Maine Coon Cat Breed Council Protocol for Putting Proposals on the Breed Council Ballot

Proposals for the breed council ballot can arise in a number of ways.  The Board of Directors can propose a question to be included on the ballot.  A breed council member can propose a change to the standards.  Anyone else can suggest a change or ballot question be put on the breed council ballot.  Technically, it is up to the breed council secretary as to when and how a given question or proposal should be put on the ballot (unless mandated by the Board of Directors, at which time there is no choice).  I would like to propose using the following protocol:

Any proposed standards change is discussed at more than one of the semi-annual breed council meetings.  This is done for a couple of reasons.  There are often different mixes of breed council members at the various International shows and Annual meetings so that there is a wide range of opinions as part of the debate.  It gives the breed council time to absorb the proposed change and continue the discussion outside of the breed council meeting.  With the Maine Coon Breeds and Standards committee now in place, they will refine the wording and bring it back to the breed council to continue the discussion and to gain approval. 

In any case, proposals (especially breed standards changes) are not usually put on the ballot without ample time for everyone to get their opinions across, the wording to be well refined, and the item to be debated. 

Once we have a proposal ready for the ballot, and the Breed Council seems in favor, the proposal is submitted to the Breeds and Standards chairperson for review and suggested changes to the wording.  If the wording changes are fairly cosmetic, the proposal gets on the ballot; otherwise it goes back to the breed council to make sure the wording changes are acceptable.  This latter can be achieved at a single Breed Council meeting.

The ballot goes out for distribution at the end of November to all breed council members of record on August 01 of that year.  Breed standards changes that receive 60% of the votes cast are then reviewed and ratified or vetoed by the Board of Directors at their February Board meeting.  Any other proposal is advisory only!  The Board of Directors CANNOT change a breed standard without the change receiving 60% approval of the breed council members voting.

Although, the above may take some time, we have a large breed council and a very stable breed standard.  This assures that any standards changes are very well thought out and methodical. 

Respectfully submitted… Martha Auspitz