Maine Coon Breed Council Newsletter July 2005

With over 40 Maine Coon Breeds present from all regions and the International Division, the Breed Council meeting went off without a hitch.  We began our meeting with introductions followed by our Maine Coon Awards presentation.  The Awards Committee consisting of Joel and Camelle Chaney and Shannon and Jim Fisher, did a fabulous job.  Joel did an outstanding job, collecting all the photos.  Not one photo was missing from the top 10 Maine Coons in championship, kitten, and premiership divisions.  Shannon announced the awards and she was great!  My job was easy because all I had to do was present the awards.  This is the first time we have had a Maine Coon Award Booklet and it was a hit.  Thanks to Marianne Harris for all her help in directing Martha & Norman Auspitz and Joel and Camelle Chaney in the booklet’s printing and production.

Our treasurer, Betsy Gaither gave a report, which brought many smiles to our faces.  As of this writing, we have over $1,000 in our Maine Coon Breed Council account.  Thanks to Mary Sietsema for her help as Contributions Committee Chair and thanks to Betsy Gaiter for the maintaining our account.

Our Standards committee also deserves a pat on the back for a job well done.  The Chairman is Geree Martin, and the other members are:  Karl Bowman, Stephanie Boulter, Sue Blevins, Rose Spillman, and newly added Gail Frew.  Geree reported on the committees discussion and asked us all for our many ideas and concerns.  We are looking taking out the Bi-Colors from the Parti-Color class.  I have been asked by several Board Members to see if we can work on this and I think we will have a proposal ready for the ballot this year.  Please look for this.  I was also asked by the Breeds and Standards Chair on the Board to ratify the corrections the Board made to our standard at the beginning of this show season.  Look for this on the ballot.  What was fixed by the Board was:  including the patched with the Silver Tabby & White class, and including the van in the Red Tabby and & White class.  I think we all agree that this is where those colors would go and helped to avoid errors for the entry clerks as the season began.  Please support this.  I do not think we need to vote on this again.

While Nan Moses, a DVM, Health Committee Chair, could not be present, she sent a wonderful written report to the meeting.  It let to some good discussions.  Thanks, Nan.  Enclosed please find a copy of the report.

Also enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of my protocol for getting items on the Maine Coon Breed Council ballot. 

The topic from the floor was “should we try for Breed Divisions for the Maine Coons”.  We had a lengthy discussion of the pros and cons. When all said and done we agreed that even if we do attempt to do this in the future, we must get the colors classes correct first.

At our next, breed council meeting at the International Show in November, I would like a report form the Historical Committee and the Breed Booth Committee.  I hope many of you will be able to attend. 

Many thanks to Dennis and Trudie Allen for keeping the Maine Coon Breed Council list up and running.  And, many thanks to Karen Lawrence and Tylene Mackay for keeping up with the Maine Coon Breed Council Web Site.

Respectfully submitted,

Martha Auspitz
MCBC Sec.