>From:    Derek & Amy Flemming <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: GLFA show question & prolapsed baby
>I know that the GCFA in past years used independent judges, in recent
>years some (if not all) AFA judges.  Does LIFE have their own standards &
>judges?
 
The GCFA this year went to full AFA sanctioning.  They are quite happy
with the AFA judges they've used in the past few years (including bill).
 
LIFE does have a standard that was written by Vickie McKimmey and since
modified a bit.  The independant shows (LAFF, BFC and in the past GCFA)
use the standard as Vickie wrote it and are really still what LIFE was
supposed to be.  (See below.)  They were the founders of LIFE.  (Along
with WNYFLAFA.)
 
After the AFA went to a licensing scheme LIFE followed with their own
version.  The IFA did have a system of training in place earlier as did
FURO.  One judge has been through every one of those groups.  Several
have experience with all of them.
 
If you went to a GCFA show in the past you saw a very similar system to
the LIFE system.
 
>From:    Anne Ryan <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: more on GLFA/LIFE/LOS
>"GLFA is a membership organization, and we hold independent GLFA shows in
>Michigan.  As of right now, we don't sanction shows outside of our own."
>
>They also stated that they have offered their licensed judges to judge at
>independant shows, but that they were not sanctioning these shows.
 
We have been told by one organization outside of Michigan that the GLFA
would "sanction" the show and the GLFA did indeed have some contact with
the independant show in their general area about use of their judges.
Nothing came of that either.  We didn't say they succeeded.  Perhaps folks
are for some reason are either misleading others accidentally.
 
>LOS and LIFE, as I previously stated, are not the same thing.
 
They are "seperate" but intertwined.  We've never stated they were exactly
the same.  But they are fairly symbiotic at this point.
 
>LIFE has their own judging standards and judges.  Many are LOS members,
>but not all.  A few are also AFA licensed.
 
One person is both an AFA and a LIFE judge.  She was not gotten any LIFE
judging assignments since she started doing AFA shows.  Another was LIFE
show co-ordinator before a rigged vote purged her and was a LIFE judge and
is now an AFA judge.  She obviously hasn't done any judging since that
polical storm.  Can't think of any other AFA judge that is also a LIFE
judge and know reasons Anne might not be familiar with that there will be
problems with dual licensing.
 
>LIFE's primary goal is fair judging within a structured set of guidelines.
 
LIFE original purpose was just this sharing of a show standard and points.
 
>LIFE is not a club, simply an independant sanctioning organization.
 [and]
>Other objectives are well run shows which follow certain standards for
>proper facilities and event planning, and a caring and well run shelter
>system.
 
These are against their original charter.  But after purging all who
differed politically, the charter changed.  Sanctioning was specifically
not intended as that would be more control of a show that the founding
organizations wanted to give.  LIFE was founded to permit some independant
clubs from being controlled by outside groups/organizations/entities after
the fall of the IFA and the rise of FURO.  Now they are one of those
outside groups.
 
>Hope this clears up some of the questions.
 
Not really.  Its just a different spin.  Anne Ryan is among the most out
spoken politically - her post was spinning in response to what she saw as
negative although it wasn't.  We were involved with LIFE and the AFA
before Anne and know about more of the events first hand.  We were aware
of dealings with the GLFA and LOS before Anne as well.  But this is our
spin as no author is immune from their own personal interpretation and
desires from being in their writings.
 
But basically all of the groups have problems.  All are politically
motivated.  All will tell you they are better for some reason than the
others.  All will tell you the most positive spin on events.  I don't
speak for any particular organization outside of Zen and the Art of
Ferrets.
 
-bill
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 2403]