Great Lakes Regional Meeting

Niles, Ohio

October 8, 2005

 

Loretta Baugh convened the meeting during the lunch break at the Regional Fundraiser. 

 

On a laptop, Loretta displayed the main Region IV webpage and commented on the terrific job Elizabeth Rymph was doing updating the website.  If you haven’t been on the website it is at www.cfagreatlakes.org/.  

 

Award Show and Banquet Surveys

Jerry Kithcart highlighted the results of the individual survey responses.  The complete results are attached to the minutes.  Jerry received input from about 40 individuals.  This produced about 10 pages of comments, which will be provided to the volunteers putting on the 2005-2006 awards show. 

Joel Chaney provided the results of the club survey on the Award Show and Banquet.  We received responses form only 21 of the 72 Region IV clubs.  The complete survey results are attached to the minutes.  The most pressing issue that the Survey surfaced was that the clubs wanted the award show to be a 8 ring – 2 day show with 6 All Breed rings. 

Norman Auspitz asked about updating the Regional Guidelines for the Award show and banquet based on the survey results.  Loretta indicated that the current guidelines were written for clubs to host the award show weekend.  Martha Auspitz has updated the guidelines for awards program.  We need additional revisions to reflect that a committee can put on the show and banquet.  The guidelines will also be revised based on the survey results and then sent out to the Region IV clubs for a vote.  In the meantime Jerry will send out the results to the committee putting on the show and banquet in 2006.

 

2006 Award Show and Banquet

Jerry Hamza located a fantastic showhall and banquet facility in Canton, Ohio.  The banquet facility is large enough for a wedding party of 600.  The city is very interested in having a cat show return.  Canton is offering a rebate for us to come in 2006 and will increase the refund in future years.  Hotels are offering discount rates for exhibitors.  Loretta and Jerry met with the facility and signed a contract of the 2^nd weekend in June 2006.  The facility is not available on the 1^st weekend in June because it is reserve for a graduation ceremony.  Jerry and Hope Gonanno are working on catering for the banquet (taste testing and taking bids).  There are a number of caters interested in the banquet.  

Loretta announced that she has appointed Ron Pastor and Teresa Signore as show managers for the 2006 award show.  Sharon Powell and Marianne Toth have agreed to coordinate volunteers for the show and banquet.  Wilma will handle the awards.   Sharon said that we need volunteers for the weekend (set up on Friday, tear down on Sunday, and everything in between.  Email Marianne or Sharon and they will be sure you get on the correct committee.

Eve Russell reported that we will have refrigeration available for the Potluck lunch this year.  She ask that everyone bring a serving bowl/plate for the food they bring.  Eve also suggested that if we want the award banquet to be a glitzy affair it should be announced as Black Tie optional. 

Loretta indicated that the current guidelines call for a 6 ring show.  We will try to get the revised guidelines out for a vote (implementing 2 day-8 ring show).  The format will depend on whether we can get the guidelines voted on and whether we have funds to do a 8 ring show.  The  results of the judges preference vote for the 2006 Award show:

 

            Region 4 Judges                                   Out of Region Judges

 

Rachel Anger                                                    Kim Everett-Hirsch

Liz Watson                                                       Darrell Newkirk

Gene Darrah

Rick Hoskinson

 

If we go to an 8 ring show format the additional Region IV judges would be Jo Ann Cummings and Norman Auspitz.

 

2005 Fundraiser

 

Ron Pastor and Linda Komar were the show managers for the Fundraiser.  Ron thanked everyone for helping with the set up, decorations, and tear down.  Ron gave a special thank you to Marianne Toth.  Marianne worked hard on soliciting ring sponsors for the show and generated over $2,000 in donations. 

Loretta reported that Marianne was voted as the Great Lake Region’s exhibitor of the year and the spotlight winner.  An article and picture will be in the almanac soon.

 

Scheduling

            Sandi reported that we are still having difficulties getting clubs to report schedule changes.  Clubs need to contact Sandi to confirm show dates and to make changes in show dates. 

            Loretta indicated that at the CFA Annual in June, Pam Delabar appointed Gina Lehman as chair of the CFA national scheduling committee.  The objective of the committee is to ensure we don’t have a lot of show conflicts coming up.  Major changes in schedules will be run through the national committee to head off conflicts.

            Elizabeth Rymph reported that the GLR website has been modified to include a show schedule for up to the next 3 years.  As shows are scheduled with Sandi, the show will be added to the website. 

            Norman Auspitz asked about the plan, agreed to at the last meeting, for the scheduler to survey the show giving clubs each year about their show plans and desire to retain the same show date.  Sandi indicated that she will email the clubs about their schedule and plans.

 

2006 Fundraiser Weekend

            Last year the Region IV clubs voted to discontinue the Fundraiser and to turn the show weekend over to a club.  Loretta appointed a committee (Norman Auspitz, Nancy Grandison, and Joel Lentner) to determine what to do with the weekend. 

            Joe Lentner reported that the Committee decided to give the fundraiser weekend to the Cleveland Persian Society.  The Cleveland show has been in conflict with the Indianapolis show.  The Cleveland Persian Society weekend (4^th week in October) will be available to another club in 2006.  However, the committee hasn’t reached a consensus on which club will get the weekend.  The Windsor and Rochester  clubs are interested in the weekend.

            Loretta indicated that the deposit for Niles showhall will be returned to the Region.  If anyone wants to use the Niles location, they will need to make a deposit.

 

Fundraising

            Toys-for-Rosettes  -  Nancy Grandison recommended that we continue the raffle through the end of the year and cut the ticket price in half.  Clubs that have purchased a raffle ticked would get a second ticket.  This may encourage more clubs to get in the raffle and may encourage individuals to purchase tickets on behalf of their club.  It was the consensus of those present to implement Nancy’s recommendation.

 

            Ace 50/50  -  The 50/50 raffle has been very popular with Region IV exhibitors.  The primary thrust of our fundraiser for the 2008 Annual will be the Ace 50/50.  The raffle has been held at almost every show in Region IV.  The weekend after Hurricane Katrin the raffle proceeds were donated to Katrina Rescue Efforts in the Gulf Shores Region.  The weekend after the fire the proceeds were donated to Darrell & Karen Swan.

 

Carol Haydu asked for volunteers to help with the raffle.  Volunteers would be conducting the raffle (selling the cats numbers, collecting money, drawing the winner, and sending the regions proceeds to Chris Simpson.