The Cat Fanciers' Association

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. 

  • A breed council member can propose a change to the standard. 
  • The Board of Directors can propose a question to be included on the ballot. 
  • Anyone else can suggest a change or ballot question for the breed council ballot.
  • The BOD can also mandate a question appear on the ballot.

With the exception of a mandated question from the BOD, it is up to the breed council secretary as to when and how a given question or proposal is actually placed on the ballot. 

I would like to propose using the following protocol:

Any proposed change to the standard should be sent to the Breed Council Secretary in writing.

Proposed changes will be presented to the breed council membership on the CFA-MCBC email list. Changes will be discussed at the Annual Breed Council meeting held in conjunction with CFA's annual meeting.   In addition, discussion regarding proposed changes may be conducted at any show(s) where an MCBC meeting is held.

The purpose of these discussions is to allow breed council members time to absorb the proposed change(s).  Proposals (especially breed standard changes) are not usually put on the ballot without allowing ample time for everyone to get their opinions across, the wording to be well refined, and the item(s) to be debated. 

Once we have a proposal ready for the ballot, the proposal is submitted to the Breeds and Standards chairpersons for review.  The B&S chairs may suggest wording changes, if the changes are fairly cosmetic, the proposal is placed on the ballot. If the recommended changes from the B&S chairs are substanstive the proposal goes back to the breed council to make sure the wording changes are acceptable.  This can be achieved on the CFA-MCBC list.

The ballot goes out for distribution at the end of October 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, this assures that any standard changes are very well thought out and methodical.   

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