JANUARY 13, 2001

Meeting was held at the East Montgomery County Fairgrounds in New Caney, Texas at noon. There were 18 members and guests in attendance.

A homemade chili lunch preceded the business meeting.

I) President, Joanne Timm, opened the meeting and everyone introduced themselves and told their herd name and where they were from.

II) Minutes of the Summer 2000 meeting were read by secretary, Sandy Naumann. They were accepted as read by the membership.

III) Polly Mertens gave the Treasurer’s report, which was accepted as presented. Treasurer, Red Mertens, was absent because he was attending the NPGA Directors’ Meeting in Florida.

IV) A slate of officers nominated for 2001 was presented, and since all offices were unopposed, the slate was accepted by acclamation. The officers are as follows:

President – Vickie Sowders

Vice-President – Bonnie Cornelius

Secretary – Sandy Naumann

Treasurer – Red Mertens

Historian – Debbie Moreland

V) Old Business

A) Polly reported that the club had purchased a complete PA system and a Microchip Reader and microchips. Chips are available for purchase by club members at cost for $8.00 and by non-club members for $10.00.

B) Congratulations were given for two of our members elected to NPGA positions: Red Mertens for Director and Stacy Hamilton for Replacement Director.

VI) New Business

A) Polly reminded members to pay their 2001 club dues.

B) Polly checked on getting KH Club caps from the place that makes our t-shirts and jackets, and they would be $8.00/each. We decided to order the minimum of 24 to see how well they sell.

C) Polly reported that the Liability Insurance policy will expire just after the New Caney show. Since the LA Fair handles the insurance for the Fair show, it was decided to wait until later to renew the policy.

D) Bonnie reported that she had asked Red to bring up at the Director’s meeting the topic of promoting wethers. Members discussed possible ways that we might, as a club, encourage more people to keep and show wethers. Bonnie shared an idea of awarding points to wethers owned by club members for placing in a wether class. An award would be given at the end of the show year to the wether with the most points. Eva Muenzler agreed to handle the paperwork for this contest. The club also decided to double the class premiums fro the New Caney show on the four wether classes to encourage more wether entries.

E) We next talked about the upcoming Southeast Texas Pygmy Parade III in New Caney on March 3^rd and 4^th.

1) Judges will be April Seiler and Debbie McGhee. Sandy reported that she had checked on motels, and the new Hampton Inn near Deerbrook Mall has a free airport shuttle.

2) Bonnie will try to arrange for shavings from the same company we had last year.

3) Sandy reported that we need to order more ribbons, and members agreed to order enough for two shows since there is a volume price break.

4) Bonnie reported that she had spoken with Nancy Holcombe, and the 4-H club would like to do the Saturday evening dinner. They will offer a choice of fried fish filets (compliments of Glen Trout) or barbeque beef with side dishes and drinks. Price will be comparable to last year.

5) Several different class premium schedules were discussed, and the club decided to pay on 1^st –5^th: $7, $5, $3, $2, $1, with double premiums on all wether classes.

6) It was decided to leave the pen fee at $10/pen and to ask that no pens be used for tack since they are limited. Class entry fees will also remain the same as last year at $8.00 for non-members and $7.00 for members.

7) We discussed having some sort of group class at the show. Members decided on a Premier Breeder class with a trio of goats, one buck and two does, all owned by the exhibitor and with his own herd name. The winner and runner-up will receive plaques. There will be no entry fee for this class, but all the goats must also be entered in a regular class at the show.

F) Members discussed the idea of making a contribution from the club to a charitable organization. One idea was to donate money for a goat or other animal to the Heifer Project International, an organization which sends animals to needy families and educates them in animal care. Some members felt that the club should donate to a more local organization. Members decided that the club would sponsor a local Montgomery County 4-H child who could not afford an animal to raise and feed.

G) The Summer 2001 Club meeting date was discussed. The decision was made to hold the meeting on the first Sunday in June, 6/03/2001, at Red and Polly Mertens’ home in Shreveport.

H) Polly asked if the club members would support a bid to have the next Region 7 NPGA National Convention in Shreveport in 2003 or 2004. Everyone was in favor, and representatives from Tejas Club said that that club would also support the bid and help with the convention. Some members did express dissatisfaction with the host motel for last year’s Fair show, the Ramada Inn.

VII) Sandy read a thank you note from the Rihn family expressing appreciation for the sympathy cards and flowers the club sent. Mr. Rihn’s son, Tommy, passed away during the holidays.

VIII) The club presented outgoing president, Joanne Timm, with a certificate of appreciation for her service to the club during the past year.

IX) Meeting was adjourned and members shared new things they had learned about goats during the past year and several goat-related games were played.