Conference misery::feline

    
    Jo, I almost fell off of the bed when I read the advertisement about
    the show at the Garden in the latest Almanac!  Did the Executive
    Committee go to the masses for feedback on this or was it an 
    executive decision?  
    
    

    Looks like it was an executive decision.  I could find no discussion of
    it in the minutes of the September board meeting.
    
    They are getting around the rules by working with a CFA club,
    Metropolitan Cat Fanciers (for those who aren't familiar with CFA show
    rules, only CFA clubs can put on CFA sanctioned shows).
    
    If you fell off the bed at the advertizement, I can't wait to see what
    will happen when you read the flyer.  Marlene, you just wouldn't
    believe it!
    
    Jo

    Jo,
    
    Do all CFA members receive this? I'd like to see a copy!
    
    Cheryl
    

After carefully examining the flyer I noticed that on the back page next 
to the last sentance.  It says something to the effect that any awards 
given can not be used towards championship or grandchampionship points 
in CFA.

So I quess you would enter solely for advertisement of your cattery, 
make contact, sell kittens ect, since no wins can be applied towards 
CFA status.

You really need to read everything very carefully.  I have never heard of 
such a thing?  I would of been some disappointed if I had entered and 
did well, only to find out it's all "show no go".

Valerie 

    You are kidding!!  I didn't see that.  I am going to have to reread my
    flyer very carefully when I get home tonight.  I can't believe that
    they are holding a CFA sanctioned show but not awarding CFA points. 
    Unreal.
    
    Jo

    I got this brochure too the other day, though have not had a chance to
    read it yet.  I skimmed thru it and didn't really see anything overtly
    wrong with it, but then, I am not very familiar with CFA rules and
    regulations.
    
    Interesting nit, Valerie!
    

    I checked the flyer again last night, and on the next to the last page
    near the bottom there is a phrase that says something like "these points 
    will not count towards CFA Champion or Grand Championships or towards 
    Regional or National wins" BUT...it appears that this phrase is
    refering to the Best of the Best awards that the INCATS show plans to
    give out.  CFA doesn't allow points to be given for Best of the Best
    awards.  So, the points won in the rings will count, but cats winning
    Best of the Best will not get additional points for that.
    
    Also, I noticed that they have a few rules concerning kittens and cats
    for sale that are contrary to CFA rules.  CFA rules *require* that any
    cats and kittens for sale at the show MUST be entered with an official
    entry blank and listed in the show catalog.  INCATS flyer says that you
    can pay to bring kittens for sale, but if you want them listed in the
    catalog you have to pay for that and send an entry form (as if listing
    them in the catalog were optional).
    
    INCATS also requires that you have a current (within 1 month) FeLV
    certificate on any kitten for sale, that you have proof of age (blue
    slip from CFA), and that you accompany the buyer to the INCATS
    veterinarian with the kitten to have it checked by the veterinarian. 
    On the surface this seems like a good idea, but in reality it proves
    nothing.  All that vet can do for you is see if that kitten has fleas, 
    or other outward signs of illness at that moment.  He cannot certify 
    that the kitten is healthy.  The only reason I bring this up is that 
    I just don't want any spectators (Feliners) to be lured into a false 
    sense of security by this mandatory vet check.
    
    I wonder, if someone buys a kitten at an INCATS show and the INCATS vet
    deems it healthy and then it gets sick, would INCATS have any liability
    there?
    
    Jo

    I have some news...INCATS' CFA club, Show Cats On Parade, has been
    turned down for membership in CFA.  I heard this from a friend who is
    supposed to have a reliable source.  The topic of the club came up at
    the February board meeting.  We will be able to verify this when the
    minutes of the meeting show up in the CFA Almanac (probably in April).
    Rumor has it that the board received 140 letters from clubs that were
    opposed to INCATS being accepted.  
    
    Also, I had gotten a second flyer from INCATS stating that their March
    show would be televised by CBS.  I have since heard that they mailed that
    flyer out prior to signing any contract with CBS and that the deal had
    fallen through.  Since my club's show is contracted to be televised by
    ESPN (the San Francisco Revelers show in March), this was of particular
    interest to myself and my fellow club members.  Michael Brim, CFA
    public relations director is the one who told us that the CBS deal had
    fallen through.
    
    Jo
    

    Anyone have any info to share about how the INCATS show went?  Did any
    one attend?  I have heard that there were some glitches...
    
    One story I heard said that they calculated the Best of the Best in the
    TICA manner and so the highest scoring cat in the rings was awarded
    Best Cat in Show.  The highest scoring cat in the preliminary judging
    was not the highest scoring cat in the show by finals points, so there
    were a couple of really unhappy exhibitors.
    
    I have also noticed that there are some INCATS shows being publicized
    for other associations, not just CFA.  I think that CFA won't like
    that.  Can't wait to see the minutes from the board meeting to see how
    the discussion went.  They should be out with the April Almanac.
    
    Jo

    The only thing I heard about INCATS was BEFORE the show. We were at a
    show in Lancaster, PA and they were handing out flyers telling everyone
    that CBS was going to be there, and acted is if you were a NOBODY if
    you didn't show! Then the show AFTER that, no one really wanted to talk
    about it. So, it doesn't sound really that great to me!
    
    Cheryl
    

    My husband and I attended this show.  I must say we didn't have a
    problem with it.  We enjoyed it and all the unique vendors that were
    there.  For the most part, it had no problems.  Believe me, I have been
    to other shows that have screwed up a lot more!  Yes, they did set a
    lot of guidlines, but some people NEED them.  It is gross when you go
    by someones cage and they have dirty Q-tips strewn about.  I certainly
    wouldn't want to touch one! Also, Some people should bath themselves as
    well as the cats!  As for the clothing, hey, what is comfortable is
    comfortable.  Just use common sense.  In a way I understand how some of
    you may feel about these production companies.  They are a business so
    of course they need an income.  And if club members get tired of
    running these gigs, then they can take over and do a fairly smash-up
    job.  Give Vicky Markstein a break, she has only just gotten back into
    CFA.  Politics and cheap talk will only get you into trouble...just
    keep smilin'!

    All,
    I received a flyer relative to INCATS running the Invitational this
    year.  I brought it up for discussion at our clubs meeting last nite
    and a couple of people were very against them saying "if you only knew
    what "they" did."  I guess I "don't know" what they are up to !  I rea
    d the info from some of the CFA clubs and have taken it into
    consideration.  I still feel that they are trying to run a business and
    if you don't want to buy their product you don't have to.  I do believe
    they should at least earmark some of the proceeds for Winn.  If no one
    does this show, then Winn still will not get any money.  I also feel
    that they should acknowledge CFA a little more openly.
    
    Bottom line for me is I am not sure I can find fault because they run
    things a little differently from others.  I also have a difficult time
    dealing with rumors: to the point that I won't believe them.  It is
    very hard to separate the truth from negative and ill thoughts.
    Gotta run to a class, talk later
    Karen

    I am not sure if Karen will see this, but I will throw in my two cents
    anyway (Karen, did you find another job??).
    
    First things first.  Purina has pulled out of the Purina Pro Plan/CFA
    Invitational show.  The show was to be held in November 93, just like
    it has been for the past several years.  The proceeds of this show are
    donated to the Robert H. Winn Foundation, and the funds allow the Winn
    Foundation to continue to fund the research into cat illnesses that we
    all benefit from as cat owners.
    
    Okay, in comes INCATS, which is a show producing entity, and it is a
    for profit corporation.  They proposed to the CFA board that they will
    produce the Invitational for CFA, and in exchange, they will keep the
    first $250,000 in profits.  Anything over that CFA can have to donate
    to the Winn Foundation.  
    
    The problem that I have with that is that there most likely will not be
    anything left over for the Winn Foundation.  In the last few years, the
    Invitational has not generated that much income for Winn.  Plus, being
    involved with the San Francisco Reveler's cat club and their show (one
    of CFA's largest shows), I know that Reveler's never comes close to
    $250,000 in profits.  
    
    So, if we let INCATS produce the Invitational, we will get an
    invitational, but it appears that the Winn Foundation will lose out. 
    The group in Atlanta that is fighting letting INCATS produce the show
    is writing their own proposal.  They plan to let the member clubs of
    CFA produce the show.  That way, the profits can go to Winn just like
    they always have.  My gut feeling is that this is what will be best for
    CFA.  I have attended some of the INCATS shows in the past, and I
    really do not like the atmosphere that they generate.  They do not
    seem to treat the exhibitors with any respect.  I would rather see CFA
    produce their own Invitational.  We have the resources, let's do it
    ourselves.
    
    Jo

    Jo,
    Thank you for describing this situation in a little more depth for me. 
    My thoughts now would be for CFA to discuss with INCATS some sort of
    proposal for Winn.  Renogiate the contract so that Winn will win!
    There is another company out there called Feline Productions which
    would
    probably be more than happy to push out INCATS, assuming of course that
    CFA clubs don't get their acts together and can do it themselves.
    Karen

    Got the word the other day that INCATS has withdrawn their proposal for
    underwriting the CFA Invitational show.  They were not able to come up
    with any sponsors.
    
    So, it looks like it is back in CFA's hands now.  :')
    
    Jo

    Yes it is true that they have withdrawn their offer.  Now who will do
    it??!!
    Karen
    ps. will you go to this?
    

    Our club received a letter in the mail from Don Williams yesterday
    saying that INCATS withdrew and that CFA will be allowing the group in
    Atlanta to submit a proposal.  It just said that the clubs would be
    notified as soon as a decision was made.  Sounds like we are going
    ahead with this on our own.  If that is the case, then I will do my
    best to support the effort.  It is for a good cause, dontcha think? :')
    
    Jo

    I think it is a good cause, but yo didn't answer my question.  If it is
    on the east coast, will you come out here?  Actually it depends where
    it will be held if I can attend.  New York City wasn't too too far for
    me.  Of course what you might save in hotel costs there could pay for a
    trip to Atlanta;")
    K

    I will do my best to attend. BUT, traveling to New York in the
    winter with a cat is not the easiest thing to do.  Especially the
    weekend before Thanksgiving.  I would prefer it if they continued to
    hold it in either St. Louis or Dallas/Ft. Worth.
    
    If they held it in the midwest would you go? :')
    
    Jo  

    Sorry, we couldn't afford it. :'(
    K