NOTICE BOARD - SEPTEMBER 2006

Delegates from seven countries attended the WBO meeting in June held in conjunction with the Budgerigar Society’s Convention in Southport,

England

to celebrate the society’s belated 80th Anniversary.

This is the third time that the WBO has held meetings in conjunction with the Budgerigar Society’s Conventions; the previous two were in 1995 & 2000. Delegates from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Eire, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom attended the meeting that was chaired for the first time by the organisation’s new chairman Gerd Bleicher.

Many topics were discussed and decisions made for affiliated societies to approve, which are summarised below:

Membership

Two new organisations joined the WBO during January and they are the Federação Ornitológica do Brasil (FOB) and the Budgerigar Society of Pakistan (BSP) giving the WBO a foothold in all the six continents. Two further societies have joined since the meeting and they are the KCHVA v Bratislava in SLOVENSKO who joined in July, and in August the new society formed in Denmark last year with the name Danske Udstillings Undulater (DUU) joined our ranks. On behalf of the WBO affiliated societies we extend a warm welcome to those four societies and their members.

Delegates attending the recent WBO meeting (standing l to r): Carlos Ramoa (Portugal), Al Consiglio (Canada), Gren Norris (U.K.), Grant Findlay (U.K.), Terry Knott (Eire), Alessandro Bernabei (Italy), Lars Voss (Denmark), Herman Van Thielen (Belgium), Mrs. Luisa Ballerini Bernabei (Italy). (Sitting l to r): Carl Slavin (Canada), Gerd Bleicher (Chairman), Roger Carr (immediate past Chairman), Ghalib Al-Nasser (Secretary).

Ring Colour Sequence

A letter from the Budgerigar Society (U.K.) was read out at the meeting informing the WBO that the B.S. have re-examined the current 5-year ring colour sequence cycle and found it to be too short in duration. They have decided to go for a 6-year cycle to give a longer time between colours. The B.S. has requested that the WBO adopt the 6-year cycle commencing from 2010. The meeting approved the 6-year cycle and is to approach the other World Body the Confederation Ornithologique Mondiale (COM) recommending that they consider changing as well to avoid having different colour rings in any one year around the World.

WBO Proposed Pictorial Ideal

The revised work of the Model Sub-Committee in the form of a 2-dimensional Pictorial Ideal in 3 views (front, side and ¾ views) and a CD outlining the various steps taken to reach the final product was sent to all member organisations.

The secretary informed the meeting that only 18 societies out of 27 WBO affiliated societies had replied. Societies and delegates attending the meeting conveyed their thanks and appreciation to the members of the Model Sub-Committee (Marcel Buhler (Switzerland), Gren Norris (U.K.) & Carl Slavin (Canada)) for their hard work and the hours that they put into the project. The results of the societies that have replied are as follows:

4 societies with a total of 8 votes were FOR the proposed Pictorial Ideal

13 societies with a total of 29 votes were AGAINST the proposed Pictorial Ideal

1 society with 1 vote said that the CD arrived too late for their March committee meeting

9 societies with a total of 22 votes did not vote

There were many comments put forward by member countries regarding the failed Pictorial Ideal and these will be taken into consideration with the next phase.

It was agreed to commission the well-known artist and budgerigar breeder Roy Aplin to produce the next Pictorial Ideal in the 3 views. The completed work will then be sent again to member countries for approval.

Roger Carr receiving his present in the form of a Globe at the recent WBO meeting with Gerd Bleicher (Chairman) and Ghalib Al-Nasser (Secretary) on looking.

WBO Executive Committee (E.C.)

For the first time since the amendments to the Constitution in September 2004 the WBO has a full E.C. from 1^st April when Gerd Bleicher commenced his duties as the new WBO Chairman. The new E.C. consists of Chairman Gerd Bleicher (Germany), Secretary Ghalib Al-Nasser (U.K.), Vice-Chairman Carl Slavin (Canada) and Immediate Past Chairman Roger Carr (U.K.).

A presentation was made at the meeting to Roger Carr for his long service to the WBO since chairing the first International Meeting in November 1992, which eventually led to the formation of the WBO on 1^st April 1994 until his retirement on 31^st March 2006. He was presented with a globe and a pair of binoculars.

WBO Colour Standards

A Standards Sub-Committee was formed to look into all aspects of the Colour Standards such as a procedure for recognising new varieties and writing colour standards for them. This committee consists of members of the E.C. with Gren Norris (U.K.) and Lars Voss (Denmark).

WBO Publicity and the website

The WBO website is kept updated on a regular basis with many files of interest such as research articles, Colour Standards, Scale of Points, details of member organisations, ring specification etc. Photos of 2006 WBO rosette winners around the World are also included on the website (click on each photo to enlarge it). It is hoped that other societies will send photos of their winners to be added to those already on the website.

International Judges Panel

A list of current judges who are on the WBO International Judges Panel is on the website and full addresses of each judge can be obtained from the secretary. The conditions relating to admittance to the WBO Judges Panel are as follows:

a. to be a current champion breeder and exhibitor of Budgerigars in their own country. Where a country/society has only “one” Status of Exhibitor, a breeder and exhibitor of long standing will be acceptable subject to “b” & “c” below.

b. be a fully qualified judge for a minimum of 5-years in their own country or in the country/society in which they qualified.

c. apply in writing to their National Society (or the society in which they qualified) to be placed on the list. The National Society will then be responsible for checking their qualifications and, if eligible, for passing names, addresses and telephone numbers to the WBO Secretary for inclusion on the list.

The WBO recommend that member countries should consider inviting judges from overseas who are members of the International Judges Panel, as approved by the WBO, to judge at shows that are under their jurisdiction. A full WBO International Judges List is available from the Secretary on request.

Next Meetings

It was agreed by the delegates that both the 2007 and 2008 meetings should be held in Germany with a view to increase attendance. The next WBO meeting in 2007 is scheduled to be held on the Friday afternoon of the Europa Championship Show held in Karlsruhe during August. The 2008 meeting will be hosted by the German society the DSV during October/November to celebrate their 50^th Anniversary. Invitations were also received from Italy and Norway to host future meetings and these will be considered as from 2009.

For further comments on any of the above items please do not hesitate to contact me and please keep visiting the WBO website for regular updates.

Ghalib Al-Nasser
Secretary/Treasurer
ghalib.alnasser@gmail.com