American Federation of Ornithology

On July 26 2020, The AFO participated with COM- Mexico and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere COM member countries to participate in a presentation and discussion on the COM Mexico School of Judges.  Wishing COM-Mexico the upmost success! 

AFO was represent by Ricardo Sanchez, Jose Zelada, Jorge Garcia and Julio Masferrer.

NEW Update: This has been in the works for a long time and am glad to see it come to a fruition.  Introducing the National Bird Judges Association NBJA Coordinators: (Top Left) Orlando Perez NCJ/US General Coordinator/ Song Bird Division,(Top Middle) Daniel Maldonado Division Coordinator of Type Canaries, (Top Right)  Marilena Salmones Division Coordinator of  Psittacidae & Parakeets, (Bottom Left) Armando Lee Division Coordinator of the Exotic Section, (Middle Bottom) Jose Zelada Division Coordinator of Colorbred Section and (Bottom Right) Marco                                                                                                       Valenzuela General Secretary. 

A website will be available shortly outlining and providing additional information in the next coming weeks.  More information to come! 

The American Federation of Ornithology thanks the Agapornis Breeders & Exhibitors - International for there participation and assistance in launching the Psittacidae & Parakeets Division. 

Election Results. The American Federation of Ornithology will like to announce the Nomination and Election of Ricardo Sanchez as the new President of the Federation (AFO).

We want to thanks our Founding President Juan Carlos Vasquez for all his hard work and dedication during his term.

The American Federation of Ornithology welcomes it's newest member the American Association of Spanish Timbrado Breeders. 

We want to thank and welcome Orlando Perez (President) and all its members to the Federation. 

Confederation Ornithologique Mondiale Congress Meeting Minutes

January 21st.  2017 (10am Almería, Spain) 

Opening

COM President Carlos Fernando Ramoa calls to order the meeting. The President starts his opening monologue welcoming all representative to the Congress. Roll call of the countries begins for voting privilege and to turn in voting proxy representation documentation.

The President Ramoa asked Miguel Penzo (President of COM-Spain and this year’s host of the world show) to address the congress.  He welcomes all in his address.

Pending Business

Point 1.
Com President Ramoa addresses the congress with a welcoming statement. His message to all is "we should be all united". That is his vision. We should spend our time working on important external issues not our internal issues that take away from our time.

Point 2.
The report from the General Secretary Marie-Claire Tarnus was read and accepted.  

Point 3.
The report from the General Treasury Christian Lemee was read and accepted.

Point 4.
The Organization of the next show was supposed to be hosted in France.  Due to internal problems, they have withdrawn from hosting the World show next year. Thus, the Italian organization will assume the responsibility of hosting the World show in 2018. The show will be held in Cesena, Italy.

The Italian Representative take the stage and formally addresses the congress and invites everyone to next year’s event.

Point 5.

The COM President Ramoa announces that in 2019 the Dutch Federation will host the World show. They had submitted a proposal and has been formally accepted. The Dutch Representative was asked to address the congress. He welcomed everyone to the Netherlands in 2019. The COM President Ramoa also announced that the world show will return to Portugal in 2020. The site is yet to be determined.

It was also announced that the COM is accepting proposals for the 2021 until June 17th 2017.  Currently they have only received a proposal from Turkey to host the show that year.  

Point 6

The COM President Ramoa reviewed the requested list of COM sanctioned shows for this upcoming years.  So far, there have been 29 requested for sanctioned shows. Some of the request came from the following countries:

Spain 5 shows
Hungry 1 shows
Italy 10 shows
Holland 3 shows
Portugal 4 shows
Turkey 1 show
Swiss 1 show

Point 7.

Election of Directors. The position of Vice President and Deputy Secretary were up for election.

Election for Vice President.
There was only one nomination for the position of Vice President. The candidate was Giuseppe Ielo from Italy. Ielo was elected uncontested.  Mr. Ielo addressed the congress and gave everyone his thanks for being elected.

Election for deputy Secretary.
The COM received 2 nominations for the position. The incumbent deputy secretary Mr. Ruben (Israel) and Mr. Llemos from Spain (currently the COM-Spain Secretary).  Each candidate addressed the Congress speaking in French, English and Spanish.  The election took place with each country present voted.  Mr. Llemos won the election 29 to 9.  He will hold the position for a term of 3 years. Mr. LLemos addressed the congress and thanked everyone.

New Business

Point 8.
The COM President Ramoa discussed the official statues that the COM is to promote two World shows one in the Northern hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. He went on to discuss his idea of re-organizing the Southern Hemisphere.  He stated there are two new countries that have been added one in Northern America and one in Central America.  He will be contacting all countries involved to set up the meeting to re-organize that hemisphere.  The COM cannot solve the Southern Hemisphere issues and believe this re organization will help with the internal problem they have been experiencing.  He also discussed the need for a second show due to the different breeding and molting cycles in the Southern Hemisphere.  He reminded everyone that the COM is one organization not a partial.

In conclusion, the South, Central and Northern American countries will be called into a meeting to treat this matter.  
Point 9.
The COM President Ramoa announces the induction of a new country in the COM. Lebanon. The representatives take the stage and address the congress. (Photo ensued)

The COM President Ramoa then discussed that the country of Mexico is in its final process of being accepted into the COM. They should be finalized by next year.

Point 10.

The COM has decided to adopt a new software to manage all shows. This software will allow better record management of show results by the COM. Only with the cooperation of each country will the COM have the records of all the breeders of each member of country. More information to follow when the software becomes available.

Point 11.

Reviewed the Portugal proposal on rings and the information that is in-scripted on them.  The Rings are currently purchased through National Organization. Discussed changing the way the rings are coded for identification. This change will be for the ring to have the following codes: “The four points of the Ring”- The code for the country, Federation, Breeder number and Letter for ring diameter identification.  This is currently under negotiations.

Conclusion: this proposal is to make ring identification a uniformed process. This point was tabled with further discussion and communication to follow.

Point 12.
The COM wants to start a study on the Avian Flu in canaries. The Canary makes up 80% of the World shows. The COM is trying to identify finding assistance from avian veterinary authority to help prove that our canaries are not susceptible to the avian flu. Discussed

Point 13.
No country has brought any new proposal to discuss any new business at today congress. The president reminded everyone that any New business that needs to be discussed must be submitted to in writing prior to the Congress meeting.

The COM President Ramoa commences the closure of the Congress. He invites the former COM President who was in attendance to address the congress.  Closing ceremonies begin and the Congress ends.