Regional Director's Email
July 23, 2009
Input Needed from ACFA North Central Region

Dr. Glen Newton Dr. Glen Newton,
North Central Regional Director

Fellow ACFA North Central Region Members:

As you are all aware, the Annual is fast approaching. I will be your voice at the meetings and I welcome input and ideas from all members. This is your opportunity to make sure your opinions and concerns are heard.

Please do not hesitate to contact me via email with any concerns, opinions or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Regional News section of the North Central web site includes a summary of topics that might come up at the Annual. (See https://acfanorthcentralregion.org/newletters/newsletters.htm.)

I’m particularly interested in your thoughts on one of the topics – the question of judges and exhibitors riding together to a show at which the judge is officiating. Here’s some background:

The rule that applies is in Article VII of the Show Rules:

Sec 9. Transportation of Entries.

Judges shall not transport, supervise the transportation of, or in any way have knowledge by any personal act, of the entries of any Exhibitor at any Show at which they officiate. A Show for purposes of this rule is interpreted as the rings in which the Judge officiates.

This rule literally says that judges may not transport a cat that will be shown in their ring. It has been interpreted to also prohibit a judge who rides to the show with an exhibitor from judging the cats in their ring. Should we continue this restriction?

What if the judge has not handled, loaded, or unloaded the cats, leaving all that to the exhibitor? Here’s a proposed change to the rule:

Sec 9. Transportation of Entries.

Judges shall not transport, supervise the transportation of, or in any way have knowledge by any personal act, of the entries of any Exhibitor at any Show at which they officiate. However, if the judge and an exhibitor share a ride to the Show, this rule does not apply, even if the judge supplies the vehicle or helps with the driving, as long as all loading and unloading of cats is done by the exhibitor. The judge and exhibitor are honor bound to not discuss the cats in the car, including identifying them. A Show for purposes of this rule is interpreted as the rings in which the Judge officiates.

Would this change affect the shows you attend? Would you be more or less likely to enter cats in shows if the rule was relaxed?

A few more things related to this proposal:

  • This year is NOT one at which the board would normally consider Show Rules changes. Unless a rule change is an emergency, it would not be voted on this year.
  • Section 12 of Article VII is somewhat related to this issue. However, just having the cat in the car does not mean that the judge is “caring for” the cats. Subsections [1], [2], and [3] define what “care” means, and they establish that just riding in the car is not caring for the cat.:

    Sec 12. Cats In the Judge's Care.

    a. Judges may not judge entries which they have bred. “Bred” for purposes of this rule is defined as: Judge was registered breeder of the entry.

    b. Judges may not judge entries which have been in their ownership or care within six [6] months prior to the opening day of the show at which they are officiating. They shall not judge cats which they are named as breeder/co-breeder. These cats MAY be presented in the Judge’s ring but are ineligible for any awards. These “Presentation Only” cats shall be counted as catalogue entries and the rings may be ‘counted’ toward the requirement for the regional and Inter-American awards. "Care" for the purposes of this rule is defined as:

    [1] Judge had personal possession of the cat and was responsible for its health, care and welfare for any period of twenty-four [24] hours or longer, but was not the registered breeder of the cat.

    [2] Judge acted as the agent of the cat at any licensed Show.

    [3] Judge had the cat in his possession for any period of time for breeding purposes.

  • Because ACFA is YOUR association, the ultimate decision about whether or not to make a change to this rule or any other Show Rule is up to a vote of the membership, if the board decides to go forward with the proposed change.

Sincerely,
Glen Newton
North Central Regional Director

Email me at glennewton@comcast.net or call me at 651-688-9504.