The Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 25th April 2010, at The Oliver Bird Hall, Church Hill Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3RQ, commencing at 2.30pm.  The draw for the 2011 Calendar will take place at the AGM, together with the presentation of Cups & Trophies.  Any items/proposals for inclusion on the AGM Agenda, need to be proposed and seconded by fully paid up Club members and must reach me no later than Saturday 27th March 2010.  It is desirable for the proposer and/or seconder of such agenda items to be present at the AGM to present any proposal to the membership. 

There are a number of officers and committee members; our Club President – Joyce Price, Secretary –  Nick Ensor, Treasurer - Jim Warrender and committee members – Marcia Owen, Carol Tarr, Angie Walker and Morwenna Semos, who have all reached the end of their respective terms of office and have all indicated their willingness to restand. 

Any other nominations for any of the vacancies are invited from fully paid-up Club members.  The nominations must be signed by the nominee, proposer and seconder who must also be fully paid up Club members.  Nominees should also provide a brief profile of themselves.  All nominations and profiles should be sent to me at 20 Sorrel Close, Wootton, Northampton NN4 6EY, and must reach me not later than Saturday 20^th March 2010. 

Members are reminded that subscriptions became due on the 1^st January 2010 – Joint £12.50, Single £10.00, Junior £5.00.  Payment (Cheque/Postal Order payable to The Birman Cat Club) should be sent to the Membership Secretary, Mr Neil Porter at 6 Foxhill Drive, Birley Carr, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S6 1GD. Please remember that if subscriptions remain unpaid as at 31^st March 2010, your membership will lapse on that date.  

The Officers & Committee look forward to welcoming members to the AGM, afternoon tea and refreshments will be available.  We will be holding a raffle in aid of the Birman Welfare & Rescue funds, donations of prizes are always very welcome.  Club merchandise will also be on sale.  

Nick Ensor,  Honorary Secretary

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 INFORMATION ABOUT GCCF INCORPORATION
  AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS

There is to be an extra meeting of Council this year on the 7th April 2010 at 1.30 pm at the Friends Meeting House in London. This has been called to discuss just one issue - the Incorporation of the GCCF. This important item was discussed at the February 17th Meeting of Council but the April Meeting will be decision time when a vote must be taken. The Executive Committee had an additional meeting in January where they invited an expert on Company Law and formation to attend; she also attended the February Meeting of Council to answer questions from delegates and gave her expert opinion and advice.

Information will be posted on the GCCF website; please keep an eye open for updates by regularly logging onto www.gccfcats.org  Please also forward your comments to our Delegates, Peter and Anne Madden panjandrum@ntlworld.com  and Valarie Kilby valerie.kilby@btinternet.com

Following recent misinformation in the press and in order to maintain our robust stance regarding healthy breeding, the GCCF has posted its Breeding Policy on the website at http://www.gccfcats.org/pdf/BreedingPolicyversion721stJan2010.pdf . This is full of important information and advice for all breeders. Every BAC will also have to formulate its own Breeding Policy for submission to the Genetics Committee by January 2011.

The Birman BAC does have a Breeding Policy in place.  But your knowledge, experience and input will be much appreciated as it may need to be tweaked in line with GCCF recommendations – please make sure we know your views and comments. These items will also be discussed at the AGM; we hope you will be there to give your views and discuss these important issues.

The GCCF Breeding Policy will be printed as a booklet and be on sale at a reasonable price. It is important, in these times when the press is only too eager to report misinformation on cats using sensational pictures of non GCCF accepted breeds and/or cats that are not from the UK at all, that we work together to support the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy's policy that "Health Comes First!"