Hi all, I would like to explain the mystery of LIFE (sorry, I just couldn't resist the pun) the League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts is an organization without an organization. There are no officers, and no dues, nothing to join. Confused?? It started with Diane Rogers (the Weaselry in Baltimore) and I (Ann Davis- ACME FERRET CO.- Virginia) trying to come up with a way independent clubs could accumulate points and issue certificates on those points. We also wanted a system that would allow us to take into account any points earned from other show sanctioning organizations and add them all together. Voila! LIFE was born(so to speak). Being of sound mind and experienced show givers, we designed a 100 point system which we believe is fair, and established standards for colors and conformation. We really like our system, and so do the judges who have used it. But in the true spirit of independence, we don't force our system on any of the sister clubs, we merely offer it. We also do not require 3 rings, or that each club has all the colors everyone else does- this allows for regional diversity and less rings! For instance, we don't see a lot of chocolate shaded silver mitts in VA, so we put them in the chocolate mitt ring (we don't see a lot of these either), but still judge them against a standard for their color, but it is apparently a big color in Florida, so they will have it as a separate color ring. We took a poll of our members and found that certificates were very important to them . They felt that if they payed their money and spent their time, they should have something to show for it! (As we all know, ferret shows can be deadly boring) Sooo, we designed a certificate that could be used by any participating club with only a few word changes. To date ALL LIFE SHOW CERTIFICATES HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND MAILED OUT TO THE OWNERS, INCLUDING THE LAFF SHOW OF 300 CHAMPIONSHIP FERRETS IN JANUARY! We will also issue interim certificates: if members in our database report extra points earned at non-independent shows, with proper verification we will simply add these to their existing points--and if they are due a new title, issue it. This is because other national groups have worked hard on their standards too, and we respect them. This is all for the good of the breed, folks!- THE MESSAGE- go to everybody's shows! Vickie Mckimmey and I keep the database and issue certificates. Vickie is a computer programmer and I am a graphic artist. All of our sister clubs have access at any time to this information. They can change the wording on the certificates if they wish. We also have a great melting pot of former judges from other organizations and are training new ones at every show. Our judges do not accept money for their services! They just get theare real money makers for the clubs, which ALL support their own shelters, I do it for the little homeless ferrets who need serious medical attention etc., the fact is that the shelters are all so darned poor- if you have ever run one you know that you go in the hole so deep you just quit counting. I do not have championship ferrets- I love the scraggly ones, the skinny ones and the hairless,- but I also love to look at the beautiful ones in the shows. END OF SERMON The whole concept has taken off past our wildest expectations, (actually we didn't have any to begin with) here are the show dates we have confirmed so far, there are more pending: LAFF- was January 16 Flower City Ferret Fest -March 20 - Western New York and Finger Lakes Ferret Association-3 rings, specialties, Monroe County Fairgrounds, Rochester, NY contact Jeanne Stadtmiller (716)637- 4589. A NY state ferret license is req. Legion of Superferrets - April 24- St. Thomas Aquinas School, Croydon, PA- 3 rings contact Rose Smith, (215) 946-2747 Metro Ferret Friends - May 15 - The Sports Kick Arena, Gaithersburg MD/ 3 rings, specialties etc. Contact Denise Edens (301) 972-1618 Susquehanna Valley Ferret Club- August 21- Harrisburg PA./ 3 rings, specialties, Contact Jodi Schroth (717) 540-1076 Greater Chicago Ferret Association - Sept. 11- /3 rings etc. Contact Janis Miller (708)964-GCFA Georgia Domestic Ferret Association - Sept. 11- /2 or 3 rings etc.- only neutered adults-kits whole ok- unless you have a GA breeders license ($250)-- in conjunction with the Georgia Pet Expo-- contact Jan Lovell (404) 442-5917 Ferret Lovers Association - November 20- Sanford Armory , near Orlando Florida 3 rings/ $500.00 prize, trophies, specialties etc. This is the first ferret show to be handled by a professional promoter- VIP promotions. They are sending out 20,000 flyers (yes 20,000). Contact Mary Lou Simpson (407) 321-9188 Pam Grant and I are putting together a stud book of all ferrets and their lines from all shows anywhere, from anyone, and including the LIFE list. We hope to be able to cross reference all breeders and avoid inbreeding, which we believe to be responsible for a lot of the illness we are seeing now. (this will take a while). Meanwhile- if you are interested in going to one of the shows, please phone the contact. Most registrations are opened 2 months in advance, and they fill up quickly. Each club handles its own registration and sets its entry fees, which include the cost of printing the certificates and mailing them. Please provide as much information on your entry sheet as possible about each ferret. If anyone needs any more info on LIFE you can contact me directly Ann Davis, 9330 Old Burke Lake Rd. Burke VA 22015, 703-503 7313. I would be glad to put you on my mailing list and inform you of shows, and all the other junk that goes on. Please be patient, I won't be around to answer my mail for a couple of weeks. I'm going down to the HSUS convention to work the Ferret Friends of Indian River County table (with Chere McCoy-my dear friend). What a fantastic job she has done pulling this thing together. I just got off the phone with her, the list of people and clubs who have sent info and donations is awsome! Thanks to all you generous people who spent their time and money gathering and printing info. Chere and I love you-We're gonna knock their socks off!! We are There will be humane workers from all over the US- some of which still don't know there is IMRAB-(they sent great stuff) I'll also be working the Project BREED Directory booth (Breed specific rescue and education) It is a non profit large national organization that publishes a book dedicated to rescues-all breeds- and this will be the first time that ferret rescues are included in this national directory!! The director, Shirley Webber, asked me to provide ferret info at her table too. Ferrets will be everywhere!!! --Ann Davis [Posted in FML issue 0436]