IN THIS ISSUE: pg 4 pgs 9, 11 pgs 11-20 SEE YOU AT: - ariLIST

Affiliate News 30
■ Empire Alpaca Association (EAA)
We’re fairly well frozen as I write this, but I know that spring will come in short order.
The EAA has overcome the hiccup thwarting the ‘05 Symposium and has barreled on full-speed in
preparation for the Empire Alpaca Symposium and Fleece Show for February 2006. We’re thrilled to
have Barb Bubacz as our new Education Chair and she’s working her fingers to the bone preparing for
the next Symposium. Cindy Vars has agreed to be the Fleece Show Superintendent; talk about experience
in our corner.
EAA is backing Cornell University in its efforts to establish their camelid practice. We’re donating a
restraint shoot for their new wing. EAA has also sent donations to ARF and the Quechue Benefit this year.
With the election of new Board members, the Board has changed a bit. It now stands as:
Polly Michaelis – President Susan Wissick – Member-at-Large
Scott Young – Vice President Barry Finer – Member-at-Large
Chris Gilman – Treasurer Richard Jonassen – Member-at-Large
Steve McCarthy – Secretary
We’re also happy to announce that Dave Serino of Aspenwood Alpacas has agreed to be Nominating
Chair (all those willing EAA members just chomping at the bit to run for the Board, please feel free to
contact him).
As to marketing – we’re looking forward to our new advertising campaign hitting print shortly. We’re
very happy to be participating in the National Conference for County Ag-Extension Agents in July and,
as always, our two appearances at the farm trade shows.
Keep your calendars open for the next Extravaganza, October 22-23, 2005. Keep checking our website
at www.nyalpacas.com for the latest information. Can’t wait to see you all there.
Contact: Polly Michaelis, info@FingerLakes Alpacas.com or 315-258-8770
■ New England Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (NEAOBA)
The holidays are the time for the New England
Holiday Tour, an event where New England alpaca
farms are open for visitors the two weekends after
Thanksgiving. Visitors can go from farm to farm
learning about alpacas and doing holiday shopping
in farm stores.
January 22-23, NEAOBA sponsored an educational
weekend at Cas-Cad-Nac Farm, the home of
Jennifer and Ian Lutz. On Saturday, Dr. Ahmed
Tibary from Washington State University spoke to
vets from all over New England, ending the day
with a hands-on session on ultrasound. On Sunday,
Dr. Tibary was to speak to breeders for half a day,
with other speakers to follow. The infamous blizzard
of 2005 forced a cancellation of Sunday’s session,
but Saturday was a huge success with 42 vets
from five New England states attending, including
a 4th year student from Tufts and two residents
from Cornell, sponsored by NEAOBA. We hope that
seminars such as this will encourage more vets to
take alpacas into their practices, easing the current
perceived shortage of vets.
May brings the New England Alpaca Fest, held
in 2005 in conjunction with the New Hampshire
Sheep and Wool Festival. We combined forces
with this group for the first time in 2004 and found
it a happy marriage. The long-established festival
draws a huge crowd of people interested in animals
and fiber. In turn, alpacas add interest and
variety. Besides lots of alpacas to look at and fiber
products to shop from, there are lots of workshops
and demonstrations. The obstacle course
demo drew a lot of interested people last year.
Look for a brand-new NEAOBA website in the
spring. That’s our next big project.
Here’s hoping for a gentle spring and on-time
crias.
Contact: Liz MacEachran, Kilblaan@aol.com