The Angelfish Society Standards Committee What is it

The Angelfish Society: Standards Committee What is it? Why is it? What does it do? A presentation for the October 18, 2009 TAS Meeting By Tamar Stephens 1

Purpose of this presentation n The founding members of TAS considered this committee to be the most important committee in TAS, and central to the purposes of TAS. n Every two years, on odd numbered years, elections are held to select the members of the Standards Committee. n This presentation will tell you why this committee exists and how it serves the purposes of TAS. n Elections for Standards Committee members will take place in December 2009. This presentation will help you understand the role of this committee so you can make more informed decisions for voting, and maybe so you will enter your name as a candidate for this committee! 2

TAS has two kinds of Committees n Standards Committee (Bylaws Article VI) n All Other Committees (Bylaws Article VII) – – – Permanent committee Elected members, May not be terminated by the Board of Directors – Standing committees – Appointed by the Board of Directors to advance the work of TAS (such as website, newsletter, etc. ), or special committees for particular projects – Always subject to the final authority of the Board of Directors 3

Standards Committee n Five members n Two year terms (elected at annual meeting on odd years) n Totally responsible for the development of TAS angelfish naming standards n Its proposed standards may be adopted or rejected by TAS Board of Directors, but may not be modified by the Board 4

Responsibilities The bylaws specify these core responsibilities: n Rule on a proposed new mutation name within 90 days of being submitted by either a TAS member or the Board. – Bylaws specify the research that needs to be submitted for evaluation. – Bylaws provide guidelines to the committee for determining naming standards. n Establish official gene notation to be used by TAS members. 5

What has the Standards Committee done so far for TAS? n In addition to performing the core duties specified by the bylaws, the Standards Committee has also developed resources and materials for TAS related to naming angelfish, genetics, identifying phenotypes and genotypes, and supporting good breeding practices. n The next few pages describe specific accomplishments of the committee. 6

In 2001… n Genetic notation – Developed TAS rules for genetic notation – Identified the known mutations and their genetic notation – Provided methods for submitting a new gene mutation to the committee n Created the genetic calculator n Wrote the genetics calculator guide 7

In 2002… n Angelfish Growth Stages – Defined what is meant by egg, wigglers, fry, juveniles, and adults n TAS Recommended Standard Angelfish Sizes – Defined metric and English measurements for dime, nickel, quarter, half dollar, dollar and dollar plus sizes for angelfish. – Size is based on body size, excluding finnage A “quarter” size angelfish has a body about the same diameter as a US quarter coin. 8

2003… n Conformation standards – Defined standards for physical traits: body, fins, color, size, and deportment n Culling guide – Identified specific defects for which angelfish should be culled – Identified culling methods 9

2005… n Original Phenotype Library – Began collected photos for use in a phenotype library – Created volume 1 of a planned 13 -volume library 10

2007… n New Phenotype Library (different organization from what was planned for original phenotype library) – First section has single-locus phenotypes – Second section has multi-locus phenotypes – Has descriptions and photos for over 60 phenotypes 11

Current work in progress… n Draft Manual for Identification and Verification of the Genetics of a New Mutation of Pterophyllum scalare (Anticipated release of draft manual: January 2010) – How to identify a new gene or allele – What kinds of crosses to make to verify a new mutation and how to interpret the results – Guidelines for submitting information to the Standards Committee – Breeding record template to simplify record keeping – Identifies mutations for which genetics has not been fully documented – Identifies suspected genetic defects for which genetics is not fully documented 12

Current work in progress (cont. ) n Continued updating of the Phenotype Library n Evaluation of available data on the platinum phenotype (anticipated completion in early 2010) n Preliminary work on drafting a Judging Manual (no release date established yet) 13

What else does the Standards Committee do? n Fields questions from members and non-members asking for assistance in identifying the phenotypes of angelfish. n Reviews materials for various purposes, such as reviewing presentations. Many of the monthly meeting presentations have been developed by Standards Committee members. n Fields questions from members and non-members on other angelfish related topics. – Most recent was from a high school girl designing a senior project to evaluate the effects of water depth on fin development. 14

Who May Serve on the Standards Committee? n The bylaws say: “It will consist of five members who are in good standing with TAS” (Article VI, Section 1) 15

What are the qualifications to serve on the committee? n The bylaws don’t specify any qualifications. But here are some common sense ones that I would look for in a candidate: Ø Has experience keeping and raising angelfish Ø Is be able to evaluate the quality of the physical characteristics of an angelfish, and have the ability to identify defects Ø Knows how to identify common phenotypes Ø Has a basic understanding of genetics Ø Has a basic understanding of the scientific method Ø Willing to learn! Ø Willing to devote some time to doing committee work!!!!! 16

December 2009 Elections and You n If you believe you can contribute on this committee, please consider running for a position. n If you know of someone you believe to be qualified, please encourage that person to run, and come to the December Business Meeting to nominate that person. n Vote in the December election for the people you believe will do the best job on the Standards Committee. 17

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