Ed -- as a member of both LOS and AFA -- I can't give you all the
particulars (not an officer, just a member!) but I can tell you this: they
are both non- profit organizations [501(3)c].  As you are aware, any non
profit organization must file tax forms with the IRS each year.  Depending
on the amount of money generated for the non profit determines which forms
to be filed.  I only need to use the 990EZ form, since I do not have
proceeds that exceed $25,000 -- but each year I have to file the form that
states that I did not exceed 25k!
 
I think the AFA may "pay" the judges, but I do not believe that LOS does.
Common sense would tell me that a national organization with branches would
have a certain percentage that goes into the general fund, but that the
branch raising the funds would receive a portion.Thats been my experience
with other national organizations.  As to what the portion is, I have no
idea.
 
I did not attend the show, so as far as attendance, ring/class winners,
etc....I do not know.  I would think that it had good attendance, as do most
shows.
 
I do have one troubling question to ask, though: Why the obsession with the
gender of the organizers?  What difference could that make?  I get the
impression you don't approve -- I think that the gender makeup of any
organization's officers would matter little...are you trying to imply
something?  I believe that the AFA and LOS are very fine organizations, run
well and trying to improve the domestic ferret through education.  Whether
or not the officers of any organization are male or female does not matter
to me -- the only thing that matters is how they can help improve our
ferrets.
 
Your other posts, well....I can't believe anyone would advocate letting
"everyone" experience whole ferrets and breeding colonies-- isn't that as
irresponsible as the mom and dad who breed their dog or cat, just so that
their children can "experience nature and birth"?  Do you think that most
people know that V-hobs don't "shoot blanks" until 2 weeks to a month after
being vasectomized?  What about the increased chances of ovarian
cancer/uterine infections in older whole jills?  This is well-known in the
dog/cat world, I can't imagine ferrets being much different.  What about the
increased smell -- if some people think that MF(or any neutered & descented)
ferrets stink, wait until they are exposed to a jill/hob in season!  Or how
about the hob's lovely habits of marking everything?  Truly, truly not well
thought out, IMHO.
 
And then think of the implications-- instead of getting in neutered animals,
now the shelters get in whole ferrets, in season, pregnant, suffering from
anemia, oh and all of them eating that "quality" cat food that the local
grocery store chain sells, bite wounds from overenthusiastic hobs, etc.--
<sarcasm on> GREAT!  Just what the shelters need!  More medical expenses!
<sarcasm off>
 
People already write about misdiagnosed adrenal ferrets as having skin
conditions-- what do you think the odds are for misdiagnosed aplastic
anemia?
 
Please, lets not "go there".
 
Lisa, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
[Posted in FML issue 2263]