ARBA TELECONFERENCE BOARD MEETING
April 8, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President Sue Barker at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Present were Sue Barker, Jean Kamenicky, Ed Julian, Margaret Walters, Joanne Smith, Steve Shafer, John Shelton, Maria Rooney, Toni Scholder and Lois Aylestock. Absent were Cindy Cieciwa and David Day.

MINUTES: Jean gave a re-cap of the already approved minutes from the Old and New board meetings that were held in West Springfield, MA in September 2005

TREASURERS REPORT: Jean reported that ARBA remains in good financial position. At the end of February 2006 the total income was $19,830.65 and expenses were $18,569.63. ARBA opened a small savings account at US Bank in the amount of $2000.00 this year and the Junior checking account balance was $2318.57. Jean also reported that the ARBA webmaster, Karl Ottenstein, located a web host for our website that offers more options and ease of operating plus a savings to ARBA of approximately $180.00 per year. The transition has already smoothly taken place.

OLD BUSINESS: National Sales: Maria gave her report saying that the Reno sale looked discouraging for ARBA. After polling many breeders in the west, there was not enough interest shown plus Greg Deakin felt the sale in Springfield in alternate years looked more promising for us. Much discussion followed with the board looking ahead to 2007. Maria will look further into the sales at Springfield and Sedalia. Steve and Lois will investigate the possibilities of a sale at Maryland and will report back to the board via email by May 15th.

2006 Regional Shows:
District 5: Toni reported that Marie Voelker is helping with the Junior show and activities. Western Washington Fair, Puyallup, WA is doubling the money that ARBA puts forth for premiums. The annual meeting with the banquet will be on Friday, September 8th and the banquet will be approximately $21.00 per person. The sheep shows will be on Saturday, September 9th. Folks need to get their entries in promptly as Puyallup sheep shows fill up quickly. Check with www.thefair.com for information and entry forms. The online premium book for sheep will be posted on June 1, 2006. Mark Eidman will be the judge.

District 3: John reported that the Region 3 show will be held Labor Day weekend at the Michigan State Fair and that plans are going smoothly. The Junior show will be held in conjunction with the open show.

District 1: Joanne reported that the District 1 show will be held Labor Day weekend at the Champlain Valley Fair, VT and that she and her committee are working with Champlain Valley who has been very cooperative. There are many activities and contests planned and the proposed judge is Geoff Rupert. Folks can check for more information at www.cvfair.com.

NSIP: Steve reported that we will be doing NSIP for at least one more year if they will have us. Anyone interested should contact Steve.

NAILE: Ed reported that, due to the lack of numbers, the Junior show is back on probation. The necessity of white showing with natural colored in the Junior show was brought up. Ed presented a “re-cap” of why we do white and natural colored at NAILE……..that is to keep the numbers up. Steve moved that ARBA allow white and natural colored sheep may show together at the Junior NAILE shows in both 2006 and 2007. Maria seconded. There was a little more discussion about the possibility of Juniors showing along with open. Ed didn’t think NAILE would allow that. The motion was then voted on and carried. Information on the NAILE Junior show will be posted on the Junior tab on the ARBA website.

Office Audit: Sue reported that members JoAnn Mast and Kathleen Zappelli visited the ARBA office…………as was suggested by the audit committee of 2005. The report was very satisfactory and Sue gave highlights of what was said.

Animal Registration Form: The ARBA application for registry form that can be downloaded into Excel is now ready for use from the ARBA website. Folks can simply type in their animal information using their computer. ARBA says “THANKS!” to Ryan Dilger, who is David Days’ son-in-law, for developing the program.

NEW BUSINESS:

Nominating committees: Sue advised that nominating committees should send in to the ARBA office the nominations by June 1st and they need to notify the candidates that the candidate resumes are due to the office by June 1st.

2006-07 Budget: Sue had emailed the budget document for review prior to the meeting and she briefly went over the items presented. Steve moved to accept the proposed budget; Margaret seconded and the motion was carried. Concerning the finances for the 2006 District 5 Regional show, Toni moved that the 2006-07 funds for District 5 be moved to this year to accommodate paying Puyallup at this time. Ed seconded and the motion was carried.

NAIS website statement: A statement had been worked up by Margaret and Steve representing ARBA’s thoughts on this issue and was presented to the board. Lois moved to accept the statement to be put on the website; Toni seconded and the motion was carried. It was agreed that Margaret and Steve will continue to monitor, for ARBA, the developments of the NAIS program. Jean will send the statement to webmaster Karl to put on the website. The statement is as follows:

The Board of the American Romney Breeders Association suggests the following with regard to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS):

1. Supports the concept of a national animal identification system.

2. Reminds members that NAIS is a work in progress and is voluntary. It is distinct from current federl requirements for sheep identification and tracking imposed by the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP).

3. Recommends that members contact the designated officials in their states to learn more about how they can participate in the evolving NAIS. Names of the officials can be found at the APHIS web site www.aphis.usda.gov

4. Will continue to monitor the NAIS activity and will act upon information if necessary.

All American Junior Sheep Show (AAJSS): Sue reported that in February 2006 District 1 director, Joanne Smith, requested that ARBA sponsor a Romney show at the 2006 AAJSS which is to be held at the Big E fairgrounds in late June-early July. It was noted that the AAJSS show had been brought to the attention of a few board members a couple months earlier, but mostly due to cost and seemingly a lack of interest at that time, no action was taken on it. The cost was reported to be $800 per show or $1,600 for both natural colored and white. There was a very short time-line for making a decision. Sue reported that she consulted with a subcommittee of the board and it was decided, due to several factors, that ARBA would not participate this year. It was pointed out that for 12 years AAJSS has been held only in the mid-west……….this 13th year is the first time it has been moved to a different territory and that when ARBA does spend funds for shows, it strives to give equal effort across the entire USA. Joanne expressed her disappointment and disagreement with ARBA’s decision. During the short time-line of ARBA having to make its decision, Joanne had let the board know that she had gathered up private funding for a show that would combine the natural colored and white in one ring costing $650. Ed mentioned that there is more to putting on a show than money and that there had needed to be plan presented before the board could commit. In conjunction with this issue, there was discussion about ARBA sponsored Junior shows for in the West, Mid West and East. It was decided to table this topic until the September 2006 meetings.

Junior Shows: Steve requested discussion about Juniors showing white and natural colored Romneys together in ARBA Junior shows. The discussion revolved around………. should that practice be optional?……….or should whites and natural colored always be separate? Maria reported that the Oregon Romney Breeders Association recently discussed this issue and they strongly desire that whites and natural colored Romneys be shown separately. Steve volunteered to work up a template for proposals of putting on a Junior show combining white and natural colored Romneys. Then each proposed combined show would be voted on by the board on a case by case situation. This issue was tabled for now.

Website: The “Junior tab” is up and running on the ARBA website and information/photos are always wanted and needed.

New York/Rhinebeck 2008: Steve reported that Romneys will be the featured breed which provides for lots of extras at the festival. There will be a wool nook and festival art work will feature the Romney sheep. Steve made the request for Romney artwork/photos to be submitted by ARBA folks for consideration. Jean will put an artwork request on the website.The deadline for entries on artwork are February 2007. Lois and Joanne are on the committee along with Steve. He reminded us that, in conjunction with the festival, there is the added attraction of the NY Bred Ewe and Lamb Sale.

ARBA sponsored shows: It has been previously decided by the board that for ARBA National Shows, exhibitors must be ARBA members. The board currently wishes for that decision to remain “as is”.

Disaster fund: Lois suggested that possibly ARBA could have a “disaster fund”. It was suggested that if we did that, it needed to be for “complete” disasters. Lois will be sending out emails with further information.

Steve moved to adjourn, Maria seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 AM Pacific time.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Kamenicky, Secretary/Treasurer

THESE MINUTES ARE APPROVED