MINUTES OF THE ALSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEETING JANUARY 13, 2004

 

 

 

Present

 

            Dick Sheehan, President

            Dwayne Flinn, Vice President

            Jeff Jones, Treasurer

            Carolyn Myers, Secretary

            Carolann Evans, Director

            Sandy Wickham, Director

            Niki Kuklenski, Director

            Cheryl Ryberg, Executive Secretary

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

            Motion made by Niki Kuklenski to approve the November minutes

            as written.  Seconded by Jeff Jones.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

Treasurer's Report

 

            Checking Account                  $  32,787

            Investment Account                  54,388

 

            Motion made by Dwayne Flinn to approve the Treasurer's report.

            Seconded by Sandy Wickham.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

Executive Secretary's Report

 

            72 shows registered for 2004

            13,002 animals registered

            52 new memberships issued

            3550 membership applications sent, including financial statement

            and new recording forms (from 2001)

            1200 membership applications received and processed

            168,363 hits on the ALSA web site (apx. 4500 hits per month)

 

            Show Packet One has been reworked to fit 13th Edition Handbook, posted

            to web site.  200 letters were mailed to show superintendents to direct them

            to download at their convenience, and alerted the show superintendents to

            the new rules and fees that need to be incorporated into the entry forms.

            This has been extremely well received and will save ALSA  printing and

            mailing fees.  If the superintendent misplaces something, they have the

            convenience of downloading.  This has encouraged at least two potential

            show superintendents to put a show together.

 

            Show Packet Two has been completely overhauled and updated and sent

            to the printer.

 

            A request came into the ALSA office to post entry sheets to the ALSA web

            site.  Grant (our web host) and I conferred and agreed that $5 per page or

            $20 per link would cover the expense to do so.  This would enable show

            superintendents to send out postcards directing entrants to the ALSA web

            site and save them considerable mailing and printing expense.  This will

            also continue to direct members to the web site. 

 

            Motion made by Sandy Wickham to adopt the practice of posting entry

            sheets on the ALSA web site, at a charge of $5 per digitized page of $20

            per link to be posted.  Seconded by Carolyn Myers.  Following a vote the

            motion passed.

 

Old Business

 

            A.            Communications

 

                        1.  Correspondence via e-mail was received from Joe Payne, Polly

                             Huggins, Debi Garvin, Julie Heggie, Larry Lewellyn, Shawn

                             Norman, Sharon Beacham, Barb Harris, Stan Jacobs, Pamela

                             Wilson and Dawne Moore regarding awarding the Showring

                             contract to Able Publishing.   A reply will be drafted by

                             President Sheehan and e-mailed.  The entire membership

                             will receive this information with the next handbook change

                             mailing.

 

                        2.  Correspondence via e-mail was received from Mary Jo Miller

                             with regard to ALSA providing financial statements to members.

                             President Sheehan responded that the board is in the process

                             of developing a Finance & Budget committee to make

                             recommendations on a financial reporting system that will be

                             more user friendly.

 

            B.            Web Shop Contract

 

                        Motion made by Carolyn Myers to approve a contract for a web

                        shop.  Seconded by Carolann Evans.  Following a vote the motion

                        passed.   President Sheehan will draft a contract.

 

            C.            Protest Committee Recommendations

 

                        Motion made by Dwayne Flinn to accept committee

                        recommendations that protest was not valid.  The motion

                        did not receive a second.

 

                        Following discussion, a motion was made by Jeff Jones to reject the

                        committee recommendation and accept that the protest

                        was valid.  The protestor will have their protest fee returned.

                        The judges violated a handbook rule, but their actions were taken

                        with the best interests of ALSA in mind.  Nothing will be put in

                        the files nor any disciplinary action taken on the judges involved.

                        Motion seconded by Dwayne.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        Dwayne Flinn is to follow up on a second protest that is currently

                        being considered.

 

            D.            Showring Contract

 

                        Able Publishing's proposal to produce Showring magazine was

                        discussed via e-mail by the Board.  Motion made by Jeff Jones

                        on December 9th to accept Able's proposal.  The motion was seconded

                        by Carolyna Myers.  The Board voted as follows:  Aye, Jeff Jones,

                        Carolyn Myers, Carolann Evans, Sandy Wickham.  No, Dwayne

                        Flinn and Niki Kuklenski.

 

                        On December 16th a special meeting was called by President Sheehan

                        to discuss Able Publishing's contract.  The contract was sent to the

                        ALSA attorney resulting in several changes.  President Sheehan was

                        to contact Able Publishing to discuss the proposed change prior to

                        the January board meeting.                     

 

            E.            National Committee

 

                        A recommendation is to be sent to the National Committee regarding

                        youth judging team to be judged at nationals.

 

                        Motion made by Dwayne Flinn that this is to be the last time the

                        youth will have to pay a youth judging fee year after year.  After

                        a one time $10 fee youth will not have to pay this fee in future

                        years.  Seconded by Jeff Jones.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        A strategic planning committee was requested for the Grand National

                        open meeting.  It was determined that the Planning and Policy

                        Committee already has this responsibility.

 

New Business

 

            A.            Motion made by Jeff Jones to reestablish a Finance and Budget

                        Committee.  Seconded by Dwayne Flinn.  Following a vote the

                        motion passed.

 

                        Motion made by Jeff Jones to have Joe Payne serve as the chair

                        of the Financial and Budget committee.  Seconded by Dwayne

                        Flinn.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        On February 1, 2004, Jeff Jones moved to rescind the resolution

                        relating to Joe Payne being the Chair of the Finance and Budget

                        Committee adopted at the January 13, 2004, Board meeting.  The

                        motion was seconded by Dick Sheehan.  Jeff Jones, Carolyn Myers,

                        Sandy Wickham and Dick Sheehan voted yes; Dwayne Flinn,

                        Carolann Evans and Niki Kuklenski voted no.  The motion passed.

 

            B.            Performance Committee

 

                        The following rule book changes were submitted for

                        consideration:

 

                        1.  The same llama shall NOT be entered in two different performance

                             divisions.   (This was approved and shall be changed to read

                             as follows:

 

                             "Llama entries in performance classes are restricted in that a

                             llama may be entered in a youth class or a non-youth class

                             (open, advanced or notice classes), but not both.)"

 

                        Motion made by Carolyn Myers, seconded by Carolann Evans.

                        Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        2.  Performing multiple obstacle requirements at one location.  (This

                             was approved and shall be changed to read as follows:

 

                             If more than one obstacle requirement is performed at the same

                             location, each obstacle must be clearly defined as a specific task.

                             At the completion of each obstacle the exhibitor must pause and

                             receive acknowledgement from the judge that the task was

                             completed or attempted for the multiple obstacle sequence.)

 

                        Motion made by Dwayne Flinn to approve item #2.  Seconded by

                        Jeff Jones.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        3.  Pack Class - All Divisions:  Llama twelve-month-old minimum age.

                             (This was not approved.)  Llamas must be at least 18 months old to

                             compete in Open, Novice or Advanced Pack Classes.

 

                        4.  Obstacle accessories shall all be consistent in design for each

                             competitor and llama.  (This was approved and shall be changed

                             to read as follows:

 

                             All obstacles and obstacle accessories, i.e., leg wraps, poncho,

                             llama blanket, hat, etc., must be consistent in design for all llamas

                             and exhibitors. )

 

                        Motion made by Niki Kuklenski to approve item #4.  Seconded by

                        Dwayne Flinn.  Following a vote the motion passed.

 

                        5.  Petting Rule:  Return to previous rule.  (This was  not approved.)

                             Crowd petting and touching.  You can only use exhibitors or ALSA

                             members as petters.

 

                        6.  Rule Book Changes in ALSA Handbook:  Where appropriate the

                             previous rule should be included along with any amendment.

                             (This was not approved.)   Rule book change will be denoted by

                             striking through the old rule in bold.

 

            The Board requested that the Performance Committee look into alpaca

            pack classes and make recommendations.

 

            The National Performance Committee has made recommendations

            for next year at nationals.  They are making every effort to have

            things run in a timely and professional manner.

 

C.        Judges Committee Recommendations

 

                        A.  Handbook changes recommended to accommodate the new

                              suri division

 

                             1.  Part E, Section 3, Paragraph A: 

 

         "All four halter wool division classes."

 

                             2.  Part D, Section 2, Paragraph A(3): 

 

         "All four halter wool divisions as described in Part I.1.A and B."

 

                             3.  Part F, Section 2, Paragraph A: 

 

         "All four halter wool division classes."

 

                             4.  Part H, Section 2, Paragraph B:

 

                                  1.  Suri wool

                                  2.  Light wool

                                  3.  Medium wool

                                  4.  Heavy wool

 

                             5.  Part I, Section 1, Paragraph A:  Add: 

 

         "Suri llamas have a naturally balanced athletic type which

            may appear more narrow than llamas of other fiber types

            when viewed from the front or rear aspect.  The fleece of a

            suri llama should have a natural luster and hang and drape

            over the llama's body, usually forming a natural part along

            the spine.  The fibers are grouped into a very distinctive and

            well-defined lock structure, which is indicated by the many

            individual separate locks of fiber formed at the skin and

            carrying out to the ends of each lock.  The fleece should

            be lustrous, the locks independent and consistent in size,

            and the degree of wave or spiral content throughout the

            neck and body."

 

                             6.  Part I, Section 1, Paragraph B:  Add subparagraph 8.

 

                                    "The Suri wool division will be judged prior to light, medium

                                    and heavy wool.  This is to permit animals that do not fit into

                                    the Suri division to be moved into the appropriate traditional

                                    wool division.

 

                             7.  Part I, Section 1, Paragraph B:  Add subparagraph 9.

 

                                    "It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to apply the wool

                                    division descriptions in Part I, Section 1, paragraph A and

                                    enter animals in the most appropriate wool division.  If an

                                    exhibitor is unsure of the wool division, the exhibitor should

                                    ask the judge at the exhibitors meeting what procedure will

                                    be used to move animals.  It is the responsibility of the halter

                                    judge to determine whether animals have been entered in the

                                    appropriate wool division, and, if not, to move the animal to

                                    the appropriate division."

 

                             8.  Part I, Section 1:  Add subparagraph D.

 

                                    "With respect to the Suri wool division, at show management's

                                    discretion, if there are fewer than three (3) llamas in any age

                                    division, age divisions may be combined; that is, if there are

                                    fewer than three (3) juvenile females, they may be combined

                                    with yearling females, and so on.  Under no circumstances

                                    will males and females be combined.  After age combination,

                                    if there are too few to make qualifying classes, the suri llamas

                                    may be shown with the appropriate traditional wool division.

 

                        Motion made by Jeff Jones to adopt the recommended Handbook

                        changes.   Seconded by Sandy Wickham.  Following a vote the motion

                        passed.

 

            D.  Animal ID

 

                        Request for ALSA to have a liaison to the Llama Community

                        Permanent ID Commission.  President Sheehan will be the

                        liaison.

 

Committee Reports

 

            Alpaca Committee

 

                        Request made to accept show entries of alpacas with pending

                        registrations.  Due to DNA testing registrations are severely

                        backlogged at ILR.  The Board agrees to accept pending

                        registrations on a temporary basis (2004 only).  The situation

                        will be revisited in 2005, if need be.

 

            Education Committee

 

                        The education committee recommends a beginning fiber clinic

                       be held May 21, 22 and 23, 2004, in Hudson, Wisconsin at the

                        Phipps Center, hosted by Fran Soukup.   The clinic has been

                        approved by the judges committee.

 

                        Motion made by Dick President Sheehan  to accept the committee's

                        recommendation.  Seconded by Sandy Wickham.  Following a vote

                        the motion passed.

 

            Election Committee

                       

                        No report

 

            Ethics Committee

 

                        No report

 

            Fiber Committee

 

                        Premission requested to have a co-chair to the committee. 

                        Committee will still be limited to 7.  Permission was granted

                        by the Board.

 

            Grand National Committee

 

                        The committee is gearing up for the 2004 Grand National and

                        will having a meeting the week of January 12th.  The Grand

                        Nationals Performance Committee has made recommendations.

 

            Handbook Committee

 

                        No report.

 

                        The committee will receive changes adopted by the board at

                        this meeting.

 

            Judges Committee

 

                        The following are items which the Judges Committee requests

                        action by the Board:

 

                        1.  New Judge Certification

 

                             The committee recommends the following certifications based

                             upon the results of the advanced judging clinic held in October

                             in New Braunfels, Texas.  These recommendations take into

                             consideration the opinion of the clinic instructor, apprenticeship

                             evaluations and previous livestock experience.  These certifications

                             are for a period of three years.

 

                                    Darrell Anderson                    Level II

                                    Bill Feick                           Level I

                                    Philip Feiner                         Level I

                                    Ken Forster                                    Level I

                                    Margaret Henry                    Level I

 

                        2.  Judge Recertification

 

                             The committee recommends the following recertifications based

                             upon the results of the advanced judging clinic held in October

                             in New Braunfels, Texas.  These certifications would be for a

                             period of three years.

 

                                    David Allen                           Level II

                                    Jan Gordon                                    Level I

 

                             The committee recommends the following recertifications based

                             upon continuing education credits.  Recertifications would be for

                             a period of three years.

 

                                    Penny Davidson                    Level III

                                    Patti Fischer                                    Level II

                                    Mike Haumschild                 Level III, Performance

                                    Tami Lash                            Level III

                                    Mark Smith                           Level III

 

                        3.  Changes in Certification Level

 

                             The committee recommends granting the following requests for

                             changes in certification level.

 

                                    Terry Duespohl                    From Level II alpaca to Level III

                                                                                    alpaca

                                    Tami Lash                            From Level II alpaca to Level III

                                                                                    alpaca

                                     Sandi Wilson                         From Level II llama to Level III

 

                        Motion made by Jeff Jones to approve the Judges Committee

                        recommendations.  Seconded by Sandy Wickham.  Following

                        a vote the motion passed.

 

                        4.  Scheduling of Judging Clinics

 

                             It has apparently become the practice that the judges' training

                             clinics are scheduled through the Education Committee.  The

                             Judges Committee suggest that the Board review Part B,

                             Section 2, Paragraph G of the 13th Edition of the Handbook.

                             This paragraph clearly states that the responsibility for the

                             scheduling of clinics rests with the Judges Committee.  The

                             Judges Committee is requesting that the practice of scheduling

                             clinics through the Education Committee be eliminated and the

                             policy in the handbook be followed.

 

                        5.  Unfilled Committee Position

 

                             It is requested that Jennifer Doran Lane be approved to fill the

                             vacant position currently existing on the Judges Committee.

 

                        6.  Increase in Judges Dues

 

                             At the judges' meeting held during the Grand National, many

                             judges expressed their dismay at the magnitude of the increase

                             of a judge's dues.  They also requested that they be provided with

                             information about how judges' dues are used.  The committee

                             is therefore respectfully requesting this information so that it

                             can be passed on to the judges.  The judges committee also

                             recommends that the term "judge's dues" be replaced with the

                             more correct term "judge's license," and feels that the fees

                             should be identifiable with the judging program.

 

                        Motion made by Dwayne Flinn to approve all requests of the

                        Judges Committee, with the exception of #4, which should go

                        back to the two committees for a resolution.  Jeff Jones seconded

                        the motion.  Following a vote the motion carried.

 

            Membership Committee

 

                        Carolann Evans is working on putting together a new membership

                        committee.

 

            Nominating Committee

 

                        No report

 

            Performance Committee

 

                        No report

 

            Planning & Policy Committee

 

                        Proposed changes to the bylaws and standing rules are in the

                        committee parliamentarian's hands for review.  Recommendations

                        will be sent to the board soon.

 

            Protest Committee

 

                        (See board action under Old Business.)

 

            Publications Committee

 

                        (See board action under New Business.)

 

            Regional Committee

 

                        $500 received from Susan Gray.

                       

                        Motion made by Sandy Wickham to approve Jefferson, Wisconsin,

                        facility for Great Lakes Regionals, with Bill Schultz and Kathy

                        Brook as superintendents.  Seconded by Carolann Evans.  Following

                        a vote the motion passed.

 

            Show Management Committee

 

                        No report.

 

            Youth Committee

 

                        No report.

 

            Suri Committee

 

                        Judges recommendations regarding the new suri division have

                        been forwarded to the Suri Committee.  No response has been

                        received to date.

 

 

Motion made by Niki Kuklenski to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Jeff Jones.

Following a vote the motion passed.

 

 

                        THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR

                        MARCH 9, 2004, AT 8 O'CLOCK P.M. EST

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Myers, Secretary