KIDS AT HEART PYGMY GOAT CLUB
WINTER MEETING 2003
JANUARY 25, 2003
The
Winter 2003 meeting was held in Porter,
Texas at the Porter VFW Hall. There were 38 members and guests in attendance.
A
chili lunch preceded the meeting.
Club
president, Joanne Timm, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. She reminded those in attendance that it
was time to pay 2003 dues. She then
introduced Erin Canestaro, an FFA member from Porter. KAH is sponsoring Erin’s Boer goat project this year.
Sheri
and Kelli Merritt, club historians, showed the club scrapbook and asked that
members send them any pictures, etc. to include in it.
The
election of 2003 officers was then held.
Before ballots were passed out to voting members, Sandy Naumann read the
club’s statement from the website of
“Who We Are” and restated the club’s emphasis on fun, fellowship, and
harmony. Election officials, Elaine
Pritchard and Jeff Hering, counted the votes and announced the officers for
2003:
President Robert “Stetts” Stettler
Vice-president Bonnie
Cornelius
Secretary Sandy Naumann
Treasurer Red Mertens
Historians Sheri & Kelli Merritt
Newsletter
Editor Annie
Stettler
The
meeting was then turned over to the new president, Stetts.
Under
Old Business:
Secretary,
Sandy Naumann, read the Summer 2002 meeting minutes, which were approved as
read.
Club
treasurer, Red Mertens, gave a detailed treasurer's report, which was accepted
as presented. The balance in our
account as of January 25th, 2003 was $6,543.26, not including an
additional $500, which was Te Cabri’s contribution to the 2004 NPGA Convention
expenses.
Sandy
Naumann then presented the winners of the 2002 Wether of the Year Contest: $100 to Red Rock Hills Black Jack, owned by
Stacy Hamilton and $50 to Glenmar Pygmys Tejas, owned by the Trouts/Kyle
Holcombe.
Under
New Business:
The
club talked about whether or not to continue the Wether of the Year Contest for
2003. There was some discussion about
changing the way points are accumulated and giving gift certificates instead of
cash, but it was moved and all approved to continue the contest as it is now
for 2003.
Bonnie
Cornelius and Pamela Alvira reported on the up-coming New Caney show. Entry packets had already been sent
out. The club voted to again pay for
two people to help Glen Trout with the pen set-up. It was suggested that instead of having someone sit at the raffle
table at all time, tickets could be sold at specific times such as lunch,
check-in, etc, and someone could also walk around during the show selling them.
Polly
reported that KAH had sponsored several 4-H members in the Shreveport area last
year and Erin in Porter. The club also
sponsored a child in south Louisiana, but her pygmy was killed. She said that Lynn Farrar from Shreveport
was actively working on getting more 4-H children interested in showing
pygmies. They were told that they could
have their own pygmy goat classes at the Parish Fair instead of having to
compete with the bigger goats if the club would buy the trophies. After some discussion, the club voted to set
aside $500 for sponsorships for 2003.
Dispersal would be at the discretion of the officers. KAH also voted to sponsor two children with
MS in a 6-week equine therapy program in the Shreveport area at a cost of $90
each. Sheri and Kelli Merritt asked if
KAH would support a proposal to the Montgomery County Fair to allow pygmy goats
to be shown, especially by handicapped children. The club supported this idea.
Stetts
then reported on possibilities for another show in West Texas the weekend of
October 4-5. As an alternate site to
Boerne, he and Annie checked out a new facility in Schulenburg, Texas. One possible drawback there was the fact
that the pens had around six inches of loose sand and they did not want any
bedding to be used. Two suggestions
were to put down tarps with hay on top or to use “silk fencing” under the
bedding. The Stettlers also felt that
the people might consent to straw bedding if we raked it out completely after
the show. Also, there was some concern
about motel room availability since there will be an antique show that same
weekend. The club finally voted to have
the show in Schulenburg, with the Stettlers working with the people there for
the most favorable conditions.
Red
reported that the Louisiana State Fair representative, Tommy Lacy, stated that
entry fees for 2003 will go up to $15 per goat per day. They tried to work with him to keep it down
by saying that KAH would pay the show sanction fees and use our own ribbons,
but he could not commit that they would charge less than the $15. There was some opposition to KAH having the
show since it will probably mean that there will be fewer exhibitors bringing
fewer goats, but the club voted to sponsor it at least this year, partly
because of the growing 4-H participation in the showmanship and wether classes.
Wesley
Doss reported that Tejas will be sponsoring a show in Burnett, Texas on June
7-8, 2003 with Peggy Madonia as one of the judges – the other TBA.
Polly
reported that the club’s liability insurance will expire at midnight on March
2, 2003, the last day of the New Caney show.
We voted to wait and renew the policy just before the Schulenburg show
in October so that it would be valid for the 2004 New Caney show, as well as
the convention in June, 2004.
Polly
asked if KAH would like to buy a quilt square for the 2003 NPGA Convention
quilt. It will cost around $35 for the
square and a set-up cost, but the same logo can then be used for our square for
the 2004 quilt. The club voted to do
so.
The
club voted to buy a ½ page ad in the 2003 Convention Program, using the same ad
as we used in last year’s program.
Stacy
and Red gave a detailed report on the NPGA Director’s meeting held the previous
weekend. Notes on that report are
attached on a separate page.
The
meeting date for the Summer 2003 meeting in Shreveport was discussed. Voting between Saturday and Sunday was held,
and it was decided to have the meeting on Saturday, May 31, 2003 beginning at
11:30 am at Red and Polly Mertens’ home.
A discussion
took place about what basis KAH should contribute funds to the NPGA 2004
convention. It was agreed that the
money would be donated without any expectation of it being returned if there
were no funds left after expenses were paid.
The
meeting was then adjourned.
An
extensive discussion followed concerning the NPGA National Convention for 2004
to be held in Shreveport. Notes from
that discussion follow in a separate document.
REPORT ON NPGA DIRECTORS’
MEETING
1) Exhibitor’s show rule about not showing a goat with the judge’s herd name was put into effect in June, 2002. It was decided to leave this rule as is until January, 2004, when it will again be discussed.
2)
The 2003 budget was the biggest agenda item. While there was a small loss last year, there will be no
increases in fees. While the total
number of shows and memberships decreased nationwide last year, both increased
in Region 7.
3)
The wether award program was finalized. Red shared examples of the four levels a wether could achieve – bronze
for 3 wins, silver for 6, gold for 9, and diamond for 12. A wether can continue to be shown after
achieving the diamond level.
4)
The 2003 convention in Boise, Idaho was discussed.
5)
The 2003 officers for NPGA are as follows:
President Bill Granger
VP Ray
Hoyt
Secretary Linda Henwood
Treasurer Aaron
Esterline
PR Bill
Flickinger
6) The “+” sign will be put on a doe’s record after she has ten or more kids. You will have to send $2.00 to get the “+” sign on the registration certificate.
7)
Requirements for PGCH did not change.
8)
Action on how a felony conviction would affect an NPGA judge or
director was tabled so that an attorney could be consulted.