CFA eNewsletter - November 2011

November 2011 CFA's Monthly eNewsletter

Quick Links

CFA Home Page
CFA Blog

Cat Talk
DNA Testing
Exhibitors Corner
Corporate Special Offers
CFA Forms/Show Rules

Newsletter Archives

Show Schedule

CFA Staff Contact Info

Upcoming Deadlines

Dec. 1 - Cat Talk Feb. cover contest

Dec. 1 - Feb. issue CatTalk - Grand and HHP Photos

Dec. 1 - Ads for Feb. issue Cat Talk

Dec. 15 - Breed Council Ballots due back at CO

Central Office Report

by Verna Dobbins

Hello!

Central Office is moving right along and improvements are being made. Next month we will provide you with some statistics in hopes to better your understanding of how the Central Office process works.

We are starting our 3rd month here in Ohio and things are starting to find a flow, we still have lots to learn but the team is working hard to do so. We have made some changes here in the office that we feel will create a more efficient work flow. More ...

2011 CO Halloween

Central Office Staff Dressed For Halloween

(Left to Right) Shirley Dent, Kristi Wollam,

Verna Dobbins, and Donna Jean Lewis

CFA National Cat Show

The show is closed and the entry clerk has tabulated the numbers.

Black Cat Reading

99 - LH Kittens

136 - SH Kittens

69 - LH in Championship

96 - SH in Championship

44 - LH in Premiership

46 - SH in Premiership

10 - HHP

500

Check out the Breed Summary.

Our entry clerk, Monte Phillips, was working on entries until 2:15 this morning. He indicates that he offered spots in the show to everyone on the waiting list (177 cats)! He could have taken more entries if more had been on the waiting list; he had to tell several folks they could not pull their cat because he had no substitutes for their entries. There are two exhibitors with six entries each. No one else has more than that.

We owe Monte a huge debt of thanks for all his efforts serving as a volunteer entry clerk. The amount of work that went into this job was incredible. Thanks, Monte!

Revised Poster

The 4th Edition of the Wonderful World of Cats poster is now available. More info is available on the CFA website. Price varies depending on the number being ordered.

http://www.cfa.org/client/breedposter.aspx

World of Cats Poster

CFA Receives Award

Spade Award On Monday October 17, Verna Dobbins, Kristi Wollam and myself attended the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce Annual "Business Alliance" awards luncheon. The CFA as well as the CFA Foundation qualified for and received the "Golden Spade Award". This Award is presented annually to new or existing businesses that have a new owner and/or facility, have renovated their facility, made a capital investment of new equipment or have significantly expanded their workforce during the Chamber's fiscal year. It is the Chambers way of saying "Thank You" to businesses who have made an investment in the future of the Alliance Area community.

We were delighted to attend and sincerely appreciated our recognition. It is interesting to note a number of the folks in attendance were familiar with our presence and had attended the Grand Opening as well as the Museum. Alliance has been most welcoming.

-- Donna Jean Thompson

Director of Operations

CFA's Webmistress

Looking for Kathy Durdick our new CFA Webmaster??? Look for a Mini Cooper with the license plate LV2CRNR (Love to corner)...or perhaps in an "abandoned-for-the-season" Washington State Department of Forestry fire watchtower where she and her husband Jon might be camping....

Introducing Kathy Durdick.
Kathy Durdick is an Honors graduate of Portland State University with a BS in computer science and has been a programmer for over 20 years. Last 7 years, Kathy has served as a Senior Programmer/Analyst at a Washington state utility company. For the last 3 years, Kathy's sole responsibility was for the "myAccount" portal that allows customers to log on and view their account and billing information, make payments, etc. Written using ASP.NET for the web site side, with an interface to the COBOL mainframe system that does all the processing for the utility. (Yes, Virginia, there IS still COBOL in the world... <g>)

Legislation

by Joan Miller, CFA Legislative Information Liaison

Why the CFA Legislative Group opposes ALL mandatory spay/neuter laws with "breeder permits" . . .

Ordinance proposals introduced in cities or counties often seem innocuous to breeders of pedigreed cats. If the law only affects large commercial breeders, it may even sound reasonable. For many years we've watched legislation that starts with breeder licensing ONLY for the largest most commercial profit-driven facilities. CFA breeders, believing such a proposal will not hurt their small breeding program, remain apathetic. With little opposition the law is usually enacted. Suddenly, a few years later we are faced with amendments that seriously impact the small home breeders of pedigreed cats. More ...

Congratulations, Shirley!

Shirley Dent recently celebrated 20 years as a CFA employee. Many of us know Shirley as the only employee to move with CFA from New Jersey to Ohio. She scores grand points for our cats and she provides Central Office support to the Clerking Program. She has proven to be invaluable to many of us in the CFA family.

Allergist Vs FURminator: No Contest!
By Dr. Shelby Neely, DVM

FURminator Over the course of my 20 years of practice, I have too often received a call from a cat parent telling me that a family member has just been diagnosed with an allergy to cats and an allergist or dermatologist has told them to get rid of the cat.

I have long been bothered by that concept because I have seen many cat parents with allergies to cats learn to live very comfortably with their pets. While it is true that the most effective method of treating any allergy is avoidance, many cat parents find that method extremely objectionable. Read more ...

Winn Feline Foundation

Winn announces the appointment of Maureen Walsh as Winn's Chief Executive Officer.This new position is a direct result of Winn's recent gathering devoted to strategic planning for future growth of the Foundation.

Maureen will focus on increasing Winn's brand awareness and relevance among the veterinary and research communities, as well as cat fanciers, breeders and cat-lovers around the globe.Maureen brings a wide experience with non-profits in developing precise, strategic, and creative marketing programs designed to enhance revenue growth.

Cat Talk

Penny's Kitten The Cat Talk staff is getting the December issue ready for print, we hope to have this one in the mail in early December. The cover features a special graphic by Teresa Keiger, a departure from the style of cover we've all been used to for decades of CFA publications. For the February issue, we will once again have the Cover Contest featuring a subscriber's cat drawn at random, deadline for entries is December 1st. See http://www.cfa.org/client/cattalkcontest.aspx for details! If you are already entered, you do not need to enter again, but you may send new photos for consideration.

We have two new series starting in December! Shelly Ducharme tackles traveling with cats in "Winging It", and Lauri Henry tackles show hall etiquette with "Excruciatingly Correct Exhibitor Manners."

Cosmo Joan Miller continues to expand on the elements of the No Kill Equation with the first part of a two part article on Spay/Neuter in the US. Jayne Wood tackles the subject of Cyber Awareness in the first part of a two part series. Dr. Melinda Fleming, DVM, begins discussion on feline diarrhea covering "Common Parasitic and Infectious Gastrointestinal Causes."

Regular columnist Monte Phillips details the many show rule changes passed at the October board meeting, and Lisa-Maria Padilla's column will make you hungry for Danish butter cookies. December's featured breed is the Colorpoint Shorthair!

Available at the CFA National Cat Show This Weekend !

CFA Decals

Clerking Schools and Other Stuff

by Cheryl Coleman, Chair, CFA Clerking Program

We really want to encourage more clerking schools, and hopefully soon, we'll be making it a bit easier! On-line clerking schools is being investigated, and we hope to implement it sometime next year! In the meantime, if you want to have a clerking school, please remember the following:

* A written request (email) for authorization of a clerking school must be submitted to the Clerking Program Chair with a copy to Central Office Clerking department (by the sponsor or instructor). This must be done no later than 30 days prior to the date of the school

* The following information is required in the authorization:

- sponsor of the school (club, Reg. Director, instructor)

- date of school

- Location (city and facility)

- Name of Instructor-in-Charge, and any assistant instructor (if applicable)

- Scheduled hours for the school

- Is the school limited to club members, or open to all?

- What is the fee to be charged each student

- Entry person for the school

- Closing date for the school

- Person to contact for information

After the Clerking Chair has approved the school, any changes to the above information must be immeidately noticed to the Clerking Chair and to the Central Office Clerking department. Credit for the school can be withheld for clerking schools taught without the proper authorization, or those that vary from the authorized format and arrangement.

If you have any questions or need some assistance in getting a school for your area, please don't hesistate to contact me!

Spotlight on Websites

Spotlight
The CFA clubs in the Atlanta area have a terrific website which highlights all their shows.

http://www.atlantacatshows.org/

Salt City Cat Club in Syracuse NY also has a website worth checking out:

http://www.saltcitycatclub.org/

If you know of a club, breed council, etc. with a site worthy of being mentioned, send it to us.

Regional News

Region 1

Plans are moving along for the 2012 Annual in Quincy Ma. We really
suggest coming in a day or so early and seeing the greater Boston area. There is lots to see. Within easy driving distance you can visit old revolutionary history, the Witches of Salem or take a ride to "Old Cape Cod". Remember in New England, the lobsters are fresh and affordable.

If you decide to rent a car, then you may want to check out alternate

airports to Boston-Logan International airport. Both Providence RI and Manchester NH are within an hour of Quincy . They have competitive airfares without the hassle of a large airport.

We have had several small raffles with fabulous donations from our Region 1 people. A beautiful quilt, a handmade afghan and a fabulous basket were recent fundraisers. The current fundraiser is being handled by Terrie Smith. Two lucky winners will each win a GPS and an I Phone. The new I phones are out. The GPS systems were also donated by a Region 1 exhibitor. Please see Terrie or Donna Minardi at shows near you to purchase tickets or you can email Terrie at [email protected].

Special Thanks to Straight and Curl Cat Club. The Club has offered their show as a fundraiser for the NAR. All profits will be split 50/50 between the club and the NAR. They are looking for Ring sponsors for the
rosettes. Show date is December 17 and 18. It is the only show in town.
We hope to get a great turnout! More details coming. Watch for the flyer
soon. If you would like to help or sponsor a ring let me know. Ring
Rosette sponsorship is only 50.00 per ring and all the sponsorship money stays with the NAR.

Check Out the new NAR pins. They will be available for sale at the
National show and at most NAR shows. Thanks to Lew Lewellyn for the
original design and to Sophia Staples and Claudia Hasay for the pin
design. The "silver" pins are 20.00 and the "gold" pins are 50.00.

Region 7

Visa Gift Card $500 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.