THE INTERNATIONAL CAT ASSOCIATION, INC. 2014 Winter Board Meeting January 24-26, 2014 Harlingen, TX
Open Session January 24, 2014, Friday, 9:00AM ACTION TIME PAGE Welcome and Call to Order 9:00-9:30AM 1. Roll Call Fisher Verbal...... - 2. Welcome Board Fisher Verbal...... - 3. Fiduciary Responsibility Adler Verbal ...... -
Consent Agenda 9:30-9:40AM 1. Minutes, Corrections/Additions EO Approve...... - 2. Follow Up Report EO Approve ...... 5
Governance 9:40-10:15AM 1. Future Annuals, Semi-Annuals Fisher Approve ...... 6 Change date of Spring Meeting of Spring Meeting to 5/23-25/14 2. Appointment to the HHP Breed Committee Hogan Approve ...... 7 3. Amend Governance Policy- Publishing Minutes of the Executive Session Meetings Board Approve...... 8 4. Online Entry Program Patton Discuss...... 11
Break – 10:15-10:30AM
Fiduciary 10:30 – 11:00AM 1. FY2012 Audit Report EO Accept ...... 12 2. Budget Report-First Six Months EO Accept ...... to be furnished 3. Set Winter Meeting BOD Board Approve...... - Reimbursements 4. Discount for use of TOES Stadter Approve ...... 27
Lunch: 11:30 - 1:00PM
Executive Session 1-5PM - Strategic Business Discussion and Exercise See Executive Agenda January 25, 2014, Saturday, 8:30AM ACTION TIME PAGE
Open Session: 8:30-11:30PM
PROPOSALS Judging Program 1. Amend 417.3 - Code of Ethics Lopez Approve ...... 29 2. Amend Judging Contract - Mileage Basquine Approve ...... 31
Standing Rules 1. Amend 204.3 - Show Fee van den Donations Bunder Approve ...... 33 2. Amend 209.4.3 - Height of Judging Tables Basquine Approve ...... 35 3. Amend 2013.1 - Permission to Judge ParkinsonApprove ...... 36
Break – 10:15-10:30AM Show Rules 1. Amend 22.4 - Publicizing of Shows Stadter Discussion...... 37 2. Show week vs Show weekend Rules Discussion...... 39
Lunch: 11:30 - 1:00PM
1:00-2:00PM Breed Committee Appointments 1. Turkish Angora Committee a. Machuka EO Approve...... 43 b. Vega EO Approve...... 44
Breeds 1. Burmese/Bombay Klamm Approve a. BU/BO Proposal ...... 45 b. Burmese/Bombay- Rules/Genetics Comments ...... 58 c. Response to Rules ...... 60 2. Turkish Van Tadajewski Approve a. Turkish Van Standard change ...... 62 b. Turkish Van-Rules/Genetics Comments ...... 63 3. Scottish Straight- a. Advancement to Championship Hogan Approve ...... 64 b. Standard ...... 67 c. Scottish Straight- Rules/Genetics Comments ...... 68 4. Highlander a. Request for Polydactyl Lively Approve ...... 69 b. Highlander Standard w/polydactyl ...... 70 c. Highlander Standard w/o polydactyl ...... 72 d. Highlander Standard Change-Rules/Genetics Comments ...... 74 SUPPLEMENTAL INFO
1. 2013-2014 Show Season Counts ...... 75 2. 2013-2014 Show Season Detail Report ...... 76 3. 2013-2014 Show Season Regional Detail Report ...... 79 4. Weekend Catalog List ...... 93 5. Active Regional Clubs ...... 96 No. ITEM LEAD STATUS
1 Program prefixes and genetics into Registration Program EO Pending Show Rule 22.2 Show Formats was sent back to Rules to put a ceiling on Rules W2014 2 number of entries a club can take. 3 Judge cannot judge 3 times in an Alternative format show . Rules 4 Definition of a show week. Rules W2014 5 22.3.1 The maximum number of entries a club may accept is limited as Rules W2014 follows: 22.3.1.1 Alternative Format - 125 entries. (See Show Rule 21.16.) 22.3.1.2 Back-to-Back Format - 250 entries. (See Show Rule 21.14.) 22.3.1.3 Split Format (2-day Show) - 500 250 entries per day. (See Show Rule 21.15 and Show Rule 216.4.) 6 Newby v Bliss tabled Adler W2014 Genetic tests for Hereditary Defects GCCF is proud of their leadership. Clearinghouse for testing from Leslie Lyons. Ellen will interface with Leslie 7 Lyons and act as a conduit. Crockett W2014 8 Audit report acceptance at the winter meeting. Fisher W2014 9 The President will look into investment opportunities. Fisher W2014 10 Policy statement for the Japan situation for review at the winter meeting Adler W2014 11 Draft for WCC for the President to take to the WCC March meeting Adler W2014 12 Amend Standing Rule 209.1.1.6.1 - strike out Official Entry Form. Rules W2014 13 Amend Standing Rule 209.2 to read:All entries must be on the official TICA Entry Form or an electronic equivalent that includes the same information and includes an agreement to abide by and uphold the Rules of this Association. Rules W2014 14 Pursue possible contract to update the rules of the association. Fisher W2014 15 Define show weekend to define the show week and look at others places within the rules that include the term show weekend Rules W2014 16 Program notice to clients when work is received and in process Hart W2014
5 12/10/13 Future Meetings
Year Meeting Club/EO City/State Date of Meeting 2014 Winter EO Harlingen, TX 01/24-26/2014 2014 Spring Electronic 05/23-25/2014* 2014 Annual NE Worcester, MA 08/27-29/2014 2015 Annual Blue Danube CC Salzburg, Austria 09/02-04/2015 2016 Annual SW San Diego, CA 08/31-09/02/2016
109.1 Annual Convention.
109.1.1 Annual Convention. Labor Day weekend each year is reserved for the Annual Convention. No other shows may be held the weekend of the Annual Convention with the following exception. A club may receive permission to hold a show on the Annual weekend upon application to the Board. Application must state specific reasons for the request for exemption and why such a show would have no impact on the Annual. 109.1.1.1 The rotation for the Annual Conventions shall be: Mid Pacific - 2010, Mid Atlantic - 2011, Great Lakes - 2012, Northwest -2013, Northeast - 2014, International - 2015, Southwest - 2016, South Central - 2008, Southeast - 2009. 109.1.1.2 Proposals to host the Annual Convention in the designated region must be received for the Annual Meeting 3 years prior to the proposed convention. 109.1.1.3 In the event no club submits an acceptable proposal, any club in any region may submit a proposal to host the Annual Convention by the agenda deadline for the Semi-Annual Meeting 2½ years prior to the convention and a notice soliciting such proposals shall be published in the TICA TREND. 109.1.1.4 The subsequent designated order of rotation will remain the same.
109.2 Meetings of the Board.
109.2.1 All Board Meetings shall be scheduled for a minimum of 2 days. 109.2.1.1 Meetings of the Board shall be the fourth full weekend in January (Winter Meeting, the third full weekend in May (Spring Meeting) and the week immediately preceding Labor Day weekend (TICA Annual). 109.2.1.2 The Winter Meeting shall be held in Harlingen TX without a show OR at a location outside the United States in conjunction with a show, approved by the Board. 109.2.1.3 The Spring Meeting shall be held in the United States, rotating from Central to West to East, with or without a show. The meeting venue must be at or near a major international airport at a hotel with adequate meeting space, full restaurant service and airport shuttle. 109.2.1.4 The Winter and Spring meeting locations shall be selected by the Board without consideration of accompanying show. 109.2.1.5 Minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be completed within 10 working days following the meeting.
6 Hi Ladies,
I’d like to add an item to the Winter BOD Meeting Agenda. I would like us to appoint Caroline Fralia, Beth Edwards and Hellen Pounds to the currently inactive HHP Breed Committee. They all understand that if appointed they will all bring their memberships current to through the end of this term, December 2014. They are also now interested in running for this position in next year’s election and would have before but were not sure how it all worked.
Just as a bit of explanation to you…there are 2 HHP Committees in TICA. One is the regular Breed Section/Committee and the second one is an appointed committee. It is the regular elected Breed Committee that is currently inactive and these three ladies are active in showing HHPs and want to serve on this committee.
Just so you can see the 2 Committees, here is the link to the Breed Committee http://www.tica.org/public/breeds/hh/committee.php and here is the appointed Committee http://www.tica.org/members/commitees/hhp.php
I gathered names from the RDs at the Annual but I thought that was for the appointed HHP Committee but I see now that is not missing any people. I would hate to start appointing people who don’t even know their name is up for service to an elected position on the Breed Committee so I am only asking for appointment for the 3 ladies who originally expressed an interest to me.
Confusing, I know! Hope I made this clear enough for you.
Many thanks,
Cheryl Hogan
7 Amend Board Governance Policy (Fisher)
Work Item Description:
Amend Board Governance Policy to clarify how votes for items in Executive Session are recorded to reflect concerns raised by some Board members. Votes on contracts and protests would be open to disclosure.
Rationale:
Disclosing votes for personnel matters and judging advancement is against decency and is a potential embarrassment to those involved.
Disclosing votes on matters under negotiation, especially anything of a legal nature, is potentially damaging.
Amendments:
Publishing Minutes of the Executive Session Meetings
of the TICA Board of Directors
Article Nine of the By-Laws provides that the Board of Directors may go into closed session if the matter under discussion concerns personnel matters, contract negotiations, is of such a nature that it may be embarrassing, derogatory or humiliating to a member or is of a sensitive business nature related to business strategy for the organization. The Article further makes public to the membership the results of all actions by the Board, other than those relating to pending contract negotiations or those relating to charges, complaints or protests which have been found to be groundless.
It is the policy of the Board that the minutes of its meetings are reported consistent with the By Law provisions and in a uniform manner. Therefore, the Board adopts the following guidelines for publishing minutes of its Executive Session meetings.
Reporting Executive Sessions
It is expected that the published minutes of the general board meeting record that the Board went into executive session, the purpose of the session, and the outcome of the discussion. For example, the general minutes of the meeting may record that, “the Board went into executive session to consider advancement and re-licensing of judges.”
The general minutes would then record the outcome of that consideration, including the name of the maker and second of the motion. For votes on any issues involving personnel matters or matters that may be embarrassing, derogatory or humiliating to a member, the outcome of voting on motions will be either noted as “carried” or “denied”. The same is true for votes involving contract negotiations. The use of “carried unanimously” shall be used only if requested by the Chair and agreed to by the Board.
8 For votes on issues involving approving contracts and taking action on protests, the individual votes of the Board Members will be recorded.
Exempt from reporting in the general minutes would be the outcome of charges, complaints or protests which were found to be groundless. In accordance with Standing Rule 109.2.7, the Board will maintain separate minutes of the executive session meeting, in the form of a confidential addendum, if discussions and actions are taken on matters prohibited from dissemination to Members under By Law 19.2.7.
Rules Comments:
(KV) I am for full disclosure of ALL votes. I think that every TICA-member has the right to know where each Board-Member stands - and the Board Members should be taken responsible from the members of their region for all their actions.
The only exception I would make would be the voting on judges (but I believe that those votes are still anonymous - am I right?). A "passed" vs. "denied" would be okay as it might be that the standing of a certain judge at shows might be less if members knew that there were some votes against. On the other hand - hey, that's a fact and we should be a really "open" association.
All discussions should be secret in the Executive Sessions, but not the votes.
(EC) I am SO opposed to changing the rules that we have had for so long which have served us well.
(AB) I agree with Ellen. Actually I don't have a problem with how it is now,
(TJ) Personally, I think matters of protest, complaints, judges stuff and personnel matters should always be held in executive session. There are privacy issues involved with those.
I would like to know how my RD votes on certain things but I don't really care about the discussion. Since the membership supports this association I do feel we need to know what's going on.
I would just like to know how people voted except in the above mentioned.
(SA) I agree but I think it would ease the job of the RDs if we could disclose some of the reasoning (rather than an RD being criticized for having voted a certain way and being unable to explain their position) I think 90% of the voting membership is capable of understanding differing points of view although the other 10% might be the most vocal.
(MW) On occasions, a Board member has asked to add a comment explaining why they voted the way that they did. I don't think anything has ever been written down about what protocol to follow for this but I think that it is prudent to restrict those comments to where the voting record is open.
As far as I can tell, there is nothing in TICA's rules that dictates that the voting results (i.e. how each Director voted) be made public. Roberts does suggest this but our By-laws state that "Meetings will be guided by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised". I take that to mean that TICA should use Roberts as a guide but not slavishly follow it.
9 So I think you the Governance Policy can be amended as suggested without necessarily having a By-law change.
When voting on complaints, having to be accountable for their individual vote may well focus the RDs' minds to think through the issues and vote accordingly.
10 OK Vickie
On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 5:13 PM, Laurie Patton
I would just like a little time set aside to talk about the TOES program
Thank you,
Laurie
I am sending from the iPhone please excuse my typos :)
On Nov 11, 2013, at 3:41 PM, "[email protected]"
Hi all. If you have anything for the January agenda, please let me know ASAP. If you have proposals which need to be reviewed by Rules please get them to Rules ASAP ASAP VICKIE
Sent from my iPad
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Erwin has asked that the Board consider: 1. May a discount be granted to clubs using TOES and not requiring supplies from the EO 2. What would be an appropriate level of discount
SUPPLIES AVG PER SHIPPED PER SHOW COST U.S. Shows Non U.S. Shows Regions SHOWS SHIPPING SHOW SUPPLIES TOTAL TOTAL % SHOWS % Cost % Cost
AA 39 2160 55.38 16 71.38 2784.00 16.74% 16.74 2784.00 GL 15 279 18.60 16 34.60 519.00 6.44% 6.44 519.00 MA 10 304 30.40 16 46.40 464.00 4.29% 4.29 464.00 MP 10 174 17.40 16 33.40 334.00 4.29% 4.29 334.00 NE 12 221 18.42 16 34.42 413.00 5.15% 5.15 413.00 EN 29 1683 58.03 16 74.03 2147.00 12.45% 12.45 2147 NW 13 424 32.62 16 48.62 632.00 5.58% 5.58 632.00 SA 13 620 47.69 16 63.69 828.00 5.58% 5.58 828 SC 19 302 15.89 16 31.89 606.00 9.87% 9.87 606.00 SE 23 408 17.74 16 33.74 776.00 9.87% 9.87 776.00 ES 24 1271 52.96 16 68.96 1655.00 10.30% 10.30 1655 SW 13 212 16.31 16 32.31 420.00 5.58% 5.58 420.00 EW 13 878 67.54 16 83.54 1086.00 5.58% 5.58 1086
233 8936 12664.00 101.72% 51.07 4164.00 50.65 8500.00
SHOWS/ SHEETS/SHOW PER THOUS 200AVG FINALS 50 44.5 1.75 BOOKS 200SHPW 71 14.2 15.95
27 Below is an overview of number of shows using TOES as their entry tool, per region. Obviously, since we are growing this may still change quite a bit. (new regions to start using it) For now 70% of the ‘TOES’ shows are non US. But I think it is save to say that could easily go to 50/50 in 2014
Best regards
Erwin
Jul Aug‐Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan‐Feb Mar Apr May‐Jun Aug Sept Oct Nov‐Dec % Non US1 46 93833 4 213573% US 2 4 5 1 1 2 2 2 27%
Grand Tota 1 610144935 6 4135
28 Judging Program 417.3 (Bright/Lopez)
Work Item Description: Define the meaning of “417.3 Participants in the Judging Program are representatives of TICA at all times, and shall conduct themselves as such” as it relates to TICA Judging participants and their activities with other associations.
Rationale:
Participants in the TICA Judging Program should be representatives and ambassadors for TICA. While representing TICA as a guest judge and showing cats in other associations is acceptable, it is questionable as to whether being an official of another association's club or conducting and promoting a show sanctioned by another association, is in the best interest of TICA.
Amendment:
Article Seventeen - Code of Ethics
417.3 Participants in the Judging Program are representatives of TICA at all times, and shall conduct themselves as such.
417.3.1 TICA Judges will not serve as a club officer in another cat association that completes with TICA in putting on shows.
417.3.2 TICA Judges will not be part of a show committee that puts on shows in a cat association other than TICA.
417.3.2.1 The exception to 417.3.2 is a show management role in a show that is coordinating shows from multiple organizations at the same time and in the same venue as long as a TICA show is included as one of the shows.
Rules Comments:
(CL) This proposal is not in conflict with our By-Laws or Show Rules.
TICA always has been very open with participants in the Judging Program showing in other cat associations, letting our judges to hold licenses with other associations and even not excluding these judges with multiple licenses to run for official positions. Our flexibility is a strength. However, it is not acceptable for TICA judges to run and promote clubs and shows for competing cat organizations, the only exception should be when a multiple show being held in the same venue and TICA is present with a show.
(EC) I think that this is aimed at two individuals in South America. We shouldn't be passing rules with someone's name on them.
(AB) While Ellen's comment is probably true I think it is indicative of a much wider problem where our TICA judges have conflicts of interests and those can be perceived as actively working against TICA. While I would not like to see us prevent all interchange with other
29 associations, I do think there comes a point when such conflicts, such as the situation this rule is trying to address, need to be resolved.
(TJ) There needs to be some degree of loyalty to an organization that issues you a license. Judges, for the most part, are the "face" of the organization and perception is everything. If people perceive that there is no loyalty and we are all holding different licenses, then the organization loses credibility.
(MW) I worry that this amendment focuses attention solely on show/club management in other associations – there are other behavioural aspects that Judges need to be aware of.
30 Judging Contract Amendment (Basquine)
Work Item Description:
Amend the mileage rate used in the TICA Judging Contract to use the official rate in the Judge’s country of residence.
Rationale:
There are significant rate differences between US and several other countries because of gas taxes, cost of labour etc.
Amendment:
“The Club will reimburse to the Judge the following, in the event the Club has not arranged to pay these expenses directly: ,,,,,, f. Mileage at the prevailing rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service regulations, or the official rate set forth by Government in the Country of residence of the judge.”
Rules Comments:
(AB) The problem with this amendment is that the judge may live in one country and incur expenses like gas in another country when driving to a show. The differences can be significant and could end up costing the judge money if their country has a lower mileage rate. Genevieve's comment is correct but the country of residence may have a lower rate than the countries traveled through. If we're going to set it as a variable rate, then I think it needs qualification in a couple of ways:
“or the official rate set forth by the Government in the country of residence of the judge or the official rate set forth by the government of the country of the show venue whichever is higher.”
(EC) Again, I think this will be a nightmare to administer - and conceivably would put judges who live in a high rate country at a disadvantage with the clubs.
(AB) I agree Ellen
(MW) Whilst I agree that fuel costs vary considerably across the world, to use more than one rate could be administratively complex. How would clubs be able to know what is the "correct" rate for a non-US judge?
(TJ) Personally, I think things would get really complicated if we have to start doing that.
(SA) I think the change would not be that difficult to administer as it would be used mostly in Europe. It really doesn't make sense to be using the term "Internal revenue service" when this only applies to American shows.
31 (TJ) The term IRS rate doesn't just apply to American shows...it's the rate all clubs worldwide pay. It's just the set rate. If European or Japanese clubs want to pay more, let them...this is the basic rate they have to pay.
(KV) As an European judge I think that the best way concerning the mileage rate would be as follows -
There should be an individual mileage rate for each country. BUT - I do not support Genevieve's proposal as her solution is linked to the place where the judge lives.
I would rather see the mileage rate linked to the number of kilometers/miles driven in each country.
Is this a bit complicated? Yes - but - as I still believe in mankind - I think that judges and club managers are intelligent enough to find out the mileage rate for each country. As in Europe some countries have lesser gas-prices then the judge could refill there!
32 Standing Rule 204.3 – Show Fee Donations (van den Bunder)
Work Item Description: Amend the Standing Rules regarding donations to the Regional Fund from show fees. Rationale:
Tthe goal of the regional fund is to support the region to carry all expenses (regional awards, expenses for regional director, ...)
Many clubs do not request their exhibitors to contribute to the regional fund, and therefore the region often finds itself in a position where not enough funds are available to support new clubs, to aid in TICA’s growth, to assure nice regional awards, even to cover international flights for the regional director (costs beyond the default amount paid by TICA).
Introducing a mandatory fee that is in the order of magnitude of $1 per exhibitor or per entry would completely resolve this problem. This is not a cost that would scare away exhibitors or negatively impact counts. It would however assure that all clubs aid in the growth of their region.
Additionally, if a situation would arise where the region has too much funds, it can always donate/sponsor to the clubs organizing the shows.
Amendment:
204.3
At the option of the Each club, for each entry, shall may include a nominal fee to help defray the cost of expenses of the Regional Director. Said fee, to be determined by the club, shall not exceed be a minimum of $1 per entry.
204.3.1 The club shall account for and remit such fees to the regional fund Rules Comments:
(MW) Personally, I am very much in sympathy with Erwin's proposal and rationale for the change.
However, when a similar change was discussed by the Board some time ago (I think it was in Japan at the Winter 2010 meeting) the then Legal Counsel advised the Board that it must continue to be discretionary and not a compulsory levy.
Her reasoning was that by making it a mandatory fee, TICA was controlling an element of the club's finances - thus reducing their independence from TICA - and thus increasing the risk that TICA would then become financially liable for any clubs' (i.e. plural clubs) deficits. That was not a risk that TICA should accept.
33 (SA) I am in agreement with Laurie (that it should remain discretionary) to the extent that the clubs operate in many different states and countries and it is impossible to know how each jurisdiction will interpret this.
(EC) While I see the logic of what Laurie advised at the time, be aware that CFA has a mandatory surcharge to their clubs right now.
I wonder if another way to do this might be for it to be a "regional fee" collected by the EO and remitted to the regions at the same time as the awards fee.
We charge clubs license fees and remit some of that back - so I'm not sure how this would be different.
(SA) We could probably get around that by making it an "EO fee" rather than a compulsory donation.
(CL) I agree with Susan. Maybe a fee for shows up to 50 / 100 / 200 / more entries.
This can impact in different ways according if we are talking a small show, regular or large.
(TJ) The only thing that concerns me about it and it really isn't my personal thoughts on it but TICA has always left clubs alone for the most part..i.e, never telling them what or how to run their business. I think something like "requiring" each club to submit a $1 per entry is going to encroach on control. But...I think if we are careful how the rule is worded and put into play it won't violate the spirit of TICA clubs...does that make sense? This is also going to require the cooperation of regional treasurers. They will have to hound the clubs for the money. If a dollar is added and that money belongs to the region then the club will need to send that money off the top.
(KV) I would not like to see the EO handle those fees. It is more work for the office. I think that the clubs should send the money to the Regional Treasurers - which is so easy nowadays...
I think that those regional fees are important to cover costs for the region and the RDs throughout the whole show-season (Meetings). As the rebate nowadays only can be used towards the Regional Awards Ellen's proposal would mean that the RDs would have to wait for their money quite a long time before getting reimbursed for their expenses (I am thinking e.g. of flight-tickets for overseas flights - TICA only reimburses USD 800,-)
34 Amend Standing Rule 209.4.3 (Height of Judging Tables) – Basquine
Work Item:
Amend Standing Rule to make the height of judging tables mandatory
Rationale:
To minimise back ache in judges whilst they are judging.
Each time I ask for raised tables on which my judging cages are placed, the club agree to do it, but I'm embarrassed with respect to other judges who have to deal with low tables.
Amendment:
209.4.3 Cages. Cages in judging rings must be placed on tables or other solid support. Collapsible trestles are not acceptable.
209.4.3.1 Whenever possible, the The tables on which the judging cages are placed shall have leg extenders to raise the height of the tables to between 34 and 38 inches (89 and 97 centimeters) from the floor.
Rules Comments:
(EC) I agree - we made it optional to allow for time for the clubs/cage services to make the required changes - now we need to make it mandatory
(TJ) My back is very grateful also. I felt it at our regional-;)
We just need to make sure that caging services and clubs know it's going to be enforced so everyone has adequate time to make necessary arrangements if the proper table legs aren't there.
(SA) For all practical purposes, there would have to be some way to give adequate notice of this rule. It has to reach the caging services.
(EC) The "whenever possible" has been in effect for at least 5-6 years - they are choosing to ignore it.
If we pass it, it would go into effect with the start of the new show year May 1.
(AB) I agree although I am wondering if we should say leg extenders as some clubs have tables with legs the appropriate length.
(EC) Or we say "shall have leg extenders to raise the height of the tables to between 34 and 38 inches (89-97 centimeters) from the floor, or have legs of the required length".
(AB) Yes Ellen I think that is a good way to phrase it -- we need to ensure it isn't too prescriptive. We need to ensure the intent not necessarily the implementation.
(BT) I think it should be submitted as Genevieve sent it to us...... with her rationale. The board can always send it back if they are not happy with the wording.
35 Amend Standing Rule 2013.1 (Parkinson)
Work Item Description:
Amend existing rule to permit TICA judges to guest judge a non-TICA show anywhere.
Rationale:
The rule as written is confusing and ambiguous. Furthermore, we don’t have reciprocal agreements with other associations in North America.
Amendment:
Amend the following Standing Rule:
2013.1 Permission to Judge. A TICA judge may judge any TICA show any place at any time. Only licensed TICA Allbreed judges may judge non-TICA shows outside North America.
Rules Comments:
(CL) Fine with me
(SL) Agreed !
(MA) I am going to be a devil’s advocate here and ask if new Prov AB judge should be taking on this type of assignment. I believe at one time these assignments were limited to only Approved AB due to experience.
(EC) I'd prefer Approved AB
(TJ) I thought at one time you had to be an Approved Allbreed judge. I don't have a problem with it being Approved Allbreed judges only.
(AB) I don't have a problem with Approved AB either.
(SA) OK with me
(CL) I think it would be best to let the Board discuss and decide, with MaryLou, whether the stricter proposal would be appropriate.
(KV) I think that our Prov AB Judges are already experienced enough to judge outside of TICA. So from my point of view there is absolutely no need to restrict this to Approved AB Judges.
(MW) Whilst the proposed rule change is formatted correctly, I also think that it might be sensible for the Board to restrict this to Approved AB judges only. Essentially, guest judging elsewhere is being an ambassador for TICA – not just having AB judging experience.
36 Amend 22.4 (Publicizing of Shows) (Stadter/Wood)
Work Item:
Revise Show Rule 22.4 so that all TICA licensed shows are publicized for at least 30 days prior to the show date on the TICA web site and any additional publicity channels selected by the club.
Rationale:
The intent of 22.4.1 is that there shouldn’t be any “secret” or “invitation only” shows. All potential exhibitors should have the opportunity to enter any show.
Applying for a show license is a transaction between the club and the Executive Office. If a show license is applied for too late, the Executive Office charges an extra fee according to show rule 202.4.4 (after the addition of rule below that would be 204.4.5). The exhibitors of a show must not be punished for a club not applying for the show license on time.
The suggested wording ensures that all potential exhibitors should be able to enter a show. If a club should fail to comply with the rule a complaint can be filed and the responsible persons can be punished.
Amendment:
22.4 Show Licenses. 22.4.1 A show shall not be held under the auspices of this association, nor shall the cats entered in that show be awarded any regional, international and/or title points, unless the show has been published issued a show license at least 30 days prior to the first date of the show on the approved show calendar of the Association. (see Standing Rule 202.4.3) 22.4.2 A show license must be applied for at least 60 days prior to the first date of the show. 22.4.23 A show license shall be issued upon the following requirements having been met: 22.4.32.1 A completed show application has been submitted, listing the total number of rings, type of rings (AB, SP, HHP and/or congress); 22.4.32.2 The club applying for the show license is in good standing; 22.4.32.3 The application is accompanied by the insurance fee, or that fee has been waived.
22.4.34 All fees must be paid to Executive Office at least 30 days prior to the opening day of the show unless other arrangements have been made in writing with the Executive Office. 22.4.45 Show licenses issued to clubs employing a show production company must be issued jointly to the club and the show production company.
If the rule is passed by the membership, the following Standing Rules Changes will also be made:
Add new rule 204.4.4 and renumber the rule following it to 204.4.5
202.4.4 The show must be publicized at least 30 days prior to the first date of the show in the show calendar on the official TICA web site. In addition to this, clubs are encouraged to use other available means to publicize their shows.
202.4.5 Late Show License Application. The Executive Office shall charge a $25 late Application for Show License Fee to any club that does not have the proper paperwork in the hands of the Executive Office staff 60 days prior to the show.
Rules Comments:
37 (BT) Fine with me
(EC) Me too
(TJ) Fine with me. I think it covers everything.
(SA) I agree. I would rather the tica.org calendar be mandatory.
38 Show Week vs Show Weekend (Board Directive)
Work Item Description;
From the Annual 2013 Board meeting: “A follow-up item was agreed, to ask the Rules Committee to look at what would be necessary to define a Show Week and update any rules that define Show Weekend”
Rules Comments:
The central issue is whether the Board’s intention is to determine the maximum number of times a cat can be judged in a given time period or to prevent a single judge seeing a single cat more than a certain number of times in a given period.
Without that clarity, it is not possible to provide amendments to define a “Show Week” and update the relevant rules. This is a non-trivial task as the following list of affected rules demonstrates.
The consensus of the Rules Committee was that a limit on how many times a cat could be judged in a time period would be an appropriate route for the Board to take. There were diverging views on whether to specify, in addition, a “rest period” for cats between any two shows.
Affected Rules:
By-laws: None
Associated Standing Rules:
109.1.1 Annual Convention. Labor Day weekend each year is reserved for the Annual Convention. No other shows may be held the weekend of the Annual Convention with the following exception. A club may receive permission to hold a show on the Annual weekend upon application to the Board. Application must state specific reasons for the request for exemption and why such a show would have no impact on the Annual.
109.2.1 All Board Meetings shall be scheduled for a minimum of 2 days.
109.2.1.1 Meetings of the Board shall be the fourth full weekend in January (Winter Meeting), the third full weekend in May (Spring Meeting) and the week immediately preceding Labor Day weekend (TICA Annual)
Registration Rules: None
39 Show Rules:
22.1.2 Show Dates. When a club desires a show date from the Regional Director, they may request that date in writing. After 30 days, there being no response from the Regional Director, the club may proceed with the show date, scheduling it through the Executive Office by providing the Executive Office with a copy of the written request.
22.1.2.1 The Regional Director may deny a club a specific show date if there is a previously scheduled TICA show within 500 miles (805 kilometers) or in the same region on the requested weekend.
22.1.2.2 If there are multiple show requests for the same show weekend, shows may be held within 500 miles (805 kilometers) of each other only with both A and B below:
A. Written permission from the show managers, and
B. Written permission of the regional director or regional directors if the show requests are from multiple regions.
The first club that requests a show date is authorized to have the show.
22.2.1 A back-to-back show is two or more shows, held on consecutive days. For scoring purposes, each day is considered a different show. With the following exceptions:
22.2.1.1 If May 1 is a Sunday in any given year, all shows on any day in that same weekend shall be scored in the show year ending April 30 of that year.
22.2.1.2 If May 1 is a Saturday in any given year, all shows on any day in that same weekend, including shows held on Friday, shall be scored in the show year beginning May 1 of that year.
29.3.4 In non-isolated areas a judge may not judge more than two Alternative Format shows on the same weekend, except in cases of emergency whereby a contracted judge has canceled and a new (i.e. different) judge cannot be contracted. (See 22.3.)
Associated Standing Rules:
202.2 Maximum number of times any single cat may be judged on any show weekend is twenty, regardless of format
40 202.2.1 One-Day Alternative Format shows may have up to five rings in the morning and five in the afternoon for a weekend maximum total of 10 rings including Congresses. A 1-day alternative format show with more than 8 rings may not be combined with any other format.
202.2.2 Two-Day Alternative Format shows may have up to four rings in the morning and four rings in the afternoon for a daily total of eight rings and a weekend total of sixteen rings including Congresses.
202.2.3 At Back-to-Back Shows or Split Format Shows any single cat may be judged not more than eight times per day, including any Congresses.
202.2.4 A club may choose to have different formats for each day of a show. (For example, a club may opt to have a one-day Alternative format show on Saturday with four rings in the morning and four rings in the afternoon and a one-dy show on Sunday with five rings.) The show format(s) must be clearly advertised in all promotional material.
202.3 The maximum number of times that a judge may judge a cat any single cat show weekend is s follows:
202.3.1 Two times in 1 day.
202.3.2 Three times in 2 days.
202.3.3 Four times in 3 days.
Judging Program:
44.2.2 During the training period, the trainee may:
44.2.2.1 Show a cat only through the use of an agent until all training sessions for the weekend are complete.
44.2.2.2 Write breed critiques and breed comparisons in the benching area of the show hall, NOT in proximity to the judging rings.
44.2.2.3 Be in the show hall prior to training or doing solos, but may not be in proximity to the judging rings EXCEPT during the training/solo sessions.
44.2.2.4 Have NO access to the show catalog until all training is complete for the weekend.
44.3.2.2 Training sessions are limited to two training sessions per show weekend, except when training overseas. When training overseas, three training sessions are allowed per show weekend. A "show weekend" is defined as 1-day, 2-day or 3-day shows. Only one training session is permitted per day, except when training overseas. When training overseas up to two training sessions per day are permitted not to exceed three sessions per weekend.
41
410.1.5 A judge may serve as a Guest Judge no more than two weekends per TICA show season except as stated in 410.1.6.1.
410.1.6 There shall be no more than two Guest Judges per show weekend or 50 percent of the rings whichever is less except as stated in 49.1.6.1.
417.9 A judge may judge a show 1-day in one location, and judge a different show at a different location on a subsequent day of the same weekend only if:
417.9.1 Both clubs agree in writing to this arrangement;
417.9.2 The judge can make travel arrangements that do not require him/her to leave the show hall during the advertised hours; and
417.9.3 Neither club is required to pay more than the lowest available round-trip air fare from the judge's home.
Judge Training Manual:
Training Sessions are limited to two training sessions per show weekend, except when training overseas. When training overseas, three training sessions are allowed per show weekend. A “show weekend” is defined as 1-day, 2-day or 3-day shows. Only one training session is permitted day, except when training overseas. When training overseas up to two training sessions per day are permitted not to exceed three sessions per weekend.
Page 60: Since these reports pertain to cats being shown the day of the show and it is time consuming for trainees to find the cats and owners, you might help out your trainee by letting the exhibitors know that a breed comparison has been assigned and the trainee will be looking for those cats later that day or weekend.
42 Good Afternoon,
I, Jesse Rafael Machuca, am requesting to be appointed to the Turkish Angora Breed Committee.
Attached is my letter requesting appointment, and I have reached out to my regional director, Kristine Alessio.
Please charge the $10 fee to the my accoun.
The billing address is 7834 Cypress AVE, Fontana, CA 92336.
Thank you.
Jesse Rafael Machuca
43 Good Evening,
I would like to request to be appointed to the TICA Turkish Angora breed Committee. Attached is my application for appointment, I am paid for my membership until 05/01/2015. Please consider my application and should I be missing anything, please notify me. Thank you‐ Julio Vega.
Please charge the $10 fee to my card
Julio Vega
Membership date is 6/1/2012
Doesn’t have a cattery
44 October 27, 2013
Dear Rules and Genetics Committee Members and TICA Board Members,
The Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee submits the following for your consideration:
PROPOSAL REQUEST
Allow the Burmese and Bombay breeds to introduce Permissible Outcrosses to our breeding programs.
RATIONALE
The TICA Burmese and Bombay Breed Section members are extremely concerned about the extremely low genetic diversity of both breeds, which has lead to increased health issues and reduced numbers. Data published in the journal Genomics in January 2008 demonstrated that Burmese, along with Singapuras and Sokokes, have the lowest genetic diversity of all cat breeds (Appendix A). Although Bombays were not included in this study, because of its smaller breeding population and dependence on Burmese for outcrosses, the Bombay breed is highly likely to have low genetic diversity as well.
Since the 2008 study, additional research has been conducted, which will be published in an upcoming paper by U.C. Davis’s (now with the University of Missouri) researcher Dr. Leslie A. Lyons and colleagues. The paper includes the following warning about the Burmese breed:
“ . . . Burmese (have) one of the highest levels of inbreeding and lowest levels of genetic variation. Burmese were established in the post-World War II breed bloom, and has been a moderately popular breed. However, concerns for two diseases, a craniofacial defect and hypokalemia, has limited migration of cats between countries and within the USA, and fractionation of the breeding pool by color preferences within the USA has also caused poor breeding dynamics. Thus, a reduction in observed heterozygosity due to the Wahlund-effect may be likely, resulting in an under-estimation of the already severely high inbreeding coefficients, which may be sending the Burmese into extinction. A breed management plan that balances diversity, health and breed type may need to be implemented to help the Burmese breed survive.” (Appendix B.)
To give you an idea of how severe the problem is, the following are the number of Burmese and Bombays that have been registered in TICA since its inception in 1979, compared to TICA’s three most popular breeds (Bengal, Maine Coon and Ragdoll) and total registrations. (Note: the Bengal was accepted as Registraion Only in 1983, advanced to New Breed status in 1986 and the advanced to Championship status in 1991, yet it is TICA’s most popular breed and, along with the Maine Coon and Ragdoll, one of the healthiest breeds. This is due to the outcrossings involved in creating the breeds. Appendix A.) The following figures are from the TICA Executive Office as of 10/24/13. They are not representative of the entire Bombay and Bombay gene pools available throughout the world, but they do show how small a gene pool there is compared to other breeds.
45 In addition, a recent health survey of Burmese breeders reviewed by Dr. Leslie Lyons and Dr. Susan Little, and reported to the CFA Burmese Breed Council in June 2010, shows a number of health problems affecting the breed. Low birth weight and stillborns reported by breeders are symptomatic of how inbreeding depression affects fertility. Other heritable diseases of concern for Burmese and Bombays, besides hypokalemia and the craniofacial defect (Appendix C), include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an increased incidence of the dry form of feline infectious peritonitis. (Appendix D.)
We believe that another outcross options are needed to strengthen the Burmese and Bombay breeds. After the 2008 genetic diversity study was released, Leslie Lyons recommended a plan of action for the breed at the 2008 CFA Burmese Breed Council annual meeting. That plan included actively sharing bloodlines (which is hampered by the separate gene pools), breeding to cats in other registries (some of which is already occurring on a small scale, however TICA and CFA traditional Burmese share many common breeding lines), outcrossing to other breeds (such as Tonkinese), and bringing in imports from Southeast Asia. The indigenous domestic cats of Southeast Asia have been shown, through another recent study by Dr. Lyons and the National Institute of Health (N.I.H.), to be unique in comparison to the cats from the rest of the world. Though the “mother” of the Burmese breed in the west may have come from Burma, the Burmese breed actually originated as a natural breed in Thailand about 700 years ago, along with the Korat, KhaoManee, and WichienMaat (Siamese). These breeds are described in the Tamra Maew (“Cat Poems”) of Thailand. In the Cat Poems, the Burmese is known as the Thong Daeng (Copper Cat) or Suphalak. In addition, an all black cat known as the Ninlarat (black jewel) is described. The Ninlarat developed alongside and interbred with the other Thai breeds as they still do today. Randomly breeding cats as well as cattery cats in Thailand are genetically unique – they are the same Thai race. Moreover, contrary to what you might expect, only a few Thong Daeng/Suphalaks have been used as outcrosses for the Burmese in the West, and have not been directly used for Bombays. They constitute a large gene pool that is unrelated to Burmese and Bombays in the West for most of the past 100 years.
Based on Dr. Lyons’ recommendations, the Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee created polls for the Burmese and Bombay breed sections to receive their feedback on what outcrosses they would like to use in each breed. The polls were sent to the respective breed sections by the Executive Office and the following are the items with YES results: BURMESE ( http://www.tica.org/members/elections/election_bu.php )
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 2 46 1. The results of the poll sent to the Burmese and Bombay breed sections may indicate wide differences of opinions regarding outcrosses. If that is the case, would you agree to dissolving the Burmese Breed Group and having the Burmese and Bombays as separate breeds? If the separation were to happen, this would entail re- writing the standards for one or both breeds to show a substantial difference between the two of them. It could also require changing one or both breeds from Category I to a more appropriate category. It may also require the appointment of new committee members to one or both breeds. If necessary, I would agree that the Burmese Breed Group should be dissolved. YES 2. The European Burmese (EBU) was going to be proposed as a NEW breed at the 2012 TICA Annual. However, the EBU breeders withdrew their proposal. In the event the EBU breeders decide they would like to resubmit their proposal and the Board approves the EBU as a new breed, this would have an impact on the diversity of our gene pool. Since Burmese imported from outside the U.S. are currently registered as BUs, BO breeders have full access to them for our breeding programs. Future imports from outside the US would be registered as BUs or EBUs, depending upon their owner’s desires. The ones registered as EBU would NOT be a permissible outcross. Those wishing to breed to these EBUs would have to wait four generations to show any progeny from a BO to EBU breeding. Also of note, CFA currently recognizes the EBU as a separate breed. Approval of the EBU as an outcross would include the CFA registered EBUs. Therefore, please respond to the following:
The European Burmese should be a permissible allowable outcross for the Burmese IF it is accepted as a separate breed from the Burmese in the future. YES 3. The Tonkinese breed was developed using the Burmese breed. Therefore, it shares common characteristics in both type and origin. Allowing the Burmese breed to outcross to the Tonkinese will increase our ability to restore the health and vigor of the Burmese breed with little to no impact on type. NOTE: CFA has already approved the Tonkinese as a permissible outcross for Burmese. By permitting Tonkinese as outcrosses we would have access to a larger gene pool from TICA and CFA breeders, as well as other associations. CONS: None known. Advise the use of sepias over minks and pointeds; however, the use of minks and pointeds is not precluded
Allow Tonkinese to be a permissible outcross for the Burmese. YES 4. Breeds from Thailand: Thong Daeng/Suphalaks These breeds constitute a large, healthy, and diverse source of outcrosses. A Suphalak, Mod Daeng, has already been registered as a 01T Burmese and has had several litters. Indications are that these are healthy and hearty kittens.
CON: Initial loss of type. May take a few generations to regain the look to which we are accustomed. Allow Thong Daeng/Suphalaks to be permissible outcrosses for the Burmese. YES
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 3 47 BOMBAY ( http://www.tica.org/members/elections/election_bo.php )
1. The results of the poll sent to the Burmese and Bombay breed sections may indicate wide differences of opinions regarding outcrosses. If that is the case, would you agree to dissolving the Burmese Breed Group and having the Burmese and Bombays as separate breeds? If the separation were to happen, this would entail re- writing the standards for one or both breeds to show a substantial difference between the two of them. It could also require changing one or both breeds from Category I to a more appropriate category. It may also require the appointment of new committee members to one or both breeds. If necessary, I would agree that the Burmese Breed Group should be dissolved. YES 2. The European Burmese (EBU) was going to be proposed as a NEW breed at the 2012 TICA Annual. However, the EBU breeders withdrew their proposal. In the event the EBU breeders decide they would like to resubmit their proposal and the Board approves the EBU as a new breed, this would have an impact on the diversity of our gene pool. Since Burmese imported from outside the U.S. are currently registered as BUs, BO breeders have full access to them for our breeding programs. Future imports from outside the US would be registered as BUs or EBUs, depending upon their owner’s desires. The ones registered as EBU would NOT be a permissible outcross. Those wishing to breed to these EBUs would have to wait four generations to show any progeny from a BO to EBU breeding. Also of note, CFA currently recognizes the EBU as a separate breed. Approval of the EBU as an outcross would include the CFA registered EBUs. Therefore, please respond to the following:
The European Burmese should be a permissible allowable outcross for the Bombay IF it is accepted as a separate breed from the Burmese in the future. YES 3. The Tonkinese breed was developed using the Burmese breed. Therefore, it shares common characteristics in both type and origin with the Bombay. Allowing the Bombay breed to outcross to Tonkinese will increase our ability to restore the health and vigor of the Bombay breed with little to no impact on type. NOTE: CFA has already approved the Tonkinese as a permissible outcross for Burmese. By permitting Tonkinese as outcrosses we would have access to a larger gene pool from TICA and CFA breeders, as well as other associations. CONS: None known. Advise the use of sepias over minks and pointeds; however, the use of minks and pointeds is not precluded
Allow Tonkinese to be a permissible outcross for the Bombay. YES 4. Breeds from Thailand: Thong Daeng/Suphalaks (Burmese) and Ninlarat (black cats) These breeds constitute a large, healthy, and diverse source of outcrosses. A Suphalak, Mod Daeng, has already been registered as an 01T Burmese and has had several litters. Indications are that these are healthy and hearty kittens.
CON: Initial loss of type. May take a few generations to regain the look to which we are accustomed. Allow Thong Daeng/Suphalaks and Ninlarat to be permissible outcrosses for the Bombay. YES
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 4 48 PROPOSAL
Burmese and Bombays are currently in Category I. Category I “is for established breeds which are approaching the present goals as set by their standards. These breeds have a sufficiently large available gene pool within the breed that outcrosses to other breeds (other than within a breed group) for improvement of type, increased stamina, addition of new colors, etc., are largely unnecessary. Likewise, the likelihood of finding cats of unregistered parentage which would significantly improve the breed is minimal.” Clearly, based on the studies that have been done, neither the Burmese nor the Bombay has a “sufficiently large available gene pool within the breed…” Therefore, the Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee requests a special dispensation to allow the following breeds to be Permissible Outcrosses for both the Burmese and the Bombay, while remaining in Category I, due to the very low genetic diversity within the breeds.
European Burmese (if split off from the Burmese) Tonkinese Indigenous domestic cats of Southeast Asian origin, such as the Thong Daeng/ Suphalak and Ninlarat (Bombay only), which were polled (wording slightly changed.)
Outcrossing to these breeds will give us the genetic diversity that we require. While some of them may take us a step back in type, the benefits to the gene pool far outweigh this possibility. We had email correspondence with Dr. Lyons on March 6, 2013 (Appendix E), and she concurred that these outcrosses would be beneficial and appropriate.
We realize that outcrosses to these breeds or any other breeds can be done at any time, but the progeny of such outcrosses cannot be shown until the 4th generation. In order to maintain a viable breeding program, breeders would have to maintain a relatively large number of cats. Given today’s anti-breeder atmosphere and the newly announced USDA/APHIS regulations, most breeders who want to improve the genetic diversity of the breeds will be reluctant to maintain such a large group of cats. By allowing the requested breeds to be Permissible Outcrosses, the progeny could be shown, if of show quality, which would encourage MORE breeders to work with outcrosses.
The permissible outcrosses will not be permanent, but will be removed when studies determine that the genetic diversity of both breeds has improved sufficiently that these breeds are no longer in danger.
Respectfully submitted,
Denise Hall, Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee Chair Vindouro Burmese & Bombays
Wendy Klamm, Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee Member Katsnklamms Bombays & Burmese
Helena Wiklundh, Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee Member TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 5 49 Securitazz Cattery
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 6 50 APPENDIX A
Genomics Volume 91, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 12-21
The ascent of cat breeds: Genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations
Monika J. Lipinskia, Lutz Froenickea, Kathleen C. Baysaca, Nicholas C. Billingsa, Christian M. Leuteneggerb, Alon M. Levyc, Maria Longerid, Tirri Niinie, Haydar Ozpinarf, Margaret R. Slaterg, Niels C. Pedersenb and Leslie A. Lyonsa,
a Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA, b Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA, c Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, d Istituto di Zootecnica, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, e Oy Triniini Company, P.O. Box 36, FIN- 00501 Helsinki, Finland, f Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Yeditepe, 34755 Kayisdagi-Istanbul, Turkey, g Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
Page 18:
“The Burmese and Singapura breeds have the lowest heterozygosity and the highest FIS of any breed, reflecting the most intense inbreeding (See Figure 4 on the next page). The newest CFA breed, the Siberian, had the highest variation, comparable to random-bred populations. This indicates that it was derived from a broad foundation stock. The Sphynx, which is a derivative of the Devon Rex breed, also had high genetic diversity. Given these results, Burmese and Singapura breeders should be concerned about genetic diversity, while Siberian breeders should be encouraged to retain existing diversity as their breed becomes more established. Similar to the conservation efforts in captive exotic felid populations, genetic analyses, breed histories, and population dynamics could be used to develop breed management or survival programs to maintain genetic variation within the breed gene pool for an extended period of time. “
The complete article “The ascent of cat breeds: Genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations” can be found at the following link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WG1-4R8KT3B- 3&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_ori gin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersi on=0&_userid=10&md5=a59e5b29f36e29e86f23373b3236166b&searchtype=a
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 7 51 Figure 4 from “The ascent of cat breeds: Genetic evaluations of breeds and worldwide random-bred populations.”
Caption for the figure:
“Relative genetic health of domestic cat breeds.
“A variety of genetic markers and population statistics are used to measure a population’s genetic diversity. Short tandem repeat markers (STRs – microsatellites) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to calculate the genetic variation of cat breeds, measured as heterozygosity and inbreeding Wright’s coefficients
(FIS). Presented are the heterozygosity values and inbreeding coefficients based on STRs for the breeds. Additional statistics were also calculated, including the SNP-based heterozygosity and inbreeding coefficients and the effective number of alleles for each type of genetic marker. The relative rank for each measure was determined for each breed and then averaged to determine an “overall genetic health”. The overall genetic health is represented from poor health on the left to good health on the right.”
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 8 52 APPENDIX B
From a scientific paper on feline genetic diversity to be published, the following extract was provided by Leslie A. Lyons in December 2010:
“The selected 29 breeds were expected to represent the major breeds of the cat fancy, from which, many other breeds have been derived. Significant genetic variation is present in many cat breeds. The Turkish Angora, a breed from the Eastern Mediterranean, which is likely the seat of cat domestication, had the highest effective number of alleles for both SNPs and STRs. A smooth continuum of increasing heterozygosity and decreasing inbreeding, whether SNP- or STR-based, is found between the least variable and most variable domesticated cat breeds. Two of the more popular breeds of the USA and the world are Persians and Bengals. Persians were one of the first breeds to be recognized and Bengals have been introduced in the past 40 years. Both breeds had moderate levels of heterozygosity and inbreeding. Several unpopular breeds, such as Chartreux and Cornish Rex, had fairly high levels of variation and low inbreeding. Thus, levels of variation and inbreeding cannot be predicted based on breed popularity and breed age, implying management by the cat breeders may be the most significant dynamic for breed genetic population health. Interesting, the Burmese had one of the highest levels of inbreeding and lowest levels of genetic variation. Burmese were established in the post-World War II breed bloom, and has been a moderately popular breed. However, concerns for two diseases, a craniofacial defect and hypokalemia, has limited migration of cats between countries and within the USA, and fractionation of the breeding pool by color preferences within the USA has also caused poor breeding dynamics. Thus, a reduction in observed heterozygosity due to the Wahlund-effect may be likely, resulting in an under-estimation of the already severely high inbreeding coefficients, which may be sending the Burmese into extinction. A breed management plan that balances diversity, health and breed type may need to be implemented to help the Burmese breed survive.”
Leslie A. Lyons, PhD, Professor University of Missouri* Veterinary Medicine & Surgery E109 Vet Med Bldg Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-9777 Email: [email protected]
*Dr.Lyons moved from UC Davis to the University of Missouri in July, 2013.
Video of CFA/National Alliance of Burmese Breeders, Burmese BC Meeting 6-30-2012, where Dr. Leslie Lyons and Dr. Barbara Gandolfi discuss the discovery of the Burmese cranial-facial head defect gene and discusses the state of the Burmese.
Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXo1PJX5fr4 Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quTAeZf_e-4 Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pbWr25eGEc Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXzNHuSzjck Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD6fu2KBeso Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHFGqz6N68 Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNK1aAZbK4w Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTtzbjBw80
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 9 53 APPENDIX C
The Craniofacial Mutation – “Burmese Head Defect”
The most burdensome of the genetic diseases faced by the Burmese breed is the craniofacial mutation or “Burmese Head Defect.” Research has shown that an average 25% of offspring of carriers of this lethal gene are born without eyes, with two sets of whisker pads, and sometimes with exposed brains. Though often born alive, the deformities produced by this gene are not compatible with life and kittens must be humanely euthanized. In the surviving offspring of carriers, the craniofacial gene itself produces an identifiable “contemporary” phenotype that is expressed in a much rounder skull, shortened muzzle, and sometimes a brow ridge.
This craniofacial gene has created significant controversy in the Burmese breeding community, and has resulted in a separation of “contemporary” (HD+ or head defect carrier) and “traditional” (HD- or non-carrier) Burmese gene pools. The breeders in these two camps are bitterly opposed to working with each other. This is not just a difference of opinion about head and body type. Much of the controversy and polarization in the breed community derives from how and why the defect persists and how to eliminate it from the breed. Traditional breeders feel it is unethical to continue these carrier lines which produce deformed kittens, while contemporary breeders defend their right to continue to breed the “contemporary look” they prefer. Traditional breeders use careful pedigree management to avoid breeding carriers, though a few traditional lines have been discovered to have carrier cats behind them. A recessive mutation that causes a congenital craniofacial defect in Burmese cats has recently been discovered by the Lyons Feline Genetics Research Laboratory at UC Davis.The mutation affects function of a gene significant for facial development.
The Burmese head defect first began to appear in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Since that time it has not only continued to proliferate in the United States but has spread to many other countries, including France, Germany, Russia, and Japan. The defect has also spread to other breeds, including the American Shorthair and the Bombay. The Bombay breed is believed, at least in the United States, to be dominated by head defect carrier contemporary cats. Pedigree research and analysis of show season archives from both TICA and CFA indicate contemporary Burmese and Bombays continue to be shown in both registries, with CFA having a higher percentage of contemporaries shown than traditionals.
NOTE: UC Davis offers the DNA test for Burmese Head Defect to assist owners and breeders in identifying affected and carrier cats. The tests are done with DNA collected from buccal swabs thus avoiding invasive blood collection. Breeders can use these tests as a tool to avoid breeding carriers together which would produce 25% affected offspring.
Summary of current research and link to articles on the Burmese craniofacial mutation:
Website for the Healthy Bombay Alliance, a group of European Bombay breeders concerned about the craniofacial mutation in European Bombay lines: http://www.bombaycats.info/
Website for UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/cat/CatGM2.php
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 10 54 APPENDIX D
Statement from Dr. Niels Pedersen on Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in Burmese
“FIP is a serious problem among young pure breed cats. Although FIP occurs in all breeds to some extent, there are several breeds, as well as bloodlines within breeds, that suffer disproportionately. The Burmese breed is one breed that we have identified as having a serious FIP problem, not only in the United States but in Europe. In Denmark, for example, we are seeing a significant incidence of FIP in Birmans and Burmese.
“We know from heritability studies in one breed that 50% of the incidence of FIP can be explained by genetic factors. Genetic factors appear to be involved because certain matings and certain bloodlines suffer much greater FIP losses than others. Therefore, we are currently working towards identifying these genetic factors with a goal of preventing a significant portion of FIP losses by proper mate selection. The Burmese breed is ideal for genetic studies because the registry is relatively small and individuals in the breed are quite inbred. These factors make such genetic susceptibility research easier to conduct.
“The recognition by some Burmese breeders that the breed is becoming highly inbred is noteworthy, and the movement to increase genetic diversity within the breed by introducing new bloodlines from cats native to Thailand is laudatory. Such introductions must also be carefully monitored to assure that they will have the desired effects.”
For additional information about feline infectious peritonitis in Burmese, please contact:
Niels C. Pedersen, DVM, PhD Professor Director - Center for Companion Animal Health Director - Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology 2108 Tupper Hall University of California One Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616
Phone: 530-752-1363 Fax: 530-752-0414
E-mail: [email protected]
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 11 55 APPENDIX E
Subject: RE: Breed Management Plan Received: 06-Mar-13 10:01:57 PM From: "Leslie A. Lyons"
Howdy - answers worked in below. Let me know what you think.
Attached is the newest paper on breeds.
Best regards,
Leslie
4206 VetMed 3A Office: (530) 754-5546 Population Health & Reproduction (PHR) School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) One Shields Avenue University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
E-mail: [email protected] Fax: (530) 752-4278 Lab e-mail: [email protected] Lab: (530) 754-2287 (4-CATS) http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/Catgenetics/
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 3:28 PM To: Lyons, Leslie Cc: Hall, Denise; Wiklundh, Helena Subject: Breed Management Plan
Dear Dr. Lyons,
I am aware that you are planning to move to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in the very near future and this pending move…
(LL) Yes - moving in July has probably made your life even more chaotic than usual, but I'm wondering if the Burmese Breed Management Plan has been written up yet. It would be most helpful.
(LL) No - because I am having some problems getting the information on population size, number of active breeders, number of breeding cats....We need this information to do some simulations to make an effective plan!
The USA and Foreign Burmese still represent one of the most genetically depressed populations we have examined. So, we still are promoting a very active breed management plan - but getting cooperation has been hard.
We have also noticed that over 1200 cats have been tested for hypokalemia, so the non-USA breeders are being very pro-active with their testing. We are not seeing similar enthusiasm for testing in the USA for the head defect.
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 12 56 I am on the TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee and we are preparing a poll to submit to our membership for their input on possible outcrosses. The results will be submitted to the TICA Board. We're trying to think "outside the box" and have come up with the following to propose to the breed sections:
BURMESE permissible outcrosses: Tonkinese (CFA already approved) and Thong Daeng/Suphalaks.
(LL) I had to look up these breed names - but good!
Note: "European" Burmese are not included since TICA registers all Burmese imports from outside the U.S. as Burmese. Also, sepia-colored Bombays are registered and shown as Burmese variants.
(LL) Good for you guys!
BOMBAY permissible outcrosses: 1) Reinstate the American SH as it was used to create the Bombay (CFA still allows it as an outcross), 2) Cats from Thailand: Thong Daeng/Suphalaks and Ninlarat(?), 3) Mandalay (Australia & New Zealand)/Asian (England), 4) British SH, 5) European SH, and 6) Tonkinese.
(LL) Here you are now mixing western cats with eastern cats. ASH, BSH I suggest to stay out of the mix. These cats are being used to get the head type I would suppose - which is likely due to different genes than the rest of the Burmese head type. Not counting the head defect-associated type.
Needless to say, there are "cons" to using most of these breeds, but genetic testing for inherent diseases prior to introducing them into breeding programs will be recommended.
(LL) Exactly - genetic testing will alleviate most of your historical concerns with undesired colors and fur types.
Using the British SH will affect coat, but the Bombay in Australia and New Zealand was developed using them and the plush coat was bred out.
(LL) I would still keep away due to HCM and PKD. The head type looks similar - but likely due to different genes all together (new research we are working on).
Before proceeding any further, I would appreciate your input regarding the outcrosses we are considering proposing. Are we on the right track? Have we lost our minds? Also, if there is a Breed Management Plan available for the Burmese (and Bombay) we would GREATLY appreciate a copy of it.
(LL) Would love to write a plan - I need Burmese breeds in the USA to at least play as one team - I don't think I am making progress!
Best regards,
Wendy Klamm TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Committee TICA Approved Allbreed Judge Katsnklamms Bombays & Burmese
TICA Burmese/Bombay Breed Group Proposal, October 27, 2013 Page 13 57 BU/BO Application – Comments from Rules & Genetics
(CL) I think the proposal is in conflict with the registration rules. Category I is supposed to be for breeds with a sufficiently large available gene pool within the breed and outcrossing is not necessary. If the BO/BU group needs outcrossing they might considered to split the 2 breeds and move the BU to category II and the BO to category IV. I also think the propose of category II should be revised. At this point we have no longer natural breeds or very few. We might better talk about some geographical areas in the world with good representatives of a particular breed in term of quantity and genetic diversity. However this action doesn't solve the problem. Natural breeds can't be outcrosses to others breeds/breed group within the 3 generation pedigree. Cats of unknown ancestry are permitted for exhibition/registration (foundation) only if they can proof an acceptable origin for the particular breed. don't see BU breeders trying to use cats with unknown ancestry. They want to use pedigree cats to improve their limited genetic pool. I neither see a solution for the BO in category IV. The BO was developed crossing BU and black AS, but no one is longer using a AS ... I know in Australia they have used some black BS to develop the local version of the breed. However category IV doesn't allow unknown cats within the 3 generation pedigree, only cats from the paternal breed. Thisroposal is not addressing the current problem with registrations about American BU and European BU. BU/BO issue is only showing that we need to revue the purpose of the current categories. (TJ) In speaking to Wendy, they don't have a problem moving the cats to a different category. I think moving the breeds to different categories is a good thing right now until the rules can be addressed to change other things. (MW) I’m uncomfortable with the concept of a Cat I breed that has allowable outcrosses. I think it's a dangerous precedent to set. TICA might as well re-define the whole concept of breed categories - and I don't think that is sensible at this point in time. Could they not go to a less restrictive category with the intention that the breeds could eventually move back to Cat I if appropriate? That would allow them to show the early generations in Championship. For example, Burmese to Category II and Bombay to Category IV. As regards splitting the breed group into two separate breeds, there is no precedent for this and as far as I can tell no rules addressing the situation. My recommendation would be for the Board to vote on it, based upon the wishes of the breed section (which has been determined by the recent poll). As things stand, the BU/BO breed group is in clear contravention of Registration Rules 31.4.
In addition, the Board might consider if the SBP approach (used with moving Siamese into Thai) might help with widening the gene pool (e.g. sepia Bombay kittens could be moved across to Burmese).
(EC) Category II is not appropriate for the Bombay - they are a hybrid breed and if moved should be in cat IV. In CFA, they have approved just that with street cats imported from Thailand - I've had inquiries as to why the progeny of those cats that are "legal in CFA are not showable in TICA.
(AB) Look at Category 2 -- half the breeds in there don't follow the rules for the category. They simply have an asterisk noting the exception. The Burmese situation is very very different because of the head defect. Disease has given these cats a need outside Category 1 rules -- they could transfer to a different category but we do have the precedent in Category 2 of allowing an exception so we could follow that route -- although I think it should include a review date say every 5 years because at some point it should revert back to the rules of Category 1. (And by the way we should be doing that with the Category 2 breeds that are exceptions.)
58 (AB) As for splitting the BU/BO, I agree with that desire -- the 2 breeds do have structural differences when you read the standard. Other breed groups have the same structure but differ in color/pattern and/or hairlength. Just because we haven't done it before doesn't mean we shouldn't do it however we do need to consider it carefully and ensure we document carefully whatever decision is made and the basis for it because whatever we do here sets a precedent and potentially opens the door to other requests.
(PS) I do not think there is an option to add permissible outcrosses and stay in Category I. If they stay in Category I they can use the outcrosses they want realizing that they are nonpermissible, but this will be a moot point by the time they breed back to SBT. Alternatively, they can split the breed group with BU going to Category II and using ‘unknowns’ and BO going to Category IV and defining their permissible outcrosses/source breeds. With the second option they don’t have to breed back to SBT before they are allowed to show the progeny of the outcrosses.
(SA) I agree with Carlos
Genetics Committee Responses
(HR) Without getting into personal opinions about the samples taken for past studies,
59 RESPONSE TO THE RULES AND GENETICS COMMITTEES AND A NOTE TO THE BOARD FROM THE BURMESE/BOMBAY BREED COMMITTEE
First of all, we want to thank all of you for your responses to our proposal. You have pretty much echoed the concerns and confusion we have been experiencing about the best route to take, which is why it took so long for us to prepare the proposal. The reason we wrote it as we did was to try to maintain as much as possible of the integrity of the Groups and Categories that TICA has established. Many of you were not in TICA when the Groups were created, so if you don’t mind, I’ll give a brief history of when/ how they were formed and how they affected the BU and BO breeds.
Back when TICA was born, all the breeds were separate. In either 1983 or 1984, the Board decided to put “like” breeds together into groups. This worked well for the PE/HI/ES, SI/BA/OS/OL, etc. because they only differed by color and/or hair length. The BU and BO grouping was a different matter. The BO was structurally different from the BU, and BO breeders specifically wanted to maintain that difference. However, the wishes/ opinions of the members of the two breeds were not polled and we were notified after they had been grouped together. To be honest, we were all quite upset, especially the BO breeders when we were told we could no longer outcross to the AS, which was still being done at that time. This removed a very important part of our gene pool. The only temporary benefit that really came of the grouping was the fact that the sepia BOs could be registered and shown as AOV BU, which was later changed to SBV BU. This initially helped the BU with adding to their gene pool, but the gene pool is now stagnant.
Fast forward to 2002. The BU/BO Breed Committee, being already very concerned regarding the reduced gene pool, put forth a proposal to dissolve the breed group and to reinstate the AS as a permissible outcross for the BO. Both breed sections were polled. One hundred percent of the BU breeders were in favor of the split and all BO breeders, except seven in France, were also in favor. The Board elected to keep the Breed Group as it was. Matters have now become critical for BOTH breeds due to the craniofacial defect, hypokalemia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an increased incidence of the dry form of feline infectious peritonitis, all have which have had a negative impact on the genetic diversity of both breeds.
I honestly can’t remember when the Categories were created, but they made sense at the time and have worked well. However, there are issues that exist now that weren’t apparent, weren’t as serious or did not exist when they were developed. I know our proposal does not fit into what currently exists for Category I, but we wrote it this way to try to keep the Breed Group as per the Board’s wishes in 2002. The request for a special dispensation for permissible outcrosses would keep the Breed Group, thus still allowing the sepia BOs to be registered and shown as SBV BUs, as well as providing us with the ability to enhance our genetic diversity with previously unused outcrosses.
60 At this time, the splitting of the Breed Group is not really our desire, but it may be necessary if our proposal is not accepted as is. However, if the Breed Group is dissolved by putting BUs in Category II and BOs in Category IV, unless permission is given, sepia BOs could no longer be registered and shown as BUs, which would be detrimental to the BU breed. Additionally, while BUs could outcross to Unknowns, and by this I’m assuming that would include "cats of Thai origin" (wording Heather Roberts suggested) or “indigenous domestic cats of Southeast Asian origin” (our suggestion to reduce confusion with the Thai breed), BOs still could not breed to them and have the progeny shown prior to the 4th generation because Category IV does not allow Unknowns. (We do have a question…are or aren’t the progeny of “Foundation” BUs from Southeast Asia, such as Mod Daeng, showable? This is not clear to us.) By splitting the Breed Group, this would also not address the desire of both breeds to use TOs in their breeding programs. (If the TO is approved as a permissible outcross, we agree with Heather Roberts’ recommendation that the progeny of TO/BU breedings be required to be color tested so only cb/cb kittens are registered as BUs.)
Clearly, the way things stand right now with the Groups and Categories, there is no perfect solution to the BU/BO genetic diversity dilemma. Our hopes are that our proposal will be met with open minds and the realization that some flexibility will be very beneficial to both breeds, as well as other breeds in the future. Should the Board decide to accept our proposal, the BU/BO Breed Sections would be agreeable to as specific period of time, possibly 5 or 7 years, to accomplish the desired outcrosses, then close the books on them. If it is apparent that additional time for outcrossing is needed, then an extension could be requested.
The BU/BO Breed Committee appreciates your taking the time to read our response and taking our comments in further consideration for our proposal.
Best regards,
Denise Hall, Breed Committee Chair Wendy Klamm, Breed Committee Member Helena Wiklundh, Breed Committee Member
BU/BO ResponsePage 2
61
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