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]