posted by Hamza on May 29

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by water.

This quote comes from Norman Maclean’s book, A River Runs Through It. It was a great movie, but it is an even better book. The book is about a man, his life and how his fly fishing hobby marks the measure of his existence. I fly fish; so A River Runs Through It strikes a personal chord. A River Runs Through It provides us with an excellent example of how a great hobby can weave itself into our lives and serve as a watermark on the events of our lives.

What does all this have to do with CFA?

Our fancy is that kind of great hobby. Events in our lives run concurrent with our hobby. I remember my first ring when I was showing my little tortie kitten. It was a Best Kitten in Judge Mariam Faulkner’s ring. My children were small and we all cheered in delight. I remember getting choked up the first time I granded a cat of my own breeding. I remember whose ring we were in when Lisa got the call of her father’s passing. I remember getting ready to go to last years annual when my client, George Carlin, passed away.

I know I am not alone. I am sure this great hobby of ours intertwines with events in each one of our lives; marking our joys and our sorrows. Our hobby gives us the highs of showing that one special cat and then the lows of losing that cat. The friendships we form with one another and the love we share for one another and with our cats are unforgettable. The footprints and paw prints that we leave on others and their marks upon us are visible and apparent. . As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe says,“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”

The amazing thing about our CFA is its ability to cover the breath of our days from its ability to let us share special moments with our animals to sharing our passion for our hobby with others. It is all of these intertwined events that cause me to love what I do. And it is this love and passion for our hobby that inspires me to commit to doing my best to make sure that it endures.

Do you remember showing your first pedigreed cat? Your first Grand? Your first DM? Socializing during the show and at dinner later on with friends?

It’s hard to imagine that something that has been with us as long as CFA could end.

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. It is time to shape and fashion our hobby so that special moments are enjoyed for generations to come.

posted by Hamza on May 21

If we look back at America’s history we can recall Benjamin Franklin’s flag of 1754 that shows a snake cut into thirteen parts and below the snake, the motto “Join, or Die.”

Clearly, the message to colonial America was unite or fail.

We are in a similar situation here in CFA. We are facing an internal financial crisis that is aggravated by a global recession and facing the real possibility of the failure of our organization. When you get a minute, go to our poll and let me know what you think about our financial situation.

Our situation is very similar to the situation that the colonies faced back in 1754. The colonist’s solution must be our solution. If history teaches us anything it’s that in unity there is strength and in strength there is the ability to form a united front.

To succeed, we must form a united front.

What does forming a united front mean? It means that all of us must work together with one voice and in concert to find our way to more solid ground. The first step to forming a united front is for all of us to revitalize our clubs.

Revitalization means that if you are not in a club now, Join One. If you belong to a club now, do a little more to help. If you are members of a club, open your doors and welcome new members. Use your shows as a way to entice new exhibitors and club members into your organization. You must use your clubs as the marketing force for CFA in your area. If we can keep our clubs’ energized, then we can poise ourselves for the changes we must embrace to secure our future. In securing our future, each of us must all look deep inside and see what inherent talents we have to give CFA.

It has always been my belief that we are stocked full of talent in this fancy. We have information technology experts, we have artists, we have veterinarians, doctors and brain surgeons, we have lawyers, we have legislation experts, and we have marketing specialists.

WE HAVE IT ALL! I have always asserted that if we organize, unify and harness all of this wonderful talent, we will succeed!

It is my intention to create a congenial environment for success. This is our fancy and I intend to open the doors wide and use all this talent to ensure our future. Good leadership is not controlling. Good leadership matches the right talent to the right task. Good leadership coordinates efforts so that the chances of success are great. Good leadership keeps morale high by fostering a selfless team atmosphere.

After Benjamin Franklin was successful at uniting the colonists he adopted this flag. “Don’t Tread On Me.” The coiled snake and the phrase itself called self-directing, responsible individuals to decide for themselves what they should do, without needing anyone else to give them an assignment or supervise their efforts.

The message symbolized the essence of transformational leadership and solidified their resolve as a unified entity that was committed to change and in their hearts, never accepting failure.

With that same resolve and solidarity we can take on our current challenges and transform the organization into something greater.

Ready to unite? Let me know! Email jerry@cfapresident.com

Yours in solidarity,

Jerry

posted by Hamza on May 2

I see one of the main challenges of a grass roots campaign is the ability to convey and create a sense of urgency in energizing and empowering all stakeholders to positively affect the change that we desperately need in our organization.

We must not become complacent in our attitudes and get bogged down by past practices that have not served us well.  Keep in mind that a mindset of complacency only serves to maintain — and not - change - the status quo.  I also believe that the goal to maintain the status quo is held firmly in place by those who would ultimately lose personal power and privileges if things were to change.

At this time in CFA, we are at a critical crossroads.  Most of us realize that we cannot continue as an organization with a business-as-usual-mindset.  To add to CFA’s uncertain future is our world’s present economic climate.  We do not fully understand what it means to compete in a global recession and a global post-recession economy.  But I do know this when it comes to change: We must be proactive in our attitude towards change and not wait idly for things to change.

You may not be sure exactly what you should be doing to eliminate a status quo mindset and bring about change that CFA desperately needs?  You may, at times, have even felt powerless?

I assure you that the feelings of hopelessness or powerlessness are not based on fact.  Next time you are at a show; look across the show hall.  The power lies in that show hall.  We, you and I, are the foundation of this organization.  You and I and our catteries will bear the burden and face the consequences of poor financial decisions.

The first step of a grass roots movement is to realize that we have the power and the ability to bring about change.  We must put our differences behind us and unify to achieve our objectives.  The second step is to responsibly use our collective power and work together to bring about the change we desire.  What does a grass roots movement have to do with my campaign?  It’s simple.

I am running a grass roots campaign, because:
• I want to bring about change.
• I want to make CFA fiscally viable.
• I want to bring fairness and ethics to the heart of this organization.
• I want to make CFA a world class organization rivaling the success of AKC.
• I want to make CFA responsive to the needs of ALL its members.

I believe that the key elements of a grass roots campaign that I have outlined above are what we ALL want.  For several years in the show halls, I have been listening to your concerns and to your goals for CFA’s future.

I understand what you are saying and where you are coming from.  However, I know I cannot bring about change by myself.  I need your help.

If you truly want to change the status quo, get involved with my campaign!  That’s the fun of a grass roots campaign: people banding together to implement their plan for change, working hard and then watching as their ideals gain momentum.

We start now–A spark that grows into a fire that is fanned by the winds of change.  We have a bright future if we dare to reach out and grab the brass ring.  Change does not just happen.  It will not just fall into our laps.  We must stand up and in our own interests affect change for the better.

This is our time!  Get involved!! I want and need – everyone’s help. Together we can achieve our goals and make CFA something special in a competitive new marketplace.

We are now just a spark!

Can we grow into a fire that is fanned by the winds of change?

I think we can!

Warmest Regards,

Jerry