KIDS AT HEART PYGMY GOAT
CLUB
SUMMER MEETING 2002
JUNE 2, 2002
The
Summer 2002 meeting was held in Shreveport, Louisiana at Red and Polly Mertens’
home. There were 39 members and guests in attendance.
A
pot-luck lunch was enjoyed by all, with Kids at Heart club furnishing delicious
barbequed brisket and chicken cooked by Scott Mertens.
Club
president, Joanne Timm, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. There were members of four clubs in our
region represented – Kids at Heart, Te Cabri, Tejas, and Little Rascals. Those in attendance introduced themselves
and told to which clubs they belonged.
Secretary,
Sandy Naumann, read the Winter 2002 meeting minutes, which were approved as
read.
The
beautiful new club scrapbook, put together by club Historians Kelli and Sheri
Merritt, was passed around for club members to enjoy.
Jeff
Hering won the door prize, a deluxe folding chair donated by the Mertens.
Club
treasurer, Red Mertens, gave a detailed treasurer's report, which was accepted
as presented. The balance in our
account as of June 2nd was $4,034.03
Joanne
and Sandy discussed the Texas Hill Country Hoedown show to be held in Boerne,
Texas on September 14-15th.
Judges are George and Judy Starbuck.
The show will include a patriotic theme, with red, white, and blue
decorations. Members discussed whether
or not to cater the Saturday evening meal, and it was decided that we would
instead make reservations at a local restaurant. We talked about paying premiums, and it was voted to pay generous
wether premiums and give prizes to the champions. Club officers, Joanne, Sandy, and Bonnie, are planning a trip to
Boerne later in the summer to finalize local arrangements.
Red
reported that the club had purchased 50 more microchips. Members can purchase chips at the club’s
cost of $8.00 each. Sandy reported that
she had ordered enough ribbons for the Boerne show.
We
discussed additional club sponsorships of 4-H or FFA members. Several people indicated that they knew of
possible groups with children who could benefit from the club’s financial
support. It was decided that
information should be sent to Red about specific children. The club agreed to sponsor at least two or
more depending on how many were submitted.
Molly Farrar, the 4-H/FFA member the club sponsored last year, gave a
report on her market goat project and indicated that she would now be
concentrating on raising and showing her pygmy goats. Club members recognized the excellent job Molly did with her animals.
Bonnie
C. said that Marie Trout had asked her to bring up the possibility of expanding
the New Caney show to a 3-day/3-judge event.
Most members were not in favor of this idea, citing several points of
opposition including 1) additional work on the people putting on and working
the show, 2) inclement weather possibility with the Friday before the show this
year falling on February 28th, 3) fact that the show has always
drawn over 200 goats so there is no need to expand, and 4) the probability of a
very low turnout for a Friday show with the majority of exhibitors having to
work that day.
Sandy
reminded the member about the club’s 2002 Wether of the Year contest, with
points awarded for placings in individual wether classes. Exhibitors can email or mail Sandy their
wethers’ placings either after each show or at the end of the show season this
fall. The winner will receive $100 cash
and the runner-up $50.
Vicki
Sowders, Newsletter Editor, urged everyone to send news articles, sales lists,
recipes, etc. for the club newsletter.
She will be compiling it shortly.
Red
and Polly informed the group about the 2002 LA State Fair show to be held on
October 26-27th. Judges are
Susan Murphy and Kevin Kress. There may
be pen fees this year of $2.00 each.
The Mertens have found a new host motel this year – the Holiday Inn
Express quoted a room price of $58, which includes breakfast. The Fair will again handle all paperwork and
fees collection and send out premium books.
The club will send out a flyer like we did last year with the actual
deadline for entries, which will probably be the first weekend of October.
An
extensive discussion followed concerning submitting a bid for the NPGA National
Convention for 2004 to be held in Shreveport.
Notes from that discussion follow in a separate document.
The
meeting date for the Winter 2003 meeting in New Caney was set for the weekend
after the NPGA directors’ meeting in January.