the CFA International show. We invite exhibitors from the International Division and Regions 1-9 to attend. August 31 marks the day the Federation of Malaysia gained its independence and there will public celebrations and fireworks!
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Judges at the Great West China Cat Fanciers show in Hangzhou, China on January 12-13, 2020.
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Show hall at the Great West China Cat Fanciers show in Hangzhou, China on January 12-13, 2020.
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Napon Pansuvan, Jan Rogers and Best Kitten at the Sawasdee Cat Club show in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Chan Ka Wang, Patrick Au and judge Traci Petty at the Dear Meow Cat Club show in Hong Kong.
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International Division - AWA/CSA
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Kenny Currle
The International Division - AWA/CSA (Asia West,Africa/Central, and South America) has seen tremendous growth over the past year, and it shows no signs of slowing down! Within the last year alone, it has gained 14 new clubs in the Near and Middle East and in Southeast Asia. New clubs have produced their first shows this past year in Egypt and in Istanbul. CFA is continuing its recent expansion into India, having participated in several "fun" or non-scored shows there and on track to plan and produce CFA shows there in the near future.
What is evident with this expansion is that there is still a large base of cat lovers out there that CFA is just now reaching. This bodes well not only for CFA, but for our current breeders to whom this new base of breeders will be reaching out to for advice and potentially for breeding cats.
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Have a question or a comment about the CFA Newsletter?
Thank you for being a subscriber!
Teresa Keiger
CFA Newsletter Editor
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