CANARY COLOUR BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

Secretary K. Shelton

13 Gorse Crescent, Ditton, Maidstone,Kent. ME20 6FS

The C.C.B.A. has a membership of around 650 which has been increasing annually and is also able to attract overseas members. With the exception to this year's levy of 50p per member to help support the activities of the Canary Council, the annual subscription has remained static for the past six years.

Promoting closed ringing, the C.C.B.A. provides closed rings to suit Colour Canaries for its members at prices well below normal retail prices. The same applies for the colouring agent needed to reach the full colour potential of some Coloured Canaries. These two facilities enable the average Coloured Canary fancier to recoup most, if not all, of their annual subscriptions.

In addition to staging its own annual All Colour Show, the C.C.B.A. supports its Zones, other Cage Bird Societies and the National Exhibition with rosettes and cash prizes totalling £1,800 annually.

At the National Exhibition the C.C.B.A. supports a large stand and Coloured Canaries and other cage bird varieties are judged under natural daylight conditions.

The C.C.B.A. believes it is the only society to train and test its judges and support them through a judges panel with twice annual meetings for standard updates.

The C.C.B.A. publishes the 'Colour Breeder' magazine in the Spring and Autumn of each year. Each of its members receives a copy at no extra cost to subscriptions.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please contact the C.C.B.A. Secretary:

SINGLE SUBSCRIPTION UK £10.50 OVERSEAS £9.50

JOINT SUBSCRIPTION UK £15.00 or £16.00 OVERSEAS £14.00

OAP/JUNIOR UK £6.50 OVERSEAS £5.50

Overseas Members should pay in sterling.

Please enclose S.A.E. for return of membership card Subscriptions are due on the 1st January each year. Subscriptions not paid by 31st July each year shall render the individual ineligible to compete for C.C.B.A. specials during that year.

PROMOTING THE FANCY

The C.C.B.A. prides itself on its progressive approach to the requirements of the modem day fancier. As an Association, they hold the interest of all Coloured Canary fanciers and Coloured Canaries at heart. The Cage and Aviary Birds weekly magazine regularly publishes articles about the C.C.B.A. or Coloured Canaries contributed by C.C.B.A. members. The Committee, having appointed a Publicity officer, ensures the C.C.B.A. is well represented in print with any matters it wishes to communicate. To ensure local involvement Nation-wide Zones have been established. Again the Committee has appointed a Zone liaison officer to ensure consistent direction is maintained in our section of the fancy.

MEASURES TO ATTRACT JUNIORS

The C.C.B.A. strongly believes that not only Novices but Juniors are the future of the fancy. To foster this, the C.C.B.A. has greatly reduced the membership subscription for Juniors. The provision of special awards at its annual All Colour Show and Zone shows, appeals to many Juniors. The mentor style approach is used by many established C.C.B.A. members to ensure a successful transition for the Junior through the current levels within the canary fancy.

STAGING PUBLIC DISPLAYS

Taking full advantage of the showcase of British aviculture, the C.C.B.A. supports a large stand at the National Exhibition, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The stand presents an aviary containing many of the Coloured Canary mutations available for National Exhibition visitors to observe. Officials manning the stand over the weekend welcome existing, new, and prospective members or just interested people to seek advice or discuss C.C.B.A. matters. Membership subscriptions can be paid at the stand and also the purchase of closed or split rings can be made there. Back issues of the Colour Breeder magazine are also available as is a Newcomers Guide to Colour Canaries with colour plates for demonstration.

PROVIDING JUDGES/JUDGES PANEL

Again this is an area in which the C.C.B.A. is particularly proud. Having an established training programme, all judges are tested and assessed for competency of Colour Canary standards before progressing to a Full Panel Judge. The progression for a trainee judge involves a series of tests and assessments. To support all levels of judges, a judges panel has been established which, having set standards, allows briefing to all judges twice a year to ensure consistency in their judging appointments. A list of judges categorising their status and the level of shows they can judge is published in the Colour Breeder magazine.

N.C.A. AND CANARY COUNCIL SUPPORT

The C.C.B.A. believes it is the first Association to ballot its members and gain support for the 50p levy per member for the Canary Council's benefit. A major contribution to the fancy's well being. It is a full member of the N C A and encourages its members to also join.

COLOUR BREEDER MAGAZINE

This is an official publication of the C.C.B.A. Its contents are designed to be informative and educational to all C.C.B.A. members. The Committee has appointed an editor for compilation of this bi-annual magazine which is free to all members. Contents include minutes of C.C.B.A. and Zone meetings, show dates etc., lists of C.C.B.A. officials, lists of members. Members also contribute articles and advertisements. Also included are ordering forms for rings and colouring agent, four full colour plates and a full list of judges and their status.

MEMBER'S BENEFITS

The C.C.B.A. is an Association which can justify its annual subscription. Apart from the benefits of being a member of such a democratic and progressive Association, the average member can recoup their subscriptions from the savings made when purchasing rings and colouring agent from appointed officials of the C.C.B.A. A group Insurance cover has been established, protecting members against theft. The support offered to individuals is immense through the informative articles published in the Colour Breeder magazine and compiling a library of these will act as a comprehensive reference manual for Colour Canary fanciers. A helpline and speaker's list has been set up and published in the Colour Breeder magazine.

THE C.C.B.A. ALL COLOUR SHOW

A sub-committee of the C.C.B.A. provides the infrastructure to arranging this annual event. Now firmly placed as one of the major Colour Canary shows in Europe, it provides an excellent showcase for Coloured Canary fanciers to exhibit their stock. As in keeping with the progressive nature of the C.C.B.A., the Show's classification is constantly being updated to keep pace with the members changing requirements of newly developed colour mutations.

ZONES

To ensure support to Colour Canary fanciers throughout the UK, thirteen Zones (districts) have been established for the benefit of members. Each Zone has its own committee and the C.C.B.A. has appointed a Zone Liaison Officer to ensure a consistent direction is kept. Each Zone stages a Zone Show with full classifications for Colour Canaries. There is an inter- Zone competition held at the All Colour Show.