"Moving in a path of inclusion"

Serving on the CFA Board has been an honor and a privilege granted to me by our CFA clubs. I hope I have honored your faith in me. While I am currently a Director at Large, I have decided to submit my name for the office of CFA Vice President. You have entrusted me to make sound business decisions and to represent the clubs and breed councils equally and fairly. I am committed to CFA and its reputation as the finest registry in the world of pedigreed cats.

The CFA Board faces many difficult decisions at our meetings as well as on a day to day basis. To evaluate those issues, I use the ideals of equality and fairness when considering the ramifications of those issues and their effects after implementation. I consider an issue's impact on CFA, in regard to the viability to our Organization and its finances. Next, I consider an issue's impact on the recognized Breeds and on the member clubs. Additionally, I consider the impact our decisions make on the International Division. In my prior campaign statements I stated that I believe I can fairly evaluate the merits and obstacles of the situations that come before the Board and make solid, common sense decisions. If you choose to seat me for the office of CFA Vice President, I will continue to vote according to the score card that I have listed above. As the Vice President one of my duties would be to chair the meeting in the absence of the President. I have chaired business meetings of a similar nature and have a good working knowledge of parliamentary procedure.

My past voting record as a CFA Director-At-Large has become a part of the CFA records. While the votes I have cast have not always been the path the Board has taken, I have had solid rationale for my votes, and have always stated my rationales for the record. I am an advocate of using science and genetic principles when considering new breeds and colors of our existing breeds. I think that carefully constructed advancement of new breeds is an important part of maintaining the viability of our Organization. If no Board member had ever been willing to listen to new breeding ideas, then we would still recognize only six breeds, and those in limited colors.

Currently, I am the Chair of the CFA International Division. The committee and dedicated workers in the International Division are committed to expand CFA around the globe. We have translated many of the forms, rules and breed standards into various languages. This is an ongoing process and has been very successful due to the dedication of the breeders and exhibitors in our CFA International Division clubs. As an organization, CFA has a tremendous amount of growth potential around the world.

It is the responsibility of the CFA clubs to elect candidates to the CFA Board of Directors who will commit to maintaining, strengthening and expanding our goal to promote the recognized CFA cat breeds domestically, as well as internationally. We have a responsibility to protect that reputation by maintaining our world renowned registry through the rules that govern our Organization and make appropriate modifications to those rules to meet the growing needs of our Registry.

Our goals should be directed at the protection, advancement and welfare of all cats. We should be moving in a path of inclusion, not exclusion.

Thanks in advance for your continued support. Please feel free to call, or email, with any questions.

 

Darrell Newkirk
AbyJam@aol.com
618-397-3908