82^st ARBA NATIONAL CONVENTION – 2005

                                         By Robert Bomia

                INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

                               

     The race to Indy the week of Oct. 23^rd was one that will long be remembered by all those that attended, and enjoyed in the festivities.   The National Convention in Indy concluded the magnificent year of celebration for our Flemish Giants 90^th year of existence.  It was even more fitting that our 90^th anniversary festivities were held at the same time as a record was set at the Indianapolis Convention for the most rabbits ever shown. 

 

     The Flemish Giant part of the Convention was as good as it could get.  It really is a benchmark for future Conventions.   We had 387 Flemish Giants Shown by 54 Exhibitors.  36 exhibitors in the Open showed 322 Flemish, and 18 exhibitors showed 65 Flemish in the Youth.   Congratulations to Rachelle, and Caleb Buuck for Best of Breed in the youth with a Sandy Sr. Doe (K40), and Peter Fabela, Best opp Breed youth with a Light Gray Sr. Buck (JL862).   Best of Breed in the open was by Robert And Kathy Bomia with a Sandy Sr. Doe (B0902 – “daughter to B0770”), and Best opp. Breed went to Allen and Tammy Bush with a very nice 6/8 Fawn buck (PB547).

 

     The Quality of Flemish Giants shown at this show was as good as it gets with many very outstanding rabbits in all the colors.  A few rabbits that I personally was impressed with were the BOV, Steel Gray Doe owned by Don, Karen, & Brad Clouse, and the BOSV, Steel Gray Jr. Buck owned by Frank & Judith Welch.   Also the Light Grays BOV, Senior Buck, by Alan Siktberg, and BOSV, Jr. Doe owned by Carlos Zappia were very outstanding rabbits.   Also one other rabbit that really impressed me was The Sandy Sr. Buck, R439B (Son of R109B), and owned by Bob and Lynn Bolyard.   He was a Dandy… Great Fur.   Every Breeder that exhibited deserves a Giant Congratulations.    Also thanks to Scott Williamson, and Jamie Green for and outstanding job of sorting the rabbits for the Flemish Federation.

 

     Having John Coon, Ind. (Top Brass) attending this show was by far the greatest thing that could happen to cap off our 90^th anniversary. (And his wonderful Wife Ardith).   John is the greatest legend that will ever exist in our organization.   He has been a member from 1928, and has over 77 years as a member of the Flemish Federation.   He is well known and respected by all Breeders, and has more knowledge of our club, its past members and events than any one I know of in the Flemish Federation.  (92 years old, and still pushing a lawn mower).  Jack Langley initiated the John Coon Top Brass Award for the Best-colored Sandy Flemish exhibited at the National Convention. (Must be won three times).   I was very honored to have My Jr. Sandy Doe, B051X, to be the first leg of this wonderful award.   And to have John Coon to have handled the award, and the pictures we took of him with the other members will be keep sakes for many years to come.  Thank you John for attending our 90^th anniversary show.   The Keith Forbush Award presented at the Michigan Show and the John Coon , Best Sandy Colored Flemish Giant, donated by Jack Langley are in honor of two great Flemish Giant Legends.

 

    The entire week of Flemish Giant activities that were hi-lighted by the Judging on Monday by Scott Williamson, and Jamie Green two outstanding ARBA Judges was a week of great fraternity, and fun for those that attended.  It was by far from end to end the most magnificent National Convention ever held.   Also to be noted is that both the Flemish Giant Best of Breeds in the Open, and Youth were 1^st runner ups in their classes for Best In Show…………… We are knocking on the door.

 

     As always the week would not have been as much fun without the daily inter actions of the exhibiters…  We met daily in Mabel Tobias, and her daughter Sue’s room to celebrate at night after all of us going out together to eat from the Flemish Headquarters.   Bill Mairs, and Doc Hall had many stories to share with us, and we also had fun with Carlos Zappia, and his wife Fern.  Fern likes to create fun, and left her peanut shells in Mabel’s bed for a joke.   We also had Vic Bloom, and Dave Parks go with us daily, along with many other members we ate together at the Red Lobster, and the Texas Road House………………  Had a Great time.

 

     Our meeting may have been one of the Best we have ever had with everyone participating with ideas. (Sec. Report in newsletter).   Our members contributed $660 for Specials for next year for Texas.   Financially, our club is in great shape, and we showed plus $200 from year to year.  (Allen Bush has done and outstanding job of managing the clubs money, and running a good budget).  We also discussed paying the judges at National Conventions, and Outlining Criteria for members to obtain to be eligible for the Honor Roll, and Master Breeders Award. (To be done in the near future).  Also asked to out line responsibilities of the Show Supt., and the Breed Chairperson.  We also included more trophies for the youth award for the National Convention. (Sec. Report).

 

     The awards at the Banquet, and out booth were the best I have ever seen.  The booth was set up by Frank and Judie Welch, and it got 3^rd place award from the National Convention Committee. ($90).   Also the Trophies, and awards were out of site, and the best ever seen and made by Frank Welch………A giant Thank You to Frank and Judie as well as to Mabel Tobias, daughter Sue, and Kathy Bomia and all the other Ladies, and members that spent time in our booth working.  This booth was a benchmark for others to try to beat (May never happen).  Also financially the booth raffle was a giant success for our club taking in more money than we ever have. (A great Convention for our Club).

 

     Mabel Tobias is a pillar to our organization in the help she has done for the Flemish Giant members over the years.  Someone said it has been 17 straight years that she has contributed outstanding beautiful quilts to our National Convention Raffle.   Mabel has also made many Conventions, she does not miss.  Thank you Mabel for the wonderful quilt, and the help from you, and your Daughter Sue with working in the Flemish Giant Booth during the week.

 

     The Banquet High lights:  Thanks to Tom Orr for getting our rooms, and banquet facilities at Ryan’s Steak House.

 

• Honor Roll- Inducted into the Flemish Giant Honor Roll this year was Tom and Debbie Orr, Ind.   Tom lost his wife Debbie but both Tom and Debbie are assets to our organization, and very deserving of the highest award given by the Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders.   Congratulations Tom, and Debbie.

The Honor Roll was presented by our Great Director from Pa., Mr. John Trone.

 

• Worst Flemish Giant Award (Toilet Seat)- Went to Victor Bloom, Mich.  He loved it and it cost our club and extra $5 to get a extra large toilet seat to fit Vic.  Presented by Robert Bomia, and Bob Bolyard

 

• Awards were presented-  All awards were presented after our great meal at Ryan’s Steak house.   Award presentation was by Allen Bush, Judie Welch, and John Trone.   Congratulations to all that got Sweepstakes, and Convention Trophies awards.

 

• Robert Bomia was presented with the AT&T Award, from Frank & Judie Welch, and the Out House Real Estate Office award from John Trone.  These will not soon be forgotten or to say Paybacks are ………………?

 

• A highlight of our Banquet was to have Harold May, and Roger Dent come and enjoy in the festivities.   I think both Harold, and Roger enjoyed the week, and the events of the Convention, as well as visiting old friends.

 

In Conclusion the National Convention could not have been a giant success without the hard work and dedication of our members.  My job as President could not be as easy without those individuals that excel to serve the membership.  For that I thank the following:  I know that I will miss someone, but if so I am in deep gratitude to all of you for helping out:

 

*  The Flemish Booth:   Thanks to Frank & Judie Welch for setting up this wonderful booth that was awarded third place.   Thanks to Mable Tobias, and daughter Sue for all the work at the booth along with Judie Welch, Frank Welch, Kathy Bomia, Emily Carter, and many others.

 

• The Rabbit Cage, and Show Table Set Up:  Thanks to Bob Bolyard for his part in setting up the rabbit pens and the show tables.   This was the best we ever had it.   The Judging tables had latches on the doors so that no member had to go behind the table and assist the judges.  Also the Rabbits had big cages, and the Judges tables were set up so all exhibiters could observe the rabbits being judged.   Thanks to all those that helped tear down.   Also, Bob Bolyard was part of the Judges Conf. To help educate Judges about the Flemish Giants.  These are good for our Breed, and I have personally done some in the past.
• Thanks to all those that wrote at the Judges Table, and helped carry rabbits and from the tables.  A big Thank you to the Children of Will, and Christi Sutton for putting the placement stickers on the Judge cards.
• Thanks to Doctor Dan Hall and all those that assisted in cleaning the aisles for us on a daily basis. 

 

Thanks to all that attended and participated in this wonderful event.  I really enjoyed meeting many new members of our club at the show, or those that I have not seen.  This included John Davis from Kansas City, who is back showing Flemish Giants.   Pictures will be in Newsletter, and web site.   Lets all plan on making the next Convention in Fort Worth, Texas even better than the one in Indy.  

 

For the Membership:  Robert Bomia, President