BREED ADVISORY COMMITTEES Within the GCCF Breed Advisory Committees have a most important role to play in the management and control of all aspects of pedigree breeds of cat; we all talk about them, but do we all understand what they are and how they work? The GCCF system of Breed Advisory Committees was established to ensure that all matters relating to a breed group were fully agreed by all relevant clubs before going to GCCF, and further, to ensure that all applicants to become judges were treated with uniformity. In earlier times there were often lengthy debates and arguments between delegates representing different clubs for the same variety and much time in Full Council meetings was wasted, and as a consequence matters were often decided by delegates with no involvement in, or particular knowledge of, the variety. In the late 1970's and 1980's the clubs catering for the breeds we now call "Oriental" were already holding joint meetings and had established the Joint Consultative Committee for Foreign Shorthairs of Siamese Type. This committee was very much the forerunner of the current OJBAC, it was chaired by Dr Bill Groom, then Chairman of GCCF, and John S Harrison was the Secretary. The GCCF has recognized a Breed Advisory Committee (BAC) for each breed group and each breed group has a separate Judges List. All specialist breed clubs affiliated to the GCCF are entitled by right to participate in the relevant BAC. All BAC's have a core constitution to ensure uniformity across all breeds and their powers are enshrined in the "Philosophy and Principles of the GCCF Judge Appointment Scheme, Rules of Procedure for the Selection of Judges". Some BAC's cater for one specific variety/breed group, whilst others cater for all related breed groups within a variety, in the later case they will meet as a Joint BAC, where voting on matters relating to a specific breed group is restricted to specialist clubs for that breed group. The main functions of the BAC are:   To nominate candidates to GCCF for appointment as Probationer or Full Judge.   To monitor, advise and train Stewards and Probationer Judges   To discuss and make proposals to GCCF on Standards of Points, Registration Policies, and breed status   To discuss and make proposals to GCCF on all matters relating to the BAC's breeds A Breed Group may consist of:   a single breed   a group of colours/patterns in a breed   a group of all colour/patterns in a breed All specialist Breed Clubs which are eligible for membership automatically have the right to participate in the relevant BAC on payment of a fee. All participating Clubs have equal representation. Newly affiliated Club's are entitled to attend the next meeting of the BAC following the granting of affiliation to the GCCF. Representatives to the BAC must represent the views of their Club Committee to the BAC. The Oriental Joint Breed Advisory Committee is responsible for all matters relating to the Oriental and makes ALL submissions on the breed to the GCCF - individual clubs can no longer propose items directly to Council or Executive Committee regarding a breed/variety. It is therefore a very important committee with regard to all matters Oriental! There are now FOUR Oriental breed groups, each with a separate judges list. Three of these have a separate BAC which meets together jointly as the OJBAC. These are: Oriental Self Breed Group Oriental Self Breed Advisory Committee - Havana, Lilac, Black, Blue, Caramel, Cinnamon, Fawn, Red, Cream, Apricot & Foreign White - Oriental Shorthairs only Oriental Non-Self Breed Group Oriental Non-Self Breed Advisory Committee - Torties, Smokes, Tabbies & Shaded - Oriental Shorthairs only Oriental Longhair Breed Group Oriental Longhair Breed Advisory Committee   Self and non-self colouring   Oriental Longhairs only Oriental Bicolour Breed Group Oriental BicolourBreed Advisory Committee   Oriental Shorthair, Longhair, and Pointed bicoloured cats At the present time 11 club take part in the OJBAC, but only specialist clubs vote on matters relating to the separate breed groups - eg. 'Self' clubs do not vote on 'Non Self' issues. The current member clubs of the OJBAC are : The Caramel & Apricot Federation The Foreign White Cat Society The Havana & Oriental Lilac Cat Club The Oriental Bicolour Group The Oriental Cat Association The Oriental Cinnamon & Fawn Group The Oriental Longhair Breed Club The Oriental Shaded, Smoke & Tabby Society The Short Haired Cat Society The Tabby Point Siamese & Progressive Breeders Cat Club The Trans Pennine Oriental & Siamese Cat Club The OJBAC generally meets London area three times a year, with each member club having the right to send two representatives. One of the main matters for discussion at each meeting is the progress of Probationer Judges, with a full discussion on their show reports and placings, after each meeting the OJBAC Secretary writes to each candidate and passes on the opinions of the BAC. Another important item will be a discussion on stewards in the stewarding scheme. Other matters which involve considerable discussion are proposals to make any changes to breeding policies, registration policies and standards of points. Currently the OJBAC Officers are: Chairman Celia Leighton Vice Chairman Elizabeth Wildon Hon Secretary Julia May Hon Assistant Secretary Irene Rothwell Hon Treasurer June Huchinson The Oriental Shaded, Smoke & Tabby Society is a member of the Oriental Non-Self BAC and is also one of only two clubs in the Oriental Longhair BAC.