Breed Council Ballots

With a new staff working on Registrations, fresh faces often notice things taken for granted by previous staffs.  For example, did you know merely leaving off your cattery name/number can add up to 30 minutes to registering your litter?  That's because the current computer system has as many as six different databases where it could be located and these databases each must be updated manually ... something often not done in the past.  Yes, the new computer system will remedy that problem, but for now we have to deal with the old computer system.  The staff has developed a list of tips that can help you help them which means our registrations can be processed quicker.  Take a look.

CFA's Latest Hire 

Spotlight on Websites 

In the last issue we asked for club web sites that could be spotlighted. The National Siamese Cat Club web site is excellent:

George Eigenhauser with Cheeto

September 22, 2011 was AHI Pet Night on Capitol Hill. This marked CFA's 15th year as affiliate sponsor thanks to generous donations from CFA clubs. Among the attendees from CFA this year were George Eigenhauser, Susan Blevins, Don and Cheryl Windsor, and Mark and Traci Lovelace. The 2011 feline celebrity was Cheeto who played "Azrael" in the Smurfs movie. Pet Night is our opportunity to maintain contact with members of congress, their aides and the Washington media, as well as the event sponsors.  

In addition to Pet Night itself, CFA benefits from our relationship with AHI members and affiliate sponsors.  The AHI (Animal Health Institute) consists of more than two dozen companies that make medicines for pets and farm animals. These include well known companies like Abbot Animal Health, Bayer, Lilly & Co, Merk, and others.  The morning following Pet Night there is an AHI meeting which includes joint legislative strategy on matters ranging from the "guardian" campaign to non-economic damages. Pet Night sponsors, including CFA, AKC, PIJAC and AVMA are invited to participate in the AHI meeting. This is the one time each year so many major players on our side of the table meet together. We discuss legislation, share information and work together on a variety of issues. Pet Night participants provide us with legislative information, access to inside opinions of their lobbyists, and other help throughout the year.

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The Sy Howard Legislative Fund is a matching fund.  Sponsorship for Pet Night on Capitol Hill is funded by $500 from the Sy Howard Fund and this year by donations from the following:  Cat Fanciers of Washington, Colonial Annapolis CF, Freestate FF, Greater Baltimore CC, Hidden Peak CC, Mad Catters, Maine Street CC, and National Capital Cat Show.  Thanks to them for their assistance.

Professional Photos

Many of us have professional photos taken of our cats.  Keep in mind that the photographer maintains ownership of these photos.  While the cat is yours, the photos are not.  When you use these photos, be sure to include the photographer's signature or copyright notice.  If you edit that out, you could be creating a problem for yourself.  If you plan to use them for something other than a CFA publication or your cattery website, check with the photographer to make sure it is OK.

Staples

We have a new contact for the CFA account with Staples. She is Angel Richardson who is our point of contact for Staples Copy & Print.  Clubs with printing needs can reach Angel at:

Phone - 888-224-3684 x 1196

Email:Angelina.richardson@staples.com
  

Blast From The Past
 

From the 1931 CFA Show Rules, Article III Section 6: Cats will be fed and cared for by the [show] committee, unless the Exhibitor prefers to relieve the committee of this responsibility.

(Courtesy of Mary K)

The Cat Health Network (CHN) -- Winn Feline Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Foundation -- has announced the first research grants in its efforts to turn the spotlight on cat health. Despite the fact that cats are the most popular household pet in America, our feline friends are on the "short-end-of-the-stick" when it comes to health research. The CHN aims to change all that. Check out the Winn website, www.winnfelinehealth.org, for more information. While there, subscribe to the Winn eNewsletter and meet our new treasurer!
 

Cat Talk

October 16th is National Feral Cat Day! Visit the Alley Cat Allies [www.alleycat.org] website to show your support of their efforts on behalf of feral cats. In our October issue (coming soon), Joan Miller has written an article discussing the evolution of Trap Neuter Return (TNR), the first in a series discussing the elements of the "No Kill Equation." Here is an excerpt:
 

Have you checked it out?  The CFA National Cat Show has a blog with lots of useful information on the show.  Need to know about Agility?  Kittens for Sale?  What vendors will be at the show?  Which photographers will be there?  Lots of good info.  Just go to www.cfablog.org . 

Minutes

The Minutes of the Board Meeting held October 1-2, 2011, are complete and will be online Monday, October 17th.

Alamo Car Rental

Alamo has joined the list of companies offering discounts to you. This program provides: 

• Guaranteed year-round rates
• Unlimited mileage on round-trip rentals
• Frequent traveler points
• Free Quicksilver enrollment
• Express Return service
• Leisure discounts

To take advantage of these benefits, please use Alamo corporate ID 660401 whenever you have a car rental need.  Go here.

  
Alamo also helps you through your rental with Quicksilver service. Click here to enroll. 

Region 4

Cleveland Persian Society, October 8-9

Region 6

Be sure to check out what is going to be a huge show at the brand new Purina Farms facility in St. Louis! Originally constructed solely for a midwest location for big time dog shows, the folks at Purina have gone out of their way to make CFA welcome the first weekend in November. The space, as expected, is huge with great lighting. The club has arranged to allow breed booths to be present to set off the show rings, so please contact show management to see if you can bring your breed booth - and of course Pet Me and Ambassador cats! As a Purina facility that is excited about working with a CFA club, we expect a LOT of interest and advertising with the power of Purina marketing, so this show will be a first of its kind! The facility has a "museum" of sorts along with a petting zoo and information on other animals, livestock and animal husbandry - this is the kind of corporate relationship we need to foster, that also brings in young children and involves them in understanding the importance of breeding animals. Right now, as expected, they are heavy on pedigreed dog information - they are starting to compile pedigreed cat information, you guessed it, with this opening show with Midwest TGIF and CFA. This is a show you do NOT want to miss! Find information and enter today at www.cfamidwest.org! This will be the first cat show at the arena and will be sponsored by ProPlan and TidyCat, of course with a lot of food to buy and plenty of giveaways along with a ten ring show! The TGIF show is at Purina Farms, Gray Summit, MO. More information on the facility is at www.purina.com/purina-farms/purinafarms.aspx.
 

http://twitter.com/CFA_MWR
 

Region 7

The Region is raffling a $500 Visa Gift Card to benefit our Region's Purebred Rescue efforts.  You can buy chances at any Southern Region show from Lynn Search, Jacqui Bennett, or Deb Curtis.  You can also purchase them via email from Lynn Search.  The drawing will take place at the Tarheel Triangle show in Raleigh at the end of November.

Chef Jerry & His Assistant Lisa Smith

At the Cat Club of the Palm Beaches, Sept. 17-18 in Orlando FL, the club offered an Italian dinner for the judges and exhibitors.  About 70 people attended and feasted on hors d'oeuvres prepared by Wayne Trevathan, a terrific salad courtesy of Karen Lane, unforgettable chicken parm thanks to chef Jerry Hamza, and delicious desserts from Stan Barnaby. A great time was had by everyone who attended.  For $20 you got all this food plus all the wine, beer, and soda you wanted.  Check here for more photos of the show and dinner.