So if you have ever looked at the cute cat calendars for sale in your local card shop and wished that a picture of your beloved feline friend could be on them, here's your chance to make them a star, as we print 3,000 calendars each year so there's an ample amount of "Ahhh" opportunities for your Siamese. Dig out that new digital camera you got last Christmas and send them in today!

Proceeds from the sale of the calendar are used to help fund the website which benefits all of the Siamese Rescue organizations. By participating in this project, you are helping to ensure that the Siamese Cat Rescue Center can continue with its mission. The calendar will be available for purchase at TheSiameseStore.com online retail store sometime in September, just in time for Christmas giving.

Contest Rules & Requirements
NOTE: The Entry form is inconveniently located at the bottom of this page, in the hope you'll read the instructions.

• Entries will be accepted from March 1^st through May 31^st. Any entry received after that date (May 31^st 11:59pm EST) will not be included in the selection process, do not pass GO, and does not collect $100.

• Previous winners can submit new images every year (ie you can win each year, but it has to be with a different cat). If you submit an image of a cat that previously won in ANY category, it must have won before, or in the 2008 calendar. And you can only win one spot on the calendar each year, max. So if you have lots of rescued Siamese and a BIG camera (digital of course), you're set.
  
  

• Digital images are HIGHLY recommended.
  
  
• Images taken with a digital camera will be accepted for all categories (And why wouldn't they be?). Digital photos must be taken with the highest size and/or resolution setting available on your camera. You'll need at least a 4 Megapixel camera to get enough resolution for the larger picture, so get out the instruction book if you don't know how to set it to the highest setting.
  
  
• Entries for the 13 larger entries (Cover and Monthly) should be horizontally formatted so they can be enlarged enough for a 13" wide by 9" high page (eg. wider than taller). They do NOT need to be 13" by 9" originally, but probably around 5" by 7" and/or 1024px at 300 dpi (just set your camera for BIG).
  
  
• Entries for the 12 smaller entries should be vertically formatted so they can be used as a 2" wide by 4" high image (eg. taller than wider). A standard 4" by 6" image should work fine for this entry.
  
  
• All submissions should be in focus, not exceptionally dark (difficult with Seal Points) and with backgrounds that won't cause someone to visit their Optomitrist.
  
  
• Only photographs with a glossy finish will be accepted (See digital images above).
  
  
• If you submit digital images (did we say HIGHLY yet?), do NOT make any modifications to the original picture. We'll make any modifications if they're selected.
  
  
• So that your photograph(s) can be properly identified and so that we have your contact information if needed, please mark the name of the cat(s) on the back of the photo and clearly print your name, e-mail address, complete mailing address and home phone number starting with the area code. (It's best to use a label as to not damage the picture. Do not use a ball point or felt tipped marker, as it will bleed through and damage the picture). Better yet, send a digital image, as this sounds like way too much work!
  
  
• All entries must be made online, but entry fees can either be paid online or mailed in (Use the card Luke!)
  
  
• Images can be uploaded directly online if they do not exceed 10MB (OK, maybe 12+) in size. Images exceeding 10MB in size will need to be snail mailed to us on a CD (Good for submitting many images, bad if you submit them on May 31st).
  
  
• This IS a Rescued Siamese Cat Calendar, so submitted images should have a rescued Siamese in the photo (duh). It's okay to have other critters in the photo with the Siamese, just be sure they don't have two legs. The rescued Siamese doesn't have to be from any of the Siamese Rescue programs, but MUST be a rescued Siamese/Siamese mix of some kind.
  (For the purposes of this contest, we define a "Rescued Siamese Cat" as a cat that was rescued from a Shelter, Rescue Organization, through Shelter and Rescue contact lists (for example, Siamlist), or off the streets (stray). Cats purchased (or obtained) from breeders, pet shops or individuals typically do not qualify unless they have gone through the "Rescue experience". Contact us for a ruling if you believe you have such an exception.
  
  
• All cats must be portrayed in indoor situations, so please no pictures of your cat out in the backyard chasing mice. (We advocate indoor only homes is why).
  
  
• Photographs and digital images are NOT returnable and become the sole property of Siamese Cat Rescue Center which reserves the right, without further consideration, to use all photographs submitted for inclusion in the 2010 Calendar or in any other calendars, publications, media, related promotions or just about anything else we can think of (ie they might end up on a coffee mug some day, who knows).
  
  
• There is a $5.00 entry fee for each photo to help offset printing costs, as we haven't been able to talk them into printing it for free yet. (And yes, we know this doesn't really have anything to do with Photos, but it didn't fit anywhere else)

All entries will be considered for all categories, including the cover, persuant to the previously stated Rules above about previous winners/entries/etc, and photo requirements (Sounds awfully legal, no?).

• Cover Entries:
  There will be 1 entry selected for the Calendar cover because there's only one cover. (See Photo Requirements above)
  
• Cat of the Month Entries:
  There will be 12 entries selected in this category, one for each month unless we need to add one extra because the earth is spinning slower. These are the larger images we talked about in "Photo Requirements" (you read those, right?)
  
• Monthly Insert Entries:
  There will be 12 entries selected in this category as well. These are the smaller images we discussed above, blah, blah, blah...
  
  

• All entries will be reviewed for technical and design merit by our crack team of graphic artists (Think Top Chef reviews). Those entries which are deemed acceptable for use will then be selected. Twelve large and twelve small winning pictures will be selected for each month and one picture will be selected for the calendar cover (I know we're repeating ourselves, but we thought it worthwhile to remind you that there are still only 12 months in a year.). Winners will be individually contacted by email in late August (Sorry, no Publishers Clearing House van). Due to the number of entries we get, we are NOT able to contact those that did not win, so if you don't hear from us in August, you can assume you didn't make this years calendar, so it's best you starting taking new photos for the 2011 calendar.
  
  

• Questions should be directed to: calendar@SiameseRescue.org

• Photos (both digital and paper(Grrrr)), and check payments should be mailed to:
  Siamese Cat Rescue Center
  366 Meander Run Rd
  Locust Dale, VA 22948
  (Please include the entry "Receipt" you receive after making your entry, or your UserID, when mailing entries to us so we can identify it.)
  Money Orders and Checks for the entry fee(s) should be made out to Siamese Cat Rescue Center and should be mailed along with your photo(s) to the address above. Please do not send cash unless you have enough for everyone.
  
  Digital images (under 5MB) can be emailed to:
  calendar@siameserescue.org
  Make sure to include your UserID or name in the Email.